Keep it classy and budget-friendly with these useful wedding tips.
Ah, weddings. They mark a momentous occasion in your life, and no one can deny that your day is one to remember. However, between buying your ring, wedding dress, and cake, as well as booking a wedding photographer, the bills can pile up quickly. Especially since rates shoot up the moment you mention the word “wedding”. Top that off with pesky inflation and it becomes quite a pricey affair. Even with a wedding planner to back you up, it’s important to know what’s necessary and what’s nice to have. So here are some nifty tips from us for a budget-friendly wedding.
Wedding tips for couples on a budget
1. DIY or preloved decor ftw!
The backdrop of your dreams or trendy wedding decor can put a hole in your wallet. Our tip? Gather your bridal party and get crafty with handmade centrepieces, decorations, flower arrangements, table settings and more.
Not only is it a personalised touch, but it also adds a unique charm to your wedding. Check out groups on Facebook Marketplace or Carousell listings from former brides. You’re sure to find something at a fraction of the cost and in tip-top condition since it’s only been used once. Don’t hesitate to bargain – some even throw in freebies like ang pao boxes and guest cards if you’re lucky.
2. Rent (or even borrow) your wedding dress
There’s nothing quite as beautiful as watching a bride walk down the aisle in a gorgeous wedding dress. But, we all know it’s going to be one of the most expensive dresses you’ll buy in your lifetime. As much as we’d love to get a bespoke wedding dress and suit, renting is definitely the way to go if you’re looking to save. We’ve got an array of bridal shops in Singapore that offer wedding dresses for rent. We love the elegant gowns from Love, Fioyo or Vico Bridal, where you can get a gown and wedding photography package at a great price.
And if you’re lucky enough to have a gown that’s been passed down from generation to generation, that’s even better! Making tweaks to a dress that already has so much history and meaning will make it one of a kind.
3. Ditch the flowers
Fresh flowers make everything better. They brighten up celebrations like anniversaries, graduations, and birthdays. And of course, they beautify a space impeccably. But they can be really expensive, especially if you’re buying enough to fill up your whole wedding venue. Unfortunately, flowers often get tossed in the bin by the end, which is such a waste.
Tip: opt for other types of wedding decorations and save the flowers for your bouquet (or get them from a wholesaler instead of a retailer for pocket-friendly prices). If you want to keep a memento of your special day, we recommend preserved flowers or even unique paper flowers instead.
4. Say no to printed wedding invites
Getting physical handwritten cards in the mail is an experience we love. In this technological day and age, it’s rare to go old school with your correspondence. However, when it comes to planning a budget wedding, turn away from printing anything. From save-the-dates and invitations to wedding programs, we suggest keeping it digital if you need to cut some expenses. Plus, that means you don’t have to worry about rushing to mail out letters!
5. Forget custom wedding favours that no one wants
We hate to break it to you, but wedding favours are probably one of the last things to consider when you plan your wedding. Most of the time, they’re kind of an afterthought anyway. We admit: we’ll gladly snap pictures of cool customised bottle openers or novelty shot glasses. But will we keep them? Probably not. It’s not a hard no to wedding favours – if you’d like to show a little appreciation for your loved ones, feel free to do so! We’ve been to weddings where guests loved their cup noodle gifts; and others where plenty of jam jars were left behind. So if you need a little wiggle room in your budget, reconsider that little bundle of cookies.
6. Is a videographer necessary?
Hear us out: we’re all for capturing memories, especially on such an important day. But think about how often you’ll rewatch your wedding video before diving into your savings. Will you appreciate the professionally edited moving highlights from your special day? Or is it not worth the cost because everyone will have their phones out anyway? If you’re the type to reminisce about your life’s pivotal moments through videos (and if there’s room in the budget), go right ahead. As for us, we’re happy to stick to pictures that are more than enough to evoke nostalgia.
7. Location, location, location
Wedding venues set the whole vibe for the event, so it’s great if you find a location you love. But avoid blowing a huge chunk of your budget on the space alone. It’ll look great in photos and wow your guests, but we know of newlyweds who, in hindsight, feel like the money could’ve been better spent elsewhere (like a luxe honeymoon or home renovations). Be discerning and know that even if there are wedding packages available at your preferred location, they may not always save you money.
Ultimately, it’s about what’s important to you – whether you place priority on throwing the biggest bash of your life or you’re happy to host a simple party and stash your savings away for other big purchases like your new home. Either way, you won’t break the bank with these budget wedding tips!