Planning a Wedding in Today’s Economy

Don’t Let the Recession Blues Impact Your Big Day!

You’ve been dreaming about and planning your wedding since you were a little girl. Who knew an economy, like no other one in history, would have to be a factor in your special day! Unfortunately, reality is that, just like everyone else, brides and grooms, have to plan with our challenging economic times in mind. JoAnn Latorraco, General Manager of The Waters Edge at Giovanni’s, notes that while the economy is having an impact on some couple’s wedding day plans, there is a way to create the event of a lifetime, and stay within your newly trimmed budget. “Brides and their families are getting creative when planning a wedding in today’s economy,” said Latorraca. “There are useful ideas that can help young couples save money, yet still create their dream wedding.”

1. Carefully review your guest list. Limiting the number of guests quickly brings down the cost of a wedding. In the past couple of decades, it was not unheard of to have a wedding with 300 people. Now, couples want to create greater intimacy by making sure that their guest list reflects those closest to them.

2. Make creative food choices. It’s not necessary to offer guests a choice of multiple meat entrees. Consider one meat entree and one vegetarian dish. Or switch the chilled lobster appetizer for a salad.

3. Consider alternative dates for booking your hall. Those seeking greater value might wish to choose a Friday night or Sunday afternoon affair. Also think about having your wedding in the Winter months.

4. Prioritize your “must-haves.” Some couples feel music is the life of the party and must have that fabulous 10-piece band. Others feel flowers create the mood for the entire event. Certainly, dedicate more of your budget to the items that mean the most to you.

5. Save on the bridal gown. From sales at bridal shops, to online bridal exchanges, young women are finding creative ways to have that perfect wedding at a more affordable price.

6. Save on wedding favors. Instead of an expensive knick-knack, get creative. Potpourri, sachets or chocolates are inexpensive alternatives.

7. Skip the Destination Wedding idea. It’s not only more expensive for you, but it’s a burden on your guests who have to travel to get there.

8. Create a Honeymoon Registry. There are honeymoon websites that offer registries just like major retailers. Small donations from each of your guests add up.

9. Stay in the U.S. for your honeymoon. Rather than go overseas, save money and spend the money here to stimulate the U.S. economy!

10. Communicate with your wedding planner. Be sure your wedding venue and planner add value and are committed to working within your budget.

The Waters Edge at Giovanni's

Who pays?? For most newlyweds, they are.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Who is financing your wedding? For most newlyweds, they are.

HACKENSACK, NJ (October 24, 2008)-WedAlert.com, one of the most popular and fastest growing interactive online wedding planning directories on the Internet, today announced the results of its poll on who was financing their wedding.

The choices and results were as follows*:
Parents of Bride: 15%
Parents of Groom: 1%
The Couple: 57%
Combination of the above: 27%

This clearly reflect the changes in traditional financing of the wedding, where the parents of the bride primarily footed the bill. "It also reveals that couples today are more financially able to pay the expenses associated with a wedding than brides and grooms of the past", says David Ciccolella, a founder of WedAlert.

*Poll Disclaimer: WedAlert.com polls reflect the views of those who choose to respond and are not scientifically valid surveys. The results cannot be assumed to represent the opinions of Internet users in general, nor the public as a whole. WedAlert.com is not responsible for the content or opinions expressed in the polls.

About WedAlert.com Established in 1995, with headquarters in Hackensack, NJ, WedAlert.com is one of the most popular and fastest growing interactive online wedding planning directories on the Internet whose mission is to match the local bride and groom with wedding professionals in their geographic area, taking them from the engagement all the way through to the “I do” straight through to the honeymoon. By offering free access to the largest wedding song library on the Internet and other multimedia tools, such as virtual tours and streaming video, WedAlert.com saves couples both valuable time and money involved in planning their wedding. For more information, please visit www.WedAlert.com.

Slashing Wedding Food Costs

With rising gas costs and other expenses through the roof, Kelly Howell of
www.wedding-reception-food-ideas.com provides the following ideas to save money planning your wedding reception.

The cost for food and drinks for your wedding can easily climb to several thousand dollars, but it doesn't have to. Here are several tips that will save you money and still provide you with the classy wedding you've dreamed of:

1. The biggest cost saver, whether you are using a caterer or planning the food yourself, is to schedule the wedding and reception at a time of day when a full sit-down meal won't be expected by guests. An afternoon/evening cocktail or dessert reception can save you thousands of dollars when compared with an elaborate dinner.

2. Next, be smart when planning beverages for your reception. An open bar can break the bank. Consider a classy champagne punch or a wine instead (or even an alcohol-free punch). And remember that it is always less expensive to purchase and serve the drinks yourself than to pay a caterer or bartender to do so.

3. Second to alcohol, the biggest food and beverage expense is usually meat for the wedding reception or dinner. Keeping meat to a minimum is another easy way to trim your wedding food costs. Choosing a vegetarian entree, a dish whose main ingredient is not meat, or a less expensive cut of meat are all wise decisions that will positively impact your food budget.

4. Another easy place to save money is on the wedding cake. Bakers and caterers often charge anywhere from $2-6 per slice to make and/or serve the wedding cake. For about $1 per slice, you can purchase a nice cake at a bakery and have a friend cut and serve it at the reception.

5. If you are well-organized and have a good support system of friends and family willing to help, you may wish to consider planning and making your own food for your reception. You can save several thousand dollars by doing so. And it's not as difficult as you may think. Food for a dessert reception, for example, can be made ahead and served cold the day of the wedding with little effort on anyone's part. For many brides, the extra work is worth the savings if it means more money to spend on the honeymoon or being able to afford a designer wedding gown.

The food for your wedding is one of the easiest expenses to slash, while still allowing the smart bride and groom to host a very nice affair. Be creative, ask questions, don't be afraid to ask for cheaper menu items, and do as much yourselves as you can handle, and you will be able to trim hundreds (if not thousands) from your wedding food costs.

WedAlert tip: In certain locations some of the above suggestions are not feasible, but many catering halls/reception sites offer much cheaper price per plate (which include food and drinks) depending on the date and time of your reception. So while the reception hall may not permit you to bring in your own food, a Friday night or Sunday afternoon reception will be substantially less that a Saturday night.