Economy raining on anyone elses parade

[BurghFan111]

I'm curious to know if the economy is having an adverse affect on anyone elses planned wedding. We are all set for next September on DCL but after sending out invitations so many responses have not been good ones. Many friends and family have been laid off, waiting to be laid off, or are in fear of layoffs. Most have informed us they just can not commit to a destination wedding. Our numbers have ended up being so much lower than anticipated we are disappointed with the entire situation. Just curious to know if we are the only ones?

 

[JenandJosh2009]

I'm curious to know if the economy is having an adverse affect on anyone elses planned wedding. We are all set for next September on DCL but after sending out invitations so many responses have not been good ones. Many friends and family have been laid off, waiting to be laid off, or are in fear of layoffs. Most have informed us they just can not commit to a destination wedding. Our numbers have ended up being so much lower than anticipated we are disappointed with the entire situation. Just curious to know if we are the only ones?

I'm so sorry to hear that I'm not that far along yet in the process to know how the economy will affect my guest list but it's definitely affecting our planning and budget. We were planning on looking into getting a loan for the wedding but now most banks and companies are no longer extending loans

 

[BurghFan111]

yes loans are no picnic these days even with the 800 billion that banks are just hoarding.

 

[RachaelA]

I wouldn't want to take a loan out even if the economy wasn't so bad. I just don't see going into debt for a wedding no matter how much I want to do for the wedding. Going into a marriage with even more debt doesn't seem like a good idea.

 

[disneygal922]

We still have quite some time before our wedding but... DF was just laid-off last week. I'm trying not to freak out but I'm definitely worried seeing as we are paying for it ourselves. Also, we planned the wedding far enough in advance so we'd be able to save... Guess we just need to wait and see what happens!

 

[BecBennett]

It's not so much the economy as the exchange rate. Whilst the Australian economy doesn't look to be too affected at the moment, the difference between how much you get for the AU$ now, compared to say in March is rediculous! It was almost equal the American $, but now it's almost half!!

The exchange rate will end up being the deciding factor for us.

 

[JenandJosh2009]

I wouldn't want to take a loan out even if the economy wasn't so bad. I just don't see going into debt for a wedding no matter how much I want to do for the wedding. Going into a marriage with even more debt doesn't seem like a good idea.

I would normally agree with you, but unfortunately due to my law school loans and my DF's school loans, we are going to be so in the hole, we figured what's another lump in the pile? We only get to do this once!

 

[Tink_Kel]

I worry about it every day, and we are just having a small ceremony (but a nice Disneymoon). My DF's contract is up this month, and he isn't sure yet if they'll get picked up for another year...he does work as a Deputy Sheriff too, but sadly, they pay peanuts!

However, we already have most of the wedding and Disneymoon paid off. I already bought park tickets, pre-paid "Just Married" shoot with the Roots, my sister is giving us their time-share week at Boardwalk Villas, and we've been putting $ on our Disney gift card.

I'd just suggest pre-paying as much as you can...if something happens that you can't go as planned, you'd have a good start on your next trip.

I'm with the above poster that says they refuse to start their new life together in debt.

 

[BurghFan111]

I agree with everything said. For us we have figured out how to pay for the wedding but our problem is our guest are afraid to commit. We secured locked in pricing but in this economy it is hard to blame them(although we would be there somehow some way if reversed - but that is )

 

[rumrunnergirl]

We are having an Escape wedding and invited 16 guests. So far the only ones who said they'll be there are DH2B's Dad, Stepmom, and Mom. I told DH2B it would be a bummer if not many guests show up, but on the bright side we'll be able to plan more things - like put the kids in the Neverland Club and the adults go to 'Ohanas for dinner.

I was thinking if more people show up we might be able to do a DP, but with just a couple guests it won't work, so we could do a nice dinner instead.

It is our wedding, so as long as we are there - all is good.

 

[Pinkerbell1983]

It's the exchange rate with me too. When I started planning my wedding it was $2/£1 now its $1.4/£1 which makes things a lot more expensive. It's not affected my guest list, just the cost of my wedding, Im having to cut back on loads
I will be paying for anything over what I've save don a no interest credit card and then DF will pay it off straight away as he gets a bonus a couple of weeks after the wedding.

