Wedding Day Save and Splurge Items

During lull times at the bazaar recently held at PCJ, Martin and I got to discuss about wedding plans for next year. It was funny and at the same time we were getting this is-this-really-happening-to-us? feeling inside us (or probably just me? Martin always assures me his certainty about this). So we wrote it down on pretty notebook that I bought from the bookstore. It had a nice peacock print in the front and at the back. I love cute notebooks. And being a person who likes to write, I somewhat hoard pretty/cute/sturdy notebooks in my stash. Haha. Anyway, enough about notebooks.

So we were somewhat computing our expenses and what were the MAJOR stuff that we need to save up on and what are those that we need to splurge on. Well, I think the major stuff has somewhat to be in between save and splurge. I think it depends of what type of wedding you want to have. Would it be something grand and avante garde; or something simple yet memorable? Or can it be just in between? Anyway, here are our notes during the discussion. 

The MAJOR expenses:

1. Reception (Elegant and classy) - We plan to do it in a nice hotel, if our budget permits. We already have a peg, it will be in Manila and the website shows a nice package for 150 guests. However, we think that this amount can be lowered if we cut down on the number of guests to invite. This will be the biggest portion of our expenses and something that the guests will remember after the reception has ended. So Martin and I are thinking that this item should have CLASS and ELEGANCE spelled onto it. Of course, the food's palatability should also match the place.

2. Church + priest (Simple yet meaningful) - The church that Martin and I are serving is at our village. Aside from that, this is the church/community where our love grew, together with our choir and parishioners. However, if we hold our wedding ceremony at the JDHP in Tahanan, chances are, we need to invite a whole lot more of other guests. To limit our guests, we just decided to look for a church somewhere in Manila, near our hotel of choice. This chapel is perfect for our needs. It can only hold at most 80 guests, it's air-conditioned, plus the grounds are nice. AND! This church can allow Sunday weddings. Sunday is our favored day to wed.

3. Photography and Videography (Quirky and creative) - Thank goodness for FRIENDS! I have already "kinontrata" friends of mine to be our photographers/videographers for the wedding, long before Martin and I have planned this, ahaha! I told my friends back in 2012 and 2013 that if I get married in the future, they should keep their rates of 2012/2013 for me! :)

4.  Wedding rings (Simple and of good quality) - I overlooked this expense in the beginning but at least now I was able to put it here. Wedding bands are not cheap. A good set of wedding rings can cost at least PhP25k. I was told by my friend who just got married that having a good set of wedding bands is an investment. I couldn't agree more!

The MINOR expenses:

1. Gowns  and suits (Elegant and classy but need not be expensive) - To save up on these, Martin has the suits thing down pat because of his family's business. As for me, I plan to buy the cloth for my bridesmaids and secondary sponsors while they be the one to spend for the modiste's sewing. Instead of them giving Martin and me gifts, I prefer that they'd help me out with the wedding preps by doing dutch treat with the gown expenses. For my wedding gown, I think I'll just borrow from a close friend or rent from a bridal store.

2. Flowers (Simple yet elegant) - Since flowers are ephemeral, pwedeng tipirin itong expense na ito. 

3. Souvenirs (Simple but meaningful) - There are plenty of souvenir ideas out there that can be meaningful yet inexpensive.

4. Wedding invitations (Simple yet elegant) - Yes, it's true that wedding invitations are a bit passe since social networks are there to do the inviting to your friends. However, I still want the old-fashioned way of sending invites to your guests because that's how I was raised. Personally, I find it nakakahuya to attend a party if I don't receive an invitation from the celebrants/party coordinators.

5. Reception host (Splurge!) - I believe that for the wedding reception to be memorable, you have to choose an emcee that can carry the party well. I've been a witness to weddings who had great emcees and emcees who are just nagkakalat. I've been to a very beautiful wedding of a friend of mine, but the emcee was VERY BLAND and to add to that, she wore a very ugly outfit. Omigad may higad. Hindi ko kinaya yung emcee! Ang sarap agawin ng microphone at sana ako na lang nagsalita sa harap. On one hand, I attended a wedding that was also pretty but the emcee who made the wedding nore memorable! Ganun pala kapag magaling ang emcee, mas nagiging memorable ang wedding reception. This may be a minor expense but I think this should be splurged on.

The we-can-do-without-this expenses:

1. Wedding quartet - There's canned music anyway.

2. Over-the-top table settings/display - Nowadays people succumb to IG Worthy catchphrases, but I don't. Table displays are perhaps one of the overlooked items for a guest. Though it creates a more "themed" atmosphere for the people, the couple can do away with this expense because it's the reception's substance that will count in the long run.

3. Wedding coordinator/planner - We have eager friends who can volunteer for us.

4. Fireworks - Nice to have but it's something we can do without.

So having listed these, I think it's really the BUDGET THAT WILL DICTATE how grand or simple your wedding will be. And since Martin and I are not uberly rich, we will do something in between grand and simple. We can do away with the frills and just stick with the basics. After all, the wisdom of the old always tells us to prepare for MARRIAGE and not for the wedding. But of course, if you, dear reader, have a lot of money to burn, by all means, splurge away!