An economic indicator, I suppose. From the National Association of Catering Executives: "More Weddings, Bigger Budgets."

In the 2011 survey, almost half – 45 percent – reported increases in wedding budgets. This compares favorably to one year ago, when only 30 percent reported seeing an increase in expenditures per event. And it reflects a growing, upwards trend. In 2009, nearly 90 percent reported seeing a decline in overall wedding spending due to the economy. "We continue to see positive growth in the area of wedding spending," said Bonnie Fedchock, executive director of the National Association of Catering Executives. "Many had wondered whether weddings were recession-proof and in fact, they were not. We definitely saw a drop in spending when the recession began, but for two years now we are seeing a strong rebound.