Oh Mama... saya mahu kawin!

It's the wedding (mating) season again... and people are rushing off to get married. Even in every blog I read I find people talking bout marriage/weddings. And in the midst of the festive season, where invitation to open houses are still in abundance, we still have to attend wedding receptions (according to a friend - once we've accepted a wedding invitation it is wajib for us to attend).

Do you think it's cheap to get married in this modern world? I would have to think 100 times before I would agree to settle down any time soon (with no savings and all). Witnessing a friend's wedding plan had given me a new perspective towards the whole thing. A lot of time and energy needs to put in the whole project (not forgetting money too..). Everything from the wedding gown to the door gift needs to be coordinated, theme color needs to be determined, make-up artist needs to be pre-booked(sometime 2 months prior to the date), hall needs to be booked, caterers' food needs to be sampled, etc.

A wedding is not just an auspicious occassion where the bride & groom are joined in wholly matrimony. It is the time when you want to look your best while hosting a great ceremony. You for sure don't want people leaving grumbling about the lousy food or bad sound system or even an unorganised ceremony, do you. Not after all the money you've spent to throw the damn thing.

Now I'm getting to my point.... How much do you think we should spend for a modern day KL wedding?

A list of expenses that I could think of comprises of:-

1. bride's make-up RM 500.00
(including hair, manicure & pedicure + accessories)

2. groom's touch-up RM 100.00
(yess... they even charge you for a touch-up)

3. souvenirs (RM 3 X 500 guests) RM 1,500.00

4. Hantaran RM 2,000 - 3,000
(this is just the gifts - for the groom)

5. Hall (minimum of RM 45 X 500 guest) RM 22,500.00
(this includes food, table, waiter, etc - e.g Dewan Merak Kayangan/Perdana Felda)

6. Photographer RM 2,000 - 5,000
(depending on quality of the photos. if nak cover shots, get ready to pay extra)

7. Bridal attire RM 3,000 - 5,000
(materials, design, shoes, accessories, etc.)

8. MC RM 1,000 - 2,000

9. Wedding planner (ala Pak Abu) RM 5,000 - 10,000
(if really need one - will take care of the pelamin and everything else)

Total cost:- A hell lot of money!!!

So now you get my point? It's not cheap I tell you..... (ala2 makcik kepoh). If anyone planning to get married any time soon, pause and calculate all the expenses 1st. If you don't have a minimum of RM30k.. you'll be heading for a disaster. You wouldn't want to start a marriage with a debt, do you?

I once heard a tale about a couple that took up a loan for their wedding reception. They ended up divorced even before they finished paying their loans off (bukan nak gossip... pengajaran...).

For people that constantly been asking me "bila you nak kawin?" Q... get off my case will you?... With that note, I shall stop here for now.