Cumulative Hawaii Wedding Photo Shoots Surpass 30,000; Annual Reservations Reach Post-Pandemic High

American Holidays Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Hideto Endo), a provider specializing in Hawaii wedding photo services, announces that the cumulative number of wedding photo shoots provided by the company has surpassed 30,000. Furthermore, annual reservations for fiscal year 2025 have reached a new post-pandemic high. After dropping to near zero due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of shoots has increased for two consecutive years (FY2024 and FY2025), marking a full-scale recovery. Details are as follows.

Achieving the Highest Annual Reservations Since the Pandemic

In recent years, the demand for "photo weddings"—where couples commemorate their marriage through photography rather than a traditional ceremony—has been growing. According to the Recruit Bridal Research Institute's "Marriage General Awareness Survey 2024," the implementation rate of photography among wedding-related events has increased by 1.9 points year-on-year, reaching an all-time high (Source: https://souken.zexy.net/research_news/marriage-wedding/msgi.html). As styles that prioritize photography over traditional ceremonies and receptions gain popularity, more couples are choosing overseas locations for their photo weddings. Hawaii, in particular, maintains enduring popularity as a destination due to its stable climate and beautiful natural scenery throughout the year.

At American Holidays, annual reservations for FY2025 reached approximately 120% of the previous year's figures, setting a new post-pandemic record. The company's Hawaii wedding photo service, which conducted approximately 4,500 shoots annually in FY2019 before the pandemic, saw numbers drop to nearly zero due to travel restrictions. Since the resumption of travel, the company has seen a steady recovery, with FY2025 figures exceeding the previous year by approximately 20%.

The company attributes this recovery, which has continued despite rising overseas travel costs due to the weak yen, to three factors. First, their transparent pricing, with "all-inclusive plans" starting from 69,000 yen (including costumes, hair and makeup, transportation, and photo data), has alleviated cost concerns amid the weak yen. Second, there is a full-scale "revenge demand" from couples who postponed their plans during the pandemic. Third, increased awareness of Hawaii wedding photos through social media has led to inquiries from demographics that had not previously considered shooting in Hawaii.