Monday, July 21, 2008

Bridal Fairs

So far we’ve been to three, and I think that would be enough. Imagine walking into a place where everything that soon-to-be married couples will need were fitted into a scented, decorated, a bit noisy, and dizzying showground, these couples will be overwhelmed and overwhelmed, and in our case, multiply that by three.

A bridal fair can either be the couple’s heaven or their nightmare. If they have the money, going in these fairs is like preparing for their wedding in just one or two days. Why? Because everything can be found there: gowns, caterers, photographers, rings, invitations, make-up artists, flowers, cakes, event organizers, stylists, even dentists and dermatologists have already joined the pit. And if they have the moolah, their wedding will be headache and stressed-free, all they have to do is just affix their signatures and that’s it!

But, if the couple is on the other side of the fence and still decided to be tantalized by the dreamy atmosphere the fair can offer, going there is like having their dream weddings torn into pieces. Why? Simply because their dream wedding has a tag price, and it’s expensive.

While we’re neither of the above, we do have a budget to follow, and the accountant and banker in us keep us from going beyond the budget. We are aware that bridal fair is a big trap for over-spending on weddings but we are also aware that it can give us loads of freebies and in turn huge savings if we play our cards right.

In three separate events (and meeting and seeing the same suppliers, the same faces, and being greeted by the same enthusiastic smiles, some even know us), we were able to book the major ones and the free items, discounts and upgrades that we got were worth at least P30k! And with the expected increase in prices, and not counting the inflation, that means a lot of money and enormous savings!

While both Lyn and I do not possess the bargaining power of our parents (magagaling tumawad), magaling naman kaming magpakipot, we played hard-to-get and in turn, the wedding supplier will give in to our demands, parang nakapang-barat na rin kami hehehe.

Seriously, most wedding suppliers have a standing discount to couples who will book on site, say 20-30% discount, or a free this, or an upgrade to that, we took those discounts as part of the package and the wise thing we did was to look into the details of the package, crossed out those that will not be needed (like a tarpaulin or blow up pictures or a generic signature frame) or those that will have no purpose (like an ice carving or an extended red carpet) on the wedding and changed or replaced them with something that we need (like a bridal car or sound system or bubble machine). Trust me, a couple of hundreds or thousands removed from the package and replacing them with something that you will be paying if not included in the package can go a long, long way.

Why do I know of those things? Because I, and later on Lyn, belong to a group of “week-end” wedding coordinators before and our exposures to numerous weddings in the past gave us a firm foundation and idea on what to expect. So after the engagement, the hard work begins.

And did our being a “week-end” wedding coordinators worked on our advantage? Yes and no. And i'll post something about it later. :)

wedding dresses by Linoi

34 comments:

Unknown said...

Sus! pareho pala kaying naging part-time wedding coordinators. Eh di sisiw na yan sa inyo, hehe. :-D

Seriously though, you won't believe the headaches I had preparing for my end, este... wedding pala. Halos mabutas ang bulsa ko. Wedding ring palang more than 30k na, and that was before the Asian financial crisis of 1997. In the end napunta rin sa hiwalayan... waaahhh :-D

Anonymous said...

Sosyal!

Tutuban lang ako nsagpunta nung kinasal ako e, tapos binarat pa ng ex byenan ko yung singsing...kaya siguro hiwalay ako ngayon? lol!

Anonymous said...

ay bongga! :D

sana makapagsuot din ako ng wedding gown someday hahahaha pakshyet. Hanggang bridesmaid na lang kasi ang drama ko palagi! amfefe.

Anonymous said...

What is important is you should know how much you are willing to spend and stick to that! At the end, the wedding should be the START of a new life and not the start of being in debt. The only thing I regretted about our wedding is not spending more on the photos. When you are old and gray kasi that's all you will have from this day. Make sure you captured the moment brilliantly!

carlotta1924 said...

wow, full steam ahead na ang pagpplano nyo!

escape said...

We are aware that bridal fair is a big trap for over-spending on weddings but we are also aware that it can give us loads of freebies and in turn huge savings if we play our cards right.>>> you have a point there.

zherwin said...

rudy, madali lang namang magplano ng kasal, ang mahirap na part ay yung kapag bayaran na waaaah, at yun ang nakakasakit ng bulsa at ulo at nagbibigay ng stress hehehe.

zherwin said...

manilenya, practical choice din ang tutuban, yun nga lang kailangan mong maging mabusisi at alam mo dapat yung gusto mo, or else... hehe

zherwin said...

mahiwagang sibuyas, bakit naman hindi di ba? si lyn nga me collection ng mga pang-abay na gown eh, tapos ako me collection din ng barong hehehe. dadating din yan, bata ka pa naman eh...

zherwin said...

cathy, that's so true, if there's one or two things that a couple should put an investment for their wedding, it should be the photograph or photographer (plus the make-up) and the food, that's what i've learned from all the weddings that i attended/coordinated.

lyn was very particular with the food and i am with photography, so there. :)

zherwin said...

carlotta, oo nga, at umaaray na wallet ko hehehe.

zherwin said...

the dong, nowadays, we have to be wise, very wise when it comes to money. :)

Anonymous said...

ohh, if i have to get married again, i would choose a gown that is strapless (of course, i will make sure my braso is nice and lean..hehe), similar to the third gown from the left..but the type of fabric won't be as stiff so that it will hug in the right places making the bride look and feel like million dollars. yong gown that emphasize all of the positive aspects of the bride's physique, and conceal the less attractive. i am so excited for the choice that Lyn is going to make, am sure she'll look stunning.

good luck and make sure to keep us posted.

