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Brides and grooms are feeling the economic pinch just like everyone else. KSMU's Kristian Kriner looked into how the current economic slump is affecting those wanting to say "I do."
Greene County officials say the number of marriage licenses for the month of June is the lowest it's been since 2002.
Though there's no conclusive evidence, this could be because some couples are delaying tying the knot until the economy and their financial situation improves.
Many couples are still taking the plunge, but with a limited budget.
This is the sound of bride to be, Maranda Davis unwrapping a beaded, white wedding dress with tulle flowing down from the waist.
Davis says she and her fiancée only have around 200 dollars in their bank accounts.
Davis says because of the economy and inflation, she can't afford to have a large wedding.
She says several of her family members are using their talents to help her save money.
"A lot of my wedding is being taken care of by family members. We have graphic artists in the family who are taking care of our invitations. My aunt is a seamstress and she's doing the bridesmaids dresses. Just things like that really help with saving money," Davis said.
Davis' parents are helping pay for the wedding, but the economy is hurting their income too.
Davis says her mom clips coupons for local stores, so they can buy cheap candles and place settings for the reception.
She is having her reception in her mom's old movie rental store, which is in a shopping center in Willard.
Davis says she wants to have a beautiful wedding, but also save some money for after the big day.
"Part of me wants to be practical and say 'hey like this is one day and the day afterwards you are going to have to have all these things to pay for and it's not going to matter anymore.' But then the little girl part of me is like, 'this is your big day and your going to remember it for the rest of your life,'" Davis said.
Weddings can be elegant and really expensive or elegant and really cheap.
Joyce Criswell is a wedding consultant in Springfield.
She says people can cut their budget by inviting fewer people.
"The biggest place to cut expenses for weddings across the board, number of people. Smaller chapel, smaller ballroom, fewer invitations, fewer centerpieces," Criswell said.
Criswell says hiring a wedding coordinator will save couples a lot of money because coordinators can get discounts at bridal shops, bakeries and flower shops.
She suggests ordering invitations early to cut shipping costs and keep the invitations thin and smaller.
Also, rent your plates and place settings because buying them will be more expensive.
Criswell says there are only a few things you need for a wedding.
"What you have to have for a wedding is the bride, the groom, the marriage license, two witnesses and an officiant. You have to have six things. Any thing you add after that is icing on the cake," Criswell said.
And speaking of cake, Criswell suggest using butter cream icing and no filling to cut cake costs.
She says the one of the biggest things to remember is that you can do your wedding however you want because it is your day.
For KSMU News, I'm Kristian Kriner.
