Wedding Planning in the Middle of a Recession

May 3, 2009

The cost of a wedding has long overwhelmed couples trying to plan their perfect day. Now add to that the worst economic recession in decades, and couples are looking at creative ways to afford their special day and honeymoon. According to the WeddingReport, approximately 66% of brides surveyed claimed that they are planning on cutting their budget by at least 10%, and over 30% of brides plan on cutting their budget by more than 20%. On top of that, couples are trying to strike a balance between managing the extravagance of the day and the general anti-excess feeling.

More than just the wedding day, this new sense of frugality has crept into other aspects of wedding planning. According to AGreatAffair.com, more and more couples are forgoing traditional wedding registries in favor of cash gift honeymoon registries, requesting items such as honeymoon airfare, home down-payments - even wedding expenses.

The good news is that you still can have the wedding of your dreams without breaking the bank with these helpful tips:

1. Control your guest list. This is the one of the most important things you can do to manage your budget. The wedding should be shared with people that are special to you. Start out by setting a definitive number of guests that you cannot exceed, then stick to it! Roll people into your guest list based on how close they are to you and how many slots remain, based on those who informally have told you that they will be unable to attend. Resist the temptation to add people along the way. Also, decide up front whether you will allow children (be sure to ask your caterer for a reduced rate for children's meals!) and/or dates, and then be consistent.
2. Keep your bridal party small. The bigger your bridal party, the bigger your budget. Not only will you save on bridal party gifts, but also on flowers (bouquets and boutonnieres), and the number of people (and dates!) at the rehearsal dinner. This easily can add up to hundreds, even thousands of dollars. Instead of asking someone to be a part of your bridal party, ask them to make a toast at the wedding reception or to read during your ceremony - that way they can still be a part of your special day, but without the financial cost to you.
3. Have your cake and eat it, too. Couples often find themselves buying a cake that is much bigger than they really need, simply because they love the grandness of it. What most couples don't know is that bakeries easily can add several artificial layers to the bottom of the cake to give it the height a couple wants. While these layers are not edible, they are decorated like the rest of the cake so no one is the wiser, and the pictures are beautiful!
4. Skip fancy invitations and formal RSVP cards. Couples often send out wedding invitations with a response card included for their guests, with a stamped return envelope. You can save a lot of money (and paper!) by simply creating a wedding website where your guests can respond online. If you worry that certain guests may not be comfortable with an electronic response, you can provide those limited few with a traditional response card. Most people open the invitation, mark down the date, then throw it in a pile of papers or even (gasp!) the trash. An invitation should be nice, but not necessarily expensive. Several online websites like Elegant Wedding Invitations and Vista Prints can provide you with beautiful and affordable invitations on a quick timetable.
5. Use a Honeymoon Registry. Your Honeymoon can be a significant part of your wedding budget. While some couples go into debt trying to have a perfect honeymoon, others skimp on their honeymoon after splurging on the wedding. Why not try a honeymoon registry? Honeymoon registries like AGreatAffair.com are cash gift registries where a couple can register for any part of their honeymoon on the honeymoon registry and guests can purchase "gift segments" towards the honeymoon registry items. It is surprising how many guests prefer to gift towards a memorable experience for the couple than to simply buy bath towels or hand over a check. Today’s honeymoon registries are designed to look and feel like traditional wedding registries and deliver the same personal guest experience, which takes the hesitation out of asking for cash and allows you to enjoy your honeymoon. Some of them allow a couple to register for other gifts as well, such as a home down payment or wedding expenses.
6. Rent your wedding dress. Take a lesson from grooms, who have been renting their tuxedoes for years. Now brides finally have the option of renting a wedding dress. Most brides (thankfully) never will wear their wedding dress again, and let's face it, your daughter is not likely to want to wear that same dress decades later. By renting a dress, you can save hundreds, even thousands of dollars. Sites such as Light in The Box provide an easy, convenient and affordable way for a bride to rent a wedding dress.
7. Minimize flowers. Flowers are beautiful and help set the scene for your big day, but they are also one of the most costly items on a wedding budget. Rather than ordering elaborate centerpieces, try simply laying a few flowers down around a group of candles in the center of the table, then sprinkle some petals to complete the look. Insisting on a centerpiece? Create your own centerpiece by bring your own vases and filling them with flowers. This will save you a lot of money. To add more color to the table, use a variety of colored napkins that match your color palate. Your table will look just as beautiful, while being far more affordable.
8. Make the most of your music. Most couples love the thought of a live band, but this can cost you thousands of dollars. You can create a similar effect by having one or two live musicians for the ceremony and/or cocktail hour, the switching to a DJ for the reception. A good DJ will have everyone up and dancing and will have a much wider range of music to offer your guests.
9. Avoid Saturday night or Peak Season. An easy way to save money is to have your wedding on a Friday or a Sunday. By simply avoiding a Saturday night event, you can save up to 30% on your reception location and vendors. You can save even more by having a daytime affair - in addition to saving on location and vendors, guests tend to consume less alcohol during the daytime (another significant cost reduction). Also, having a daytime affair leaves you free in the evening to visit with any out-of-town guests (or to start your honeymoon early!) Also, if you book during off season months like October or November, you should see a large decrease in the price you are charged.