Head over to Google Trends and you can learn quite a bit about what people are searching for. The logic is that Google searches over time correspond with overall interest in a particular subject.
Below are some wedding venue trends over the last decade wedding photographers may find useful for either their marketing or for services they want to offer brides in the future. This data is segmented out for US Google searches only, and does not represent search trends worldwide.
Greenhouse Wedding
Over the last decade, greenhouse weddings have become popular, peaking in July of 1017 and again in January 2017. Brides like the idea of a wedding that feels like it is outdoors without having to worry about bad weather. While there are few greenhouses that are big enough to hold an entire wedding ceremony, it is worth your while to know which ones are available in your area. You might even want to consider shooting inside them, then add a page /greenhouse-wedding-in-your-town to your website to pick up potential clients looking for this new trend.
Barn Wedding
Similar to greenhouse weddings, the trend for barn weddings is rising in the US over the last decade. However, searches tend to be more common in the summer/fall. This probably indicates fall brides are simply looking to get out of the weather, especially here in the midwest. It’s interesting that several companies have caught on to this trend, and now advertise their barns for both weddings and receptions. If any of these in your area have a vendor page, contact them and see if your website can be added.
Rustic Wedding
The idea of a more informal or “rustic” wedding peaked in 2014 and has been strong ever since. Even the folks over at TheKnot.com have a page dedicated to rustic wedding ideas.
Outdoor Wedding
Brides continue to search for outdoor weddings as an alternative to more formal wedding venues. While this trend peaked in the summer of 2012, it continues to be strong.
Bohemian Wedding
While not a venue per se, bohemian weddings exemplify the trends listed above. MarthaStewartWeddings.com says “Boho weddings incorporate a mix of natural, rustic, and vintage details into the design.” They even have a name for it – boho weddings for boho brides! For wedding photographers, you should not only be aware of local venues that cater to these new brides, but you should be using these keywords in your marketing and on your website.
Destination Wedding
The idea of a destination wedding at an exotic location peaked in 2010, and has slowly been losing bride’s interest over time. However, because of the expense of destination weddings, it is possible they will make a comeback in the future.
Church Wedding
Interest in church weddings have seen a steady decline over the last decade. This makes sense, since it corresponds with the rising interest in alternative wedding venues.
Takeaway
If you’re a wedding photographer and your portfolio primarily consists of church wedding venues, you should update them today. You need to show potential clients that you’re experienced in shooting in many different locations, not just for first look or engagement photography.
