| Show Our Wedding Our Way y 0 Wedding or Bust Young broke and ready to tie the knot How engaged college couples are getting married today 1 By Melissa Features The story of two kids tying the knot fresh out of college is hardly new But in the midst of a rough economy conomy the story is becoming more two eyed doe-eyed couples planning planning planning plan plan- ning a 2010 wedding has meant sacrifice persistence and a healthy dose of DIY THE COUPLES Hillary 21 and Jeff Hentschel 23 Hillary and Jeff met as students at Northwest Northwestern em ern University Jeff graduated in June 2009 and started working for Ford Motor Co in Detroit Detroit Detroit De De- troit Hillary will graduate a quarter early in March 2010 The future Mr and Mrs Hentschel will tie the knot April 10 2010 at Hillary's home church in suburban St. St Louis Alyssa Derose 21 and Zach Gaidar 22 Alyssa and Zach began dating in high school and attended Western Illinois University together The future Mr and Mrs Gaidar will exchange vows Oct 1 2010 at Prairie Crossing in Grayslake Illan outdoor venue with a barn and a gazebo SETTING THE DATE Alyssa and Zach initially planned to get married in April 2011 It just seemed so far away Alyssa said We didn't know what would be going on in our lives so far away from now now To save money the couple decided to hold their wedding on a Friday It cuts the cost in half Alyssa said Its the same with photographers going to DJs anything like that But that decision poses its own challenges Some guests have offered to take the day to help the couple set up Others have said they cant can't attend because they cant can't take the day off of work Alyssa's main concern is that her rehearsal dinner is on a Thursday Were probably going to use the rehearsal dinner instead of having more more family as just the wedding party Alyssa said Hillary and Jeff decided to get married in April to catch the end of the wedding off But Hillary said she's already n noticed venues s booking up more quickly than usual FINALIZING THE GUEST LIST The easiest way to cut money is to cut the guest list Hillary said If you cut one table that's 10 meals linens the centerpiece invitations for everyone and various other stationery and favors favor she said For Alyssa and Zach cutting down the list quickly turned to cutting down on invited family members Alyssa's dad is one of 10 children Zach's mom is one of six We definitely had to cut people out Alyssa said We cut out the younger cousins We just invited our age A huge priority for Hillary and Jeff has been to create an environment that can include more people even if the theme is less extravagant When I got engaged I knew it was more important to me to have everyone there that I want to have there Hillary said But even encouraging people to attend the wedding proved to be a challenge I have relatives relatives relatives rela rela- tives who are out of a job that might not be able to come to the wedding Hillary said Its an added pressure You think Will people feel obligated to come Is there anything we can cando cando cando do to make it more feasible to come One idea was to market the wedding as family Hillary's family has a reunion every two years but this year the family was unsure who would be able to tomake make it My mom turned the wedding into a reunion weekend said Hillary who who included pamphlets pamphlets pamphlets pam pam- for St. St Louis attractions with the the save FINISHING TOUCHES I. I r fitting Fitting ng a all 1 the wedding ess essentials has forced the couples to to get creative it v |
