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I don’t need to tell you that we are currently living in an economic crisis. It’s all over the news, and you really can’t go a day without hearing about it. For some people, this economic crisis hits closer to home than for others. Living in New York City, the financial sector is one of the biggest industries here. Mr. Swan WAS a part of that industry for 5 1/2 years, until early December. Yes, that’s right, Mr. Swan was downsized, laid off, his position was “eliminated”… whatever you want to call it!
I have to admit that it was initially very hard to want to move forward with the wedding planning.
Mr. Swan and I have been trying to make this wedding as economical as we can while still trying to have the wedding we want. We don’t have the need for engraved invitations and a stretch Hummer (nothing wrong with those, just not us), but we’re not planning to go completely “budget” either. It seems like we are not the only ones.
For a moment, we thought of scrapping the wedding altogether in favor of a very, very small family wedding, or maybe having a destination wedding. For me, it was hard to even think about spending that kind of money on one day, even one as special as this one. We decided to move forward with our plans, but not without some careful thought. We are bit older, a little more settled, and so have the financial resources to pay for this ourselves. In the end, we’ll be married; it is just a matter of HOW we are choosing to accomplish that. Our vows and our future life together are still the most important things and will be what I have to look back on later in life.
At the same time, we have been getting the most out of our budget that we can, and continue to do so. I guess that’s all we can really do.
Has the economic downturn hit you close to home? How has it affected your wedding plans?
I’m sorry to hear that, hopefully things will turn around for Mr. Swan!
We weren’t planning on buying a home this year, but because of the economy we are seriously considering it. Right now we are saving a ton of money by living at home, which was how we planned ot pay for most of the wedding- with our parents help too. Now with the first time home buyer tax credit and low interest rates, we are hoping to buy a home this year, which has completely made us re-think or budget.
We’ve been trying to come up with different ways to save. Like we are considering using Costco for our cake, I am learning how to bargain/ask for discounts. I’m looking forward to reading about your budget ideas!
It hasn’t affected my plans *yet*, but it has led to the development of a back-up plan. If anything happens in the next six months, we’ll lose our deposits (relatively small) and throw a small party in the backyard with close friends. Otherwise, we’re still planning for a relatively big, non-bank busting (but non-mini budget, either) wedding.
My parents were originally contributing quite a bit as it is my side of the family that is ridiculously large. However, with my mom losing her job in November, there are several aspects that we have scaled back. Things like flowers, appetizers, and full scale bar, have taken a back seat.
The economy hasn’t hit us hard since well, we’ve been on a budget to begin with! I feel more and more GREAT about our budget…especially when I read something like the article…I don’t feel so alone! 
Its hit home for us, as the FI got laid off a few months ago. Luckily he just got a job this week, but at a substantial pay decrease.
At this point its a job, and were lucky he could find it, even if that means cutting back on everything. Luckily, my parents are paying for our wedding with some help from us, but I have been saving for quite some time, so the money is there. If we had to pay for this ourselves, I honesly dont know what we would do. We were in the middle of buying a house and everything, but the stupid economy had to take a nose dive…
….its funny to have graduated last winter with a finance degree…talk about bad timing for me!
It has DEFINITELY hit us… my FI graduated college in December and is STILL looking for a job… we cannot afford to live on our own right now… I’ve been living at my parent’s home - and him at his parents home. With just 2 weeks Saturday until our wedding… we might have to live with my parents - which I absolutely HATE!
It hasnt hit us too hard, luckily…but we’re not going too crazy either. We know what we can afford and we’re actually using our own cars for transportation since we live so close to our venue. Good luck.
Although we haven’t been hit hard, we never did have much money for the wedding anyways. But I’ll tell you, my FI’s idea of a beach wedding (which I initially vetoed) is now going to be a reality…since we don’t have to pay to rent the space. And a BBQ reception in the beach picnic area is looking better every day.
Luckily, we haven’t been hit too hard by the economic downturn; however I did lose my part-time, second, job when the company went out of business. I am so grateful that I was not relying on that as my sole income like so many people I knew. I look forward to seeing your wedding plans come together!!
a hair tip!
http://www.sandersonimages.com/blog/2009/02/lola-and-boladji-in-punta-cana.html
FAB-U-LOUS.
