Stephanie Rose Knows Dream Weddings

I’ve been talking a lot about the 24% drop in the average cost of a US wedding as reported by The Wedding Report quite a bit lately.

The amount of money brides spent on their weddings dropped in almost every category in 2008 for the first time in decades.  But there were a few exceptions.  Brides actually spent MORE in 2008 on ceremony location, the reception location, rentals, wedding bands, and tux rental.

Here’s the category by category breakdown of the changes in expense from 2007 to 2008.

Categories where brides spent LESS in 2008:

• Wedding dress……………..31% less
• Rehearsal dinner…………..34% less
• DJ…………………………………6% less
• Bridesmaid bouquets…….36% less
• Attendant gifts…………….38% less
• Wedding invitations……..34% less
• Engagement ring………….30% less
• Photographer………………26% less
• Videographer………………24% less
• Wedding cake……………..33% less
• Wedding favors…………….9% less
• Reception food service…53% less
• Limo rental…………………24% less

Categories where brides spent MORE in 2008:

• Tuxedo/suit…47% more
• Ceremony location…….108% more
• Bride bouquet……………….1% more
• Brides wedding band……21% more
• Grooms wedding band…38% more
• Reception bar service…..12% more
• Reception location………15% more
• Reception rentals………..84% more

Since the overall cost of average wedding decreased from $27,800 in 2007 to only $21,814 in 2008, how can we explain these increases?

What could be behind the 84% increase in reception rentals…the whopping 108% increase in ceremony location expense…the 15% increase in reception location?

Brides are beginning to shift their priorities.

2009 wedding trends will continue to show brides choosing smaller guests lists.  This will allow food, favor and invitation costs to decline while freeing them up to spend a bit more on the ceremony and reception location they prefer.

Brides are placing higher priority on the ceremony rather than the reception.

More brides are planning weddings at home that require tent, linen and other reception rentals.

Could it be that couples are purchasing the groom’s suit instead of renting, a thrifty choice when he can wear it again?

One thing is for sure: frugality is here for the long haul.

To learn more about why this is the best time to be planning your wedding and how to use the recession to your advantage and save $1,000’s on your wedding…check out my earlier post on the Breakdown of Average Wedding Costs and The $10,000 Dream Wedding.

Have you stumbled onto Etsy yet for inspiration and deals for your wedding?

If not, you’re missing out on a GEM.  Like Ebay for homemade crafts, it’s the perfect place for idea wedding inspiration, cool crafts and handmade goods at bargain prices.

It’s a perfect home for the budget bride.

But if you’re pressed for time, now there’s something even better…

Etsy Wedding Blog.

The author sifts through all the Etsy delights for you, highlighting the best Etsy wedding deals and the most unique, distinct treasures that will make your wedding totally you.

Check out these posts for the vintage bride…

For the poetically inclined…

Those seeking handmade wedding dresses under $500…

And more.  Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t spend your lunch hour surfing among Etsy’s delights.

Oh…did I mention that Etsy is a great resource for green wedding favors and accessories?

It only gets better.

Happy Etsying!

Afonso L De Faria

America’s Research Group recently surveyed our buying behavior and made some interesting discoveries.

Almost no one is buying…unless it’s on sale.

The three reasons we put off buying:

1) We’re not in the mood.

2) We’re worried about losing our job.

3) We want lots of stuff…but all of it costs more than we want to spend.

These findings and more are reported in this Daily Beast blog post by Lee Eisner, “Haggling Through the Apocalyse.”

But one of the most fascinating findings was that in 2007, only 56% of buyers negotiated the price during the holiday season…but in 2008 72% haggled for a deal. And the best part?  80% of the people who negotiated walked away with a better deal.

The conclusion: EVERY price is negotiable.

This is DOUBLY true with wedding prices.

There are 8 Rules in the Diva Dealing Game of Wedding Negotiating.  If you follow the rules you can literally create your own wedding discounts on every product and service for your wedding.

