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How to have an affordable but still-perfect wedding
By James Yeo
To have a perfect wedding is nearly everybody’s dream, but many people drop the idea of a dream wedding altogether simply because they are unable to afford it. However, there is a way around this. By employing the following cost-saving tips, we hope that you can have the best of both worlds – the affordable and perfect wedding.
1) Say ‘yes’ to restaurants and book early
Modern-day weddings have taken a common, lavish form where couples are holding “ballroom weddings” in an expensive hotel and the prices keep increasing every year.
But you do not have to conform to the norm. Instead, go for restaurant reservations as a cheaper alternative. Besides, the food in restaurants is far better and cheaper than that served in hotels. In addition, when you book early, you are more likely to get big discounts than if you do so last-minute. What’s more, you would have plenty of options to choose from.
2) Rent a wedding outfit
Everybody wants to look perfect for their wedding day, and why not? It’s your day, after all. But there is no need to spend so much money on a dress you are only going to wear once. Instead of buying an expensive outfit, buy a second-hand suit or dress and dry clean it for under $100. Renting it is even better.
Moreover, for bridal makeup, you can find freelance makeup artists online who can do the job at a more modest price. Ask them to share their portfolios and request a test run to help you choose the right person.
3) Go for cheaper wedding shoots
Chances are, you may know of a friend whose hobby is to take beautiful photos using their professional-grade camera. Why not reach out to them for help and offer them something much cheaper?
That aside, many people are going overseas for their pre-wedding photoshoot and that will come up to a considerable cost. One good substitute is to look at local places that the couple have often patronised in the past, as that has much more meaning than taking photos overseas, too.
4) Wedding rings
Wedding rings signify a promise and commitment of your love and companionship with your spouse. It has a lot of emotional value attached to it.
On the other hand, that doesn’t mean you have to go for an expensive ring just to show that you are deeply in love. One good way to get the same quality rings is to wait for deals usually offered during special occasions like Valentine’s Day or Christmas or even the Great Singapore Sale (GSS).
There is also no need to stick to the ‘convention’ where you have to spend at least two months’ salary for the proposal ring. What matters is that both of you will be happy saving up the money and putting it to better use – for example, buying furniture or household items.
5) Budgeting for miscellaneous expenses
Last but not least, a wedding will also bring with it many miscellaneous expenses where the costs can add up quickly. Thus, if you are unable to avoid these expenses, try to create a budget in mind to limit your upfront costs. Below are a few examples:
Do not buy special boxes for hongbao (monetary gifts). Instead, you can DIY/decorate shoe boxes using magazine papers.
Purchase your own liquor or wine and negotiate the beverage cost with the restaurant.
Does your hotel venue provide wedding ornaments? If not, go for some cheaper items that are well-received by your guests.
There are a lot of miscellaneous expenses that are left unplanned. Therefore, setting aside a budget will help you identify what to include and what to exclude.
Conclusion
The 5 tips listed above are non-exhaustive and there are still many ways to save on your big life event. We hope that all couples out there can have a dream wedding and save up on a lot of unnecessary costs too. Cheers!
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