 

[BELLE16127]

My daughter is in the "same boat" so to say....and no pun intended....She and her fiancee are planning a wedding on the Wonder for November 2009, and they sent out the invitations so people would have a year to plan and save for the trip. They have received a few "no's" so far but she said it was from people she expected to be unable to come because of jobs and school. So far My husband, myself and our son are the ONLY "yes's".....the fiancee's family still have not booked and he is getting a bit worried. I feel so badly for him. but they are set on this.

They originally wanted to have a wedding at WDW and kept the cost at 15000.00 but the tax and gratuities hit hard and they didn't want to wait another year to save the $$ so the cruise was the next best thing and they are doing it with all the guests or with just myself and her dad.....I don't blame them, we will do whatever we can to make this an AMAZING WEDDING for the kids.

Here's hoping that each and every one of you girls get the wedding you want...

 

[tinkerlisa]

Us too! I am a SAHM and my fiance works. They are laying off 900 more people(after the 700 they did 6 weeks ago!) His job is not in jeopardy(so he says) but I can't help but be nervous. I wanted to do a sand ceremony and have our kids have their own little flowers but i am going to cut those ideas out now to save money. One of his sisters(my fav) can't go cuz of their money woes and his other sister just quit her job so i doubt she will go. my mom however, is the one i thought that would not be going(that would KILL ME) and she got her disney brochure and has made an appointment with her travel agent for february(after taxes). my aunt may go i am not sure and my cousin definitly will since she lives in florida!
I even said that as long as my cousin and her hubby are there, i dont care if anybody else goes! they are the reason me and Stan met! if i feel the need for more guests, i'll just have them bring their 5(soon to be 6) children! that way my kids wont be bored!
money has been tight, and if i have to cancel i will. i will only lose the deposit at this point. I really dont want to since this has been 7 years in the making and we are finally tying the knot after all that time!

 

[Chilly]

The exchange rate is affecting us as the wedding is now costing 25% more which won't effect the wedding as we have enough saved up but some of the money was supposed to be for moving house so that'll have to be put back now.

 

[BurghFan111]

Ouch I feel sorry for anyone dealing with the exchange rate - that is beyond unpredictable. We had considered Disney Paris but it looks like there is a 60 day residency requirement so that ended that. When I suggested Hong Kong Disney my girlfriend suggested that might be further off than she is willing to travel. I never thought about exchange rates. May have been a good thing those didn't work out.

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

Exchange rate is fine for us as we moved our savings to a US dollar account on the advice of some other girls here before the rate dropped too much - cost of package, accommodation and photography all accounted for. However the combination of poor exchange rate and bad economy means it will probably end up being just immediate family, rather than family plus a few friends.

 

[MegKate]

I'm very blessed in that I'm not worried about the "wedding" itself - that is already paid for. It's just all the little extra stuff I have to buy that is worrying me. I'm flat broke right now after moving and Christmas, and I need to buy favors and stuff like that. I think I'm going to have to drop the Welcome Bag idea and go with a welcome folder of information. My DF works for the government and we're always worried about him getting laid off - and now that I'll be graduating May of 2010 (FINALLY!!) we're worried about me finding a "real" job.

I think that the economy (for me at least) hasn't made me worry about the wedding, but more the reality of my everyday life now. Does that make sense?

 

[BurghFan111]

I'm very blessed in that I'm not worried about the "wedding" itself - that is already paid for. It's just all the little extra stuff I have to buy that is worrying me. I'm flat broke right now after moving and Christmas, and I need to buy favors and stuff like that. I think I'm going to have to drop the Welcome Bag idea and go with a welcome folder of information. My DF works for the government and we're always worried about him getting laid off - and now that I'll be graduating May of 2010 (FINALLY!!) we're worried about me finding a "real" job.

I think that the economy (for me at least) hasn't made me worry about the wedding, but more the reality of my everyday life now. Does that make sense?

Definately makes sense, anyone not concerned is either very rich or very unplugged. We are in a similar situation in that we are using our DVC points to cover our cruise and the following week at Disney and only have to pay for the wedding itself and as it is turning our very few favors.