COVID-19 Pandemic Causes Massive Wedding Backlog

Tuesday, 6 July 2021 05:50

Lots of couples are rushing to say 'I do' as things start to open back up again, causing a massive wedding backlog.

KITCHENER - Signs of life the pandemic is winding down, more and more weddings are being booked every day.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a massive backlog of weddings. Owner of 586 Event Group Mike Marion says they have been operating at 10 percent since the start of the pandemic.

"It has been really tough with the restrictions, we have just been doing small weddings and ceremonies with immediate family. Normally we are doing hundreds of weddings each year and over the last year, we have probably done a dozen but things are looking better now and each weekend is getting busier and busier."

He says things are really starting to pick up now, and they actually have a backlog of weddings to get to.

"On the back half of this year, we have every weekend fully booked for Friday and Saturday, most Sundays, we are seeing Thursday weddings now. We have multiple Thursday weddings booked which is a first for us, usually we are just a Friday and Saturday business, but because of the backlog, people are getting married on Sundays and weekdays."

He expects it is only going to get busier next summer.

"It looks like the wedding season this year is going to be extended right up until New Years and then I would say the next year, leading into the following summer, it is just going to be mayhem and people are finally feeling confident now to book their wedding and secure their vendors."

Marion says some people are waiting for stage 3, so they have a more traditional big wedding, while others are moving to a smaller venue.

"Phases definitely matter, people are looking forward to having all of their friends and family and share that special day, but I feel like people are much more open to having a smaller wedding now. A lot of people have changed their wedding two or three times now and they just want to move on with their life."