• Beverage – serve fruit punch or soft drinks instead of wine and spirits, especially during cocktail. Additionally, can also limit alcoholic beverages during dinner to beer and wine or none at all.
• Flowers – floral arrangements can be transported from ceremony venue to banquet and re-designed. Or use lesser fresh flowers, more on cloths and fake flowers or such.
• Guest list – only invite close colleagues and your boss. Make it known to friends who are unattached that their single-invites are due to limited space and ask for their understanding. As for children, it is generally advisable to include only your nephews and nieces as having children running around or crying can be disruptive to the event.
• Save on banquet by having lunch reception after the wedding ceremony in the morning. Can even save the hassle of changing of gown plus a half day event is definitely less tiring than a whole day event.
• Church halls are usually cheaper in love gift than the hotels
• Get simpler bridal packages
• Include a nice phrase encouraging the gift of ang pau instead of ‘things’ at the wedding card

Avoid the following at all costs :

• Getting into debt because of your wedding.
• Comparing your wedding budget to those of your friends. Do what feels right for you and your partner.
• Thinking ‘it’s just a little bit more’. But, it all adds up! If there is a need, then readjust the budget..
• Wanting to throw a big party just for ‘face’. Suffering later will be a bigger price to pay.
• Procrastinating during sample sales, promotion periods and the like. If you like the dress or feel the photography package is value-for-money, buy it and sign on the dotted line.
  
• Wanting the best of everything. Sometimes, compromise and trade-offs are needed.