Nevada County Wedding Industry Says It's Taking Big Hit After Ordinance Limits Events
NEVADA COUNTY (CBS13) — New regulations are putting a damper on the wedding business in Nevada County, and local wedding vendors say they're paying the price.
The Nevada County wedding industry knew it would take a hit when the board voted to limit the number of outdoor events, but they never expected it to happen this fast.
Rachel Easkins says this time of the year is when her floral business Art in Bloom usually flourishes, thanks to the county's multi-million-dollar wedding industry.
"I moved up here thinking it was very lucrative and it was," she said.
But she's seen a 40 percent cut in sales after the Nevada County Board of Supervisors voted to only allow four commercial events a year at local venues.
Antonio Ayestaran owns a catering business that's usually booked almost every weekend by now into next year.
"Usually brides are planning their wedding right now, for the upcoming June, July, August wedding," he said. "We just don't find that's happening right now."
These small businesses worry a misunderstanding has scared customers away—thinking no weddings are allowed instead of a handful allowed per venue.
The new ordinance went into effect in December after some neighbors complained about noise and trash.
Board chairman Ed Scofield doesn't believe it will have longterm negative effects.
"I think we need to give it this year to really see what the impact might be," he said.
But the local wedding vendors are concerned. While they are limited, they hope word will spread that they're still open for business.
The board says it is willing to look at the current ordinance again once they have more information on its impact.
