For several years now, The Wedding Report (www.theweddingreport.com/) has been the best place to find accurate, insightful information about the wedding industry. From national statistics to local data on bridal preferences, wedding-related vendors and much more, The Wedding Report offers it all (in fact, My Wedding Workbook Pro subscribes to the service). And the man behind it all, Shane McMurray, knows quite a few things that you and I don't. So he was kind enough to take a few minutes out of his schedule to answer a few questions of ours.

My Wedding Workbook Pro (MWWP) - Shane, you have been researching this industry for quite a few years now. In what significant ways has the industry changed over that period of time?

Shane McMurray (SM) - In just the few years that I've been collecting data the industry has changed dramatically. A new type of couple is now making their way into the wedding market... the ways of the old are becoming old, places that use to be hot spots are no longer hot spots, and the recent recession proved that the wedding industry is not "recession proof" as once thought. I would also say that the supposed flood of new marriages never happened and never will. Marriage has given way to couples living together and waiting longer and new unmarried family types have emerged. How couples think about spending and the value they place on certain services like music, photography, video, invitations, flowers has also altered ... couples are much more do-it-yourself or having the whole family chip in, plus wholesalers are going direct to consumers. The market has changed completely in just 5 years. It was already coming ... but the recession made it come faster.

MWWP - Right now we're coming out of a deep, deep recession that has really hammered the wedding industry. Do you see any relief on the horizon?

SM - It looks better. Spending was up in 2010 after a 2-year decline. But I don't think we will see pre-2008 levels for a while. As long as we can continue creating new jobs and gas and food prices don't continue to skyrocket, things look better.

MWWP - Wedding vendors, including wedding consultants, are always looking for an edge in growing their business. Based on your extensive knowledge and research, do you have any quick tips for them in connecting with new prospects?

SM - The best way to connect with new clients is to stay connected with previous clients. If they had a great time, you are likely to get a referral. Stay connected with your previous clients after the wedding. Secondly, go to where people are and connect with them ... shows, online, local events. Anyone and everyone could be a lead or the gateway to a lead. Next I would say work on the funnel that converts them to a customer.

MWWP - Bridal show season is quickly approaching. What's on the minds of brides this year as they attend these shows?

SM - They are looking to connect and get ideas. To find the vendor that can give them the experience they are looking for. They thing they are not looking for is pushy sales people. Just be real ... if you offer a great product or service, it will show.

MWWP - I know you keep your eye on the performance of wedding-related businesses, and I was wondering if you could give us some insight on the performance of wedding planning businesses?

SM - Well, the demand for the wedding planning business has actually increased ... as weddings become more complicated and stressful for the bride, they are looking for help from planners. I would say services like "Day-of," "Month of" or simple consulting are becoming more popular. The only issue is that it does cost extra to provide these services, and many couples are hesitant because of the extra cost, but smart planners are finding ways to make it work.

MWWP - What do you think is the most striking thing you have discovered about our industry that has come out of your research in recent months?

SM - I think the most striking thing I've discovered is how many new competitors have entered the market. Planning, photo and video are low-cost entry businesses and many are doing it, either full-time or part-time. These new competitors are coming in at substantially lower cost points than seasoned pros and it's changing the business dynamics.

MWWP - Thanks, Shane, for sharing your insights.

Just wanted to give a shout-out to a few very helpful sites for brides.

If you're shopping for wedding bargains, check out Wedding Warehouse - The Largest On-Line Wedding Discount Stores.

Thinking about using a calligrapher for your invitations ... talk to Calligraphy by Diane.

Want a little wedding flair and updates from across the pond ... these Brits have it going on at The Wedding Blog UK.

Thinking of getting married in the sun and sand ... then check out Florida Beach Weddings.

Do you need some snuggle time to yourselves and need a great place to get away? Try this Romantic Getaway Ottawa.

Need a wedding photographer who will document your day in a Funky, Fun, Fine Art Way? Try Nicole Nichols Photography.

Brides Against Breast Cancer is going on a nationwide tour selling gorgeous wedding gowns! The proceeds from these events "help bring a moment of joy into world of someone for whom a cure is too late."

Though some of the dresses are pre-owned, more than half of the gowns at each event are brand new designer gowns donated form designers, manufacturers, and retail bridal shops. The pre-owned dresses would be a great way for your green-minded brides to add another sustainable facet to their big day, and any of the designer gowns would be fabulous for you fashionista brides. Check out the calendar to see when Brides Against Breast Cancer is coming to your city!

For General Information Click Here

For the Calendar of Cities and Events Click Here

My Wedding Workbook is now on Twitter! Click Here to follow us and be the first to know when there are new posts up on our blog! We're always tweeting about the great resources we find, so keep checking in for helpful tips and links!

The development of longer courtships prior to engagement is prompting brides to decrease the length of their engagement period, and the wedding industry is definitely being affected.

The typical engagement used to be 1½-2 years, but that time period is shrinking significantly among brides today. 30.0% of brides say they're planning for an engagement period of 1-1½ years, and another 29.7% are planning for 6-12 months. A surprising 10.5% of brides even say they plan to have an engagement lasting no longer than 6 months!

So, what do shorter engagement periods mean for your consultant business?

More planning in less time
6 months isn't much time to plan an elaborate wedding, and shorter engagements may affect your client services. For example, providing brides with three florist options may be more practical than offering seven. Quick decision making is key to making the most of a short engagement, and offering fewer, more specified choices for brides is one way to keep things on the fast track.

Vendor Relations
As a consultant, you have the best connections with the best vendors. However, shorter engagements may call for a revision of your vendor list. Making a list of vendors who provide great work in minimal time is a way to offer your time-crunched clients the most time-effective vendors.

Fewer engagement parties
Shorter engagements combined with the fact that most couples now pay for wedding-related parties themselves has led to a decline of engagement parties. 71.2% of brides say they do not plan to have an engagement party. Depending on your current services, you may want to refocus marketing to other planning areas.

To read more on current engagement trends see: Rules of Engagement Changing for Modern Couples

In addition to consulting published wedding industry statistics, at Things Festive we study our customers' purchasing habits to gain insight into what's going on in the world of weddings.

As general concern for protecting the Earth's natural resources continues to grow, it seems that more weddings are being planned with a focus on organic and sustainable elements. We're finding that more customers are asking questions about the materials used in our products. This has prompted us to add more eco-friendly wedding favors and decorations to our collection and blog about eco-friendly wedding matters. We provide everything from tips on selecting an earth-friendly venue to choosing wedding flowers that are less harmful to the environment.

Along with a rise in the purchase of eco-friendly products, we've noticed that couples are also choosing charitable wedding favors with greater frequency. This tells us that more couples are using their weddings as opportunities to not only express their love for one another but also for the Earth and those in need.

Things Festive is an extensive collection of wedding accessories. It's a great resource for everything from wedding favors to decorations to attendant gifts.