Lifting the Veil: Arkansas Wedding Survey Results

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Results are in from our biennial survey of more than 100 newlywed couples; they tell us how they planned, how much they spentโ€”and if it was all worth it!

ABOUT THE LOOK

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โ–บ 85% of brides had their makeup done professionally

โ–บ October – Most popular month to get married
Runner-ups: September, May and June

โ–บ Least Popular Months to Get Marriedย – January and February

Most Popular Wedding Colors

  • Blue
  • White
  • Pink
  • Black
  • Green
  • Gold

Other Beauty Services

  • Professional makeup – 84%
  • Teeth whitening/orthodontics – 43%
  • Spray tan – 50%
  • Waxing – 38%
  • Facials – 42%
  • Invested in a skincare regimen – 34%
  • Eyebrows (microblading, tinting, other) – 26%
  • Professional hair – 67%
  • Started a fitness routine – 34%

Most Shopped Local Jewelers

  • Sissy’s Log Cabin* (Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Conway & Jonesboro)
  • Underwood’s Fine Jewelers (Fayetteville)
  • The Diamond Center (Fayetteville & Fort Smith)
  • Blakeman’s Fine Jewelry* (Rogers)
  • Pagan’s Jewelry (Jonesboro)
  • Brook’s Fine Jewelry (Conway)
  • Cecil’s Fine Jewelry (Little Rock)

The Wedding Party

  • 6 – Average number of bridesmaids
  • 54% had six or more bridesmaids

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Bridesmaids Style

  • All different –ย 27%
  • All matching –ย 46%
  • Allowed them to choose their own –ย 27%

Groom & Groomsmen Attire

  • Tuxedos –ย 48%
  • Suits –ย 41%
  • Other –ย 11%

ABOUT THE PLANNING

โ–บ 55% of brides hired a wedding planner

โ–บ 31% of brides had a day-of coordinator only (hired or included with venue)

โ–บ 14% hired neither

โ–บ 70% of couplesย  booked the wedding venueย first

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โ–บ 42% of couples struggled most with nailing down the guest list

โ–บ Average length of engagement – 11 months

  • 0-5 months –ย 6% of couples
  • 5-10 months –ย 26% of couples
  • 10-15 months –ย 51% of couples
  • 15+ months –ย 17% of couples

Most Loved for Finding Inspiration

  • Pinterest
  • Arkansas Bride
  • Instagram
  • TikTok

Used Arkansas Bride Most to Help Them Findโ€ฆ

  • Florists
  • Wedding dress/wedding attire
  • Photographers
  • Rentals
  • Venues
  • Wedding planners and coordinators

โ–บ 26 – Average age of Arkansas newlyweds

โ–บ 226 – Average number of wedding guests

โ–บ Trend alert! Big weddings are back! The average in 2020 was 174

Q: How big was your wedding?

  • 100-200 guests –ย 49%
  • 200-300 guests –ย 29%
  • 300-400 guests –ย 18%
  • 400+ guests –ย 4%

WHO, WHAT, WHERE?

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Top Rehearsalย Dinner Spots

The Ceremony

  • 78%ย – Most couples hosted their ceremony and reception at the same venue

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Top Chapel

Most Used Reception Venues

Followed byโ€ฆ Robinson Center,ย Osage House*,ย The Reserve Hot Springs,ย Little Rock Marriott*,ย Inn at Carnall Hall*, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art*, Chenal Country Club, The Record and The Ballroom at I Street*

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ABOUT THE BUDGET

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โ–บ 33% of couples surveyed said their photographer was their favorite splurge

โ–บ 50% of Arkansas wedding budgets were $30,001+

โ–บ $3,080 – average spent on photography

โ–บ $2,056 – average spent on the wedding dress

More Average Spends

  • Venue – $5,703
  • Flowers – $3,076
  • Planner/coordinator – $1,632

โ–บ 32% of couples spent more than $5,000 on flowers

Invitation Costs

  • 0-$500 – 64%
  • $500-$1,000 – 14%
  • $1,000+ – 22%

Most Shopped Local Bridal Boutiques

  1. Lowโ€™s Bridal & Formal*
  2. Unveiled Bridal Collection*
  3. She Said Yes*

โ–บ 59% of couples did a first look

The Food

  • Buffet –ย 73%
  • Sit-down service – 22%
  • Appetizers/hors d’oeuvres only – 6%

Libations

  • Open bar – 41%
  • Beer and wine only – 29%
  • Did not serve alcohol – 22%

ICING ON THE CAKE

Most Visited Honeymoon Destinations

  • Dominican Republic
  • Italy
  • Jamaica
  • Mexico

โ–บ 36% said their honeymoon was a gift (and cost them nothing!)

Wedding Registry Most Wanted

  1. China/dishes
  2. Vacuums
  3. Money/honeymoon funds
  4. Kitchen Aid stand mixers
  5. Coffee makers/espresso machines

Most Loved Vendors

We asked couples which vendors theyโ€™d recommend future brides hire too, and here are the pros whose names just kept coming up!

*Wedding Vendor We Love

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