Representation
Giving Ireland's wedding industry a coherent voice with Government, State agencies, media and other national stakeholders.
IWIF is being renewed. Membership applications are now open.
Apply for Membership
Irish Wedding Industry Federation
The National Voice of Ireland's Wedding Industry
Bringing Ireland's wedding professionals together to promote our industry, represent its interests, raise professional standards and support sustainable growth.
Introduction
One Industry. One National Voice.
Ireland's wedding industry is one of the country's most diverse and economically significant event sectors.
Every wedding brings together businesses from across hospitality, entertainment, photography, retail, fashion, beauty, transport, food, floristry, technology, event production and professional services.
Yet historically these businesses have often been represented separately, despite depending on the same customers, the same events and many of the same Government policies.
The Irish Wedding Industry Federation exists to bring that community together.
IWIF provides a national platform through which wedding businesses can be represented, supported and recognised as one important Irish industry.
Our remit
Promotion. Representation. Support. Growth.
Standards
Encouraging professionalism, transparency, responsible business practices and consistently high standards across the industry.
Support
Providing information, resources, industry intelligence and a professional community for businesses working in weddings.
Growth
Promoting a strong, sustainable and internationally respected Irish wedding sector.
Industry scale
An Industry That Reaches Across Ireland
A wedding is not a single transaction.
It supports an extensive network of businesses and employment across towns, villages and cities throughout Ireland.
Venues, bands, DJs, photographers, videographers, florists, caterers, cake designers, bridal boutiques, menswear suppliers, transport operators, jewellers, celebrants, hair professionals, make-up artists, wedding planners, accommodation providers and dozens of specialist services can all participate in a single wedding.
Historically, approximately 26,000 weddings took place in Ireland annually, with IWIF estimating the pre-Covid wedding economy at approximately €2.5 billion per year.
The sector supports businesses in virtually every county and contributes particularly strongly to hospitality, tourism and the rural economy.
26,000
Approximate weddings annually before Covid
€2.5bn
Estimated annual wedding economy before Covid
32 Counties
An all-island industry
Dozens of Sectors
One interconnected wedding economy
Historical IWIF industry estimates. Updated industry research will be published as part of the federation's renewed programme.
Rationale
Why a Wedding Industry Federation?
Major economic sectors usually have organisations capable of speaking collectively on their behalf.
The wedding industry is unusual because its economic activity is spread across many different classifications.
A hotel may consider itself part of hospitality. A photographer may consider themselves part of the creative economy. A bridal shop operates in retail. A wedding band operates in entertainment. A florist operates in retail and events. A wedding planner operates in professional services.
But on a Saturday afternoon they may all be working on the same economic event.
IWIF exists to connect those businesses and ensure that the wedding economy can be understood and represented as a sector in its own right.
Relaunch
IWIF Is Returning
The Irish Wedding Industry Federation is being renewed.
Originally established to provide Ireland's wedding businesses with a collective national voice, IWIF is relaunching with a renewed focus on representation, professional standards, research and industry development.
Wedding businesses interested in participating in the renewed federation can register below.
Membership
Become Part of Ireland's Wedding Industry Federation
IWIF membership is open to established businesses and professionals whose work contributes directly to the Irish wedding industry.
Membership connects your business with a wider national industry community and supports IWIF's work representing the sector.
- Recognition as an IWIF member
- IWIF member profile
- Use of the IWIF Member identity
- Industry representation
- Policy and regulatory updates
- Industry research
- Member resources
- Networking
- Professional standards framework
- Media opportunities
- Industry consultation
- Access to member briefings
Representation
Representing the Industry Where It Matters
Government decisions can have significant consequences for weddings and the businesses that depend upon them.
- Licensing
- Hospitality regulation
- Taxation
- Employment
- Tourism
- Insurance
- Public health
- Planning
- Transport
- Music and entertainment regulation
- Consumer protection
- Business supports
IWIF provides a mechanism through which the shared interests of the wedding industry can be researched, articulated and communicated.
Standards
Raising Professional Standards
Trust is fundamental to the wedding industry.
Couples often book suppliers many months or even years before their wedding and can commit substantial deposits to businesses they may never previously have used.
IWIF therefore promotes professional practices designed to protect both consumers and reputable businesses.
Members are expected to operate transparently, communicate clearly, honour contractual obligations and maintain appropriate professional standards.
Our shared industry
Ireland's Wedding Industry Deserves a Voice of Its Own.
Individually, these businesses belong to different sectors. Collectively, they create Ireland's wedding industry.
Thousands of businesses. Hundreds of professions. One wedding industry.
Newsroom
News & Industry Insights
Federation news and industry briefings will be published as the renewed programme develops.
A Stronger Industry Has a Stronger Voice.
If your business depends on weddings, you are part of the wedding industry.
Join the federation helping to represent it.
When Ireland talks about weddings, the businesses behind them should have a voice.