'Busiest wedding season since the '80s': B.C. industry booming due to pent-up pandemic demand
Wedding season is back and with the backlog of postponed weddings due to the pandemic, B.C. operators say it's busier than it's been in decades.
While it's a welcome change, some businesses find it hard to keep up with the demand.
"This is the busiest wedding year since, I think, the '80s because of all the COVID backup — you had all those girls waiting. And as soon as they lifted, everybody was like, 'Okay,go!'” said Erin Cockerill, a senior stylist with Vancouver’s Bisou Bridal.
The boutique has had to extend its hours to accommodate all its new brides.
Cockerill said the number of clients has nearly doubled since last year, and the store hired three more seamstresses to keep up.
"The numbers are definitely jumping which is very exciting. I don't foresee it slowing down any time before 2024,” she said.
Allan Burnett, the owner of The Chapels, said while he’s excited about the industry’s robust recovery, he’s overwhelmed by the pent-up demand.
He said he's short-staffed after letting some employees go early in the pandemic.
“I haven’t rehired anyone yet, and that’s probably what’s making it so challenging because we need help right now,” he said.
His phone line is busy with people calling in, even booking their special event on weekdays.
"We've got weddings on now Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday this coming weekend. So, that gives you a pretty good idea that it's often busy right now,” Burnett said.
Carissa Quan, the catering and events coordinator for the Brock House Restaurant, has also seen a surge in business.
"We have noticed that we have a lot of backlog from 2020, moving into 2022,” she said.
"There's only a certain number of Saturdays and Sundays that we have so we do open up for Mondays and Fridays, but we do see back-to-back [bookings], especially in the high season — that's July and August. We see a lot of weddings that happen between Monday to Friday,” she added.
With dates quickly getting booked up, couples are urged to plan as early as possible.
"I can tell you that in the 20-plus years that I've been in the wedding industry, I've never seen the number of weddings for next year this early in this number,” said Burnett.
All the operators agree that it's unlikely the demand will ease any time soon, predicting an equally busy – if not busier—season in 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.