France's wedding planners manage a market estimated at between €52 and €96 million, but account for only 2-3% of the total of the market. The global wedding market, valued at around $298 billion. The COVID-19 pandemic has brutally affected the wedding market. In France, for example, the number of weddings fell from 278,400 to 221,000. The average wedding budget remained stable at around 8,200 euros. Young people under 35 spend around 9,800 euros. The franchise system is an avenue for new entrants, and there are well-known franchises like Label' Emotion. Wedding venues range from private residences to reception halls and châteaux. The French wedding market is experiencing a marked decline in the number of weddings. The popularity of civil solidarity pacts (PACS) marks a cultural shift towards less formal unions. People are marrying later in life, on average 38.4 years for men and 35.9 years for women. Among same-sex couples, the average age is higher, at 44.2 for men and 38.8 for women.
