These 8 hacks can save you $18,700 or more for 

your wedding day! (I wish I knew this earlier) 

Hi and welcome! Thank you for downloading our e-Book on wedding savings hacks!  

 

As you’ve read in our earlier article, you will know that the cost of weddings can get quite 

steep. On average, couples spend anywhere between $30k to $50k on their wedding. We 

discovered these hacks that help you save on your wedding day - some of which I wished I 

knew when planning our wedding 4 years ago. But I’m happy to share them, for as long as it 

benefits you!  

1. Sign up for a Cashback Credit Card for Rebates 

It is a little ironic as you spend more, you get to save more. But it is true! You can do this by 

applying for a cashback credit card that gives you good rebates. The card we signed up for was 

the American Express True Cashback Card. It gives a 3% rebate for up to $5,000 spent during 

the first 6 months. If you both sign up for the card, you can save up to $300.  

 

If you prefer a VISA or Mastercard credit card, our friends at Singsaver have compiled the best 

cashback credit cards for you here. 

2. Host your solemnization and banquet at the same venue 

Instead of booking an additional venue i.e. church for your solemnization, ask your wedding 

venue if they have a solemnization space that you can use. Most hotels and restaurants have a 

solemnization venue you can utilize. You can save up to $2,000 from booking an additional 

solemnization venue.  

 

Also, have your solemnization prior to your dinner banquet, so you can skip spending on a lunch 

reception.  

3. Consider getting married on a weekday  

Couples are increasingly placing their weddings on a weekday to avoid the weekend surcharge. 

Though this means your guests can’t drink till they drop, it does help with the savings 

component. The minimum tables that you have to commit to on weekends can sometimes be 

higher than weekdays. Some venues consider Fridays as weekend so do check.  

 

For example, the new Outpost Hotel in Sentosa Chinese set menu is $1,448 for weekdays 

(Monday to Friday, excluding PH) and $1,808 for dinner. Simply having your wedding on a 

weekday will allow you to save $400 per table. For their minimum 12-table wedding, you can 

easily save $4,800.  

4. If not weekday, opt for a lunch reception instead of a dinner 

If you do not wish to have your wedding on a weekday, consider opting for a lunch reception 

instead of a dinner banquet. Lunch can be cheaper at most wedding venues. Having a wedding 

lunch also gives you the flexibility to have dinner or party plans for the with a more intimate 

group i.e. your immediate family or bridesmaids.  

 

For example, The Fullerton Hotel’s lunch is cheaper than dinner by about $100 - $200 per 

table. If you were to have 10 tables, that would save you up to $2,000 just by having your 

wedding on a weekday!  

5. Take Advantage of Wedding Offers 

Be on the lookout for wedding offers offered by good vendors. Below are exclusive wedding 

discounts offered by our partner vendors, do check them out. Click here for more information on 

these packages.  

 

Wedding Makeup:  

● $50 off Esta Hsu Makeup Artistry Actual-day MUA packages and eyebrow embroidery 

service.  

● Free Makeup Trial by SG Makeover by Valerie Lim 

 

Photography / Videography:  

● $100 off actual-day videography packages from Back Button Media 

● $200 off on actual-day photography or videography packages from The Forever Films 

● $200 off on actual-day photography or videography packages from Forever Pixel Arts 

Photography 

● Complimentary 1-hour casual shoot from Withminn Photography with purchase of an 

actual-day package (6-10 hours) 

Wedding Photobooth: $100 off your The Story Box Co packages (valid for packages worth 

$888+) 

Wedding Florals: 10% off your florals from Royal Blooms (for bookings made before 

September 2020) 

 

Simply quote ‘The Wedding Vow’ to claim your offer from the above-mentioned vendors.  

 

The above discounts already entails savings of $1,000+. You can also attend any of these 

upcoming wedding shows to find good deals.  

6. Not just diamonds 

 

 Diamonds might no longer be every girl’s best friend. One of the notable wedding trends of 

2020 is bespoke wedding rings AND gemstones. Couples are not looking to get their rings off 

the rack, but instead, want to create something unique and special that tells a story. And while 

diamonds are a classic choice, we got to admit they are mainstream. Pushing the trend-forward 

are the many royals and celebrities who have donned beautiful gemstones for their 

engagement rings. Just look at Kate Middleton’s sapphire ring, Eva Longoria’s ruby ring, and 

Halle Berry’s emerald ring.  

 

For your engagement or ring, opt for other precious gemstones like sapphire, emerald or ruby. 

