Although only some of us have the right of being legally bound to another person (don’t accuse of being saltier than Lawry’s, I’m just saying), there’s no sense in being petty: I’m all for two people celebrating their choice to be miserable.
However, with investments shrinking, jobs being slashed, and money being tight the celebration has had to scale back majorly for many couples.
The average cost of a wedding in the U.S. in the first quarter was $19,212, down from $21,814 last year and $26,450 in 2005, according to Wedding Report Inc.
A survey by Brides.com earlier this year revealed that 82% of the responding couples noted that they set a budget before they started planning their wedding. That’s up from 72% in the previous survey in 2006.
Prospective bride and grooms are making cuts to their budgets via trims to their guest lists, looking for deals with florists, and holding ceremonies in much smaller venues.
I’m sure some have even gone as far as to cancel the caterer and hit Costco with the hopes that their mother doesn’t mind handling the fixings. Or stop by the local fast food chain.
Financial restraints aside, not every inexpensive wedding has to look cheap. In a report by the Wall Street Journal, they offer tips on how to have a beautiful yet recession-friendly ceremony.
Some of the suggestions include traveling outside of your hometown for your nuptials or holding them at area parks. Though I like both ideas, for those of you living in California I suggest you check to see if your local park will still be open by the time of your wedding day.
Other suggestions go as far as to encouraging using broken jewelry to help create a wedding ring. It could be worse: You could get married by "Elvis" in Reno.
Got any tips on how to have a spiffy wedding on the cheap?
C’mon ya’ll, let’s stretch that money like elastic.
Email me at therecessiondiaries@gmail.com.
Michael Arceneaux hails from Houston, lives in Harlem and praises Beyoncé’s name wherever he goes. Follow him on Twitter.