Wedding Planning And The Economy

[WebLady]

Have the recent economic changes affected your wedding at all? Have you put off the wedding or budgeted less because of the economy?

For those just starting out planning; was this a concern? For those well into planning; did you alter your plans any because of this?

*poll coming

[Hippolyta]

A few things; there's a budget, we're doing a lot of it ourselves, and a long engagement with plenty of time to save. Also, a bit of help from the well off parents doesn't hurt things ;)

[Katie-ryn]

The economy wasn't a concern when setting my budget, my own finances were a concern. I'm having a long engagement, small wedding, with lots of DIY and cutting out unnecessary things because I can't afford them, and also can't justify spending money on them, good economy or not.

[WebLady]

The economy wasn't a concern when setting my budget, my own finances were a concern.Maybe I didn't word the question right; most people's concern about the economy is that their own finances will be affected. Whether it is less hours at work, lay offs, raising interest rates, etc ... So I guess that is what I meant; did/does anyone think about these things when planning and setting a budget for the wedding. Do you do something different or did you just do what you would have done anyway?

[mitch]

The economy wasn't a concern when setting my budget, my own finances were a concern. I'm having a long engagement, small wedding, with lots of DIY and cutting out unnecessary things because I can't afford them, and also can't justify spending money on them, good economy or not.

That's exactly what We did. Even down to the day before the Wedding We wasn't sure if We were having certain things. Even Our Honeymoon wasn't confirmed until the Friday. It was all down to finances. Could We afford the whole stay? Could We afford the Petrol (Gas) there AND back. If not, then We was going to cancel it and lose the Deposit (One days stay in the Hotel)
There was no Bridal Party. Not even DH's Four Daughters as BM's. We couldn't afford their Dresses. And as it turned out, none of them asked to be BM. So that made it a lot easier.

The main thing to pay for was the Ceremony and the Licence. In the "Real World" We had to think about keeping a roof over Our Heads and Food in Our Bellies. A couple of "I Do's" can be done on a tight Budget. We didn't need or want loads of people there, a big Church Wedding with Bells, Choirs etc.
We got Married, those that really mattered saw it happen and We couldn't be Happier. :)

[Katie-ryn]

Maybe I didn't word the question right; most people's concern about the economy is that their own finances will be affected. Whether it is less hours at work, lay offs, raising interest rates, etc ... So I guess that is what I meant; did/does anyone think about these things when planning and setting a budget for the wedding. Do you do something different or did you just do what you would have done anyway?

I understood what you meant, I'm just not the most eloquent speaker. I'm not worried about being layed off or interest rates or anything like that, in concern of the wedding. I was planning on having a small wedding anyways, I know I can't afford much. Even if I had access to more money I wouldn't spend it.

[WebLady]

I understood what you meant, I'm just not the most eloquent speaker. I'm not worried about being layed off or interest rates or anything like that, in concern of the wedding. I was planning on having a small wedding anyways, I know I can't afford much. Even if I had access to more money I wouldn't spend it.Thanks for clarifing :frogg:

[EarlyBird]

we had a budget that my parents set and they put that money aside. Unfortunatley, being in the mortgage industry our "economic" problems started a year or two back, so we are adjusting to the budget we had and not spending a penny less. it was one of the main reasons we did a 2 year long engagement to begin with.

[WBandMe]

We didn't really factor in the economy, but we planned a lower budget wedding in the first place just because we wanted to use the money for other things. I have student loans and we'd like to save for a house and just couldn't see spending more than the 10-13K we already are for the wedding. The economy is affecting post-wedding money plans though... we were going to pay all my loans immediately.... and now we're thinking we might do payments for some of them so we don't just clear out the bank account, in case something happens.

[MrsDM]

Eh. It didn't effect us too much as far as the wedding planning goes. But, it is causing us to save a bit more to put more towards the wedding and not spend too much on random things. No biggie.

