How do you budget for your wedding? Pay off 100% cash?

[unicorndemon]

Hi all,

Out of curiosity, I was wondering if everyone prepares 100% cash to pay off the full wedding expenses including the banquet.

Was wondering if there are couples who prepare 70% cash and rely on ang pows for the balance?

Any past brides mind sharing experiences?


P.S: I am trying to plan for our finances, so make sure we are on the right path.

 

[SierraCD]

Hi unicorndemon,

Well, I planned it in a way whereby both my fiance and I had 100% cash on hand to pay off and not rely on the angbaos.

Our reason being, that there can sometimes be sudden expenses when your wedding day approaches. Like booking extra rooms for overseas guest, additional angbaos to give out and etc.
I felt working within the amount we had on hand, also would be able to help us with our budgeting and not overspend (people tend to have the idea that since angbao will cover the wedding, they just keep spending).

Certain bride's family would also request for tables from the groom during the wedding day, therefore the angbao from the tables will go directly to the bride's family.
I've had friends where the bride's parents took the whole angbao box from the bride's side, so the bride and groom had to settle the balance with the remaining from the groom angbao box.

Might be better for you and your fiance and both parents to settle the needs and wants, and putting your foot down on certain things with them.

Wedding coming up next month, just sharing my thoughts.

 

[eang18]

Hi all,

Out of curiosity, I was wondering if everyone prepares 100% cash to pay off the full wedding expenses including the banquet.

Was wondering if there are couples who prepare 70% cash and rely on ang pows for the balance?

Any past brides mind sharing experiences?


P.S: I am trying to plan for our finances, so make sure we are on the right path.

It depends on the scale of your wedding too. If you have small event of 16 to 20 tables, means its a bill of approx 26K (excluding taxes, and assuming each table is around 1.3k ish) and minus a deposit of 8k = remaining 18K which is manageable between both. However, if its a bigger event of 35 tables and classy event of close to 1.8k = 63k... then it looks kinda of hard to budget the full amount.

Hence, the realistically if you should/ or possible to prepare 100% of the amount, will be based on venue and table cost. More factors should consider's if your guests can cover the per seat cost i.e. would your guest typically give 130 or 180 per pax? This give you a gauge how much's the gap you and partner gonna to fill at the end of the day.

 

[unicorndemon]

Thank you for sharing SierraCD & eang18, I would probably go for the safer option.