The wedding budget

The first thing I remembered doing with regards to wedding prep was to create an estimated budget for both ceremonies held here and in the Philippines. This way, I can justify if we actually made the right decision of saving money if we switched the venue from here to Pinas. Being an OC, it's imperative for me to have all bases covered. Having lived here for almost 5 years, I am clueless at the current package rates for these kinds of affairs would cost considering inflation, taxes, currency exchange, etc. Let alone wedding package rates. The only prices I'm aware of are round trip tickes from here to relatively any country in Europe/Latin America/Asia, Macbook Pro, Nikon DSLRs, iPhone and other tech toys. Make-ups, dresses, kikay stuff, please don't ask me. But thanks to my bestfriend Google, I was able to find some blogs online with an estimated budget for a 'simple' wedding of 100-150 people.

So what's in a wedding? Of course yourself, the groom and a whopping price tag of 2 round trip tickets for 2 to Europe inclusive of 2-week vacation stay and more. Yup, weddings, I realized are not cheap. Breaking it down, you have the following:

Church 20-25K PHP small to medium size (up to 150 pax capacity)
Venue 50-100K PHP depending on the size
Caterer 75-150K PHP depending on the size
Photography 50-100K PHP depending on the package (number of prints and sessions)
Flowers 35-50K PHP
Invites and Souvenirs 10-20K PHP
Wedding Dress 50-100K PHP depending on taste, couturier, etc
Rings (pair) 30-100K PHP depending on the material
Incidentals 50-100K PHP or 20% of total estimated budget

Note: 1USD =~45PHP

Looking at the first draft of our estimated budget, I thought to myself, with this amount I would've done several trips abroad, several backpacking/adventure trips and upgrade my camera. I'm a very practical person and again if I have it my way, I don't mind saying I do in an empty courtroom with my groom and the judge but I guess some things are worth the sacrifice and I just keep telling myself, I will only get married once. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Next stop, the never ending details.