Assalamualaikum all,
Eversince I've got engaged last year, many people keep asking me when will your wedding be? How long is your engagement? I told them ''Don't worry, you will be the first one to be invited to my wedding.'' I actually don't like to answer this questions.
After Hari Raya was over, fiancé & I plan did researched together - finding caterer, deco, bridal and photo/videography. We would like to settle these major components before 2013. We were overwhelmed by the market price of wedding write now. I really thought 20k was enough for me but after the research, to be safe, have to keep aside 25k instead. So I really need to be save more and be discipline with my spending, keeping in mind that my parents will not be forking out a single cent for the wedding expenses. Some of my friends are fortunate that their parents did sponsor, specially the catering which cost half of the total wedding expenses. No, I did not want to depend my parents financially any more. Since teen, I always work for my own money and my poly school fees, I paid for myself with a part-time job. I've always felt that I have to be financially independent. Even my engagement, my relatives were surprised that not a single cent came out from my parent's pocket money.
Fiancé & I already confirmed our bridal and photo/videography but have yet to fix appointment for booking as fiancé still in reservist. But the most headache part is the deco and catering. I want both in one package but can't seems to find any of the wedding agent that are good in both. From my own calculation, if I ala-carte it, it will be expensive.
I was invited to food tasting at a wedding today by a wedding company which serve both deco and catering in a package and it's the reasonable price I can get within my budget. From their Facebook, I find the deco was superb but I prayed that the catering will be as great as the deco because some of the wedding forum feedback that their quality of food may not be up to standard.
When I went there today, I was completely shocked that they are super slow in topping up the food and utensils. The venue was crowded with guests. I had no qualms of about the quality of food but the poor service of delivering the food. The cakes were not cut properly, and not presentable. Even drinks were not top up. The parents of the bride/groom were busy attending the guest - I guess they did not realised it. I thought my headache in finding the suitable caterer & deco will be relieve by today. I guessed I'm wrong. Fortunately, there's wedding expo in few days time 4-7 Oct. I hope I will get just what I wanted. InsyaAllah & Amin..
What I can suggest for going-to-be-married couples is to book the major wedding components 2 years before the event if you really really want to save money, because every quarterly or half a year, they will increase their price. Also, you can gauge how much money you need to save. But of course lah, have to prepare at least $2-3k to book the dates and get the current price (:
Signing off,
Rohani
