Wedding Questions.

**Disclaimer: I have no affiliations with the companies/businesses mentioned below nor am I paid to put them in this post (how I wish I was.haha)**

I think it's normal to be asked questions about the 'Wedding' event after going through it.

Typical questions I get are like, 'Is it expensive?', 'What to prepare first?', 'What's the budget?' etc (the list goes on and on).

My one biggest recommendation:

Do what you dream of... but do it within your means.

And also:

The wedding is about you and your hubby...

(well maybe you still need to accomodate immediate family's views, if any.)

Well, which girl (ahem we are all girls) doesn't want their dream wedding right?

But, dream weddings do come at a cost too =)

Question is what do you want to fork out for and how much?

I've seen a particular friend and her HTB put in much effort & creativity (she had those in the first place) and her wedding was beautiful and very different.

No wedding gowns and bridal studios but 2 off the rack dresses which looks great on her.

Well, who said weddings need to have a wedding gown or engage a bridal studio?

Below are my own personal views and everyone have the right to agree or disagree.

Part 1: Dreams vs Affording the cost.

Okay, let's get real, unless you are Xiaxue or some celeb that can get heaps of sponsorships - cost is something you have to think about.

Dream weddings do come at a cost too =)

Question is what do you want to fork out for and how much?

For me, my wedding M.U.S.T have a real cake - I told Yong that.

So, I had to fork out the moolah for the cake.

My family and friends would know that I actually went to see and purchase my wedding cake before I even looked at my gowns.

Yeap, I was dead serious about having a real Wedding cake.

Ever since young, going to weddings and looking at the fake cake (some with dust on them) made me very sure that a REAL cake was a must at my wedding.

But I have to admit it was not my dream 5-tier fondant covered designer wedding cake but it was good enough.

This was fresh cream with real red roses and acrylic stand to built on it's 3-tier height made by Pine's Garden.

To some, this might be a splurge but it was important to me.

So, list out what is important to you (and your HTB - who would probably have alcohol on his mind) and discuss.

There are also many other ideas that can help make a wedding special.

For instance, wedding favors are part of the hotel package but since I'd like to give something personalised.

Wanted to bake cookies but I gave that idea up as it was too much work to bake and ice 300 pieces!

So, I went to Sticky and custom-made sweets with the words "Yong ♥ Ivy" in the middle.

Instead of paying extra for packaging, my sisters offered to painstakingly help me packed them into small plastic bags and twist-tied them.  

I never believed in non-edible wedding favors cause they usually gets chucked aside when we reach home (admit it!)

Food's the way to go! hahaha....

Part 2: Cutting corners.

Okay, this might sound bad right?

But trust me, it's not.

Great example, wedding cards.

Fine, those offered by the printer for free are usually fugly stuff.

They are F.R.E.E.

Who keeps them after recieving them or after the wedding?

One point to note, if you want to do a themed wedding with cards, please do it for everyone attending and not only your friends.

Aren't everyone attending your wedding?

Or is it a different wedding that they are attending?

Corsages for sisters are like the most pretty things.

But these are usually only used for the morning and evening during reception.

I wanted something that my sisters could bring home and re-use instead of throwing it away.

I realise a lot of stuff at weddings are thrown or chucked aside after the event (e.g: cards, corsages, ang pow box etc).

I got the flower clip from F21 online store and shipped it to SG.

Ribbons from SKP to tie around the wrist and viola - my corsage for sisters.

Many of them used it after the wedding too =)

Part 3: What to do first & Biggest Budgets.

After he proposes (the impt word here is 'AFTER'), what to do?

Erhm, for us, it was to get Yong to have a sense of urgency. Haha.

Well, he did and that eased up a lot of tension for me.

NO BRIDE-ZILLA!! WOOHOO~

I would say 3 important things and not in order:

• Date (visit the Feng Shui master ASAP)
• Location (important to know what you want)
• Bridal Studio (if you are heading that direction for gowns)

Theme, colors, favors, sisters, helpers and all the other nitty gritty stuff can come later.

Ladies, please don't go planning all these before he proposes.

You'll only put yourself in distress if he doesn't!

No point forcing him to propose if he doesn't want to.

And, men are different creatures from women - tell him subtly or in-the-face (whichever that works) that asking if we should buy a HDB is a lousy way to propose! =)

I did tell Mr Look that and we only bought the HDB after he proposed.

Getting a HDB first means a proposal on the way - that's like 'duh,' expecting it already right?

Biggest budgets for me, I'd have to say were the banquet, studio and Famous Amos (my photographer for outdoor and actual day).

These were the ones in the thousands.

For my studio, I picked a neighbourhood one.

Ya, people will be like 'huh, how come lei?'.

For me, I had a great qipao from Nicola for my reception and another great qipao from my MIL for the end of the wedding. The last qipao had great sentimental value.

Indoor shoot wasn't something I enjoy (meaning we didn't spend a single cent on extra photos).

Gowns to me were pretty, nice and once in a lifetime but trust me when I say they are a tad bit uncomfortable.

There were much more flexibility with these neighbourhood studios too =) one great point to note.

I went with seletar broadway as my bridal studio and only spent less then 3k.

To each it's own, what's important and what's not.

For me, I want as little trouble from the studio as possible.

Their gowns are from Taiwan and quite up-to-date.

One thing to beware, off-the-rack gowns might come in more than 1 piece, so do ask =)

For location, hotels are what most people go for.

Restuarants are great sometimes too.

For us, food was important so we went to Tung Lok's Club Chinois which was previously at Orchard Parade Hotel.

Hotel location but not-so-grand ballroom, great food but at close to restuarant prices.

What more can we ask for?

Part 4: Mentality.

1. It was simple for me - be grateful to those who have helped and offered help.

Friends, families, acquaintances - EVERYONE.

Trust me when I say a lot of help is needed to pull off a wedding.

People like Nicola, Cherry, Amos, my sisters and both our friends who made the wedding possible are people that I'm always having on my mind to thank (too many to mention).

Be nice to them.

Remember - they don't owe you anything.

I don't believe in one person holding on to total control of the wedding.

I had great help from my HTB (groom-zilla) and my 2 wonderful sisters who did everything with me every step of the way.

2. Be gracious and accept comments

Erhm, things will always mess-up no matter how much planning.

You might think that doing it this way is the best but not others.

Just be gracious and accept the comments (technique of one ear in & one ear out works).

I think it's important to let go (i'm still learning) when people say things not to your liking.

No point harping on it but sometimes you will need to find a balance point to juggle stuff.

Especially when it concerns both sides of immediate family.

3. Know what you want but be flexible with it.

Like I mentioned, there are many things I wanted but just have to be flexible.

Not everything can be done.

4. Look Pretty lor

Also, the most important thing (for me) is to look pretty on the day itself and not running around to settle stuff.

That to me is the important part of the wedding.

It's about me and my husband.

Everyone else is there to share the joy and we should ALL be enjoying it.

Don't worry too much =)

It's always great to have a lot but sometimes simplicity does the trick too.