In 2018, the U.S. wedding industry was worth an estaimted $75 Billion. The average wedding set the happy couple, or their parents, back by a whopping $44,000. That’s nearly double the average cost of a just a year or two earlier.

But, for every action there’s an opposite and equal reaction. Today, brides are balking at spending big money on weddings. And savvy entrepreneurs are finding ways to make the special day a little less special, financially.  

Lauren Bercier is co-founder and CEO of Something Borrowed Blooms, a startup company that offers rent-and return flowers for weddings. The company uses high-quality silk flowers and then does the arrangements themselves, being mindful of the latest trends and fashions in floral arrangements. Lauren founded the company in 2015 with her cousin, Laken, based on her experiences as a bride, and after a couple of years of slow growth, company revenues shot up 400 percent in 2018. Their 2019 target was 12 weddings a month. They are currently doing 400.

Felix Sherman, Jr. is co-owner of one of Baton Rouge’s most beloved bakeries, Ambrosia. The bakery is particulalry well known for its beautiful wedding cakes (and a bunch of other sinfully delicious confections). Ambrosia was founded in 1991 by Felix’s parents, Felix and Cheryl Sherman. Besides being Baton Rouge famous, Ambrosia has received nationwide recognition, being named one of the Top 50 Wedding Cake bakeries in America. 

Photos over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard by Karry Hosford.