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.