David's Bridal Reveals Results of “What's On Brides' Minds” Survey

Wedding season is upon us and in the 7th annual David's Bridal "What's On Brides' Minds" survey, a new trend was identified: the Groomzilla! The brand uncovered that now more than ever grooms are taking a larger role in wedding day decisions. According to the annual David's Bridal survey, 83 percent of present-day grooms are actively involved in making wedding day decisions. So much for just waiting at the altar!

Modern grooms are being as hands-on as the bride-to-be when it comes to their big day. In our wedding-crazed and reality-show-obsessed culture, "bridezillas" who go to extremes in indulging their every wedding-day whim are a common phenomenon. But as men become more involved in the planning game and celebrities like Brad Pitt, Justin Theroux and John Legend prepare to tie the knot this season, it begs the question - will we be seeing the rise of the Groomzilla? As our survey below makes clear: whether it's confirming the bride's choices or providing input on bigger decisions, David's Bridal found that grooms want to make their mark on wedding-day prep, especially in the areas they care about most.

Is it "her day" or "their day"?

• 67 percent of brides report that there is at least one thing that would turn their grooms into a "groomzilla" - that's two out of three!

What could push him into "groomzilla" territory?

• 31 percent of brides report that the biggest trigger is the guest list.
• 24 percent say music selection pushes their man's buttons.
• 16 percent say their future husbands are taking the lead on honeymoon plans.

Many brides still want to wear the planning pants.

• Roughly 1 in 5 (18 percent) of brides wouldn't trust their grooms to make any decision without input from them.
• 2 in 5 (41 percent) of brides don't even trust their grooms to pick out their own tux.

"We've become used to the traditional notion that the bride plans every detail of the big day," said Brian Beitler, Chief Marketing Officer at David's Bridal. "But what we're witnessing in our stores is a shift in bride and groom stereotypes. Grooms are not only stepping up to the planning plate, but diving into wedding-day decisions and brides appreciate their contributions. From our perspective, and from my personal experience, weddings that are planned in partnership are often the best and most personal."

Brides might not want to give their husbands-to-be total control of the wedding just yet, but a partnership approach is being embraced. Sarah Pease, wedding planner and David's Bridal Style Council member, agrees that grooms now have a vested involvement in the planning process.

"Weddings are becoming less about the bride and more about the couple," said Pease. "I'm seeing that a majority of grooms are not willing to sit back and take a supporting role anymore, especially when it comes to things they find most important on the big day - notably the guests, music and party factor. Grooms care about their nuptials more than most people think, and their brides know it!"

To find out more about David's Bridal wedding resources, notably the new "My Event" wedding planning application, visit www.davidsbridal.com.

Methodology
The David's Bridal 2013 Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.WakefieldResearch.com) between November 16th and November 27th, 2012. For this research, 500 interviews were fielded using an email invitation and an online survey among women ages 18 and older, who are engaged to be married or were married within the last two months.

Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 4.4 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

About David's Bridal:
With more than 60 years of experience dressing women of all ages for life's special occasions, David's Bridal understands the importance of providing brides-to-be with a vast selection of exquisitely crafted bridal gowns and bridal party dresses. Known for outstanding value, fashionable designs and the ease of one-stop shopping, nearly 60% of all brides in the US choose to shop at one of more than 300 David's Bridal stores located across the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. Working with a knowledgeable bridal consultant, a customer can enjoy trying on a wide selection of gowns and dresses in her size with the added convenience that most styles are available to take home the same day. To learn more about David's Bridal, visit www.davidsbridal.com.

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