By Nicole Wong (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-10-18 15:05

A growing number of young couples in Hong Kong are loosening their wallets to capture one of the most memorable moments of their relationship - their wedding.

A survey conducted by ESD life, a government-appointed online portal, has shown that the wedding services market in Hong Kong has boomed in the last two years.

The number of couples who tied the knot rose from 43,000 in 2005 to 50,300 in 2006, a 17 percent increase. Average wedding expenses hit HK$200,000 in 2007, compared to HK$180,500 in 2006.

Chief Operating Officer of ESD Life, Tony Ma, said the uptrend is in line with the prospering economy, as more couples prepare for their weddings through smart investments, rather than simply saving money in the bank.

"They're more willing to lavish their cash with the profits made from their investments," Ma said.

"Over half of the respondents took more than one wedding photo shoot, while over 10 percent held two or more wedding ceremonies."

Business opportunities are abound for wedding service providers.

Couples with high expectations for the big day are opting more for tailor-made gowns and suits, with 16 percent of respondents shunning rentals from bridal shops.

The new regulations on civil celebrants of marriages, which allow couples to get married outside of local marriage registries, also contributed to the rise with 25 percent of respondents having celebrated ceremonies in private locations.

"The shift to celebrating a marriage by a civil celebrant will be the trend in the future, since it adds a more personal touch to the ceremony," Selina Chow, a professional wedding planner, said.

Chow said most couples were willing to invest more time and resources in planning their wedding than in the past.

"With all the talk about the Golden Pig Year, many lovebirds just go for it," Chow said.

"Some feel they need to have everything elegantly set, since everyone else is doing it so nicely."

Nellie Hui, a 29-year-old bride-to-be who will get married in December, said her fianc and her would spend more money than originally planned, because there are many good wedding deals available.

"We switched from a fairly nice hotel to a beautiful private club, because the latter doesn't cost that much more," Hui said.

"Everything is competitively priced, but the expenses add up when you always go for the nicer option."