By Margaret Maccoll
Brides and grooms are kicking up their heels and dancing as the Noosa wedding industry booms with 2020 behind it.
COVID19 restrictions shut down the industry entirely a year ago then the gradual opening up brought changes to the way people wed.
Jacqui Gray who, with business partner Leah Cohen, runs Super Simple Wedding Elopements, has never been busier in her 20 years as a celebrant in Noosa.
Jacqui said 80 per cent of their weddings were now “elopement style” with 10 guests or less.
She said throughout the past year many weddings were cancelled or the bookings changed to under 30 guests to meet restrictions.
“A wedding I had booked in April 2020 originally had 120 guests intended, and for the actual wedding with family overseas and interstate we had 15 guests on the day,” she said.
Weddings have also included virtual elements with live-streaming now a standard addition to include overseas and interstate family and friends, Jacqui said.
The Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages show the Noosa Shire hosted 640 weddings in 2019 and only 407 in 2020, which was less of a drop than other regions where restrictions were tighter and longer lasting.
Melinda Gannon whose business, First Class Functions, caters to larger groups was forced to shut down completely initially, then reopened gradually with groups of 10, then 30 as was allowed. “We just adjusted accordingly,” she said.
“There was so much confusion. Most couples decided to postpone it to this year.
“It wasn’t good at all. Jobkeeper kept us going.”
Melinda said with vaccines beginning and the New Zealand travel bubble opening people were becoming more confident making bookings.
But instead of booking a year in advance which was tradition people were booking just two months in advance, she said.
“It’s good. We have to make up for last year.”
Wedding stylist Rachelle Marion said her business, Simply Style Co, which was booked for a wedding everyday this week, has found brides are no longer reluctant to have weekday weddings.
“They’re making a week of it,” she said. “They stay for a few days, honeymoon in Noosa instead of going overseas.
“They’re just desperate to get married. Brides are more relaxed.”
The pandemic may have made people more accommodating but it hasn’t stopped them spending money.
Rachelle said while some wedding parties have reduced guest numbers to meet restrictions they have lashed out on luxury items.
“It’s good to be back doing weddings again, good to see couples able to get married.“
For wedding advice in Noosa visit not-for-profit organisation, Noosa Wedding Organisation.
