Wedding Planning Shockers

For a girl who didn’t believe in marriage for the longest time(Yes, I am talking about myself), the past week since my engagement has been hectic and I was basically left in shock many times! Trust me girls and guys, if you are about to be engaged, this post may actually give you a huge jolt of reality like it did for me..

So, you know how girls always dream of a fairy-tale wedding ever since they were kids, how they would play dress-up,etc…. These girls have it all planned out from how their dress would look, to how their dream wedding would be, and even who to invite… The thing is.. I am DEFINITELY not that type of girl I’ve just described.

I am the type of girl who really didn’t believe in marriage as I think it’s just a piece of paper legally binding two people! If you are meant to live the rest of your lives together, you will definitely stay together. So, why suddenly take the leap of faith? Because I know Ben is the ONE for me and I want to be with him for the rest of my life, and he really believes in walking down an aisle… Yes, he changed my mind on marriage and I am starting to believe it for him.

Love definitely makes you go the distance debunking all your believes!!

Now, enough of the history.. down to why I wrote this post… For someone who doesn’t know the “market rate”of how much a wedding costs or even what it entails… guess what I was shocked about?

1. If you don’t have RM100k in cash, don’t get married!

 I am NOT joking guys… if you don’t have that amount, it’s best to elope:) I have been sourcing hotel venues, restaurants and called quite a few…. and this is what I’ve learned

– You have to pay 100% before your wedding which means RM100k or more

– It’s an average of RM2500 per table at any of the decent hotels

– The pricing increases EVERY YEAR !!! The sales person I called at one of the notable hotels haughtily told me… “What, Rm2200 was last year’s price, it’s now RM2500++” WTH?????

2. Preparation a MINIMUM of ONE year in advance

Evveryone I meet has been asking me when the big day is, and I would nonchalantly reply middle of next year. Then, they would go into specifics, when, where? When I reply ” I don’t know yet,” you should see the shock gasps on their faces..

– Apparently, you need to book your venue one year in advance because it may be fully book and pricing goes up every year remember?

I am basically screwed because it’s already towards the middle of August, I have less than 10 months to book the venue and plan everything(in my mind, that’s alot of time but hey, in the wedding world, it’s not!)

What about having it at a bar with a nice view?!? I am seriously considering it.. at least I can take my time..

3. Miscellaneous expenses which is a MUST now..

– So, the photo album thing? What is the purpose of that?!?! They say it is for safekeeping and memories BUT can’t we just use travel pictures?

– Let’s not forget your gown(at least 2 for Chinese weddings), flowers which apparently costs RM20k to make the venue prettier, corkage prices which is not included for tables btw, entertainment(my dad insists on a band), and even the simplest things such as make-up… KA-CHINNGGGGGGGGG, another RM50k there…

Wedding bands which we totally forgot about and you need to pre-order 3 months in advance for custom-made ones

4. Guest list selection

Another hassle of booking one year in advance, this means you need to start thinking of who you want to invite now before you book the venue and tell them how many tables you need…. So, my questions were the below:

– What if I have more friends nearing to the wedding that I’ve just met and would like to invite them… does this mean I can’t because I have already book the tables…?

– Do people expect an invite when they ask you about your wedding?

– What about people whom you like, not that close too whom you have met at work? (Then the budget restriction kicks in)

– Someone just told me.. you also need to make a “secondary list” just in case the first list can’t make it.. And I was thinking if that person can’t make it, I rather remove the entire table then invite people who don’t care about me

Haven’t even gone into bridesmaids selection yet which is a tough one because I love all my girlfriends…T.T

Like there are just so many questions on the guest list alone…..

5. Definitely expect to be losing ALOT of money for your wedding

Hey, I was prepared for this but I guess I wasn’t prepared for the upfront costs of just booking a venue! I never saw weddings as a business but rather a celebration of love, but I can now see why brides are always so stressed up planning their weddings… I am actually considering a wedding planner….

The thing is I don’t want to stinge on food because weddings are suppose to be beautiful and enjoyable for the couple AND their guests, so I guess I will be stinging on myself and working ALOT harder(I am up for hire!! LOL).. 

Just emceed the global launch of Leagoo with this rented gown from Plush Porter and I heard from the owner that alot of brides are renting their gowns too at a very affordable rate.. I might just do that!

As a soon-to-be bride, I now understand what it entails to plan a wedding, and I am truly up to any of your suggestions in terms of the most affordable yet comfortable, and the food must be good venue, florists, videographer, photographer, and general advice!!!!!!

But, I have made up my mind to enjoy the planning as much as possible with Ben, and like I said, make it a true celebration of love<3

Hope this post helps future brides and grooms on what to expect.. don’t be thrown into a whirlwind of shockers when you get engaged!

xoxo,

Mei Sze