I hear you we have also been hit with the economic times as well. My fiancee is an autobody tech and his shop has slowed down. So that amazing OT that we had been banking on is no longer there. To make up for this we both got Second Jobs!!
I got laid off in August, and have not been able to find a decent job since–I wanted to throw out the wedding plans, but we ended up having a beautiful church wedding and museum reception with 200 guests 2 weeks ago…It took alot of hard work and creativity: I scoured craigslist for my dj, photog, and caterer, paid $2000 for all of that total, everyone was well fed (I promise it was good–beef and chicken fajitas,rice, with guacamole and the works), danced all night, and we have some fabulous photos. The bridesmaids made a cute and delicious dessert bar, beer and good wine sufficed, and I teamed up with other brides to barter everything from place-settings, to service staff and linens. I know this economy sucks, but nobody should throw away their plans, just figure out what you want and how to get it. In the end, our totals came out $8,600, including a mini-moon. I know it’s still alot for some, including me, but we couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful and enjoyable time and we don’t regret one cent spent. Of course, my new husband said he would have felt just as excited to marry me by a dumpster–at least I know it’s true love.
Hey everyone,
I know that it’s hard out there now, but it’s good to see everyone making the decision that is best for them.
@wedinred- ooh..I like that style..hmmm…
@Sol - your wedding sounds lovely!
So far we havnt really been hit by the economy. We were really lucky in the fact that my FI got a call from a company that he had worked for a couple years ago for about 5 years wanting to rehire him. He was currently working for himself and wanted something more secure. Now the only thing we have to worry about is being transferred to St. Louis(6 hours away), but they said they would send us there before letting him go again….
As of now we dont really have a budget. I am planing it by ear. I look at something, show it to the boy, we talk about it and if we can afford it we get it, if not we dont. I have never been good at sticking to a list or anything like that.
I’m sorry to hear about Mr. Swan! I was laid off last year, and we strongly considered eloping after that. We thought about it for a long time, and decided to go ahead with our plans. It still kills me to think about all of that money, though….eep!
definitely hit. i switched jobs because of the downturn, but hey, now i’m doing something i enjoy more.
we did, however, cut our guest list from 120 to 40, and although the cost reduction wasn’t proportionate, we are happy with how things are shaping up for us - a small, intimate wedding with only those who matter most.
all the best to you & Mr Swan! we’re slowly but surely seeing signs of a gradual recovery, so hang in there!
We went from my parents paying for it to us using our house down payment to pay for it. 
My parents are going to pay to rent the venue and help with food but that’s it. It sucks but its not their fault, my dad’s lucky to still have a job. Hoping that the $8k tax credit gets extended past Nov 30…
Sorry to hear about Mr. S! Everyone is getting hit. Mr. P was laid off very briefly and, though he had a nice severance, we still belt tightened.
In my area, we were slower to see any impact of the downturned economy, but we are starting to see more lay offs around here. Luckily, my fiance and I have secure jobs, as do my parents, and his parents are retired. Financially, we are pretty steady. But we are being cautious. It’s our goal to spend an amount that will leave us not owing a penny for our wedding on our wedding day.
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Mrs. Swan, New York City Age and Occupation: 31, Legislative Representative Fiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Finance Guy Engagement Date: August 9, 2008 Wedding Date: August 2009 Venue: Battery Gardens About Me: I am an un-crafty but resourceful, Caribbean-born but New York-raised woman who's been known to analyze "Dancing with the Stars" and “So You Think You Can Dance”, buy stinky cheese, and use way too many parentheses. I keep lists for fun, am constantly daydreaming of my next international travel adventure (four continents down, three to go), debating sports (let’s Got Mets/Giants!) and dancing around my apartment to stay sane. I am excited to share our wedding planning journey as I hope to plan a streamlined, personal, and fun wedding with the greatest life partner I could ever imagine, Mr. Swan.
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