If you keep up with current events as I have to for the day job, you know that the news is brimming with doom and gloom when it comes to the economy, even when it comes to happy events like weddings and babies. People are holding off on starting their families because of the economy, but at least people aren’t holding off on getting married — they’re just cutting back their wedding budgets.

Flickr photo by FamilyMan5k

The L.A. Times ran down the budget cutback details of one bride — invitations from Costco, a wedding cake baked by an aunt, wedding rings bought with coupons.

Scaled back, downgraded, digitized and homespun, weddings are getting a major economic makeover this year. While the number of weddings scheduled to take place in the U.S. in 2009 remains steady at 2.2 million, a recent “What’s on Brides’ Minds” survey conducted for gown emporium David’s Bridal found that 75% of brides-to-be said they would have to make adjustments to their wedding budget as a result of the economic climate. The average cost of a couple’s publicly traded “I do’s” is now $19,212, down 33% from its peak of $28,732 in 2007, according to the Tucson-based research firm the Wedding Report.

In the same issue of the LAT, there was also a story about the shift toward simpler i.e. more inexpensive wedding dresses. Now, I know I basically am part of the industry, but truly I applaud these changes and shifts toward simplicity — amid all the details, brides tend to forget that the whole point of all the hoopla is to get married.

If you think about it a wedding is at its heart a big party. What are the essential ingredients for a party? People, music and food. You really don’t even need alcohol.

Last Sunday, it so happened that our little church sat down to a homecooked meal to celebrate the pastor and first lady’s 17th anniversary. Conversation naturally turned toward weddings and how everyone got married. Our pastor and first lady first married in a civil ceremony at a courthouse, and later married again in a backyard ceremony at her mother’s house. Her mother’s house, apparently, was the site of many family weddings, and because their whole family was full of women who could cook like no one else’s businesses, their parties were never catered.

Then there’s the example of me. This is a short version of the story, but my husband and I pulled our available friends and family together for an impromptu reading of vows at a park overlooking the ocean. Cost? Free. It was probably not done in the most legal sense — we probably should have obtained a permit or something — but we just told everyone to meet us at a specific address, were there less than half an hour and everybody stood while we got married.

And like I mentioned earlier, weddings have more often than not become drunkfests. Not that you shouldn’t if you can, but if you can’t afford it, why bother? You wouldn’t buy a round for everyone at a bar if you didn’t have the money, so why do it at your wedding? You’re already feeding everyone, no need to lubricate them too. Seriously, you don’t even need champagne — just get sparkling apple cider and you don’t even have to worry about not giving that to the kiddies.

Have you changed your wedding as a result of the economy? Tell me how, leave me a comment!