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With 25 days to go, the last week has brought some major changes to our guest list. We have had seven guests withdraw their affirmative RSVPs and inform us that they will no longer be attending our wedding. For some couples, this might not be a huge number, but this was more than 10% of our guest list. Our official head count, including bride and groom, is now 59. The dismal economy and skyrocketing unemployment numbers have affected many of our guests. When it came time to buy plane tickets, they just couldn’t make the numbers work. It makes us terribly sad that these special friends won’t be with us on our big day. We know they would be there if they could, and we would never ask them to overextend themselves for our wedding, but the last week has been pretty disappointing.
The struggling economy has been an issue for many couples planning weddings, and even vendors are starting to feel it too.
MSNBC covered the issue in this article on Monday. Couples are stretching their budgets and getting creative in order to make the most of their dollars. While a destination wedding is often considered cheaper to host because there are less guests, it can put a major financial burden on guests. We figured that the average cost for a couple attending our wedding will be about $1000 just for airfare and lodging. We tried to keep their budgets in mind during the planning process. We secured a discounted room block at a hotel that was accessible via public transit from the airport. We are also providing a shuttle bus for our guests from the hotel in San Francisco to the wedding site in the Napa Valley (eco and budget friendly!). This means that nobody has to rent a car unless they choose to do so.
Is the economy impacting your guest list?
Ms. PN, it has definitely affected us, too. We are having a larger wedding, because Mr. Hops didn’t want to cut his guest list down. I wanted something smaller, but now I’m grateful we invited so many. 270 invites went out, and we are having about 210 on October 4th. So, that’s a real difference in headcount. This has given me the chance to invite 3 of the new guys with whom I work, because we’re guaranteeing 225. Either way, we’re under. Most apologies were financial. These really are becoming sad and tough times.
Totally - we live in Alberta, Canada and are getting married in Eastern Ontario. We had originally invited 160 people, and our guest list is 68. Part of me feels like…unpopular or something - but I have to keep reminding myself it’s over a long weekend and people have to travel there. And I just remind myself of the 68 people that will be there to love and celebrate with us…that keeps me going!!
i’m sorry to hear that people you love won’t be able to make it. however, we invited 70 people and ended up with 43 (including the bride and groom) and as it turned out, i wouldn’t have had it any other way. it was intimate and personal. we got to enjoy everyone who came to spend the weekend us.
some things work out for a reason. be sure to send all those guests who couldn’t make it some pictures so they can feel a part of the celebration.
Definitely! We’ve been invited to several out-of-state weddings that we’ve had to sadly decline because of how expensive airfare was.
Also, I completely agree with Onion. I recently attended a wedding with maybe 50 guests and it was one of the most beautiful weddings I’ve ever been to— very warm and intimate. Everyone really got a change to get to know each other and it was really lovely.
I haven’t sent out our invites yet, but pretty much all of our family and friends live in the GTA. I’ve already gotten confirmation from my side of the family… they’re coming from the States and the UK… The FH’s side, there are only a couple who live abroad, so it’s all good. Hey this at least gives you a chance to use your B list (if you have one).
Keep your head up!
I agree Ms. PN. Most people tried to make the numbers work but it just was simply too much for most of our guests.
Our wedding is in Turks and Caicos and although we offered discounted airfare and hotel rates, many of our guests simply could not make their budgets work….of the 100 people we invited, only 30 are coming. Besides work and school commitments, a few of those that couldn’t make it mentioned that they tried to redeem their miles to save on costs but since airlines are raising prices, they’re also changing the amount of miles needed for a trip thus making it nearly impossible to use miles.
This kinda makes me regret having a destination wedding but we know that everyone who is coming and those who aren’t are really excited and happy for us!
Sounds like I’m not alone in this! We actually invited about 80 people, these 7 in particular had RSVP’ed Yes and now they have changed their minds because they can’t afford it.
Don’t you just hate the economy right now?! We were slated to have a November wedding and recently had to postpone the whole darn thing until June 09 due to the economy! So, I hear you, Miss PN. Hang in there. It can be disappointing, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel!
I feel really guilty planning a wedding in the midst of all this turmoil. We’ve scaled back a lot of things right now, so that we can be in the best financial position for the wedding.
I’m just hanging on for some significant changes up ahead (I hope).
oh man…you have no idea how bad the economy is impacting our wedding and guest list. Las Vegas is no longer a cheap vacation destination. Its also during Spring Break, when the hotels raise their rates. =(
Yes. We haven’t had anyone RSVP yes and then change their minds, but a few close friends and family members have told us that they can’t afford to make the trip. And ours isn’t even a destination wedding. It’s just that our families and friends are spread all over the world.
I’m sad because all of Mr. Avocado’s guests are saying no (his are all of the out of town ones) and all of my guests are saying yes. He always says “this is your wedding” whenever I talk about planning decisions to be made, but I didn’t want that phrase to really come true!
I can sympathize completely!
We invited 150, and only about 80 are coming. Most of the invitees are from out of town, and I completely understand the financial pressures. Put in their shoes, I would probably be staying home too.
I am actually going to enjoy having a smaller group of people, and we will get more time to visit with some people we have not seen in a long time.
I love all things wedding related but the weak economy and high gas prices have really impacted our decision to attend weddings that we’ve been invited to. Such a bummer b/c I’m a social butterfly by nature.
I’m sure it will to some extent, but we have done a few things to try and minimize that. For starters - STD went out nice and early so that HOPEFULLY they will start looking into plane tickets now - waay in advance, so they might be more affordable. Plus the hotel is much cheaper than anyone would expect. and, while its a DW for all intensive purposes, its in the FL panhandle. So its a little cheaper than some places because of all the airport options.
So sad that people can’t be there with you because of the economy. Have you thought about video-blogging the wedding so they can still watch it and feel somewhat involved?
[...] as we had planned just to invite the immediate family and wedding party (about 26 people), but as our guest list dwindled we decided that we wanted to invite more guests to the rehearsal dinner. We got in touch with our [...]
[...] we had fashioned meet to elicit the unmediated kinsfolk and ceremony band (about 26 people), but as our temporary itemize dwindled we definite that we desired to elicit more guests to the practice dinner. We got in occurrence with [...]
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Mrs. Pinot Noir, New York/Napa Valley Age and Occupation: 24, Health Educator Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Market Researcher Engagement Date: November 10, 2007 Wedding Date: October, 2008 Blogging Since: June 25, 2008 Venue: Auberge du Soleil About Me: I am a Minnesota raised, NYC transplant planning a destination wedding in Napa. I'm balancing my love for the environment and my hubby-to-be's love for tradition to create our "green wedding in disguise." Our wedding will include local food and wine, antique touches and lots of love and laughter. When wedding planning isn't taking up my free time (and money) I love to read, cook, workout, watch baseball and travel! Follow along in my adventure as I attempt to plan an eco-friendly and socially responsible wedding (with eco-oblivious Mr. Pinot Noir).
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