Recession-Proof Your Wedding: Planning for the Wallet Conscious

Whether you live in the United States, Ireland or even a remote area of China, you know that the world is in a financial crunch. The trickle down effect is causing the United States’ economic troubles to spread like wildfire across the globe, impacting market and individuals the world over. Does this mean that if you are planning your wedding you should give up and go get married at City Hall? Absolutely not. While you may not be able to afford the lavish wedding you may have always wanted right now, there are plenty of ways to save pennies and still have a beautiful, elegant wedding.

• Enlist friends as photographers. A couple recently got married in Oakland, CA, and instead of hiring a professional photographer, they just asked that all of the people attending bring their camera and snap as many shots as they felt like taking. Because your family and friends will probably have varying photographic eyes, you will get a lot of wonderful unique pictures while saving money.
• If you are a hands-on, DIY (do-it-yourself) kind of couple and you had hoped to have a small, casual wedding to begin with, you could have a potluck reception. Roll up your sleeves the night before the big day and make a couple of your favorite dishes, and ask your guests to do the same. If you hold the wedding and reception in the same place, you can have guests stick their contributes in the fridge pre-ceremony and feast when you are done exchanging those vows.
• Consider outfitting the wedding party in second hand clothes. Call it vintage, call it used, but not buying new dresses and tuxes can save everybody money, not just the bride and groom. Have fun shopping at vintage stores in your city and others. A day’s outing could even be done with bridesmaids and groomsmen, letting go of having matching dresses and tuxes and simply looking for a classic style at an affordable price.
• If you had already been considering an outdoor wedding, keep an eye out for public parks or community gardens. These settings can be just as beautiful as their country-club or vineyard counterparts, but they will probably be a lot softer on the wallet. You can also consider what spaces might be sentimental to you (say, a public park where you played frequently as a child) and have the ceremony there. Having your ceremony in an outdoor garden can also save you the added expense of decorating an indoor space with flowers.

One area where you might not want to skimp is on your engagement and wedding rings. Quality, unique jewelry will last a lifetime, just like your marriage. For the best in Celtic wedding jewelry, visit Irish Celtic Jewels. We feature the best in Celtic jewelry that is crafted in Ireland. We have a large selection of Irish wedding bands and engagement rings that can help lend a distinct sentiment to your vows. We have the highest in quality customer service and superior products, and guarantee you will always find what you are looking for.