[NurseLau84]

The reason we had a small and relatively inexpensive wedding is because we wanted to buy a house. Originally, we had a lot of money saved and put down many deposits: $1500 to a country club, $500 to a photographer, $500 to a DJ, $350 to a florist and $300 to a videographer. When we decided not to have a big wedding and to move forward with a mortgage, we ended up losing that money. It sucked. But I am glad we did what we did. I was too stressed in planning this huge ridiculous "party" that I couldn't enjoy myself. So basically, we didn't spend less because of the economy, but because of the reasons I just stated. Jeez, I am rambling today, LOL.

[tortoisegirl]

Our budget wasn't affected because it was set by my dad. Our honeymoon may be less than we'd like based on our level of savings over the next year (we're going a year after the wedding and paying for it ourselves and with gift money). Personally we're doing better financially than before the economy crash because we were both hired during it for full-time professional jobs! Feeling pretty lucky right now.

[MrsGrady08]

It didn't effect us during the planning. But it did after!

I was working 40 hrs as a receptionist at a car dealership. Well two days after I came back the general manager (who is a jerk) cut my hours in HALF! he said it was because of the economy and they were not selling anything. A few weeks later I found out he asked and got a $1,000 a month raise!!!

Im happy to say I no longer work there!!

[tortoisegirl]

Good for you! That's totally not right. My company right now is probably one of the few that is actually hiring right now. We've almost doubled in the last 1-2 years.

[acidcookie]

I said no effect. Not as though we're going to do something extravagant, money or not, but because we would've been on a budget, had lots of DIY, etc. even with a great economy. Frugality is just a part of my lifestyle.

[Whitewater]

Actually, the recent downturn in the economy has had a direct effect on our budget! I'm trying to figure out how to make up for it right now, as a matter of fact, and the only thing I can think of is to ask my boss for more assignments.

See, about half of our available money comes from an insurance pay-out. No tax issues, nothing like that, couldn't have come at a better time. When we got the letter, it said that we'd get a certain amount, so, that's what I budgeted for.

Three months later, well . . . . we just got the check in Fiance's checking account via direct deposit and it's for $200 less than what they said it would be! Argh! Now, that might not sound like a lot of money but we're having a wedding for under $4000, hopefully, and that $200 could have paid for 75-80% of our total flower cost, so you see, relatively it *is* a lot.

Why can't insurance companies be as on the ball when THEY give US money as when they want OUR money???? If I'd taken 3 months to write them a 4-figure check, they would have raised holy heck!!! But somehow it's ok for them to make us wait? I can't stand it.

Anyway. So we have to make up that shortfall somehow. We're still brainstorming on how.

In the meantime, because of this insurance payment, we FINALLY have enough money to start putting deposits down and actually contracting with our vendors! Hooray! I will start doing that next week.


Whitewater

[Aleta]

I voted for "no affect" because we originally planned on a budget. Greg and I agreed that we didn't want to go into debt for the wedding, so I bought things from day one of our engagement, so that the purchases could be spread out over time and more easily managed. We had a budget even broken down to the months of what was going to be paid and when. It really helped.

[MayBride599]

I am trying to do DIY project and cut things out. The main thing i've decided to do is make the bouquets myself. I made my friends wedding bouquet and 3 bridesmaids bouquets in 07.

[Moon.Dust.]

I was concerned for a minute there. with the rising cost of gas, plane fares were going up and we'd still hadn't gotten our plane tickets for the wedding! And we still had/have a lot to do. There was a moment where I was sure we were just going to have to cancel the whole thing.

[SoonToBeMrsBrown]

In some aspects, the economy has helped our budget. With diamond prices going down, our wedding bands (which both have several small diamonds) and gifts for the bridesmaids (necklaces) actually are going to cost a few hundred dollars less than if we had bought them 6 months ago.

Other than that, we're doing a lot of DIY. We're printing our own save-the-dates, invitations, programs and place cards, we're making our own favors, my grandmother is doing the flowers, his mom and aunts are cooking, my stepmom and step sister are making cupcakes, etc.

[burnsgirl001]

i voted "no effect"
the economy hasnt really had an effect on our wedding planning. we didnt "set a budget" when we started the whole process. we kinda just figured out what we wanted, then figured out how to make it happen for us. that being said, I had hoped that perhaps prices would go down a little bit, but anything with "wedding" or "bridal" in the name seems to be expensive. oh well.