OCTOBER 29, 2008

A Day Of Commitment, A Lifetime Of Buyer’s Remorse

  Wedding planning – a topic that currently consumes my life.  My fiancé, Chris, and I have been engaged for a few years but recently set a wedding date for next summer and have been devoted to wedding details ever since.

I’m not the type of girl who’s been dreaming of and planning her wedding day since birth.  Honestly, I never gave it a single thought until someone got down on one knee and handed me a diamond ring.  And then, it was like the flood gates opened.  I looked through every magazine, scanned every web site, and watched every TV show having anything to do with getting married (I’ve linked to a few favorites).  Little did I know there were so many shades of white, so many types of flowers, and so many variations of favors.

With the overwhelming number of choices a bride has to make, which products actually break through?  Wedding purchases are slightly unique in that they are decided upon most times by emotionally-driven people who are willing to sacrifice a lot (including money) in order to get what they want.  That being said, I’ve personally been trying to take a more reasonable approach.  I don’t have an unlimited budget and I’ve come to terms with the fact that while our wedding day is important, it’s still just one day and going overboard isn’t necessary. 

These economic and environment-minded times have made me downsize from an SUV limo to a sedan limo.  I won’t be overdressing the Church or carrying a bouquet of orchids or using two foot tall flower table centerpieces.

So, how do I decide?  I separate extras from necessities and determine what Chris and I can’t do without, then I apply our budget.  A vendor or product that’s going to stand out is one that seems sensible and legitimately serves a purpose – one that ultimately I find value in. 

Today, consumers are saturated with choices and information.  Consumers have adapted to this overload and now, for example, I can effectively flip through a 150 page bridal magazine in less than half an hour and earmark a handful of items or styles I like without letting the nonsense of other ads or articles distract me.  A careful understanding of what appeals to a consumer will surely breed success.

What product or service have you been consumed by lately and what ultimately gets you to open your wallet?