Wenona Napolitano
The economy is causing people to cut corners in every imaginable place…weddings are no exception. Every expense is up. People struggle to make ends meet as gas and food prices continue to rise.
Who can afford to have their dream wedding in this society?
This past year in my local area I have seen the rebirth of the backyard wedding. Everywhere I went there were signs: so and so’s wedding, wedding reception here…and all the signs were in front of houses and pointed towards backyards.
I live next door and across the street from an American Legion and a Polish Legion. Both very popular rental venues for weddings and other parties. In past years they were bustling with noise and people every weekend, sometimes everyday of the weekend with weddings and parties going on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. This summer they remained mostly quiet and empty.The wedding venue where my own wedding was held five years ago (chapel and reception hall in the same place), Glen Gables, has been empty everytime I have driven by… when they used to be booked solid every weekend.
Several local wedding vendors and suppliers closed shop this year. Everyone is feeling the pain.
So what’s a bride to do?
Many brides are cutting costs and sacrificing unimportant details so they can focus on the most important elements of their big day…like sacrificing favors in lieu of flowers or cutting the flowers from their budgets so they can have their dream dress or even forgetting about a huge wedding so they can still have all the extras…just with fewer guests.
Other brides are getting creative and going DIY. Along with their friends and families, brides and grooms are getting hands on when it comes to their weddings. From doing their own flowers to making their own cakes they are doing it themselves to make things more affordable. Many brides are making their own invitations. Some even tackle designing and sewing their own dresses.
Other couples embrace the concept of green weddings. The less is more philosophy combined with keeping things small, simple, and sustainable are great ways to have an elegant wedding while staying well within budget.
Green weddings embrace the three R’s: reduce, reuse and recycle…which can go along way towards saving money especially when creatively applied during wedding planning.
So brides and grooms if you want to save green, consider going green.
For More About Green Weddings Check Out:
Going to the Chapel: Green Wedding Design
Everything Green Weddings and More
Eco Bridal: DIY, Upcycle or Handcraft Your Wedding Dress
