7 Unconventional Ways To Save Money On Your Wedding

1. Concretely visualize your wedding day and the events leading up to it by writing a narrative. Doing so allows you to enumerate the possible expenses that you will incur. Keep this narrative in mind when making your budget.

2. Whether you want to believe it or not, the “fake cake” was one of the hottest wedding trends in 2015. Purely made for show, the fake cake consists of a tier of real cake while the rest is made of styrofoam. This alternative looks just as elegant, but for the fraction of the price. Simply serve the (plain) supplementary cake you have kept in the venue’s kitchen.

3. My previous experience in the wedding industry thought me one thing – prices for products and services surge up when you attach the word “wedding” into it. Try omitting this keyword when searching for items online. A simple cocktail dress costs around S$20, but a wedding cocktail dress may cost twice as that. Some brides have gone to the extent of calling their wedding a “big party” when booking suppliers!

4. It comes as no surprise that many people around you are genuinely excited for your the big day. Ask your relatives, friends, and colleagues for help. Help is not limited to ang pow or red packets! It can be as little as borrowing their punch bows or as huge as taking your prenuptial photos.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

5. The crucial elements of a wedding includes the banquet. Spend less money by opting for bigger tables that need fewer tablecloths and centerpieces. Speaking of centerpieces, you can reduce your spending by sticking to one kind of flowers.

6. As a sign of gratitude for their participation, couples usually send gifts to their beloved guests. Unleash your creativity without damaging your wallet by making your own wedding favors. One option is to purchase small jars, fill it with jellybean, and wrap it with a bow. Another option is to bake your own dessert and package it well.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

7. When money is still tight after exhausting all your resources, consider the power of crowdfunding. Crowdfunding is a means of sourcing out money from a large number of people. You may recall the time when famous blogger Bong Qiu Qiu (or Budget Barbie) crowdsourced her legal fees. What is nice about crowdfunding websites is its ability to display how far you are from your monetary goal.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, & 4

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How Expensive Is It To Tie The Knot In Singapore?

As the chapter of your singlehood comes to a close, the celebration of your dream matrimony draws near. It does not matter whether you came from a developed country or not! Weddings are deemed to be hefty in all parts of the world. Adding Singapore’s economy into the mix makes it more complicated for your budget.

Let us start with the standard cost of a wedding in Singapore. It is difficult to synthesize information dating back from the previous decades. So, I shall focus on the average costs of the main wedding elements. Said elements include the wedding rings, banquet, documentation, and bridal package. Your union can cost somewhere around S$30,000 to more than S$100,000 depending on how simple or extravagant the celebration is.

THE SHINY RINGS

The roundness of the ring symbolizes infinity – to which there is no beginning or ending. Its eternal nature signifies the pureness of love. Sorry to burst your bubble but, purchasing jewelry does not stop after you find the “perfect” engagement ring.

You still need to search for wedding bands to exchange on your special day. Do not let these simple rings fool you as these costs between S$1,000 to S$3,000 each! Rates can go up depending on the material of the ring and the precious stones encrusted in it.

THE SCRUMPTIOUS BANQUET

A wedding banquet holds a major chunk of your wedding budget. Our “foodie culture” is one of the reasons why it is significant. We can all agree that feasting is one of our favorite pastimes. Thus, more creative menu and fancier venue customization had been available to us.

Generally speaking, a weekday wedding banquet with 300 guests can take you back by S$30,000. Why is this so? You see, the average price per plate is around S$100 for weekday lunches and S$127 for weekend dinners. Further research highlights that local banquets range between S$50 to S$235 per person. Your food expense can go as high as S$70,500 for 300 guests and as low as S$10,000 for 200 guests. The more intimate the banquet is, the more savings you will have. Perhaps the only consolation of having a bigger guest list is the volume of red packets that you will get.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

THE MEMORABLE DOCUMENTATION

Early this year, we welcomed a new member to our family. We exhausted our resources to find the best suppliers that were within the couple’s budget. They ended up with a company that offered a package for videography and photography. In other cases, it is cheaper to look for different photographers and videographers.

Prior research is recommended before signing a contract. You may start with the top results when you Google search: “Wedding Photography Supplier Singapore”. Then, compare the prices with the local suppliers nearby. Expect to spend around S$2,000 to S$4,000 on documenting the momentous occasion.

THE STAR OF THE SHOW

The blushing bride usually steals the show! The last wedding that I attended involved the bride changing into three distinct dresses. Having several gowns tailored to your onetime use is undeniably expensive (and possibly unnecessary). This is why most brides in Singapore prefer the “bridal package”.

A bridal package includes a photo shoot, the hair and makeup, and some rented gowns. This convenient package costs about S$3,000 to S$6,000. The price depends on the range of gowns and the location of the photo shoot. You may opt to have your wedding album taken in premium spots such as the Eiffel Tower or the Sydney Opera House.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

You cannot deny it! A wedding involves an incredibly long list of expenses. Before shelling out a fortune, you must organize your expenses. Budgeting will help you align these expenses with your priorities. Best wishes!

Sources: 1 & 2

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