Weddings – A Blossoming Tourism Economy in Licking County
Spring has sprung, summer is well underway, the birds are chirping, and Licking County is abuzz with romance and marriage. According to the 2017 Wedding Report, couples here in Licking County spend on average a total of $26,500 on their special day, which is about $4,000 above the state average. With thousands of weddings happening every year, that’s a substantial micro-economy for our county. Weddings for all tastes and budgets are happening this summer at our parks, clubs, historic landmarks and hotels.
Providing the home base for these dream-worthy events are several businesses that either fully or partly depend on the nuptials celebration for their livelihood. Many of our more unique venues which might place a large emphasis on hosting weddings, perhaps seasonally, are wineries, breweries, small inns and arboretums. These venues are less involved with planning and coordination and more with providing an enjoyable atmosphere for the festivities.
Not only do our local residents celebrate their love right here, but couples from the surrounding areas are coming to Licking County to experience our rustic, secluded and relaxed options. A large portion of weddings hosted in our community are for pairs who do not live in our county, but are fond of how we do things here – we’re laid back, natural, unpretentious – and that’s what they are looking for. This influx is a noteworthy facet of our local tourism numbers.
And more couples make a weekend out of it – inviting friends and family from out of town into our community for destination weddings. Yes, Licking County is a destination! From the 2017 Wedding Report, the average guest list for a reception in Licking County is 126. They grab lunch, drinks, and stay over, before and after the festivities, in national franchise hotels and our unique inns. Rehearsal dinners take place at the range of restaurants in our outlying villages and newly face-lifted downtown. Members of the supporting parties spend the “day-of” preparing at the area’s spas, salons, and barbershops. They buy wine, beer, spirts and ice at our groceries and carry-outs. They eat catered snacks, play rounds of golf and take Uber. Weekend getaway travelers spend over $125 per day per person when they visit Licking County for an overnight stay, boosting our economy in an unexpected way.
Of course, also involved are florists, photographers, caterers, bakers, and musicians. And highly experienced and professional ones are growing small, entrepreneurial businesses right here, supporting the wedding industry with on-trend, quality flowers, memory keepsakes, gourmet meals and cakes, as well as entertainment. Now don’t forget the infrastructure that might not be as glamorous as a diamond ring – there are tent, linen, table and china rentals, port-o-johns, limos; tuxedos, bar service, trash and recycling hauling. All of these services add up, generating sizable revenues that are incorporated into our economy with each event.
Licking County plays host to thousands of weddings of all budgets and themes every year, that’s a substantial boost to the economy for our county. These events are a significant part of our tourism market. New local start-ups are stimulated to grow and support the wedding industry, and so the impact spreads. The seemingly simple act of joining of two people in marriage has wonderful broad-reaching effect on our county’s economy which will only grow as the population increases.
Jodi Melfi is with creative COOP, Jodi Melfi Design and the Orchard House of Granville.