Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding in Singapore
The wedding culture in Singapore is somewhat interesting, given that it is a mixture of the western -style wedding with traditional elements mixed in. While interesting as it is, the addition of the hotel banquet which takes on a much more significant part than the official signing of the wedding papers also makes it an expensive affair.
While many couples these days have come to realize the impracticality of pouring such a hefty amount (typically between $30,000 to $50,000 on average) into a wedding ceremony and chosen to go a simpler route, some parents still insist on the hotel banquet, inviting their friends and business associates as a show of their child's “success”.
So, what's a respectful and filial child supposed to do? Read on to find out how you can still have a conventional Singaporean wedding but not burn a hole in your pocket.
Average Wedding Cost in Singapore
Strictly speaking, you only need to sign the official papers with your partner at the Registry of Marriage to be declared legally married. Yet, many couples consider this as something less significant compared to the hotel banquet – there are even those who signed the papers earlier and hold their wedding a year later in order to save up more money or get a home first. So, let's have a look at some of the common costs one can incur while planning for their wedding:
Solemnization ceremony: $3,000 to $5,000 for location rental and lunch reception
Wedding Banquet in hotel: $36,000-$60,000 (30 tables for $1,200 to $2,000 each)
Bridal Package for gown rental and photography services: $3,000 to $6,000
Actual wedding day videography/photography: $2,000 to $4,000
Other Miscellaneous costs : $1,000 to $2,000 (wedding favors, wedding entertainment, red packet for helpers etc)
The list can go on, and we are not even including the engagement ring and wedding bands here. Using just the list above, your minimum spending is $27,000, assuming you've got half the amount of your wedding banquet back in red packets. If we look at the higher end, you will be looking at an amount of $47,000. With that amount, you can almost use it to do up the renovations for your new house!
So, before you bitterly part with the money you have saved all year and spend it on the wedding, here are some effective ways you can use to reduce the cost of your wedding by more than 40%
1) Choose Alternative Venues Rather Than A Hotel for Your Banquet
Looking at the list of expenses above, you'd notice that the wedding banquet takes up the bulk of your total wedding cost. If you can focus on cutting down the amount you spend here, you've already scored big. What you can do and what couples are increasingly doing is to skip the hotels and hold their weddings at restaurants, event halls and even parks. They may not always be cheaper, but if you keep an open mind and make some adjustments, you will be able to find the price of each table at around $1,000. Check out country clubs, restaurants with outdoor dining and national parks and you can be sure to find a venue that can offer both value and a romantic wedding reception.
2) Get A Wedding Planner
Bridal packages are popular because it is probably the most cost-effective way to get an all-in service that includes gown and suit rental, make-up services and photography. If you were to engage separate vendors for each of these services, it can easily double your price.
Many people have the impression that wedding planners are expensive since they charge an extra fee for helping to source for all the items you need and co-ordinate the event. However, wedding planners usually have their own network of vendors which can offer discounts to them. This can be very useful if you are organizing a big wedding or a ceremony with very specific requirements.