# £5 Billion Royal Weddings Prince William & Kate Middleton Wedding Will Cost the Economy By Amanda Chang | Published 2010-11-25 | Luxury Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/prince-william-kate-middleton References: [bornrich.org](http://www.bornrich.org/entry/the-most-expensive-wedding-of-all-time/) If there's anything the [royal family](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crown-afternoon-tea) knows how to do, it's throw a [lavish wedding](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wedding-planning-services), such as the soon-to-come Prince William & Kate Middleton wedding. The long awaited engagement has been a buzz among the English (and the world) population, but the date has officially been set for April 29, 2011. The [extravagant spring wedding](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/luxury-designer-marchesa) will be held at the historical Westminster Abbey with approximately 2,200 people. It is estimated that the wedding will cost the British economy £5 billion, since businesses will have to shut down for consecutive four-day weekends for the event. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.8/10 - Popularity: 69% | Activity: 67% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Luxury](https://www.trendhunter.com/luxury) > [Ultra Luxury](https://www.trendhunter.com/ultraluxury) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Luxury Weddings:** Disruptive innovation opportunity lies in creating more affordable alternatives to traditional extravagant weddings. - **Event Tourism:** Opportunity exists to capitalize on the global fascination with royal weddings by promoting destination weddings and local tourism during similar events. - **Wedding Merchandise:** Innovative products and services can be developed to cater to the demand for souvenirs and memorabilia related to royal weddings. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Event Planning:** Event planning companies can tap into the high-end wedding market and offer unique experiences. - **Tourism:** Travel agencies and hotels can benefit from increased interest in wedding tourism and offer tailored packages for couples. - **Retail:** Retailers can explore opportunities to create and sell royal wedding-themed merchandise to capitalize on the event's popularity. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Celebratory Coronation Housewares](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kings-coronation-products.md) - [Crowned Monarchy Minted Coins](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/king-charles-iii.md) - [Wedding Budgeting Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-knot-budget-advisor.md) - [Luxe King-Honoring Cakes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coronation-cake.md) - [Limited-Edition Coronation Donuts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coronation-doughnuts.md) - [Wedding Guest Outfit Rentals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/by-rotation-and-airbnb.md) - [Coronation-Themed British Sandwiches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/urban-eat-1.md) - [Celebratory Retailer Coronation Pubs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-king-in-the-castle.md) - [Cheese Wheel Wedding Cakes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snowshill-cheese-wedding-cake.md)