Your UAE wedding fit to a budget
Have a wedding to plan but want to hold on to your hard earned dirhams? There are plenty of considerations before you say “I do” and each one comes with a hefty price tag. Before you lose yourself in the financial labyrinth, read on for ways to save on those wedding bills.
As if Dubai wasn’t synonymous with extravagance already, add the word wedding to it and everything is bound to shoot off the charts. To keep your finances in check, the most important thing is to set a budget. The number of people you invite and the scale of celebrations should be adjusted accordingly. Try to stick to the budget but leave room for incidentals so you don’t feel pressed at any time.
The next step is to prioritise. Rate all essentials in levels of importance to decide where you want to spend most of your money. Another thing to bear in mind is not to settle for the first option that crosses your path. It always pays to do your research.
The invitations
The easiest way to cut back on costs is to do as much of the work as possible by yourself. Hand making your invitations is a cost-effective option. Additionally, sending out invitations over email will cost you absolutely nothing.
The venue
Most wedding venues increase their prices during peak wedding season. If possible avoid Eid, Christmas and spring breaks in the UAE when hotel and flight prices are at their peak. Your choice of venue also makes a big impact on your budget. A cozy restaurant inside a hotel will be far more economical than the ballroom, while an outdoor venue like the beachfront or the lawns of a golf course will save you tons on decorations.
You can also win a bargain by arranging for all your events to be held at a single venue.
The dress
When planning a wedding on a budget, try not to get carried away by brand names. Instead, invest in something simpler that can be worn later too. If you have your sights set on a particular dress or suit, it is a good idea to delay the purchase. Retail sales in the UAE are abundant and frequent. If you have time before the wedding, wait up and an offer may come knocking very soon.
For people from the subcontinent, traversing the streets of Meena Bazaar in Bur Dubai could get you some amazing deals on wedding attire and jewellery. You can also consider hiring if your budget doesn’t allow a purchase.
The food
When booking catering services for an event, a canapé, food and beverage package will always get you a better deal than a threecourse sit-down meal.
Another way to introduce style and practicality in a costeffective manner is to ditch the traditional wedding fare for something infinitely more interesting like a food truck and live cooking stations. Simple fare served creatively is always better appreciated. You can also save big through interactive food stands like decorate your cupcake or build your own icecream sundae.
Most wedding venues in the UAE offer a tiered cake as a part of the party package. This can also translate to a saving of several hundred dirhams.
The décor
If decoration is your forte, you can enjoy beautifying your venue yourself and save plenty in the process. A few places in Dubai to look for discounted wholesale decoration items are Dragon Mart, Naif Road and Al Satwa.
The photography
To get the best deals on wedding photography, look for vouchers on group buying websites available in the UAE and book in advance. Or, if they are willing to, have a talented friend double up as a photographer for your wedding.
The entertainment
Wedding bands in the UAE are rare and expensive. To save on entertainment costs, you can ask your artistically inclined friends or family members to perform on your wedding. Additionally, you can play your own music instead of hiring a DJ.
The favours
Making your own wedding favours gives you a chance to unleash your creativity while adding a touch of personalisation. You can also save big bucks at the same time.