Cost of wedding a reason for putting off marriage: study

SINGAPORE: A recent study on marriage and parenthood found that saving for the wedding is a big reason cited by those in relationships for not having any immediate plans to marry.

But some wedding planners and couples say it does not have to be all that expensive.

Saying "I do" can potentially set couples back by hundreds of thousands.

Wedding planner Angela Tioanda, who handles two weddings a month, said her clients spend an average of S$100,000 for a wedding.

This includes the wedding venue, food, bridal attire and photography, which she said are the must—haves for any wedding.

One of the most expensive weddings she planned cost about S$130,000 for 140 guests.

Ms Tioanda said: "They had lobster for food. I think the food is about S$200 per guest. But mainly, it’s because everything was a la carte, where they had the venue, which is like clean —— it’s a blank canvas. We had to bring in our own decoration. Even the furniture, like the table and the chairs, and of course, the caterers. So when you do all things a la carte, you can expect the cost to be more expensive than say, a wedding package from a hotel.

"It really depends on what you want for the wedding. To be honest, nothing comes free, a lot of things are expensive especially in Singapore when you are talking about the service industry; the food and beverage and the venue in Singapore, and the rental rates are quite high."

Ms Tioanda said a less expensive wedding is possible, with the cheapest wedding she planned costing a total of S$40,000.

Her tips for couples on a budget include keeping the guest list small and asking friends and family to help out.

Couples whom Channel NewsAsia spoke with and who took about one to two years to plan their wedding, said their budget was between S$10,000 and S$50,000.

"If I’m going to do it in a hotel, I have to limit my guests because it’s going to cost a lot. So I do it in a temple, buffet style, so I can invite more guests to come," said a couple whom Channel NewsAsia interviewed.

A low—budget option is to hold a ceremony at the Registry of Marriages. A marriage licence for Singapore citizens costs S$26 and the transportation fee for the Justice of Peace is a donation of between S$100 and S$200.

— CNA/xq