Today's most viewed
| JOIN OUR READER PANEL |  | | | LOCAL NEWS | | |
|
|
|
Bride and gloom
 |
| FOCUS SHIFTED: Dorchester photographer Chrissie Clements is closing her business because of the downturn in the need for photographers |
A 'DREADFUL' year for weddings has put one long-running Dorchester photographer and dressmaker out of business.
After wedding photographer Chrissie Clements's wedding bookings fell dramatically from 40 a year to 12 this year she decided to close her photography and dress-making business - I Do Wedding Services - after 16 years.
She said: "This year was absolutely dreadful and next year I have no bookings at all, so I am giving it all up.
"Last year I was doing about 40 weddings and this year I have only done 12.
"I think digital photography is to blame and the fact that people take their own photos, and also the credit crunch, but it has had a knock-on effect throughout the industry. The only part of my business that has done well at all is the flowers."
Mrs Clements added: "I think an awful lot more people are doing their wedding on a shoestring."
Other wedding services are suffering.
Owner of Weymouth-based wedding chauffeur company Travelling in Style, Andy Plummer, said that he has never had so many cancellations.
He said: "At the moment we are about £1,000 a month down, which is about five weddings a month.
"I have been surprised at the amount of cancellations this year and I think people are trying to save money and can't afford the car.
"I have noticed recently when you go out on a Saturday that more people are putting ribbon on their own cars for weddings."
Two of the main Church of England churches in Dorchester have both seen a decline in weddings this year with just 16 taking place in the parish.
The Rev Richard Betts from St George's Church said it normally gets booked eight to 20 times a year for weddings and this year it only received 10 bookings.
Team Rector the Rev Harold Stephens from St Mary's Church said he has seen a dramatic decrease in church ceremonies over the past 10 years.
Despite the drop in religious ceremonies the civil ceremonies at the Corn Exchange are the best they have ever been.
Dorchester deputy town clerk Steve Newman said: "There are 39 weddings and one civil partnership taking place this year here and these figures are the highest we have ever seen."
The weddings at the town hall are priced between £115 and £190 and the number of weddings has increased by 11 from last year.
Wedding cake maker Lisa Notley, of Pulham, said that although this year has been slow, she has been flooded for orders next year, with 30 inquiries already.
11:24am Thursday 28th August 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Steve, Weymouth on 1:22pm Thu 28 Aug 08
This is a real shame. Chrissie did our wedding back in 1993, just after setting up her business, and did a great job. She did the photo's, bridesmaid dresses and arranged the cake also. Best wishes for the future Chrissie.
This is a real shame. Chrissie did our wedding back in 1993, just after setting up her business, and did a great job. She did the photo's, bridesmaid dresses and arranged the cake also. Best wishes for the future Chrissie.
Posted by: muffbandit, Weymouth on 6:13pm Thu 28 Aug 08
thanks chrissie. you did a great job at my wedding in 2002.
all the best.
thanks chrissie. you did a great job at my wedding in 2002.
all the best.
Posted by: Voice Of Reason, Weymouth on 7:09pm Thu 28 Aug 08
So, some people are busy, whilst others are quiet? Maybe people aren't happy to pay over the odds for churches etc [quote]civil ceremonies at the Corn Exchange are the best they have ever been[/quote] and are choosing a cheaper option. Also, the emphasis is no longer on religion, as attitudes change. It is a shame that this lady has had to cease trading, but there will always be competition in any industry, and unless you are always striving to improve, you will lose out. I just Googled "Wedding Photographer Dorset" and there was a huge number of results- I could not see any reference to Chrissie Clements. Maybe this contributed to her unfortunate closure?
So, some people are busy, whilst others are quiet? Maybe people aren't happy to pay over the odds for churches etc
civil ceremonies at the Corn Exchange are the best they have ever been
and are choosing a cheaper option. Also, the emphasis is no longer on religion, as attitudes change. It is a shame that this lady has had to cease trading, but there will always be competition in any industry, and unless you are always striving to improve, you will lose out. I just Googled "Wedding Photographer Dorset" and there was a huge number of results- I could not see any reference to Chrissie Clements. Maybe this contributed to her unfortunate closure?
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
