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business Wednesday 12 January 2022
Millennial Money: How to have the wedding you want for less

By SARA RATHNER select are going to go in Both Glantz and Harris rec-
of NerdWallet undefined the trash. Programs get left ommend paying attention
This one goes out to all on chairs after the ceremo- to weddings you attend
you lovebirds who got en- ny, and menus get tucked as a guest before your
gaged over the holidays under plates after a quick own big day. What made
and are now left planning scan. Even your invitations you feel welcome? Guests
a wedding with zero event- will get only a few months won't remember that you
planning experience. on guests' refrigerators be- got married in a pictur-
Somehow you're expected fore they head to the land- esque historic mansion,
to craft a day that's tradi- fill. "They just tossed a $10 but they will remember if
tional, yet modern. Well- bill into the garbage," Harris that mansion had only one
attended, yet intimate. It's says. If you want the tradi- bathroom with a 20-minute
about you as a couple, but tion of paper for a lower line to use it. Cut expens-
also shouldn't be offensive cost, skip the menus and es elsewhere to focus on
to any of your guests. And programs. You can also food, drink, entertainment
most crucially, don't over- Associated Press find gorgeous paper invi- and guest comfort.
spend, but make sure it fill it with? What can you af- services where you can tations at certain online re- — PROFESSIONAL VEN-
looks expensive. ford to fill it with?" share flowers with another tailers for a fraction of the DORS: Hiring a friend or do-
If you focus your spend- REEVALUATE TRADITIONAL couple getting married the price. Many of these print- ing a task yourself might feel
ing on what you and your 'MUST-HAVES' same week. ing companies offer sea- like a money-saving move.
guests will actually notice, "This is the biggest thing — TRANSPORTATION: sonal sales, too. Harris cautions that unlike
and skip expensive things I have to tell everybody "We're locked into this idea — PARTY FAVORS: Please, a professional vendor, your
no one really cares about, when they plan a wed- that the big stretch limo let 2022 be the year we friend likely won't have a
you'll have a beautiful ding: You don't need any- will get you to the church cancel party favors. Guests backup plan for when the
wedding without the debt. thing at your wedding to or get you to the venue," leave them behind, and flower order is late or the
ESTABLISH YOUR BUDGET get married," Glantz says. says Sheavonne Harris, you'll be stuck with 75 per- sound equipment is on the
Before you plan anything, "If you don't want a cake, owner and lead coordi- sonalized beer koozies for fritz. And booking a pro at
set a budget based on don't have a cake. If you nator at Events by Sheav- the rest of your life. the last minute because
what you (and your fami- don't want to wear a dress onne in New York City. But SPEND ON WHAT GETS NO- that friend backs out will
lies, if they're contributing) or a tuxedo, don't." your guests will be seated TICED end up costing you even
can afford. Make every Here are some other ways inside when you arrive, so — PHOTOGRAPHY: Long af- more.
decision with that number to save. that car won't be a part of ter your wedding, the only USE REWARDS CREDIT
in mind, whether it's $250, — DECOR: Guests remem- your grand entrance. Car things you'll be left with are CARDS
$5,000 or $50,000. ber the overall vibe, not services also require you to memories and pictures. This Many self-employed ven-
At its core, a wedding is sim- the tiny details. "People at book for a minimum num- is not the task to assign to dors don't accept credit
ply "a celebration of love," weddings are busy," Glantz ber of hours, according to that cousin who took a few cards, but whenever possi-
says Jen Glantz, founder of says. "And when you're Harris, so you'll end up pay- photography classes in col- ble, pay for wedding costs
the company Bridesmaid busy, you don't see things." ing for time you don't use. lege. with a rewards credit card.
for Hire and an email news- Save on decor by renting She recommends booking "If you want to put money Not only can you earn
letter called The First Years it or scouring Buy Nothing a ride-hailing service — yes, into something, put it into cash back or travel re-
of Marriage. "In that cele- groups on social media. just like when you need a photography," Harris says. wards (hello, discounted
bration, there are no rules. Already-married friends ride to the airport. "With photography, you honeymoon!), but should a
… Look at your wedding may have leftover items — INVITATIONS, PROGRAMS definitely get what you pay vendor not honor its com-
as a blank slate, an empty they'd be happy to lend or AND MENUS: All those pa- for." mitment to you, you can
room. What do you want to pass along. There are even per items you painstakingly — THE GUEST EXPERIENCE: dispute charges.q

Outbreaks, bottlenecks expected to

slow global growth in ‘22

By PAUL WISEMAN In its Global Economic Pros- year, down from 6.3% in
AP Economics Writer pects report out Tuesday, 2021.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The the World Bank projects The arrival of COVID-19 in
World Bank is downgrad- that the U.S. economy will early 2020 slammed glob-
ing its outlook for the global grow 3.7% this year, down al economic output. The
economy, blaming con- from 5.6% in 2021. It expects world economy shrank by
tinuing outbreaks of CO- China, the world's second- 3.4% in 2020. Massive relief
VID-19, a reduction in gov- biggest economy, to see provided by governments
ernment economic support growth decelerate to 5.1% and super-low interest rates
and ongoing bottlenecks in in 2022 from 8% last year. engineered by central Associated Press
global supply chains. The 19 European countries banks — and eventually
The 189-country, anti- that share the euro curren- the rollout of vaccines — to transport them. Espe- raising interest rates to
poverty agency forecasts cy are expected to collec- triggered an unexpectedly cially in the United States, combat higher prices.
worldwide economic tively grow 4.2% this year, strong recovery last year. they have struggled to find "The world economy is si-
growth of 4.1% this year, down from 5.2% in 2021. But the speed of the re- workers to fill job openings. multaneously facing CO-
down from the 4.3% growth And Japan is forecast to bound caught businesses One result has been the VID-19, inflation, and policy
it was forecasting last June. register 2.9% growth in 2022, by surprise. They have highest global inflation uncertainty, with govern-
It's also down from the 5.5% up from 1.7% last year. scrambled to find raw ma- rates since 2008. Central ment spending and mon-
expansion it estimates the Emerging and developing terials and supplies to meet banks are now reducing etary policies in uncharted
global economy tallied in economies are forecast to customer demand and their support for economic territory," World Bank Presi-
2021. collectively grow 4.6% this the ships, trains and trucks growth and considered dent David Malpass said.q