Couples planning to get married next year should book early
because food prices and other costs are shooting up, wedding
organizing companies warned Thursday.
And the industry is expecting a busy year as the first
"only-child' generation is reaching marrying age, 20 for women and
22 for men.
A lady chooses a wedding
gown at a shop in People's Square of Shanghai on August
16.
The Shanghai Really Wedding Service Company said more than 20
couples have already booked the service for next May Day
holiday.
"At present, we charge 4,000 yuan (US$515) for using paper
flowers for decoration, and 5,000 yuan to 6,000 yuan for fresh
flowers," said Cui Zhenzhen, a staff member.
Cui said if couples wait to book the service in March or April
next year, wedding management companies are very likely to be
unavailable.
Tangsheng, another wedding service company, said a dozen couples
have booked the service for next year, 20 percent more than last
year's bookings for the same period.
"The ultimate quote for the service next year is still under
discussion, but we reckon it'll be higher than this year's," said
Wu Xia, director of the company.
Food prices will also make banquets more expensive next year,
experts warn. The Garden Hotel said wedding banquets now cost 4,288
yuan a table, and the price may be 200 yuan to 300 yuan higher next
year.
"The price of meat, bean products, sugar, oil and other
materials have risen, so the banquet will also be a bit more
expensive," said a hotel official called Du.
Zhou Jixiang, director of the marriage department with the
Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau, said the wedding peak of recent
years is because the first "only-child" generation has reached
marrying age.
(Shanghai Daily August 17, 2007)
