prep talk

Spending less doesn’t mean you have to scrimp on the essentials. Getting something at a much lower price doesn’t have to look cheap.

We’ve all heard about how the rich and famous from Forbes, Dasma, or San Lo do their Christmas shopping at the 168 Shopping Mall in Divisoria. We’ve even heard Madame Imelda Marcos goes shopping at the Greenhills tiangge before store hours. It’s sacrilege to brand such behavior as being symptomatic of a tightwad.

In these hard times and the age of political correctness, this is known as being "stylishly practical". And really, these mini-meccas of bargains do offer some rare finds if you just know where to look.

You can apply the same thing to your wedding. Making a statement doesn’t always have to include added lines in your billing charges. Be creative! You can marry in Boracay and spend for the airfare and accommodations of the entire guest list – all ten of them! That would still come out cheaper, right? How about scrapping that faux-Swarovski giveaway idea in exchange for rib-eye steak on the plate of every guest? The possibilities are endless! You are limited only by your imagination.

Real Brides speak

We’ve asked real brides for their suggestions as to how to make a wedding stylishly practical. We hope you’ll pick a tip or two that you can apply while planning your own big day.

Heirloom pieces always make a statement – you can borrow wedding paraphernalia from your parents. Stuff like the veil, their arrhae, hair pieces, or an antique brooch which you can either use on your veil or even on your gown as an accent piece.

~ Pittipat (to marry Jojo 11.26.06)

Do-it-yourself (DIY) - let your creative juices flow with the help of PhotoShop for your invitations, save-the-date cards, etc. or Windows Movie Maker for your personalized AVP. You don’t need to hire an expert because these programs are user-friendly. DIY gifts and souvenirs add that personal touch which every guest will appreciate.

~ Joyce (to marry John 05.18.07)

Less is more. Limit your wedding details to those items that will really count.

~ Mayen (to marry Mike 12.09.06)

Stick to the basics. Don’t clutter your wedding with unnecessary and bulky details. A heartfelt and solemn ceremony capped with a joyous reception should be more than enough. If you want to add frou-frou, go for the most affordable package. We all want the drama of a butterfly release, the spectacle of a fireworks display, and the tempting chocolate fountain. Should you opt to include these in your wedding reception, choose one or two as highlights.

~ Mojics (to marry Jay 12.15.06)

Scour Divisoria! You’ll be surprised by what you’ll find there. We found the fabric for our entourage’s gowns there. For printed chiffon, it was quite a steal and it matched our garden theme. Up to now I get comments on how unique and pretty the entourage’s dresses were.

~ Tricia (married to Suerte 01.03.04)

We didn’t say no to our friends and cousins who volunteered to design and personalize our cords, hairpieces, souvenirs, invites, etc. in place of gifts because we might be migrating to another country after the wedding anyway.

~ Ivy (to marry Mike 03.30.07)

When we were preparing for our wedding, we decided to have an intimate party for our very close family and friends as we felt that a small wedding would help in ensuring that the guests would be comfortable enough to enjoy the party. Since we only needed a few pieces, we were able to create our own invitations with an origami accent. We also used the high quality paper of our invitations for our do-it-yourself lined envelopes. I can’t imagine making more than 25 pieces of that simple yet labor-intensive invitation! And since we only had to serve food to 60 people instead of 300, we were able to serve our guests our favorite cuisine at the Mandarin Oriental. We also had an open bar that really helped put our guests in a dancing mood. Instead of getting a band, we got a sultry solo performer who enticed our friends to sing and dance with us. More importantly, we were able to talk, drink, sing, and dance with each of our guests.

~ Abie Floreza (married to Rey 12.27.04)

Attend bridal fairs. You can find great bargains there. If you have a prospective supplier in mind and you know that that supplier will be in the fair, book them there. Chances are you’ll get freebies and discounts.

~ Dionne (married to Joven 06.10.06)

Ask recently-wed friends for their bridal magazines and search for ideas to adapt in your wedding which you can DIY for souvenirs.

~ Cri-c (to marry Jun 12.02.06)

While browsing through magazines or wedding websites, look for ideas that you can make on your own. It becomes extra-special because you can personalize it.

~ Avi (to marry Ezzie 07.23.06)

I visited a designer’s atelier and saw an elegant wedding gown which he used once in a bridal fair. That gown originally cost P45,000. After a little sweet-talk and bit of haggling, my soft-hearted couturier/designer finally gave up and gave me 70% off!

~ Helen (married to Roberto 12.11.05)

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prep talkback: Send comments and queries to P.O. Box 233, Greenhills, San Juan City 1502 or email: mail@WeddingsAtWork.com.

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