The gathering of data, statistics and information regarding weddings has long been suspect of how accurate the information really is. Depending on whom you ask, swings in the most basic of information can differ by a very small, or very large margin, depending on how the information is gathered and organized.
For over two decades, government cutbacks have made it difficult to rely on any one source to accurately monitor trend results in marital unions. Today, with new and growing variables, sources feel it’s getting even more complex, as the number of heterosexual unions not fully recognized by the government could be falling through the cracks.
Paul Greenwald was the voice of the formal wear business up until 2000.
Dating back to the early 1990’s, analyst, Paul Greenwald announced the US government had cut back budgets to accurately gather and process statistics involving weddings. Greenwald struggled to gather as much information as he could on his own. For years, Greenwald was able to at least compile enough facts, fill in the gaps and issue reports in his newsletter that kept pace with major changes in the wedding business, focusing on men’s formal wear.
Greenwald was involved with the wedding industry until he suffered a stroke that incapacitated him in 2000. A discussion with Greenwald in February revisited the lack of credible government statistics, opening the door for companies like The Wedding Report as one of the few places to turn to when numbers are needed. Most currently, the owner of the report, Shane McMurray, says he drills deep to find the data and puts a lot of time and effort into what he does. Yet statistics are not a true science and relies on plus-or-minus variable to insure a level of accuracy.
Other sources, we’re discovering, are sometimes unreliable in their findings; unable to verify the basis of their results. In researching several different sources, including The Wedding Report, the plus-or-minus factor shifts findings between them but does offer the necessary starting point and a direction in which to head.
Last month, McMurray raised questions concerning the The Knot and their findings involving wedding spending. Since, other reports including one issued this week by Get Married is causing discussions among vendors. “The Get Married report? Yep, I got it, read it, agree with a portion of it. It's the same as any survey I've seen lately. Tradition is still there, no matter who tries to say it isn't. The problem with brides getting ideas from television programs is most of those shows really aren't reality. They're nice to look at but unless you hit it big, they're way out of a normal bride & grooms budget. The other area is the groom's involvement, or lack of. I never agreed with "it's the bride's day" statement; It's their day. The groom should have as much to say as the bride,” feels Dorinda Duclos .
While a single survey cannot be taken as Gospel; nearly every source we’ve interviewed has so far expressed the creator of the report has the greatest desire to provide what they feel is useful and valuable information to their readers, subscribers and advertisers.
What do you say? Please post your thoughts at the end of the story or if you prefer, contact us at 631-756-7981 or Paul@ewednews.com
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2010
Posted on 03/10/2010
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