Keepin' it real in the recession: Wedding Edition

A few weeks ago, I was back home in Overland Park, Kan., and attended a bridal show. I went expecting a few brides, a few vendors and a waste of $10. But when I walked into that room and saw literally hundreds of brides, maids of honor and mothers of the brides, a handful of uncomfortable grooms and over 200 local vendors, I was shocked.

Aside from making connections and getting ideas, most were there for the free giveaways – 12 bridal gowns, six groom’s rings and six $500 gift certificates.

Almost all of the vendors had something other than a brochure to offer the passers-by.
I was coaxed into entering 30 or 40 raffles, was handed five or 10 free pieces of cake and left with a few pounds of brochures and postcards, most of which advertised discounts and specials.

This is wedding planning in a recession. In 2008, about 2.19 million couples got married on an average budget of $21,814. It is projected that in 2009, 2.22 million couples will marry for around $20,398.

So how are brides still spending $20,000 but keeping the cost lower than last year in a market where everything costs more?

Well, I didn’t survey every bride, but I can tell you what I’m doing: getting comfy with DIY. Do-it-yourself projects for weddings are becoming more and more popular among brides who are looking to cut costs.

For example, my mother is creating my invitations, save-the-dates, thank you cards, programs, menus and just about anything else you can create with a computer and printer. Because I don’t have to provide my mom any profits, the only thing we pay for is ink and paper.

One of the first things I did to start planning after getting engaged a year ago was thinking about everything I could do myself or that a friend or family member could do.

But don’t be surprised that a few vendors will still get some money from me.
Here are a couple of the things brides are doing to go a little easier on dad’s wallet.

1.Get married on a Sunday
I’m renting my reception site for $2,000 on a Sunday. The Friday price is $2,250, Monday through Thursday is $1,200 and Saturday is a pricier $2,800. Tying the knot during the wedding off-season months (November through April) could save you quite a bit too.

2.Hire a friend
If you have friends with talents useful to your wedding, put them to work! Most friends and family members are glad to help out. For example, if you happen to know a violinist, maybe he or she would be willing to play the ceremony music. Or maybe your aunt makes killer cupcakes and would make and decorate 150 of them for you in place of a cake.

3.Put the iPod to work
Why use a DJ when you have an iPod? Set up a playlist and ask a friend to “staff” your iPod during the reception, pausing it for cake-cutting and toasts. Most venues are equipped for you to be able to plug your mp3 player into their speakers.

4.BYOBartender
If you know anyone who has some practice in mixing drinks and opening beer bottles, buy your own alcohol and ask them to serve it. You can still offer to pay for their services, but if he or she is a friend, you’ll probably be able to charge them a little less than a “professional.”

So, if you’re courageous and are getting married during the recession, good luck! And be open to new things. For more ideas, check out my favorite wedding-planning Web sites: www.diybride.com and www.theknot.com.