Weddings marry business with pleasure

The trend received a shot in the arm when a group of film stars and online celebrities in China held their weddings in different themes overseas. This influenced their fans into making similar choices for their own weddings, in a bid to appear more attractive among the public.

Bali island in Indonesia has been wearing the crown of romantic island in recent years, with its visa-free policy and sound and convenient facilities to hold weddings and honeymoons.

Most-sought-after Bali venues are a few local churches and the private beaches of luxury hotels. Auspicious dates are usually booked more than half-a-year in advance. Occasionally, one venue holds several weddings on the same day, industry reports said.

Destination weddings also afford more intimacy, exclusivity and privacy than a wedding at home or hometowns. At destination weddings, marrying couples usually invite their parents and fewer guests. Sometimes, the cost of a destination wedding is comparable to that of a traditional large-scale wedding at a luxury hotel in China.

Hotels, which provide space, catering and accommodation for most weddings, cost about half of the total spend on destination weddings.

Last year, sales revenue of the wedding tourism market in China reached 1.5 trillion yuan ($211 billion), and the compound annual growth rate in the past five years was 13.6 percent, Frost & Sullivan said.

In the next five years, the sector is seen expanding, but the high growth rate will moderate, hampered by a large number of young Chinese choosing to get married late or stay single, the consultancy predicted.

With incomes growing, people are cultivating better tastes. The pursuit of beautiful and high-end lifestyles by many young Chinese, and demand for customized weddings have intensified steadily in recent years.

One effect of this trend is the blooming of the business of flowers. Floral creations now play a critical role in weddings.

Beijing-based luxury flower retailer Roseonly, founded in 2013, has become an essential part of the weddings of many film stars and new wealthy upper-and middle-income young couples when they hold weddings overseas.

The florist sells premium roses imported from Ecuador in South America, and its marketing emphasizes that its roses can be only sent as an expression of love to one person in a lifetime.

Roseonly operates nearly 50 stores in 24 cities in China. It is also the biggest flower vendor on Tmall, Alibaba's online marketplace.

Depending on different requirements, Roseonly provides customized bridal bouquets, guest gifts, and helps decorate wedding venues. The cost may range from several thousand to millions of yuan.

The busy months for weddings are May and October usually. Besides roses, it also offers exotic flowers such as Chinese herbaceous peony, hydrangea, oncidium orchid, and eucalyptus globulus.

"We are bullish on the growth potential of providing tailored flower decorations to weddings. Wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime major event, and people usually attach great importance to it, they hope their weddings can be unique and memorable," said Lalics Lei, marketing director at Roseonly.