If you don’t know the rules…or if you don’t follow them…the wedding vendor wins and you waste hundreds or thousands of dollars you didn’t have to pay.

You don’t have to be a hard-nosed bitch or an “expert” negotiator to pull off Diva Dealing.  You just need to follow the rules.  And if you do, you WIN.

It’s up to you to make the most of the wedding budget you’ve got.  It’s up to you to stretch it to the max.

It’s easier now than ever before.

NOTE:  Learn the 8 Rules of the Diva Dealing Game in my eBook, “The $10,000 Dream Wedding.”  And for goodness’ sake…download the Bride’s Secret Weapon Report.  It will teach you everything you need to know to minimally save $300-3,000 on your wedding.

Michael Bucker/Getty Images

Did you check out the Oscars?  It was all about WHITE…dresses for wedding inspiration and maybe a twinge of jealousy.

From goddess chic to voluptuous curve-hugging gowns…princess ballroom dresses and sequines…mermaid cuts and A-lines…from classic ivory to champagne and metallics…a vertiable feast for a bride’s eyes.

Nina Callaway put together a terrific gallery of White Wedding Dresses At the Oscars.

This is my favorite by Tina Fey…most likely because I’m a huge fan.  She’s smart and sexy, sassy with ruthless wit and self-depreciating humor.  And she absolutely rocks this metallic number.

It also reminds me of the only wedding…the only wedding in hundreds that I’ve attended…where the bride DID NOT wear a white/ivory/champagne wedding gown.

This bride chose a silk wedding gown in soft lavender gray that clung to her curves.  She was absolutely ravishing.  It was sort of like this in a silvery tone, with a bit more up top, but the same elegance…

I still remember it to this day…

So if you’ve got an urge to buck the white trend, take your cues from the Oscars.  It’s a room stopper.

What’s your favorite Oscar inspiration?

Paul Falardeau

A bride recently emailed me with a request for more information.  I want this blog to be YOUR forum, so feel free to challenge me, question me…heck, even ridicule me…if this stuff isn’t valuable to you.  Here goes…

Q: Regarding your post about wedding costs decreasing, can you please cite where you got those numbers and what the breakdown of expenses is. I think brides would be interested in seeing what categories the decreases are in, if it is across the broad, etc. etc. - Maura

A: Maura,

Thanks for asking your question.  I’m getting the feeling that you doubt the numbers I quoted?

GOOD.

Don’t take anything “they” tell you for granted.  It’s Step One to planning your dream wedding inexpensive…and avoiding the lies the wedding industry wants you to believe so that you overspend on your wedding.

NOTE:  To learn more about the wedding industry’s LIES exposed, check out The $10,000 Dream Wedding and the Bride’s Secret Weapon Special Report.

On the other hand…is it tough to believe that the average cost of wedding is going down when everything “wedding” is so darn expensive and wedding vendors use any excuse to rack up the price?

Sure.

But it’s true.  Brides are beginning to reduce their expenses for the first time in decades.  And they actually spent 24% LESS on their weddings in 2008 than they did in 2007.

These statistics come from The Wedding Report and in particular their recent report, “Average Cost Of Wedding In 2008.”

And I quote…

“The average cost of a wedding in 2008 was $21,814. This is a 24% decline over the 2007 average of $28,704.”

This data was collected from 3,620 surveys of brides before and after their weddings, as well as wedding vendors.  These costs were not included: Honeymoon Items, Bridal Shower Invitations, Engagement Announcements, Engagement Ring, Bridal Shower, Engagement Party, Engagement Photographer, and Engagement Videographer.

A breakdown of costs by category is available for a fee at The Wedding Report.  However, the average cost of wedding expenses in every category is predicted to decrease in 2009.

In addition, wedding vendors report that brides are choosing to invest their money in entertainment and photography…the parts of the wedding associated with making and preserving memories…rather than areas of decor.  So the amount spent on entertainment and photography is remaining the same or only reducing slightly…while brides are spending much less on flowers, favors, invitations, etc.

