Re-Think Extravagance: The Silver Lining In The Recession Story

Over the past year many brides have simply canceled their wedding plans, hoping for better economic times. For many, the times are not changing as fast as they had hoped when they first made the decision to hold off wedding planning for a while.

Young women who have put their wedding plans on hold are now starting to move forward with their wedding planning but now with a completely different mindset. As a wedding photographer, I have had the opportunity to talk to some brides-to-be and here are some of the things that they are doing to be creative with their limited budgets.

Heather from Scottsdale AZ found a friend who will get all of the flowers at a wholesale market and Heather and her bridesmaids are going to make their own bouquets the night before the wedding. Heather told me that they are going to make a party of it since they are not going to be having a rehearsal dinner party the night before so as to cut costs further.

Cheese platters and veggie plates from Sam’s Club is what they will be serving their guests. And the church will already be decorated since the wedding is set for December.

They will no longer need the services of a wedding photographer because Heather’s brother has been studying photography.

The wedding industry and wedding planning itself is being turned upside down by the recession. Couples who can spring for the 6 figure weddings are re-prioritizing and taking a more sensitive posture. Instead of offering a $200 monogrammed iPod as wedding favors, they are now having the baker monogram cookies. Gently used gowns and rented jewelry are the latest wedding fashion statement.

The recession has a sliver lining, and that is that it is teaching us how to re-think extravagance. What we are seeing in wedding planning changes could very well be a permanent rather than a trend. Weddings were on a high flying roll with brides trying to out do the last wedding they attended or read about.

What we may be seeing here is a simple correction.