OxfordPress.com

This is one in an occasional series of stories looking at how people and businesses in Butler and Warren counties are coping with the economic downturn.

WEST CHESTER TWP. — While many industries are feeling the pressure of the current recession, the bridal industry marches on.

Kathy Piech-Lukas, owner of Your Dream Day, says the wedding and event planning industry and related businesses — such as florists, photographers, reception halls, caterers and videographers — hasn't been impacted by the recession. At least not yet.

"The brides are still coming," said Piech-Lukas. "This is their dream day."

And it's about to get busier.

The holiday season, from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day, is when most couples get engaged, she said.

With the exception of the engagement ring, Piech-Lukas said an average wedding with 150 guests costs about $28,000 in southwest Ohio.

"For a lot of brides, they've been dreaming about this since they were little girls. And for the parents, this is something they've been dreaming about since their bride or groom-to-be were babies," said Piech-Lukas, whose husband, Jim, is Franklin's city manager.

While not many brides-to-be are canceling or postponing nuputials, some are looking at alternative wedding receptions that might feature desserts or hors d'oeuvres rather than sit-down dinners.

"I think a lot of vendors are anticipating on people spending less or scaling back," she said, and may start offering incentives such as free liquor or wedding cake.

"We'll know the answer (on how much the recession will affect business) by the end of February," she said, after bridal shows that make up a large percentage of vendors' business.

Piech-Lukas started her company in 2002 and focused more on wedding and event planning in 2004. Her company has offices in Dayton and West Chester Twp. and has a Web site at yourdreamday.com.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or erichter@coxohio.com.