Weddings downsize amid sour economy;
Solano area experts offer tips to keep costs down
Courtesy of Vallejo's Times-Herald
Written By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen
06/20/2010
Written By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen
06/20/2010
Barbara Ritter of Benicia says the worst part of trying to pull together a wedding on a shoestring is paring the guest list.
But it's either that or go broke -- so she and her fiancé Nathan Shobe of Richmond began scratching off names.
The couple is among what some experts say is a growing number of Americans having to stick to a strict budget while trying to create an event that meets their expectations. But local experts say it can be done.
Dealing with the injured sensibilities of the uninvited has been daunting, Ritter, 32, said.
"Most of my fiancé's family and most of our church aren't invited, and feelings are hurt and all we can say is, 'We love you, but we just can't afford it,' " she said.
Local wedding planners say a well thought-out guest list is essential for keeping costs down.
"First, be clear what kind of wedding you want," longtime Vallejo event planner Robin Gross said. "If you want a wedding on a small budget, don't invite 200 people."
The guests are what make the wedding either "just a party" or a fun, meaningful celebration of marriage -- so choose carefully, said Jason Diavatis of Benicia, Bay Area Entertainment owner and event planner. Keeping to a budget can be challenging, Ritter admits.
"I have a lot of resources for planning a wedding on a budget, but it's easy to get carried away, wanting to do more and more," she said. "Even if something is cheap, a lot of inexpensive things adds up to expensive."
Some experts say that the days of "Daddy" paying for his daughter's extravagant wedding have mostly gone the way of Father Knows Best, so Ritter is far from alone. In Ritter's case, most of her small wedding budget is coming from her mother, she said. But many Americans couples are getting little or no financial help, experts say.
Set priorities, experts say. For instance, carefully consider the menu, Gross said. "Don't have a stuffed pig if most of your guests are vegetarians," she said.
Diavatis, however, says entertainment trumps food. "If the food is good but the entertainment stinks, the people will eat and leave," he said. "If the food isn't the best but the entertainment is great, they'll stay."
Before the recession, it was not unusual for people to go into five years worth of debt for a wedding, Diavatis said.
But it's either that or go broke -- so she and her fiancé Nathan Shobe of Richmond began scratching off names.
The couple is among what some experts say is a growing number of Americans having to stick to a strict budget while trying to create an event that meets their expectations. But local experts say it can be done.
Dealing with the injured sensibilities of the uninvited has been daunting, Ritter, 32, said.
"Most of my fiancé's family and most of our church aren't invited, and feelings are hurt and all we can say is, 'We love you, but we just can't afford it,' " she said.
Local wedding planners say a well thought-out guest list is essential for keeping costs down.
"First, be clear what kind of wedding you want," longtime Vallejo event planner Robin Gross said. "If you want a wedding on a small budget, don't invite 200 people."
The guests are what make the wedding either "just a party" or a fun, meaningful celebration of marriage -- so choose carefully, said Jason Diavatis of Benicia, Bay Area Entertainment owner and event planner. Keeping to a budget can be challenging, Ritter admits.
"I have a lot of resources for planning a wedding on a budget, but it's easy to get carried away, wanting to do more and more," she said. "Even if something is cheap, a lot of inexpensive things adds up to expensive."
Some experts say that the days of "Daddy" paying for his daughter's extravagant wedding have mostly gone the way of Father Knows Best, so Ritter is far from alone. In Ritter's case, most of her small wedding budget is coming from her mother, she said. But many Americans couples are getting little or no financial help, experts say.
Set priorities, experts say. For instance, carefully consider the menu, Gross said. "Don't have a stuffed pig if most of your guests are vegetarians," she said.
Diavatis, however, says entertainment trumps food. "If the food is good but the entertainment stinks, the people will eat and leave," he said. "If the food isn't the best but the entertainment is great, they'll stay."
Before the recession, it was not unusual for people to go into five years worth of debt for a wedding, Diavatis said.