Ann said...

I watched a documentary show last week about weddings, nakakalula pala ang gastos talaga ngayon if you really want a nice wedding.

We attended 2 wedding ceremonies last vacation, iba rin pala talaga pag may wedding coordinator.

zherwin said...

belle, that's the design that lyn wanted and she wants a fabric that is soft like she's floating so there would be a lot of lace-like materials.

zherwin said...

ann, totoo, iba kapag merong wedding coordinator/s pero you don't have to spend for them (the running rate is P25,000 the least), all you have to do is assigned your family members/friends to be in-charge of a particular thing/part of the wedding, naka-detalye lahat and that's it!

ngayon, ang simpleng wedding (and i mean personalized, not the generic hotel package) would range from P150k-200k kasi sa caterer at photographer pa lang mahina ang P120k! waaaah

Anonymous said...

huwaw!!! at least you got bargains and all.

best wishes ;P sweet naman!

zherwin said...

thanks tina. :)

atticus said...

galing galing naman niyong dalawa. congrats. looks like the start of a very good partnership.

Anonymous said...

so you are on the aftermath of the engagement , huh? When is the big day? Goodluck and I'm sure you 2 will have a blast doing all the planning.

zherwin said...

atticus, thanks, sana lang pagkakitaan namin yun hehe.

zherwin said...

leah, stressful the planning may seem but it's also enjoyable and it requires us to work our heads together, and it's good di ba?

lei said...

maliban dyan, dapat may mga back-up plans din kayo. i-anticipate nyo na lang din mga possibilities. kase kadalasan mismong wedding day na na akala mo okay na ang lahat comes the aberya..

base yan sa experience ko at nang maraming kakilala ko.

well, goodluck to you and your soon to be wife. best wishes. :D

IA. said...

those wedding fairs! i'm glad i'm through them. that's one part of planning a wedding that i wouldn't want to go through again, ever! i don't know how they do it over there, but here in Bangkok, the minute you step into the fair, you get hounded, dragged, and literally pulled into the different booths! nightmare! good that lyn and you know what you want, and know how to get them too :D

ysrael said...

Metikoloso rin ako sa kasal ko. lahat ako ang nag-prepare including the centepiece design ng church. Even the reception ay sa resort where the guest ay may option na magpaiwan para sa isang overnight swimming. Piece of advice lang ha, hindi nakukuha marriage kung gaano ka-glamorous ito, marami na tayong na-witness wedding of the year pa raw na nag-ended sa hiwalayan. Sana hindi lang bongga ang wedding mo kundi magtatagal rin ang pagsasama ninyo.
And I wish both of you goodluck!

Anonymous said...

wow! so many things to consider in getting married nowadays. and so expensive perhaps. my son got married about 5 years ago, and we were happy with the results--both of the wedding, and the years after. getting married is i think the easiest, then it is all about keeping to be married. basta ba nagmamahalan at nagpapasanesyahan, malaking bagay na yon, and mas importnte pa is making God the center of our lives.

i have always been fascinated of weddings, sa totoo lang.

Toe said...

Ay, magtanan na lang kayo! :) Joke lang... but that was how I felt like when things were going a bit too crazy before my wedding. :) But seriously, I'm sure you and Lynn are having a ball planning your wedding. :)

Anonymous said...

ay naku, trap talaga yang mga bridal fairs. yung mga caterers may mga ka-tie-up na usually na mga musicians, photographers, etc. Kung minsan mas makakamura kung package deal na lang. Sa simbahan din may mga brochures naman ng mga services. Sa barong pala, may kilala akong mura sa Kamuning. Pati tahi pwede na rin. Magaling sya kasi marami syang bigtime na cliente. Mura pa. Pwede din suit.

zherwin said...

lei, yes, dumarating ang aberya when you least expect it, composure na lang ang pangtapat dyan hehe. :)

zherwin said...

ia, a bridal fair is one big chaos if one will look at it as it is but if one is mentally prepared and knows what to expect, enjoy din naman sya. nowadays, bridal fairs are giving freebies, doing hourly raffles and some honeymoon trips to lure more soon-to-weds into the pit.

zherwin said...

ysrael, sabi nga the couple should prepare not for the wedding but for the marriage. minsan, overwhelmed na yung couple sa preparasyon sa kasal di nila naasikaso ano gagawin nila after the wedding hehehe.

zherwin said...

sexy mom, ganyan din ang payo ng mga parents namin, it's easy to get married but staying married is not. and i agree that God and respect should be the first two to keep the married life strong.

zherwin said...

toe, when all the pressures (lalo na ang gastos) are getting on our nerves, ganyan din ang naiisip namin na sana nagtanan na lang kami hehe, pero we believe kailangan lang maging organize at maaayos ang lahat, and so far so good. :)

zherwin said...

cookie, the couple should know what they want and suggestions, if any, were given and/or insisted by a supplier, pinag-aaralan yun and should not be impulsive pagdedesisyon, business strategy nila yan kaya esep-esep din dapat. :)

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