As long as people still fall in love, there will be weddings.
Laura Bragg, manager of Reifsnyder's Bridal Boutique in Lancaster, shows one of the popular budget gow
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Diahann Byers-Cascarella holds a wedding cake at
Byers Butterflake Bakery in Leola, where styles vary
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And there will still be brides who want the special day of their dreams, complete with a beautiful gown, flowers and a traditional tiered wedding cake.
So, is the recent economic crunch taking a bite out of the wedding industry?
Local business people who dress, bake for and, literally, cater to all those brides and grooms, say while some brides still insist on the big dream wedding, regardless of cost, others are trying to tie the knot within a tighter budget.
As a result, merchants say, the trend is smaller and simpler. For example, couples preparing to wed are:
• Considering less-expensive options to the traditional three-tiered wedding cake.
• Inviting fewer people to the reception.
• Holding receptions in less-costly locales — in back yards or fire halls, rather than in banquet halls.
• Considering less expensive flowers.
• Being more practical and flexible in the selection of wedding gowns and attendants' gowns.
"People really want the most for the dollars that they have to spend," said Diahann Byers-Cascarella, who coordinates weddings for her family's business, Byers Butterflake Bakery in Leola.
"People are still getting married. They still want wedding cake. They are just more cautious. Maybe they're waiting a little bit longer, paying cash, not wanting to put food on credit cards," Byers-Cascarella said.
"We try to guide them, tell them what we have to offer and an idea of our pricing," Byers-Cascarella said.
A traditional three-tiered wedding cake for 100 guests, by the way, costs around $400.
To some, the price is not a problem, Byers-Cascarella said. They still want the fancy, traditional wedding cake. "They say, 'That's what I always wanted.' "
"If they want a tiered cake," but can't afford a large one, Byers-Cascarella said, "we tell them we can make that smaller and give them sheet cakes to serve their guests."
Feeling the Pinch: One in
a series of occasional stories on how the slumping economy impacts people here.
Another popular option, Byers-Cascarella said, are dessert stations, like a brunch or buffet, where guests have a choice of several different desserts.
Whatever they choose, Byers-Cascarella said, "they want it to taste good as well."
Jerry Russell, a general manager at Enck's Custom Catering in Manheim, agreed that the wedding receptions he handles seem to be more modest.
"They're not as fancy and they're smaller," Russell said. "They're having 50 or 60 people instead of 100 or more guests."
But the biggest savings of all, Russell said, is the location.
"We're doing more weddings on personal property – back yards, under tents – fire halls and church halls."
A local fire hall could be rented for about $100, Russell said, compared to another, more upscale location which could cost as much as $4,000 just for the facility alone, without the food.
David Moorehead, owner of Ace Rents in Lancaster, has noticed that receptions are not only getting simpler and smaller, but more people are doing more of it themselves.
"We have seen an increase in our business," Moorehead said, but he added, that he's noticed people are "down-sizing their parties and the money they spend."
Moorehead has also noticed that customers are increasingly renting out the "lower end" items, rather than selecting the more expensive choices, as a cost-cutting measure.
"For instance, instead of white chairs, they'll rent brown chairs...instead of going to a restaurant, they're doing things themselves.
What bride could get married without a bouquet of beautiful flowers?
Apparently not many, because a sampling of local florists said they haven't noticed any difference at all lately.
"Everybody has their own budget, but it's not economy-driven on their special day," said Jill Hoffines-Erb, owner of Floral Designs of Mount Joy.
"That one day, you're not going to worry what you're spending because you're not going to re-do it, you're not going to skimp and you're not going to cut back."
Sue Ellen Hendricks, of Hendricks' Flower Shop & Greenhouses in Lititz, agreed.
"I have not seen any cutbacks at all. People are still getting married and mothers are still considering this their daughter's special day."
That being said, Hendricks said, she believes their costs may start lower than some others because they grow most of their own flowers, which saves shipping costs.
"We have six greenhouses," Hendricks said. "Gerbera daisies are still popular and right now we have greenhouses full of them."
In Lancaster City, Flowers by Paulette manager Stephanie Clark said she has a number of tips for brides who need to watch their budget but still want the perfect bridal bouquet for themselves and their attendants.
Clark said she suggests replacing floral table centerpieces with floating candles and flower petals as one way to save money.
If they're trying to watch money, Clark said, "most brides are open to a flower that's similar in color" that may cost less. "They seem quite pleased with that."
And finally, the wedding gown.
While brides still want to be the center of attention with a special dress, merchants said they are becoming much more practical and flexible about their attendants' dresses.
"If they still want the traditional gown, they're spending less on accessories," said Laura Bragg, store manager of Reifsnyder's Bridal Boutique on North Franklin Street.
"Typically, the bride wears 'something borrowed,' " Bragg said, "and the most common piece of 'something borrowed,' is a veil, maybe their mother's bridal veil.
"Or for the less formal, some are just wearing a flower in their hair," Bragg said. "This time of year, that works really well."
"I see more brides coming in for the less traditional, less formal wedding dress, on a budget, looking at gowns in white or ivory, which are much less expensive," Bragg said.
"We have seen changes," Bragg said, "big changes."
Beverly Icenhour, owner of Bev's Bridals in Quarryville, has seen it, too.
"More and more people are cutting back – a lot. They're having outside weddings, lawn weddings, weddings at Susquehannock State Park. They're cutting back on the big, huge receptions. They're making their own invitations."
The trend for bridesmaids' dresses is definitely "buying dresses the girls could use again," Icenhour said. "The brides are really being good about that, telling their girls this is the color, you pick out the style you want. Same thing with shoes."
Cutting corners can be risky when it comes to buying wedding gowns on the Internet, Icenhour warns.
"You don't see it or know what kind of quality it is. And you'd better have a seamstress lined up," Icenhour adds, noting that the seamstress at her shop, like most others, only makes alterations on dresses they sell.
"I do know they love the service," Icenhour said of her in-house alterations.
"This is their big day and they deserve to have a beautiful wedding, whether she has lots of money or not," Icenhour said. "Both deserve the best."
Staff writer Janet Kelley can be reached at jkelley@LNPnews.com or 481-6026.
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