I’ve posted the specifics on the average cost per item in 2008 as broken down in their report.  Bear in mind that this is a national average.  The average wedding cost is actually much higher in metropolitan areas (like where I am in New York) and much less in rural communities.

While this is bad news for the wedding industry…it’s GOOD NEWS for you as a bride. Vendors are scared and they are dropping prices to get your business. Knowing this information empowers you to get the best deals…so use it!

Your Friend & Wedding Coach,

Stephanie

2008 Average Spending per Item

Daniel Morrison

Want to really wow your guests and leave them saying that yours was the best wedding EVER?

It’s easy to accomplish this idea wedding.  And it costs little or no money to do.

Share your story.

The reason sharing your story creates a wedding that totally WOWS your guests and makes your wedding totally “you,” is because it involves your guests emotionally.

When your guests feel included and connected, they get ACTIVE.  They get ENGAGED.  They have FUN.

And the more your personality shines throughout your wedding day, the more unique, personal and original it is.  I’m not talking about the kind of personalization where you etch your name on everything in sight.  (More about the difference between getting “personal” and “personalized” is so important and how it can make or break your party in “The $10,000 Dream Wedding.”)

So HOW do you do it?  Here are 5 Ideas for Wedding Wowing…

1)  Share Your Love Story.  Tell your guests the story of how you met and fell in love.  Your officiant can spin the tale for you in your wedding ceremony.  Or have your entertainer do it.  Whatever you do, the more specific, juicy details…the better.

2)  Write Your Love Story.  Include details of your love story in your program or along with photographs of memories at each table.

3)  A Photo Montage.  Present a slideshow of photos of you and your fiance set to music at your reception.  If you can make your own Power Point presentation it’s a lot cheaper than hiring someone to do it.  Just make sure you have tissues handy!

4)  A Scrapbook Or Photo Album.  Put together a scrapbook of photos and mementoes of you and FI for your guests to page through at the reception.  You might even have them sign it as a guest book.

5)  A Digital Photo Frame.  This is an even cheaper alternative to a DIY wedding photo montage.  Just upload your favorite digital photos and it scrolls through the images to the music you choose.

These ideas are just the tip of the ice berg.  The more you can include your personality in your wedding, the more your guests will be impressed.

How are you planning to wow your guests?  Leave me a comment.

SpaceOdissey

The average cost of wedding plummeted to $21,814 in 2008.  This was a 24% DECREASE from the 2007 wedding cost of $28,704.

All throughout 2008 the wedding industry kept predicting the same thing it had seen for the past two decades…GROWTH.  “Wedding prices will keep going up,” they told themselves…and the brides they were trying to deceive.  “It’s inflation.  We have to keep raising our prices.”  And my favorite, “The wedding industry is recession-proof.”

WRONG.

The average wedding cost in 2009 is predicted to DROP another 8%…or more.

Is this a reason for you to get scared?  Should you give up and elope because there’s no way you can plan an affordable dream wedding?

Heck, no!  Now, more than ever…You’ve got the POWER.

Wedding vendors are scared.  They’re scrambling to hang on to their piece of the market…while recession-savvy brides are spending less.

Wedding vendors are dropping their prices to make the sale.

Just last week I learned that one popular wedding venue’s bookings are DOWN with 35 fewer jobs booked than last year.  A wedding planner friend of mine reports that venues are calling her up and begging her to send them jobs.

They’re begging.

All you’ve got to do is give a little shove and those wedding vendors will be slashing their prices to get your business.  Believe me, it won’t take much.  Just hint that you might walk away…and you’ll have them eating out of your hand.

If you’re not sure how to give that little shove to tip your wedding vendors in price slashing mode, download my free Bride’s Secret Weapon Report. 

It’s easier than you think.  It’s up to YOU to make the most of your wedding dollars to plan the wedding of your dreams.

