The Wedding Pressure Is Real

Posted on by Alexander & Fox

In this day and age of social media, we all dream of having a grand wedding. But at what cost?

Miguel & Mela, the bride and groom, during cocktails at their wedding reception in Amorita, Panglao, Bohol.

Let’s face it, Facebook, Instagram, and even Pinterest have become part of our daily routine. We scour these social media apps for the latest news and what our friends are up to. It’s the best way to find out who’s engaged (even celebrities!) and what their wedding looked like.

With everything that you see, you unknowingly start to pressure yourself into planning a wedding that would be up to standard of people’s perceived expectations.

So YES, the wedding struggle is real!

But don’t worry! Take a deep breath and don’t panic. Let me see if I can help you out.

First things first, accept the fact that weddings are an expense. Come to terms with the fact that you will be shelling out your hard earned money. You may be asking:“Can they be expensive?” YES. “Do they gave to be?” No.

Let’s break down some of the things you will need in a wedding.

  • Church
  • Reception Venue
  • Catering
  • Venue Styling
  • Invitations
  • Photo + Video
  • Bridal Gown
  • Groom’s Suit
  • Bridesmaid & Groomsmen Attire
  • Etc.

Focus on WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU. I can’t stress this enough.

Among the items above, try to identify which big ticket item you’d like to spend a little extra on.

For example: A bride’s gown would be considered one of the most important dresses she will ever wear. When the music starts to play, the door slowly opens to reveal you in your lovely dress and everybody is in awe as you walk down the isle while your future husband tries his best to hold back his tears. You look gorgeous in your wedding gown! You’ve spent good money on it as well. There’s nothing wrong with spending on a wedding gown if it’s going to fulfill your dream wedding. But keep in mind the very few occasions you will wearing it.

Let’s take a look at venue, catering and venue styling. These 3 items usually go hand in hand. Depending on your theme these can really put a mark on your wedding budget. During my wedding, my wife and I decided on a rustic themed wedding. We always talked about how awesome it would be to have it in a big barn with string lights all over the place. The string lights rental would put us back us back around Php 15,000. Expensive? Yes! Was it worth it? Totally! Check out the photo below!

Josh & Camille’s Rustic Themed Wedding

The lights spread out all the way outside which put a nice ambiance to our rustic wedding. This was something we thought was a well worth added expense even though it wasn’t necessary.

Another example would be your photo and video team. How important would the photographs of your wedding be? How important is having an SDE (same day edit video)? This another big ticket wedding element which needs to be thought out thoroughly. Personally, I didn’t go for an SDE service. My wife and I just wanted to get the formalities of the program done with so that we can just dance and party! We didn’t mind seeing our video weeks later. It was also nice to relive your wedding experience a few weeks after rather than see the video right away. That’s just our personal opinion and preference. Others would love to see what transpired during the day. Actually, having an SDE is one of the pressures of modern day weddings. This did not exist before. Though it is nice to have, keep in mind it is not an absolute need.

There are many companies in the wedding photo & video industry. You’ve got the big named brands who have been in the industry for years and are masters of their craft. They will give you high quality service at premium prices. You also have new up and coming companies trying to make they’re mark by offering more affordable prices with a different artistic treatment. There are also budget photo & video companies who will get the job done. It all boils down to, again, what is important to you. Talk to them, check out their work and see which would suit your style. To some, this would be the most important wedding element on their checklist. To others, this is just a supporting element.

My sister-in-law opted to just have photographers and no video of her wedding. To others, this may seem like a mortal sin! This is what she wanted and she was happy.

Don’t succumb to the pressure that you see on social media. Put a little extra thought on planning your wedding and choosing your suppliers. You wouldn’t want to wake up after worrying how you’re going to pay your bills the following month.

Your wedding should be one of the most memorable times of your life not something that will put you in debt for the next few years.