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How To Plan A Wedding Without Getting Fired

For many people, planning a wedding can be a time-exhausting task. It can feel like you are taking another full-time job on top of your current one. Do not fret just yet!

Proper organization, delegation, and time segregation can keep you sane throughout the planning process. Not to mention, you will still be able to keep your beloved job!

ORGANIZATION

To keep the boat afloat, organization is the key! You can either organize your wedding tasks traditionally (i.e., using paper and pen) or digitally (i.e., using computer software and apps). Traditionally, you must keep your wedding tasks and calendar in one notebook. Do not forget to give your partner a copy! Fortunately for you, you can easily update your partner or your wedding squad by creating a digital file.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Go digital to enjoy the ease of accessing your wedding tasks while you are at work or while you are on the go! Google Drive, its computer software and its phone app, is a good option to seamlessly keep everyone on the wedding planning loop. Remember to use your personal email when getting back and forth with the suppliers and other people. You do not want to use the company’s email to complain about your supplier!

DELEGATION

Whether you like it or not, your career should remain your top priority during the wedding planning process. As such, you must turn to your friends and relatives for help. Treat wedding planning similarly as a big project in the office. Delegate wedding tasks to your wedding squad and provide everyone with a clear description of what they are responsible for. Pass the tasks that you know they will be great! Then, keep the communication lines open to review their works.

It is more efficient to split the delegation with your partner by creating a wedding checklist that includes proposed deadlines. These deadlines will help you to accomplish everything on time.

TIME SEGREGATION

Time management begins by scheduling your couple calendar according to your wedding tasks. This way, you will know you set aside the necessary time to tackle important matters. Moreover, you will be able to set your phone’s alarm to keep track of everything.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Now, let us go to your downtime. Maximize the time you spent on commuting or relaxing by setting appointments with your wedding suppliers or by finalizing some details. It is better to search Facebook or Instagram with a goal in mind!

Sources: 1 & 2

3 Budget-Friendly Hen Party Ideas

A hen party is a bride’s last hurrah before she ties the knot. Thus, it needs to be a special. Surprise your beloved bridal squad with these creative hen party ideas.

LET THE SWAPPING BEGIN

As fashionistas, your friends may be interested to throw a “Wardrobe Swapping Night”. Start by choosing a venue by volunteering your own flat or your fellow bridesmaid’s. After setting a venue, give the guests an ample amount of time to raid their closets. Ensure that everyone will bring clothing articles or accessories of good condition. Encourage each bridesmaid to share a story behind each item before starting the swap. Stories and negotiations will get better over a few drinks.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Not only will you free up some space in your closet, but you will be able to pass your stylish item to a friend that has been eyeing it for ages!

EXPLORE THE GREAT OUTDOORS

For adventurous brides who choose to navigate their lives on the active lane, you may explore the country’s great outdoors! A weekend spent trekking, camping, and cycling is equally frugal and fantastic. Isn’t it amazing to let your hair down and not worry about how you will look for a few days?

Image Credits: nparks.gov.sg

Enjoy dressing down and connecting with Mother Nature by visiting the Southern Ridges and the East Coast Park. The former is one of Singapore’s best walking trails, which covers Mt. Faber, Kent Ridge, Hort, and Telok Blangah Hill parks. It spans through 10 kilometers of lush forest and canopy walkways. While, the latter is the perfect place to have a picnic with friends. Do not forget to bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. See the website of National Parks for more details.

TAKE THE TRADITIONAL ROUTE

One of the things that I look forward to experience as a child was having my friends over at my house. Relive your treasured youthful memories by having an adult sleepover. Suitable for a small group of people, having a sleepover entails an intimate hen party experience. What’s more? You will be able to have proper chats while drinking your favorite booze.

Once your venue is set (e.g., the bride’s flat), encourage everyone to bring their share of treats and drinks. Have a supply of indoor games ready as well. Do not forget the classic Twister, Scrabble, and Truth or Dare. You may also put a twist to these classic games by putting the groom’s face all over the cards or other cheeky hints. Have your Netflix account ready as well!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Lastly, you may hire a person that offers home nail services. Cindy of Tenth Nail provides nail services at your own convenience. Her rates start at S$25 exclusive of the transportation and parking fees. Please book (by calling +65 9004 4605) at least three days in advance to secure her for your hen party.

Sources: 1 & 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

Practical Ways To Ease Your Stress On Financial Responsibilities

DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE 0% INSTALLMENT PLANS

There are an array of goods that you can buy through 0% installment plans such as furniture, designer bags, electronic devices and appliances. Without control, you can potentially pile up your installment plans to the point that you can no longer afford paying for credit card bill.

Say you are strolling around the mall in the lazy weekend when you suddenly saw a shiny sign that says:

“FULL HD FLATSCREEN TV FOR SALE

S$1,400 (U.P. S$1,600)

0% INSTALLMENT THRU UOB & OCBC CREDIT CARDS.”

It sounds tempting, right? But do you really need that telly when you have a functional one at home? Do you need another burden to add on your credit card bill? Well, it is time to live within your means!

UTILIZE YOUR CPF ACCOUNT WISELY

The Central Provident Fund (CPF) is a compulsory savings scheme for Singaporeans that is automatically deducted from the wages. Your CPF account can be used to support crucial financial commitments such as retirement, healthcare, and property purchases. While it is sitting there passively, you can maximize its use by utilizing it wisely. For instance, if you are using your account to purchase a new flat or refinance your current one, examine the situation every few years to see which is the better economical option.

And if you are not touching your CPF savings for a long period of time, consider putting it to the CPF Investment Scheme. It is a way to invest your CPF savings to various banks such as OCBC, DBS, or UOB. The money you will generate from your investments will eventually go to your CPF account and not your pockets. Compare the investment options and their charges. Instead of complaining about your “useless” account, why don’t you start investing?

FOR MARRIED COUPLES, SUPPORT EACH OTHER

Alongside merging two souls, marriage merges two finances together. Having another person to run to for support, opinion, and advice can help you make better financial decisions. For instance, if you are searching for a space at an Executive Condominium (EC), consult your spouse first. Are your incomes enough to suffice the payment of the EC? You do not want to end up working took hard for an EC when what your spouse just wanted an HDB all along.

Setting long-term and short-term financial goals such as purchasing a house or establishing realistic budget should be done together. Along with the goals, you must assign financial responsibilities to each other. Encourage and support each other throughout the process.

ALWAYS COMPARE PRICES

Almost every shopping hack includes a section about comparing prices so that your money would not go to waste. True enough; reading reviews and shopping around helps you get the best deal. Since comparing prices in physical stores is a troublesome and time-consuming activity, people have turned to technology. For example, browse at PricePanda if you are camera shopping. PricePanda.com.sg, the leading price comparison website for emerging markets worldwide, provides its users with prices, technical details and other information about the latest gadgets.

And if you are looking for an affordable wedding banquet, turn to SingaporeBrides.com.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)

SingaporeBrides.com is your one-stop portal for your local wedding festivity needs. Here you will see that the cheapest banquet venue for lunch and dinner costs S$501 at LingZhi Vegetarian.

Sources: 1 & 2

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