If you’re one of the lucky ladies who got proposed to (or did you do the proposing instead) then congratulations you! The first thing you need to know about weddings is that quality is more important than quantity. A small group of 30 close friends and family is far more intimate compared to 500 guests of which half you’ve never met in your life.
If you’re shying away from the conventional hotel banquet dinners, be happy to know that you’re not the only one because many young couples these days prefer intimate weddings that are cosy and elegant without the boisterous yam sengs and massive crowds. Of course, there are cultural traditions which our parents and relatives would never let us get away with but the fun part is finding ways to incorporate it into your wedding without being overly cheesy.
Weddings in essence is a celebration of love. Most couples come across as stressed and weary on their wedding day because unlike Western weddings, Asian weddings can be pretty tiring because of the many rituals and customs from start to finish.
We understand how difficult it is to have all your family and friends come together on the same day so it is unwise to have separate events on different days. So before you start dreaming about walking down the aisle, pull out your notebooks and jot down these important tips to ensure your wedding planning goes smoothly without hiccups.
1. Picking a date
It could be a special date to the both of you like an anniversary, the day you met or a year after the proposal. For most Asian cultures, parents will insist that the both of you pick a lucky date according to Feng Shui which is believed to ensure happiness and prosperity throughout your lives as a married couple, we don’t know if it works but people do it anyway.
You know, just to be safe. Set a realistic date that will give the both of you enough time for preparations especially if there’s a theme involved.
Image credits to James Leung
2. Wedding Venue & Reception
Without a venue, you can’t proceed with any preparations or planning. Envision how your wedding should be like? do you want a church wedding, garden wedding, beach wedding or are you simply happy to have it in a lavish hotel? Also take into consideration the accessibility of your guests because it may sound glamorous to have you wedding in Bali for example but if a majority of your guests do not have means of going there whether financially or time then what’s the point?
Carcosa Seri Negara, image credits to Qippy
3. Set a Theme
Having a theme will make things easier when planning. If your wedding is vintage themed for example, it’ll be easier for you and your wedding planner to source for props and coordinate details down to the color. Involve your partner while planning, don’t make it all about you.
Image credits to Favor Ideas
4. Dressing Up
Don’t do last minute gown and suit shopping, trust us. Tailored wedding gowns don’t cost much more than those bought off the shelves.
There are trustworthy online sites especially from China that create designer gowns at a fraction of the original cost, all you have to do is send in your measurements, pay and wait for it to arrive. Don’t wait until the last minute to make your orders because in the even your gown doesn’t fit or if you change your mind, you still have time to bring it in for alteration.
Also take into consideration the measurements and designs of what your bridesmaid and groomsmen will be wearing on that day.
Image credits to Philadelphia Bridal Company
5. Guest List
Finally, your guest list! You don’t want to miss out anyone important to you so run through your phonebook or Facebook list and consult both parents respectively to make sure you’ve got all friends and relatives invited to avoid hurting anyone’s feelings. If you forget someone, chances are they won’t too when it’s their turn to tie the knot.
Of course it’s always fun to have a hand in wedding preparations but having a wedding planner will make things a whole lot easier for you since they have contacts from venues to emcees to photographers and even florists.
Planning ahead won’t mean anything if you only start making appointments and looking for dresses at the very last minute. Nobody likes a bridezilla and your stress will be reflected in all your wedding photos, so be calm, plan ahead and be prepared for mishaps to happen. Just have fun!
