Recession-Proofing Your Wedding Budget -Part 2

Brides & grooms often spend $ on "Optional Wedding Service Categories". Which categories are optional? Which are not? In our opinion, the following categories of wedding vendors/services are NOT optional, and even the most basic wedding has them:

• Formalwear (of some sort)
• Officiant
• Photography (to some degree)
• Rings
• Floral (to some degree)
• Cake or desserts
• Invitations
• Venue (can be a free one)

Here are the categories that we feel are completely optional, or could be used at their most basic level for serious money savings:

• Limos & Transportation
• Health (gyms, personal trainers, yoga, dance lessons, etc)
• Wedding planners/coordinators
• Printed materials
• Catering
• Videography
• Music services

Let's take catering as an example. Do you really need a full catered meal? Could you DIY your own catering and have snacks and hors d'oeuvres instead to go with your cake? The price difference between those 2 food options is staggering. Or videography for example too - Have a friend videotape your ceremony and sections of your reception! The $$ savings there too would be immense. Even so, maybe some of these items are not optional according to you! Take into consideration all the options you have in each category. Nearly every category has a DIY option, a basic option and a full service option. Ultimately, it's your wedding so decide the budget priorities for yourselves.

For more wedding planning and DIY information, go to http://www.nwweddingplace.com/ today!

Can you Recession-Proof your wedding?

All the economic buzz these days talks of recession. However, we know that weddings will never cease no matter what the economy does... :-)

Which wedding services are most effected by recession price increases and soaring fuel costs?
Catering/food, jewelry and transportation services are obvious categories seeing price increases lately. Slight increases may happen as well in some cases for gowns, flowers, DJ's, and officiant services all due to the increased costs of shipping and transporting these items/services. Categories that are relatively uneffected by recession are photography, tuxes, wedding planners, rental services (unless they are delivering), beauty, pre-marriage counseling, invitations & printing, and venues. Whether or not these items will see price increases "just because..." remains to be seen!

Stay tuned for more recession-proofing wedding ideas.

This Blog is dedicated to giving couples money saving tips for their wedding. For more great wedding-related information, free resources & advice, please go to http://www.nwweddingplace.com/!