By Brad Pareso with Daniella Morris
The phrase “dream wedding” used to elicit thoughts of elaborate flower arrangements, wedding cakes as tall as a ceiling and hundreds of guests packing a massive ballroom or catering hall. Unfortunately, today’s economic climate is doing a great job of keeping a couple’s ideal wedding from being grounded in reality. And while brides aren’t too keen on settling for anything but that dream dress (someday Vera Wang, someday), there are ways to pinch quite a few pennies elsewhere.
It helps to have a plan before any big ordeals, and weddings are no exception. One of the quickest ways to cut spending is during the making of the guest list. Being more selective of who gets to see you tie the knot will save hundreds of dollars per person, and works as an excellent excuse to not invite that creepy uncle nobody really talks to. Be mindful of post-wedding expenses too, namely a honeymoon. Honeymoons can be very expensive, and if daddy dearest doesn’t drop a fat check in with his congratulations card, all your money might be used up before that bill comes. And speaking of the bill, paying with cash instead of credit will help you be more cognizant of your spending and avoid getting whacked with insane interest rates.
Bob Wells, president of The Wedding Center Inc. in Commack, says despite the poor economy, his store is seeing the strongest sales of its 45 year history.
“People are buying smaller,” Wells says. “Instead of taking a top photo package, they’re taking a smaller one.”
Wells points to places like his discount wedding center—that offer “everything but the church and the catering hall,” and are able to package everything—for couples trying to save money.
Newlyweds with some kitchen experience can save money by making some of their food themselves. Not necessarily preparing lasagna for 200 guests, but cookies and single servings of ice cream for dessert are realistic options that won’t detract from the wedding vibe. Even centerpieces can be made in-house, and it doesn’t take much to put them together.
“I just collected some branches, then I spray painted them and added glitter glue. When I was done, I put them in a vase and added some ribbon with a battery operated string,” says Elaine Davan-Morris, a 30 year old from Lindenhurst who got hitched on December 5 of last year. “It really made the tables look beautiful and I was happy that I was able to make them myself.”
Davan-Morris says she spent a total of $250 on the decorations, and that guests were adamant about taking them home.
Since a lot of wedding purchases are one-time uses (be honest, how often are you going to use all those candles), thrift shops are a smart place to check out. The shops stock a wide assortment of goodies that can be had on the cheap. You might be able to even find silk flowers, which are an excellent alternative to real arrangements and literally cost a fraction of the price.
A wedding is (hopefully) a once-in-a-lifetime event, so it’s understandable that couples want it to be extravagant. But the bills that can quickly pile up will last much longer. Being fiscally responsible, now more than ever, is a sensible and intelligent decision. At the end of the day, you and your guests will remember the event even more.