Brides seek cheaper wedding dresses
A high-end boutique owner reports on a new sign of the economic slump: bargain-hunting brides.
(FORTUNE Small Business) -- Weddings may not be as inevitable as death and taxes, but they're usually fairly impervious to slumps in the economy.
"People are never going to stop getting married," says Keri Chantler, who co-owns Twirl Boutique in Scottsdale with Jenni Hailer. But lately Chantler has seen a surprising number of bridesmaids asking for cheaper gowns - a new phenomenon for her high-end boutique.
"People are shopping cautiously," says Chantler, 36. "In a stable industry like ours, budget-conscious bridesmaids are a true sign that the economy is undergoing changes." 
