Is anyone else really nervous about the economy and is it impacting your planning process?

Hi Ladies,

Just wondering if anyone else is feeling the same way. Maybe it's because I work in banking and my friends are getting laid off left and right. I was really excited about planning but now I am having a hard time signing contracts because I don't know what is going to happen.

Money is not an issue for me as I am having a wedding that will be modest relative to my salary. However, I feel that so many people are having the rug pulled out from under them that I don't think I'm immune.

I just can't bear to think of buying a dress right now, I was so excited but now I feel anxious. The world isn't fair and we can't control things....I don't know what's going to happen. I can't bear to think of another of my friends getting laid off.

I just wish I could be all girly and enjoy this. This was supposed to be such a happy process. We are also ready to buy a home, he's been so diligent and saving for a while to put down our 20%....but we're scared to do that as well.

Is anyone else feeling this way?

My mother was just laid off from her night -part time job, but was re-hired. That scared me though.

I just think that with the way things are, look at how people are still spending. I mean, only do it if you know you can afford to.

This is why we should all prepare for this. They say you should have 8 months of salary saved up in case something ever happens or your spouse is laid off. I know most of us can't do that, but it's just to give you an idea.

It is scary, but if you know that even if you were laid off and you got unemployment or had to get another job that paid less, at least budget so that you know you could still handle it. It depends though, with the bank jobs people are being let go, but I think once this is all over and hopefully soon, things should be okay. :)

I am actually worried about not being able to meet my 200 people minimum. When I booked last year, I was hoping not to go over, but after reading a few of the 08'er post I find that a few had problems meeting their minimums and their minimums were 150!

So basically I am inviting List A and List B at the same time....hopefully I will have my 200.

WIERD- I WAS JUST ABOUT TO POST THE EXACT SAME THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have the photographer's contract in my HAND, and I can't send it!! I work in financial services, thankfully at a foreign-owned company, but no one is immune. I just am in such a panic about getting laid off, I can't see putting myself in a deeper hole! I feel like I should just ask my relatives to take pics!!

I know I'm going to send it, but I just can't get myself to do it. I'm so afraid. Today, the market is going to be a bloodbath. Wait until 3:00- I'm thinking freefall from 3 to 4.

DISCLAIMER: Please don't consider that as financial advice from a professional. That's just an idiot's (my) opinion.

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Posted by Suzanner

WIERD- I WAS JUST ABOUT TO POST THE EXACT SAME THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have the photographer's contract in my HAND, and I can't send it!! I work in financial services, thankfully at a foreign-owned company, but no one is immune. I just am in such a panic about getting laid off, I can't see putting myself in a deeper hole! I feel like I should just ask my relatives to take pics!!

I know I'm going to send it, but I just can't get myself to do it. I'm so afraid. Today, the market is going to be a bloodbath. Wait until 3:00- I'm thinking freefall from 3 to 4.

DISCLAIMER: Please don't consider that as financial advice from a professional. That's just an idiot's (my) opinion.

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Suzanner you're adorable with your financial 'unadvice'. I'm also fearing what's going to happen in the last hour of trading....it's always the worst lately.

I'm glad I'm not alone. I feel it's worse with all this information being thrown at me all day- I am surrounded by flat screens streaming CNBC- the panic sell off last night, my entire porfolio is down since the open

We'll get each other through this. Mail your photography contract. I will do the same with mine. Maybe I will hold off on other things until the dust settles....but we need pics.

I agree that many people are worried, and I am questioning all of my decisions about the planning. I don't work in banking, but I work for a for profit education company, and our business isn't booming like it usually is. We have decided to pick three things that really matter to us for the wedding, and pick small packages with the vendors that we like for those things. The other things we are trying to do as inexpensively as possible.

The safest investment to make right now would be in the housing market. With dozens of houses on the market in every neighborhood, and prices dipping even more, you are likely to get a good deal on a house that will just increase in value at this point.

I am sure you know this already, but don't worry about your 401k, you are young enough where it will recover.

Dunno if anyones looked at their retirement plans lately but mines down 40%!!!!!

And my mother called me in hysterics the other day (shes living on SS because my dad passed away) and she lost 100K out of hers.

Makes me sick.

Yeah! My FH's 401K is down -38%... like what is this? It's scary and depressing. I feel the same way- was so excited in the beginning but not I'm like- how am I gonna pull this allll together? Am I even gonna be able to pay everyone? I'm so stressed

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Posted by KittyGags

Dunno if anyones looked at their retirement plans lately but mines down 40%!!!!!

And my mother called me in hysterics the other day (shes living on SS because my dad passed away) and she lost 100K out of hers.

Makes me sick.

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That's so horrible about your Mom. My prayers are with her. For our 401K's to be down is ok because we have time but for those that are in or close to retirement....this is horrible.


I work on Wall Street and people are just walking around like zombies. These are tough times. I'll just be cautious. Part of me feels guilty for thinking about things like centerpieces when others are having their world turned upside down.

I don't know. Maybe I just need a weekend without planning to re-center myself.

I entirely understand - I am a lawyer and a lot of my clients are banks, so when they have problems, we have problems. Luckily my wedding is also modest comparatively, and it is covered by last years bonus check. But it is still weird spending so much money on stuff when for all I know I will be out of a job!

I was also trying to cut back in other ways (not really going shopping too much, eating out less), but now my sister is having problems paying her rent so I am helping her out.

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Posted by MrsLarrea2B

I am actually worried about not being able to meet my 200 people minimum. When I booked last year, I was hoping not to go over, but after reading a few of the 08'er post I find that a few had problems meeting their minimums and their minimums were 150!

So basically I am inviting List A and List B at the same time....hopefully I will have my 200.

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That would be me...we guarenteed 150 & invited 229. We have 138 coming...and struggling to get to 150 since we have to pay for it no matter what.

You are not alone!

I booked my RH Oct 2... Oct 16th FH was laid off.

I've been contemplating what to do in my head a miilion times over. But right now my next RH payment isn't until mid January, so I won't worry about this until December if he doesn't havea job yet.

But I'm afraid to book anything else in the mean while. I had started looking at DJ an made a few appts for photographer (never went to any photo appts). Now booking anyone/anything else will have to wait until January.

I might even lose my job. The way things are going & looking at my company aren't good.

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Posted by MrsCastanedain09

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Posted by KittyGags

Dunno if anyones looked at their retirement plans lately but mines down 40%!!!!!

And my mother called me in hysterics the other day (shes living on SS because my dad passed away) and she lost 100K out of hers.

Makes me sick.

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That's so horrible about your Mom. My prayers are with her. For our 401K's to be down is ok because we have time but for those that are in or close to retirement....this is horrible.


I work on Wall Street and people are just walking around like zombies. These are tough times. I'll just be cautious. Part of me feels guilty for thinking about things like centerpieces when others are having their world turned upside down.

I don't know. Maybe I just need a weekend without planning to re-center myself.

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Yeah its horrible. Shes like you coulda had a really nice wedding with that, i'm like I coulda had 2 weddings with that!!!!!!! lol

But I feel really bad, shes gonna be 66 in January and can start taking scheduled withdrawals but its going further and further down with no end in sight.

Sigh.