Woohoo! Today is Shaun Chen and Michelle Chia’s customary dinner… got to tune in soon to see how they did their wedding! Congrats!
And now to the important stuff…
According to a survey done in this book I am reading now,<em> “Emily Post’s Wedding Parties – Smart Ideas for Stylish Parties from Engagement to Reception and Everything in Between”</em>, an average American wedding reception costs USD$27,000. I guess that is a subjective number based on your current financial situation. It can costs a Singaporean couple anything between S$20,000 to $100,000 and even more for an exceptional wedding. Wedding planners are a lucrative business and that means they are earning way too much! π . No point in spending your hard-earned money unwisely, right?
Below is the Wedding Costs Breakdown percentage given by the book, for your reference, if you are planning your wedding right..
| Invitations | 1 β 2% |
| Bridal Attire | 3 β 5% |
| Food & Beverages | 45 β 50% |
| Wedding Cake | 2 β 3% |
| Flowers & Deco | 8 β 10% |
| Reception Entertainment | 6 β 8% |
| Photography | 9 β 11% |
| Videography | 5 β 6% |
| Transportation | 2 β 3% |
| Other Expenses | 2 β 19% |
One thing to note is that the % above are for a typical American couple, which does not apply to us Singaporeans actually.
Depending on your situation, you can adjust this same table according to your needs:
Let’s say you are a budget-conscious GTB
| Invitations | 1 β 2% |
| Bridal Attire | 3 β 5% |
| Food & Beverages | 45 β 50% |
| Wedding Cake | 2 β 3% |
| Flowers & Deco | 8 β 10% |
| Reception Entertainment | 6 β 8% |
| Photography | 9 β 11% |
| Videography | 5 β 6% |
| Transportation | 2 β 3% |
| Other Expenses | 2 β 19% |
Invites, Wedding cakes are all part of the customary dinner package and videography (even photography for actual day or pre-wedding) are pretty much optional. There are couples that are well-to-do who forgoes those entirely. However, I still believe the food and gowns are things that you should not save on. The food is there as a mean of celebration and it is always good to ensure the experience is great for all. Your BTB is supposed to look the most beautiful on her wedding day, so as real man, we should always make an effort that the gown is of the highest standard.
For me personally, below are my numbers. They may not add to 100% but it is a rough gauge for me as I plan my budgets.
Last advice: If you already have a certain amount to spend, do not break your budget no matter how tight it seems! It will cause you to compromise other aspects and can results in more arguments in the future.
| Invitations | 1 % |
| Bridal Attire | 7 – 10% |
| Food & Beverages | 30% |
| Holy Matrimony Venue | 20% |
| Flowers & Deco | 8% |
| Reception Entertainment | 2% |
| Photography | 9 β 11% |
| Videography | 5 β 6% |
| Transportation | 2 β 3% |
| Other Expenses | 2 β 15% |
