“A less costly option can be better!†Realistic budget tips from 10 brides

Jin, 29, Graphic designer

1/10

Always have a budget set aside for all your items. And its best to not give in to the temptation of spending "a little bit" more.

Spend some time doing your homework and research and don't rush into things. Sometimes a less costly option can turn out to be even better! 

photo by: Bloc Memoire Photography

Hui Ying, 26, Talent Acquisition Manager 

2/10

I guess it's about remembering that it is not just one person's wedding, but rather a day that belongs to two people who have decided to spend their lives together. 

Learning to compromise was one of the biggest lesson learnt during the entire wedding preparation process. There will always be an incident where someone has to compromise. But we also realized that giving more also meant receiving more in return as well! 

photo by: Andrew Ong from ndrw fotographie 

Pei Mei, 32, Associate beauty editor

3/10

I didn't sign up for a wedding package so I went to at least 10 bridal studios to get the gowns I wanted.

So for brides who want to have something customised, you should start preparing at least 9 months before the wedding.

photo by: Tan Yi Kai 

See also: A WEDDING PARTY ON THE GROUNDS OF A COLONIAL HERITAGE BUILDING - SEE HOW THIS SINGAPOREAN COUPLE DID IT 

Ayisha, 24, UX Designer

4/10

Gather ideas you love and discuss and finalise what exactly it is you want in your wedding with your spouse.

Crafting an accurate checklist prevented me from spending too much and helped me focus on the essential things.

Addtional tip: I loved DIY-ing most aspects of my wedding and the way I saved money was by giving myself enough time to plan and prep and find the best deal.

photo by: Annabel Law

Sheena, 31, self-employed

5/10

It really is about planning your priorities right. It is also easier to decide which items to plunge most of your capital into once you have everything mapped out.

If you are looking for something off-the-rack for your wedding gowns, there are a number of budget gown shops with rental options.

You can also consider about getting your own venue and caterer instead of having a hotel banquet. This saved us a lot of money, considering how most of the wedding expenses goes into the banquet cost per table.

photo by: Stanstills Photography 

Candice, 32, Entrepreneur  

6/10

It’s unlikely that you will use your wedding gown again so don’t splurge on that!

We had an overseas wedding, and engaging local photographers and makeup artistes definitely worked out to be more cost efficient as opposed to flying the crew in from Singapore.

photo by: Thomas Pickard from My Wedding Photographer Limited

See also: 7 FUN AND CASUAL IDEAS FOR A LOW-KEY WEDDING

Michelle, 30, Healthcare

7/10

Decide what’s important to you and spend a little less money and time on things that aren’t.

Not everyone agrees with us, but we decided from the start to make big decisions together, especially for the big-ticket items.

My husband and I didn’t believe in the notion of “if you don’t agree to this, then its okay, I’ll pay for it myself”.

We also had a very important conversation about priorities, and what we were willing to allocate more money for.

photo by: Ivan from Ivan Tan Photography

Calynn, 27, Education officer

8/10

You can join bridal forums online to receive reviews on good deals and packages. Work out a budget within your means and not overspend for your wedding.

Lastly, remember to place your focus on investing time and resources on your marriage-which is for a lifetime, and not neglect it during your wedding preparations.

Additional tip: Give emphasis on pre-marriage preparation and counselling as it gave us a glimpse of married life!

photo by: Grizzypix 

Jenn, 28

9/10

Set a realistic budget and prioritise the items to splurge on.

For us, the bigger budget went to the pre-wedding and actual day photography. It was important to us that we have every moment well-documented. 

Additional tip: It can get really overwhelming - learn to step back and take a breather from time to time.

photo by: Joshua Sim, The beautiful moment photography

See also: WHY ARE WEDDINGS IN SINGAPORE GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE?

Felicia, 30, self employed

10/10

Get a good planner. Prioritise your necessary spending.

Strike a balance between what you want and what your parents will appreciate.

photo by: Alex Goh Photography