Carlos Mendoza Lima

 “From tried and true to the brand new, couples young and older are choosing the best of everything to celebrate their love…”

Reads like a flippin’ Hallmark card, doesn’t it?

That quote is straight out of the “2009 Wedding Supplement” of the New York Times.  According to them, 2009 wedding trends show couples “sparing no expense” to have the BEST as a “celebration of their love.”  

The unspoken implication is that if you dare spend less…you just don’t value your love enough.

Are they living on another planet?  The brides I know are getting smart, trimming their budgets and spending where it makes the most impact.  I’m not seeing those “Spare No Expense” brides around these parts.

Ah, now I see…it’s the 2009 wedding advertising supplement.  Why that explains everything!

Watch out for those advertisements disguised as newspaper ads.  The wedding industry is still projecting the illusion of extravagant spending as the norm, as the average, even. 

Why would they do a thing like that?  Maybe it’s to brainwash you into spending MORE MONEY…money you didn’t have to spend.

Of course you still want the best for your wedding.  I want you to have the best, too.

But gone are the days when brides would spend $10,000 on a dress and brag about it.  Even brides who have the money are toning it down these days.

It’s cool to be frugal.  It’s hip to be thrifty.

The wedding industry will try to keep you in the dark as long as possible.  They want you to think you have to pay their ridiculously high prices to have your dream wedding.  The truth is…

Most brides pay 2-3 TIMES MORE than they have to pay on their weddings.

I expose the industry’s wedding Scams in my eBook, “The $10,000 Dream Wedding,” because I know you can have the wedding of your dreams for a fraction of the cost when you know exactly what to say and do to get the best deals.

DON’T BUY THE HYPE.  When you see a “newspaper ad,” scan the top and bottom carefully and read the small print.  “A special advertising supplement…”  “This is a paid advertisement…”

Proceed with caution. 

Got a scammy advertising story?  Leave me a comment.

Over 200,000 couples get engaged on Valentine’s Day every year. This figure comes from the diamond industry, so take that with a grain of salt.

But this video demonstrates what happens when you dare make a proposal on Friday the 13th, the day before Valentine’s Day. The poor idiot pops the question in the middle of a “romantic” basketball game…and guess what happens? Good thing that giant stuffed mouse was there to console him.

There are many proposal stories documented on the internet. It’s one of my favorite questions to ask couples because of what it reveals about them…especially the groom.

Here are 5 proposals styles I run into:

The Family Proposal - He waits until you are at a family gathering, usually around the holidays or on a family vacation, and pops the question. Sometimes public, other times private, the guy who proposes this way is extremely connected and dedicated to his family. The upside: he’ll make a good dad. The downside: you’re going to be really close with your mother-in-law.

The Romantic Proposal - He goes for romance and sentiment in the proposal…usually the place you met, the site of your new home, the location of your first date, the beach at sunset. This guy is sensitive and caring when it counts. The upside: he’ll never forget to bring you flowers on Valentine’s Day. The downside: he’ll likely try for romance at the wrong time or place.

The Public Proposal - He picks a very public, very visible way to propose; the question is on a billboard…the radio…on television. This guy is all about making a statement. When he’s committed, he wants to share it with the world. The upside: he’ll stand up for you and your relationship. The downside: um, you might not want to share your private moments with an audience.

The Elaborate Proposal - He creates an elaborate scenario to make his proposal: a scavenger hunt leading you across town, a plot involving the help of numerous friends or a complicated series of events. This guy is creative, fun, and innovative. (That’s not what I’m talking about! Get your mind out of the gutter.) The upside: he’ll surprise you and keep you entertained. The downside: it can be exhausting.

The Everyday Proposal - He pops the question while you’re at home watching TV or taking the dogs for a walk. He may or may not have a ring. This guy is spontaneous and lives in the moment. I admit: I’ve got LOTS of personal experience with this one. The upside: he’s sincere and down to earth; what you see is what you get. The downside: you’re not likely to get romantic gifts or flowers out of the blue.

What’s your proposal story?