<FONT COLOR="Orange">Hi Ino </FONT>
about cost of wedding ah...this really depends on individual leh.
Some ppl their parents n in-laws help a bit.
1. If u expect small ang paos, go for restaurant, cos if maj of ur guests r stingy, they "bao" the minimum regardless of venue. if u expect generous ang baos, go for hotels. Cos if they r generous, they'll given even more for hotels.
2. ur in-law paying for the pin jin, si dian jin etc? or ur FH gotta pay?
3. ur in-law helping out in banquet expenses?
4. ur parents asking for any tables? (cos by rule, ang baos gotten from those tables requested by bride's family will be return to bride's parents.)
5. u goin for high end (5-7k) bridal boutique or normal one(3-3.5k)? But by ur wedding day, 80% will be paid oredi.
My banquet is at a restuarant, n in-laws will pay for pin jin n si dian jin (My FIL want to follow tradition.) We insist to pay for banquet ourselves. We still waiting for flat (so cannot spend all savings on wedding)...Hence, in my situation, we set aside only $15k for actual day thingy, banquet n honeymoon. Should be more than enuff. If we make money in banquet, then we earn a better HM, if make loses, then maybe can go sentosa only.
To save money ahh...Try not to go out too often lor. Think twice when u want to buy something. Whether u really need it?
In order to save money, u need to review ur spending habits, then "dui4 zheng4 xia4 yao4" (i.e. find the best cure according to ur aliments)