The District Chronicles

Issue date: 9/6/09 Section: Cover

Media Credit: Freddie Allen Simpson of Ellie's Bridal Boutique in Va., struggles to ride out the recession

The door opening at Ellie's Bridal Boutique alerts Marie Simpson to the first customer of the day. Simpson watches closely as a woman casually eyes the array of dresses hanging in the crowded wedding boutique. Simpson, manager of Elle's Bridal Boutique since its opening in 2004, knows the look of a satisfied customer.

Normally, that look would have resulted into a sure wedding gown sell. But not this time. Instead, the would be customer pulls out her cell phone, snaps a picture, and quickly exits, leaving Simpson in frustration. The struggling economy has just cost Ellie's Bridal Boutique, a small boutique in Alexandria, Va., a sale.

"This economy is really hurting small businesses, including those of us in the wedding industry," Simpson laments. "People are bypassing us and taking pictures of the dresses that they want and going to fabric stores and online to buy dresses. I wish they would stop that."

Simpson's sentiments are shared by dozens of other small business in the DC metro area barely surviving what is normally the two busiest months for weddings and wedding sales, June and July. Job lay-offs, job cuts, and mortgage payments, are forcing couples to cut spending, even if it that means cutting corners on one of biggest emotional investments: weddings.

"Just a year ago, we didn't have these problems," Simpson wallowed in nolstagia. "But now, customers are being more cautious on how they spend their money. As a result our sales are declining."

Anacostia resident Megan Jackson is one Washingtonian whose wedding plans took a hit from the declining economy. Twenty six-year-old Jackson and her 29-year-old fiancé Jared became engaged last year, two days after her birthday on April 10th. The couple had set a wedding date for June 6th this year.

To Jackson it was supposed to be a dream come true. She was finally about to have the wedding she had been dreaming of since she was a little girl. That is until the wedding expenses began rolling in.

"The wedding expenses were getting ridiculous!" said Jackson. "After factoring in catering, a DJ, my dress, my bridesmaids' dresses, the tuxes, flowers, decorations, a location and all of the other small things that come up, I was looking at over $15,000!"

Continued...

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