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Katherine Kangas and Matt McVay got engaged late last year, and soon after spent all their savings on a new house. So, like many couples getting married in the midst of the worst economy in decades, they decided their wedding would be a simple affair. They plan to have it in their backyard in a few months."I had to ask myself, 'How can we do this as economically as possible?' " said Kangas, 26, a Web designer who plans to spend about $5,000 for 100 guests by doing almost everything herself, including the invitations and food. "It's definitely going to be a budget wedding."
This summer and fall marks the first big wedding season since last year's economic meltdown. Whether they're planning big parties or intimate gatherings, couples are sticking to their budgets and downsizing their dreams in this rocky recession, experts say.
"Brides are watching their dollars," said Anja Winikka, editor of TheKnot.com, a popular online wedding planning site, which estimated the average cost of a wedding in 2008 to be $28,000. "Priorities may shift, or, if they keep the same budget, they're making sure they don't go over it."
Brides are opting for Sunday brunch receptions instead of Saturday sit-down dinners. They're tightening guest lists, hiring DJs instead of bands, going for candles instead of floral centerpieces and designing and printing their own invitations.
"I've even had a few brides postpone their weddings because of the economy," said Nicole Ha, whose Berryessa floral business, Nicole Ha Designs, is about 90 percent wedding-related.
On the flip side, bridal boutiques, flower shops, photographers and bakers are changing the way they do business. Some no longer insist on minimum orders and take payments in installments instead of requiring them upfront. Others may offer simpler, less expensive versions of their services. Retailers are keeping inventory tighter and stocking merchandise that's more reflective of the general mood to save instead of spend.
"Customers are much more sensitive to price — even our high-end customers," said Roger Blechman, who has owned Trudy's Brides and Special Occasion in Campbell since 1974.
While brides have customarily ordered their dresses at least six months before the wedding, he's noticed they're buying their gowns much closer to the date of the event, an indication that economic uncertainty is also affecting the way women traditionally buy their bridal gowns. And choices have been less formal and ostentatious.
"Sales are down but we've been in business long enough that when things turn around, we'll be ready," he said of his efforts to control inventory and offer more lower-priced dresses.
Joanne Ho-Young Lee, a former photojournalist who is now a wedding photographer, said her wedding-day package was a firm $6,200 before the downturn. She's now offering a lower-priced option for $4,500.
Jen Kwapinski of Jen's Cakes in Willow Glen said brides are whittling down their guest lists, sometimes by more than half. They're also ordering smaller display cakes for show at the reception, and then adding several sheet cakes to their orders. Her wedding cakes are priced at $6 a serving; the sheet cakes — undecorated versions of the fancy cake — are $1.50 a serving.
"They're also not getting as crazy," she said of a past trend for Mad Hatter cakes and other intricately decorated confections. "Now they want classic and elegant."
September bride Courtney Radonich, 27, is leaning toward a traditional three-tiered cake sprinkled with flowers. She's marrying fiance Gabriel Esposto, 31, at her family's Los Gatos ranch in front of 250 guests.
Food and drink will be provided at cost by Esposto's family, owner of a catering and rental business. Her biggest cost: photography at $5,000.
"My parents have been good about keeping me grounded on the spending," said Radonich, an executive assistant for a private equity firm. She settled on digitally printed invites over letterpress at one-third of the cost, as well as a less-pricey band at the reception. She also gave up a photo booth and string quartet. Still being considered: valet parking service at $2,000.
"Inviting 200 or 300 people used to be more common; now it's more like 100," said wedding planner Liz Guthrie, who estimates Bay Area weddings average $30,000 for a guest list of 100.
"Couples are waiting longer to book vendors because of cash flow issues, and many are having their weddings at home or a friend's house instead of a hotel or rented venue," said Guthrie, the owner of San Jose Wedding Consultants. There's also a trend to cut costs with do-it-yourself projects — invites, cake toppers, reception centerpieces.
Ha, the Berryessa florist, has seen creative use of rose petals and candles as centerpieces. Thankfully, she said, brides still want a professional to do their bouquets and bridal party flowers.
Even couples planning large nuptials have found places to tighten purse strings.
Since they got engaged last summer, there has been no question that Georgia Lampros and Chris Dalikas would have a big wedding.
"We're Greek and my fiance has a very large family," said Lampros, 33, a first-grade teacher at Portola Elementary School in San Bruno. Weeks before their June 27 nuptials, the guest list numbered about 400.
Lampros is about $10,000 over her initial budget of $50,000, but she says she's kept costs in check and compromised as recession worries surfaced, arranging discounts for her bridesmaids' dresses, favors and food. Instead of a four-course dinner reception in San Francisco, she'll have a three-course meal in Foster City.
"It's a once in a lifetime event," she said. "We are fortunate to have families that helped us financially."
