Ashley Bedwell, a senior public relations major at Ball State University, is hard at work at 2 p.m. Thursday in an empty computer lab in the Art and Journalism Building after her classes that day. However, it's not homework she is focused on, it is designing the 130 invitations needed for her wedding on May 15, the week after graduation.
Just as many other college students are busy balancing classes, a part-time job and a social life, Bedwell is also coping with the additional stress of planning a wedding.
According to the National Association of Bridal Consultants, February is National Wedding Month. April Foster, the principal event designer and owner of April Foster Events in Indianapolis, said her business sees a spike in engagements and couples looking to begin the wedding planning process in February because of Valentine's Day.
In a typical month, Foster plans for 10 to 15 couples, however in the month of February she sees a 25 percent to 50 percent increase in the number of inquiries.
As a wedding planning consultant, Foster helps the couple decide upon colors, styles, vendors, food, timeline of events and the budget. On the day of the wedding, Foster makes sure everything runs smoothly, serving as a liaison between the vendors and the couple.
Ball State alumnus Dan Archer and his fiancé Sarah Schiffli, senior elementary education major, chose to plan their wedding in seven months, which, coupled with classes and the pressures of being a student, has made the process even more stressful.
While Foster can be a great deal of help to couples planning their wedding, many college couples like Archer and Schiffli do not have the budget to fund a planner. Thus, the wedding planning process rests solely in their hands.
Since their engagement on Dec. 26, Schiffli and Archer have already booked a church, reception site, photographer and musicians; found a dress; made the wedding lists; and decided on a bridal party.
Although this may seem far along in the process, they still have yet to decide on smaller details such as menus, flowers and invitations for their July 31 wedding. In two short months, Schiffli and Archer have managed to iron out most of the major details without the help of a wedding planner.
Although Schiffli acknowledges a lot of details are still left in the planning process, Archer said the main wedding plans have been completed.
"I feel like we've got all the big ones out of the way," he said.
Budgets and Bouquets
While making all of these decisions in a limited amount of time seems stressful enough, Schiffli and Archer said the most stressful part of the wedding planning process has been sticking to their budget. While they want to include all of their friends and family on the guest list, they are finding that many elements of the wedding are priced per person. Therefore, they must decide on a limited number of guests in order to stay within their budget.
"Brides and grooms that are still in college are looking at doing a smaller wedding or spending less money, whereas when you graduate college, you have the financial means to do a little bit more," Foster said. "I do think it's a little harder for college students to plan a wedding. Whether they're paying for it or their parents are paying for it, that's money that's going to something else rather than that special event."
For couples who cannot hire a wedding planner, they are fortunate to receive a great deal of help from friends and family.
Bedwell and her fiancé Justin Sieb, a recent graduate from Ball State, have been able to save a large sum of money by relying on friends and family employed in locations helpful to planning their wedding.
"The planning process has gone really smooth especially for being in school and working," Bedwell said. "It's really challenging to prioritize things and we've been pretty blessed with getting everything done on time."
Bedwell and Sieb have estimated their wedding costs at $3,000 including the honeymoon to Panama City Beach, Fla., a low amount for a wedding of their size, serving approximately 300 guests. They have decided to spend their honeymoon within the United States in order to save money for a more extravagant tropical vacation later on in their marriage.
Focusing on Futures
While many couples tend to put the emphasis on the wedding planning process, Rebecca Adams, director of the Family and Child Program in the family and consumer sciences department, said couples should put more focus on premarital counseling and the marriage itself rather than the ceremony and reception.
"People may spend $20,000 to $30,000 planning a wedding, but they will bark or resist premarital counseling or something that might make their marriage last," she said.
Adams educates many engaged Ball State students about the challenges of relationships and the preparation needed to make a marriage last during a three-credit marriage course every Tuesday and Thursday.
Both Bedwell and Sieb as well as Schiffli and Archer have decided to incorporate premarital counseling into their wedding planning process.
Each couple has chosen to seek counseling through the pastor of the church where they will be married. Both couples value the advice given by their pastor and believe it will allow them to grow spiritually and emotionally in their relationship leading to a lasting marriage.
"We're just really excited about God's plans for our lives together," Schiffli said.
Sitting at her kitchen table on a Saturday night, surrounded by wedding magazine clippings and possible guest lists, Bedwell is beaming about the future to come with her fiancé.
"I just can't wait to be with my best friend and have kids together," she said. "Our relationship has been more than I could ever dream of in terms of the support he's given me."
According to the National Association of Bridal Consultants, February is National Wedding Month.
$6,348: Average price of an engagement ring (2009).
$28,082: Average price of a wedding.
$1,075: Average price of a wedding gown.
$446: Average price of a wedding cake.
86 percent of brides follow the something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue tradition.
10 percent of proposals take place on Valentine's Day.
19 percent of brides' parents pay for the entire wedding.
8 percent of brides pay for the entire wedding.
19 percent of brides select their engagement rings themselves.
30: Average hours per week brides-to-be spend planning their wedding.
155: Average number of wedding guests.
Sources: Brides.com 2009 American Wedding Study, National Association of Bridal Consultants
Ball State graduates Theo Plothe and Amber Buck have been selected as contenders in the Crate and Barrel Ultimate Wedding Contest. If they win, they will receive their dream wedding, valued at $100,000 and planned by famous wedding designer, Jo Gartin. Vote for them at ultimateweddingcontest.com/entries/28771.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