They are cheaper compared to diamonds, but a great way to make your ring stand out from the 

crowd. Alternatively, you can go for simulated diamonds aka man-made diamonds (check out 

Orro).  

 

PS. Diamonds, in terms of their durability and hardiness, are undisputed in comparison to other 

gems. If you choose gemstones, avoid wearing it daily or during rough activity. Sapphire is still 

a good substitute, as it ranks a 9 on the Mohs scale (diamond is 10).  

7. Buy your wedding stuff online 

Take your online shopping and Shoppee Shake skills to your wedding too. Many have turned to 

shop online in scout of cheaper prices, whether it is for their engagement ring, wedding bands, 

wedding dress, and shoes. Be on the lookout for coupon codes during Black Friday or 12:12 for 

more savings.  

● You can shop for your wedding rings on James Allen - they are the #1 online diamond 

retailer. From the US, their diamonds are conflict-free, come with a lifetime warranty 

and have a 100% money-back guarantee.  

● For wedding dresses, many brides turn to ASOS or BHLDN. Online wedding dresses 

start at $200, which is cheaper compared to paying $500 - $1,500 for a gown-rental. 

Do set aside some money and time for a tailor for a better fit.  

● For bridesmaid dresses, Zalora has a great range at affordable prices starting from $20. 

● You can also go to Amazon, Shopee, Lazada or Taobao to find your wedding items such 

as dresses and decor. When shopping online, I always make sure to use Shopback to 

get cashback. You can use our referral link here for $5 off.  

8. Go full-on ala-carte: Rent your own venue and catering 

Hotel banquets or restaurant weddings have their perks. You can get almost everything settled 

in-house. But going ala-carte can present you with unique options and extra savings. You can 

rent a venue in a park or event space like The Chapel @ Imaginarium. You will need some extra 

time for planning and budget for buffet catering and furniture but if you do your calculations 

right, there might be a way to wing this, like how Budget Babe did it.  

 

● Venue booking cost: $1,000 - $5,000, depending on the space.  

○ For example, The POD at the National Library is a rooftop venue with a beautiful 

view and costs about $1,500 for 3-hours. It comes complete with the AV set up 

and furniture, so you only need to add on catering and decor.  

○ Hort Park costs about $1,070 for a full day, but you will need to rent outdoor 

furniture. You can view NPark venue rates here.  

○ Some cafes and bakeries may also be open to renting out their venues for private 

events. You can use Venuerific or We Are Spaces to find a suitable venue and 

get quotes for free.  

● Wedding catering: Standard menus can start from $15 - $25 per guest, and bespoke 

menus can cost $25 upwards. A reception for 100 guests will range from $1,500 - 

$4,000. Find our recommended caterers here. In comparison, hotels or restaurants 

charge on average $1,000 per table of 10.  

● Tables and chairs: Tiffany chairs for solemnisation cost about $5 - $10 per piece. You 

can reuse them for dining after, and just add them to the tables. A cheaper alternative 

would be PVC chairs with white covers. Gazebos, however, are slightly pricey, so that 

might not be a cost-saving option.  

 

In short, renting a venue and getting catering might shave off $10,000 compared to going for 

hotel ballrooms or restaurants.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimating the total savings these hacks:  

Please note that the values in this article are rough estimates. We tried to remain relatively conservative, 

but the value of the actual savings will determine on what you purchase and who you purchase from in 

order to quantify the exact discounts.  

  Hack  Estimated potential savings (up to) 

1  Amex Cashback Card  $300 

2  Hosting your solemnization at the same venue  $2,000 

3  Getting married on a weekday vs weekend  $4,800 

4  Hosting lunch vs dinner  $2,000 (we didn’t double count 5 and 6 but instead took the average of both to tabulate the total)  

5  Take advantage of wedding offers  $1,000  

6  Not picking a diamond  $1,000 

7  Shop online  $1,000 

8  Going full-on ala-carte vs package  $10,000 

  Estimated total   $18,700 

 

We hope that our e-book on Wedding Savings Hacks has helped you to get some ideas on 

how to save on your wedding day! Did we miss out on any? If so, please tell us here.  

Your wedding day is a significant one, but no point stressing out over money woes. It is 

possible to still have a memorable celebration without breaking the bank. While $30k - $50k is 

the average cost of weddings in Singapore, there is no reason why you cannot challenge 

yourself to go below that! If you need help with your wedding (or anything at all), feel free to 

drop us a message - we are more than happy to help.  

With Love,  

MJ