Weddings are a once in a lifetime event, but how much will you have to fork out to cover the costs of one?
Everyone wants a perfect wedding. However, it is not easy to organize such a wedding without concrete and detailed plans. And often, those plans, and that wedding, can cost a lot.
Focus has compiled a list of some of the most important things to remember, if you intend to tie the knot.
Dowry
Traditionally, a dowry refers to the amount of money, often to cover expenses, offered by the groom’s family to the bride’s, in order to organize a wedding and for the couple’s future. The dowry is commonly brought up in discussion early on during the process; it will not become a problem if both families amicably agree on the amount beforehand.
Catering
Catering is one of the most important and expensive parts of any Khmer wedding. The cost of catering can vary depending on the location and the choice and quality of the food – but per table, you could be looking at $120.
A three-month reservation may be required to ensure your catering of choice. Alcohol is often a fun and key part of any wedding, but don’t order too much as it may be left to go to waste.
Location
If you have your own location to use for the wedding reception, you are one of the fortunate ones, as you can save a large amount of money on rent. If you do have to rent out a location, you will have to make a reservation at least six-months ahead, especially if it is an extravagant place.
Embellishment
Embellishment is almost always necessary at a Khmer wedding. The decoration of clothing, hair and make-up to ensure the wedding is as photogenic as possible. Normally, it requires a 6-month reservation – to ensure that the desired embellishments and artists can be confirmed.
The cost of embellishment is approximately $800 in rural areas and can be up to $1200 in urban areas. This price can also depend on type and quality.
It does not end here, however. The cost of flowers and their design, displayed around the wedding venue, can cost almost $700, even more depending on type.
Music
Khmer traditional music is widespread at traditional wedding ceremonies. But it is often in high demand and people may have to book a band at least three-months in advance.
The cost for hiring a band starts from around $350 and can even rise to a few thousand, depending on their popularity. The cost of more contemporary music has a higher starting price, often ranging from $700 in rural areas and $900 in urban areas.
Photography and Video
The wedding photos can be a big contributor to the wedding expenses, important to family and friends who wish to document and remember the occasion. The cost of a photography package is around $500 while a pre-wedding photoshoot can cost up to $250 per day, excluding the transport fee and expenses for the photography crew. The price range for a video package starts at $800.
Tying the knot…
Khmer weddings require arrangements and detailed plans made long in advance, as well as a large amount of money. It has become a burden to people who cannot afford their perfect wedding because of the costs involved. Some banks and financial institutions have provided wedding loans ranging from $5,000 to $30,000. But people should, if possible, minimize the expenses of potentially extravagant weddings, in order to avoid financial burden and debt.
But the tying of the knot is often not the be-all and end-all, and a couple’s happiness normally comes from their time spent together after the vows have been spoken.
