Originally Published on: SpendEdge | Understanding Supply Chains in the Wedding Industry

Reality television shows such as Say Yes to the Dress and Four Weddings, as well as films such as The Wedding Planner (starring Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConoughey and receiving an unfairly low 16% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), demonstrate that the work involved in planning a wedding is stressful, expensive, and complicated, and that the wedding industry is extremely lucrative. In 2016, according to The Wedding Report, the average cost of a wedding in the US was over USD 26 thousand, and the wedding industry in the US saw sales totalling approximately USD 57 billion. Due to the variety of weddings, wedding products, and wedding services available, supply chains for the wedding industry can be complex and diverse. Here are a few essential elements for comprehending how procurement and supply chains function in this rapidly expanding industry:

Wedding planners and wedding planning services must be able to network with a wide variety of vendors in various markets. Wedding planners are meant to be a one-stop shop for couples to decide on everything they need for their celebration, including bouquets, floral arrangements, centerpieces, cakes, event decorations, invitations, and just about anything else that brides and grooms may have on their wedding checklist. Due to the intricacy and expense of weddings, wedding planners must have a thorough grasp of the various markets they serve. This will aid them in making sound purchasing decisions, selecting dependable and high-quality suppliers, and negotiating prices.

Wedding garments account for some of the industry's largest revenue streams. In the United States, the average amount spent on a wedding dress is slightly more than USD 1,200, with wedding dress accessories (belts, veils, etc.) adding approximately USD 500 to that total. However, an increasing number of brides are opting for dresses with heftier price tags. Alterations and modifications increase the price even further. Visibility and communication throughout the supply chain are essential for purveyors of wedding dresses. They must ensure that each stage of the supply chain, from sourcing of raw materials to fabric production to dress construction, etc., runs efficiently and on schedule.

 Improper packaging can cause irreparable harm to a retailer's reputation when it results in late deliveries or distribution-related damage. The same holds true for retailers of tuxedos, bridesmaids' dresses, and other types of wedding attire: timely delivery of high-quality products via an efficient, highly organized supply chain and a solid sourcing and procurement strategy is crucial for customer satisfaction and retention. David's Bridal, one of the most prominent wedding dress retailers and manufacturers in North America, ensures the safe delivery of its wedding dresses by transporting them in sacks and steaming, altering, and preparing them at the stores where customers will pick them up.

As anyone who has attended a wedding reception with a cash bar can testify, the quality and availability of food and alcohol are crucial components of the event. Caterers and other wedding food suppliers are susceptible to the typical procurement and supply chain issues that plague the food and beverage industry, such as those relating to food safety and waste. Suppliers of wedding cakes, which typically cost around $500, must take extra precautions to ensure that their products adhere to the couple's specifications, dietary restrictions, and allergy-related requirements. This involves ensuring that their production facilities, ingredients, and methods are safe, contaminant-free, and do not contain allergens or other potential dangers. Additionally, they should ensure that the suppliers they use for apparatus and ingredients adhere to appropriate safety regulations and are transparent about their ingredients and business practices.

According to Massimo in The Wedding Planner, love is not always ideal. "Love is simply love" However, supply chains can be flawless. The wedding industry is a fast-paced, rapidly-evolving industry in which new trends appear and disappear each year. It involves a large number of distinct suppliers, distributors, manufacturers, and categories, as well as significant diversity in the products and services it offers and the customers that it serves. For wedding planners, retailers, and other businesses involved in the industry, supply chain optimization is an absolute necessity for establishing a positive reputation and retaining and gratifying customers.