You can have your dream wedding without
breaking the bank or sacrificing style. All that is
required is creativity, and focus on your long
term goals (beyond the ceremony itself). From
reserving a low-cost wedding ceremony site, to
getting creative with décor, you can create your
dream wedding and still stay within your
budget.
One thing you have to get straight up front is
that nothing in the wedding ceremony is
compulsory or cast in concrete. From wedding
gown to your vows, cakes to decor, you name
it. You can customize it. You can wed in
church/mosque or in court. You can wear the
traditional white, choose your colour, wear a
skirt suit or Aso Oke depending on the venue. It
is your call. You can bring your personality into
your wedding.
It is not a do or die affair, or something to go
broke over. Your wedding is not an investment
(although some folks believe you may get cash
gifts over and above what you spent, but you
may be surprised).
The first thing to do is to determine your
budget, and stick to it.
Wedding Date
Getting married on a working day can save you
a lot of money, from cheaper hall rental to
reduced crowd to feed at reception. It will also
give you more leverage for negotiation with
vendors, as business is slow on week days. It
also works out cheaper for guests flying in.
Bridal Gown
This is a very emotional topic. An average bride
wants a designer wedding gown, event it means
punching giant holes in the wedding budget.
You have 3 options - rent, sew or buy (from a
designer or order from abroad). If you are
serious about saving money, renting is the way
to go. For a dress you will only wear for a few
hours, buying one when you cannot afford it is
an emotional decision.
Groom's Suits
Same as the bride, you can use what you have,
sew or buy a designer suit. Unlike the case of
the bride, you can use the suit after the
wedding, if you bought a normal suit and
nothing outlandish. Again, there is no law that
says the groom and the best man must wear the
same thing. If you cannot afford a new suit or
see no reason why you must get a new one, do
your thing.
Invitation Cards and Program
Here too, you have options. You can produce
yours on a PC (if you are good with computer
graphics), get a friend to help or give it to a
printer. Doing it yourself gives you more control
and peace of mind, if you know what you are
doing.
Reception Venue
You have different options when it comes to the
venue, depending on your budget. You can use
a church or school hall, an events centre, a
field or a friend's or family member's garden.
Again, it depends on your budget (and number
of invitees). If you want to save money, if you
have a free option, why shell out so much
money?
Decoration
You can shop for an inexpensive decorator
(getting contacts from recently married friends
or acquaintances), or if you have a close friend
who is good at it, do it for you. You only get to
buy the materials. Just make sure it is
something they have done before, and not using
your event to learn.
Food and Drinks
You will want to outsource this one to avoid the
stress involved. If you have an army of
dependable helpers, then you can take the risk
of going the do-it-yourself route. However, if
you want to hire a vendor to handle this, you
can tap into your network, and get quotes from
3 - 4 vendors, to get a good deal. Note also that
cheap can bite, and end up being more
expensive. Whoever you decide on should come
highly recommended. Also you can keep costs
down by choosing a simple menu and reducing
the number of invitees. There is no point trying
to outdo the last wedding you attended.
Video and Photography
You will want to leave this to the professionals,
unless you have a close friend or family who
will handle it free or at cost, as a gift to you.
Since this is a memory you will enjoy for the
rest of your life, you will want this
professionally done, as you cannot rewind to
capture it again.
Honeymoon
Many couples are ready to splash on the
wedding, and skip the honeymoon altogether.
This is not a good idea. Although a honeymoon
is not compulsory, this period is pays off in
starting off your marriage on a sound footing -
a time to let out the stress of the past months
and time to bond properly before rushing into
the next phase of your lives. It serves as a time
to set the tone for your marriage by revisiting
your rules of engagement and modus operandi
as a couple. It is a moment to cherish and
enjoy, before screaming kids arrive on the
scene. It does not have to be expensive. There
are many resorts in Nigeria that fit the bill.
Reduce Number of Vendors
The fewer vendors you have to pay, the cheaper
for you do to economy of scale. For example,
having the same person do your hair and make-
up is cheaper that using different people, same
with catering and decoration, cake etc. Package
deals work out cheaper if you negotiate well.
However, be sure the vendor can deliver on all
counts. Avoid being penny wise, pound foolish.
Consult widely.
Stick to Your Guns
After you have made your initial decision, stick
to it. Don't keep upgrading and increasing the
budget as the day draws nearer, and as you
witness more weddings. You are not in a
competition, and there are no prizes at stake.
Keep your eye on the big picture - life after your
wedding.
Whatever you decide, remember that the main
focus of the wedding ceremony is you and your
groom, and what you really want – not how
much money you spent. As much as it is nice to
whao the crowd momentarily, what happens
thereafter matters more than the public show.
Rather than keep delaying your wedding
because of money, cut your plans to size, do it
and move on with the much anticipated phase
of your life.
Please send comments and contributions to
lifestyle@nigeriagalleria.com
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