When it comes to planning your wedding, it's so easy to overspend — there's so much to do and so much more to organise. And there's always a better option even though it's a wee bit more expensive.
Put together several wees and you're left with a gaping hole in your pocket.
That's why you need to draw up a budget and stick to it. This will filter out the unnecessary, ensuring you do not have to make any sacrifices for things you must have.
Rochelle Malaika, head wedding planner at Marriagement, Dubai, (a company that offers full wedding services under a team of professional wedding planners), gives Unwind top tips to make the most of your special day while staying within your budget.
Site selection
You can save on features such as flowers, decorations, site fees and transportation if you hold the reception and ceremony at the same location. “Choose a location with a kitchen. Many a times, the cost of setting up the tent and kitchen gets more expensive than catering itself,'' Malaika said.
Decor
Instead of spending on expensive floral arrangements, ask family and close friends to lend you their plants for the occasion or ask your local florist if you can rent plants.
“Candles — go dandles — I always keep saying this, but the truth is candles will give you that mood, lighting and serve as excellent decor for the tables,'' Malaika said. “IKEA has these real neat glass tea light holders for Dh1 each. A pack of 100 tea lights costs Dh9.''
Food and drink
Cut an item from the menu. You can completely do away with the dessert section and serve the wedding cake instead. Or, replace a traditional wedding cake with decorated cupcakes, which are significantly cheaper.
Attire
It's not necessary to spend on a traditional bridal gown which ofetn costs a bomb. You could go to a department store and pick a beautiful party gown in white or ivory that can act as a wedding dress.
You could also pick up a dress that suits your pocket and have it embellished with sequins, lace and the rest of the frills. Sometimes, a bridesmaid's dress could prove to be suitable, too.
Another option is to shop online for a dress or tuxedo. However, this could take time so do not leave it for the last minute.
Invitations
One option is to have your guests e-mail an RSVP. You could also use a reply postcard instead of a card and envelope. They could reply on their own stationery.
“Instead of professionally designed and printed save-the-date cards, buy a stack of beautiful note cards or postcards. I saw a pack of dozen cards for Dh3 at a local discount centre. It had beautiful images of Dubai,'' Malaika said.
Cut your guest list
If you are thinking of ways to better budget your big day, one of the first things you can do is make some cuts on the guest list.
Divide the list into three sections: The first being family and close friends, the second could be colleagues and the third, people you know but do not necessarily want to invite.
For example, you could save up to Dh1,000 by cutting out just five people and that money could go towards paying for your bridal corsages and bouquet.
Keep in mind serious partners and spouses are best to always be included. It is always good to include partners and spouses of people close to you. After all, you don't want a trail of miffed people once the party's over.
Entertainment
If you are on a budget, try not to go overboard with/by hiring musicians. You can find a DJ who is willing to work alone — that's getting the best of professional and cost-effective. As for the emcee duties. “leave it to the best man!'' Malaika said.
Or you could find a great collection of wedding songs on a CD. Or, for a more personal element, download some of your favourite songs — and that of your partner's — onto your iPod.
If you do want to hire a band, tell them to play during the crucial moments of the reception, such as the first dance and the party afterwards.
“Bands in Dubai play [and charge] according to sets and hours, so you can really save here,'' Malaika said.
Also, there's no dearth of talent out there. Get friends involved. And put them incharge of entertainment. Who knows, your wedding party could open up a new career for them!
Photo/video
“If you don't have a budget for this and can't afford multiple cameras with all the equipments, just get a videographer to do a simple coverage without the special effects and editing,'' Malaika said.
Try to get a flat rate instead of an hourly one and if not, then work on an hourly basis covering the ceremony and only some key moments of the reception.
“The idea is to see the wedding on tape and not the special zooming in and out and coverage techniques,'' Malaika said.
When it comes to photography, having a good, set budget is a must as this is something that will last forever — that your children and grandchildren will want to see.
However, to cut costs, instead of getting prints and other albums, negotiate a price for only the shoot and ask for the CDs instead. You can then choose the ones you want printed.
Honeymoon
Honeymoons can be a huge drain on resources. But, it doesn't always have to be this way. Instead of that two-week trip abroad, try to go somewhere locally.
“Book a two-week stay in Hatta, for example. The idea is to get away and have some time to yourselves. Just remember to switch off your cellphone!'' Malaika said.
One other option could be to do a house swap with a friend in another city — it's an idea that's fast catching on in some parts of the world. That saves you the bother of looking for accommodation and — more importantly — paying for it.
Or, drop the idea of a honeymoon — for a while at least. Use the time to shop for your new home and to decorate. It will be quality time spent well. You can then plan a honeymoon a couple of months later after you've had enough time to recuperate — financially.
