Ways to cut-off wedding expenses
As we know, planning a wedding can be a very hectic issue mentally and physically. Other than mind stressful, it is all about cost management and budgeting issue. Here are some tips for the bride-to-be to cut-off their wedding expenses.
- Organize your own wedding
Organizing your own wedding can really save a lot of unnecessary expenses. It is fun and more satisfaction (but yes,you might be getting a severe headache). You can get help from your family or best friend to do it together. But you must be very well organized in this matter. Appoint someone to monitor the process. Distribute the job accordingly. Get a diary or organizer and list down everything that you need and don’t forget to compare all the price quotations that you get from a different vendor. You might need at least six months to one year in order to get good result and do a research. Just be confident and believe that you can do it. Here, you might save thousands for a wedding planner cost. In Malaysia, wedding planner normally charge 10% from your total wedding expenses of minimal RM30000. Below than that, it’s a fix fee of a minimum RM2500. So, if the total is RM30,000, it means you’ll have to pay them RM3000. That is a lot man! So you choose, RM3000 for wedding planner (that you can actually plan your own) or RM3000 for shopping during honeymoon?hmm..tough decision huh? Save cost or headache free? You choose.
- Rent your dress, don’t buy
Research! It is important! Take your time to make some research and find your perfect wedding dress at smaller cost. You might consider to rent instead of buying new one. This is a way to save money on wedding dress. Somehow, buying a new one and wear it once in a lifetime is bad idea right? And you’ll have a choice of getting your custom made design or just wear whatever the boutique has in their store. Normally it is cheaper to get what they already have in the store. Another way is, you can actually search for some people who already have a dress that they wear during their wedding and now they rent it out. They’re not a boutique owner, they’re just a person who own the dress. It is a lot cheaper and don’t forget to negotiate!
- Avoid designer tailor
If you really fancy a designer wedding dress, and the price is cutting your neck out, consider approaching your local tailor and show them the design that you want (just cut it out from newspaper or magazine), ask their advice in choosing a fabric that suits the design, go and buy the fabric during sales season, and ask them to make it. Taa-daa..! you got your own dress now! A designer dress costs minimal of RM3000, just for you to wear during your wedding and you got to return it back. Woww..! Try to budget around RM1000 for quality fabric, RM600 for tailoring the dress, RM150 for wedding shoes, RM50 for rental of accessories, RM500 for groom’s wear (rent or buy new). It is just RM2300. Isn’t it cool? Extra RM700 for other things. How about to spend them for a gorgeous hand bouquet?
- Get your wedding venue at your family house
Trendy wedding is not all about your venue or location. Having your wedding at your family house can save money on rental of wedding hall or hotel. You may have a lovely aunty or uncle who owns a lovely house in a convenient location or a beautiful villa. Ask them a favour. They love you remember? All you need is to prepare a budget for catering with beautiful tents. But make sure the rental for the tents are a lot cheaper than renting a hall. Make a research first!
- Get photography shots without album
One of the idea of cost saving on photography. Take your time properly to search for your professional photographer. Take a look at their portfolio. If you really like their work style, get the price without album. Shoots only and get the softcopy. Do a survey and check out the best price. After the wedding, you and your newly partner can spend time to have a look at the photos and choose yourself which photos you want to get printed in the album. After the selection process is done, save in pendrive and send them for custom album printing. A lot of company is offering this particular service such as www.mystorybook.com.my, photobook and more. Other than cost effective way, it is also giving you an opportunity to select the picture that you like rather than paying someone else to select the picture for you. If you have simple picture editing skill, it’s a bonus. Or simply ask your friend who knows and work it out together to achieve result that you like.It is far more satisfying when you see the album because you’re the one who select the picture and custom made you own album. Or normally the one who’d you appoint as your printer will do the editing for you. Depends on their service.
- Go honeymoon locally
You really have emptied your bank and how on earth you’ll get a budget for exclusive honeymoon? Don’t stress out. Discuss with your partner and plan to go travel locally. In Malaysia, there are more than five best island in the world located and hundreds of exclusive hotels and resort operating to serve their guests at the best possible. Get some info and book your romantic honeymoon without having your pocket stress out of thinking about foreign currency exchange and passport or visa.
Hmm..well, get organized, be focus..spend wisely and know what you want in your wedding. Good luck!