More couples planning the big day via mobile

New York--It’s a statistic that is not surprising in the least. An increasing number of couples getting married are using mobile devices to help them plan and make purchases for their big day.

It’s not a trend that’s expected to reverse course anytime soon, as more and more members of the Millennial Generation head to the altar.

According to a recently released survey from TheWeddingReport.com, a Tucson-based research company that tracks and forecasts wedding spending and trends in the U.S. market, online wedding spending reached $8.8 billion in 2012, 17 percent of the total amount spent.

That is a 7 percent increase over the amount spent online in 2011.

While online spending via a computer was up just 1 percent year-over-year, mobile spending soared, climbing 46 percent. Technology changes, the report notes, are making it easier for couples to pay vendor invoices and/or buy products from their smartphones or tablet computers.

On a category-by-category basis, the survey shows that the amount spent purchasing engagement rings from a mobile device climbed between 2011 and 2012.

Among couples surveyed, engagement ring spending via mobile went from $52.7 million in 2011 to $85.9 million in 2012. Wedding band spending, however, declined from $52.0 million in 2011 to $40.0 million in 2012.

The survey also asked couples about what websites, whether accessed via computer or mobile device, they used to help them plan their wedding.

The No. 1 site accessed was TheKnot.com, chosen by 68 percent of respondents. DavidsBridal.com came in at No. 2, chosen by 43 percent of survey-takers, followed by WeddingWire.com (28 percent), Brides.com (17 percent) and Martha Stewart Weddings (16 percent). 

TheWeddingChannel.com (15 percent), WeddingBee.com (14 percent) and MyWedding.com and ProjectWedding.com (both 12 percent) rounded out the list.

The Online Wedding Market study was based on 41,000 survey samples collected via CostofWedding.com, the survey site operated by TheWeddingReport.com, between January 2012 and December 2012.