Prioritizing Budget

How do we stick to a P100,000 budget for a wedding?


Here's how:


1. PRIORITIZE. All weddings will have a lead person - bride, groom, mother of the bride (mob), mother of the groom (mog) or whoever else will be paying for it. Mostly, everyone will have a "SAY" on what should and should not be in the wedding. Therefore, what does a bride to be do?

• For bride and groom - on separate pieces of paper, write down the top three things you want to spend on.
  
• Write down how much you want to spend for each.
• Understand that if these are your priorities, then the rest are small stuff, not to be fussed over.

2. Look for the BEST DEALS within your circle. There are lots of deals on the web, through wedding fairs, through magazines, and others, but the best deals are still within family and friends.

• If you have an aunt who can sew, make her "gift" the wedding dress or other necessary clothing.
• If you have a creative friend who is good with printing, then let them be the invites creator or other printouts.
• My friend volunteered to make the flowers for me, after a trip to Dimasalang (flower market in Manila). All the flowers (tables, bouquets, buttoniers, corsages and mini bouquets will cost less than P5,000!!! those are Calla Lilies and Roses!!!)
• If they can, ask siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, godparents or friends to "sponsor" some of the items that you want, but are not priority - these can include: bridesmaids dresses, church fees, souveniers, rings or the gifts to entourage.
• If you have a photographer friend, they will be flattered if you ask them to cover the wedding. Just pay for the development of some photographs.
  

3. SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY. To stick to the budget, if you have a choice between the basic and an "upgraded" for P1,500-P4,000; there is a tendency to say "its our wedding and its only one time, we should upgrade." Wrong. Those upgrades are unecessary most of the time and those little expenses and comments like "P2,000 or P3,000 lang yan, kunin na natin!" will ADD up. The budget is P100k. No room for upgrades.

I can get Manila Cathedral!!!

My dream wedding was always in the Manila Cathedral.

When i first checked the costs of a wedding there (with a previous fiance - long story), it was P15,000, and that was without air con. Air con would be P25,000. Now, it is P30,000 with air con!!!

Thank goodness though, that they have packages for those on a budget but who would like the cathedral as their venue. Check out - http://www.manilacathedral.org/weddings/wed_packages1.htm. They have one that has NO FEE!!! Without a mass, and the fee is discretionary, will be a donation to the cathedral. Isn't that great?

They have their usual packages also - http://www.manilacathedral.org/weddings/wed_packages.htm. They increased their prices January 2009 to P30,000 with air con and P20,000 without air con.

The Manila Cathedral staff are really professional and are really very good. They followed up requirements, and they individually look at the situation of each couple and gives the best advice on how to have the best wedding. I give credit to Monsignor Nestor Crebo for having such organized and documented forms, and a comprehensive list of requirements for every possible situation.

They are also very understanding and patient. They are strict with requirements, but are very accommodating when there are problems. If you have less than three months to prepare, this is your church!!!

Most churches i went to would have a fee between P8,000 (UP Chapel) up to P40,000 (Sanctuario de San Antonio). On average, however, parishes usually charge P10,000 for an "all-in" package with all the frills - flowers, a red carpet, a singer, will allow the complete entourage and up to 8 pairs of ninongs and ninangs (godparents).

I can still plan a P100k wedding in Manila Cathedral!!!