• The economy's downturn has affected the marriage plans for young couples at Marquette.
• One couple is saving money by planning a destination wedding, and another is making some of their own wedding decorations.

On Feb. 22, Tyler Nielsen proposed to Sara Smejkal at Red Arrow Park in downtown Milwaukee while ice skating.

The two met at a rival high school football game through a mutual friend in 2003. Now seniors at Marquette, the two are planning on a 2011 wedding.

While Nielsen and Smejkal knew they wanted a prolonged engagement, the downturn of the economy has reinforced their decision to wait to get married. It's a choice young couples are making as they secure jobs, budget finances and begin to think about the direction their lives together will take.

However, they've already begun to plan the preliminaries of the wedding.

Instead of a traditional ceremony, they have settled on a "destination wedding," held in an out-of-town location. They say such a wedding will cut down on expenses, especially considering they will be financing it on their own.

"Even though some may think a destination wedding is more expensive, this choice can save us massive amounts of money, and can also be used as a honeymoon if planned correctly," said Nielsen, a senior in the College of Business Administration.

The two will graduate in May, but both have different employment situations after graduation. Smejkal, a senior in the College of Nursing, said she has already accepted a job offer. Nielsen is still searching, which he said has been challenging.

"I have found it difficult with so many freezes in hiring and cutbacks at companies not only in Milwaukee, but across the country. Everyone is searching for employees with experience and skills that the graduating class does not have because of the lack of experience," Nielsen said.

He said he has many avenues to pursue, but the economy has put a damper on some job prospects. For now, Smejkal said they will have one assured income since there's more job opportunities in the nursing field and therefore better job security.

Smejkal said she intends to return to school to get a nurse practitioner's degree. Nielsen said he is debating whether to attend graduate school.

The two plan to have children in five to seven years — a plan that the economy has not changed.

Another couple is dealing with the economic downturn in a different way.

Megan Dittrich, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences, and Karl Dauenhauer, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences, have been engaged since Christmas. Dittrich said the current economy has placed limitations on their wedding plans.

Their wedding is booked for May 29, 2010 at Gesu Church. They've agreed on a $20,000 budget and to only invite family members. They are also saving money by making some of their own decorations, such as the centerpieces.

Dittrich works to support their 6-month-old child, and she said they do not spend any money on themselves.

"I am pessimist. I think money will be tight for a couple of years. My fiancé, however, is more optimistic. He says that everything will be fine within the next year," she said.