Brides throughout the Washington area are becoming thriftier as they plan their weddings in a slumping economy, from choosing to drive the family car instead of renting a limo to using candles instead of flowers as centerpieces.
Caterers, florists and rental companies are seeing a more conscious and creative effort on the part of brides and grooms to keep costs down, although weddings are “usually pretty recession-proof,” said Daniel Briones, president of the National Association of Catering Executives in Columbia.
Almost half, or 48.3 percent, of caterers have noticed a decline in wedding spending, and 60.4 percent said their clients are buying less expensive meals and avoiding luxury items, according to a NACE survey released last week based on answers from 465 members. They may forego limo rentals, engraved place cards and high-priced photographers, said Briones, who also is director of catering at the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia.
Many caterers say they’re seeing clients more often booking weddings on a Friday or Sunday instead of the premium-rate Saturday.
In the Washington region, people are still renting halls but they may select “less elaborate decorations,” said Lisette Legrain, gala chairwoman for NACE’s Greater Washington chapter.
“Maybe 40 percent of my clients have made some adjustments in spending,” said Carol Beales, owner of Galleria Florist in Falls Church. But she said sales are running about even with last year.
Brides-to-be are still spending money on bouquets, corsages and church flowers, but some are reusing the bouquets as centerpieces or putting less expensive candles or potted plants on reception tables. However, brides aren’t canceling weddings, with only 11.8 percent of caters across the nation noticing wedding cancellations due to cost concerns, compared with 41.1 percent for other catered affairs, the NACE survey said.
Legrain and Briones have noticed the spending difference for weddings since the beginning of the year, which will make 2009 a “softer” year for catering, said Briones, as most business is booked far in advance. The rest of 2008 “looks pretty strong,” Briones said.
Within the Washington region, cost concerns vary. Inside the District, with many “high-dollar clients,” the cost cutting is not significant, said Legrain, who also is in charge of business development with Laurel rental equipment company Select Event Rentals. In Virginia and Maryland, spending is more “conservative.”
