Intimate weddings

A colleague's sister is getting married this April. The catch? She and her fiance announced it just after New Year's. That means they have less than 4 months to prepare for the big day.

There are two other catches: first, they only have a budget of Php50,000 (around US$1,000), and second, they don't know where to start.

Weddings can cost so much today, and working on such a tight budget can be difficult. But it actually is possible to work around that budget if they go for an intimate wedding.

True, here in the Philippines having an intimate wedding is nearly impossible, with every second and third-degree relative, and even nosy neighbors, wanting to be witnesses to your union (or maybe just have a free meal). But you can, as long as the couple's decision is firm about limiting the guests to immediate family members only.

Some may get offended for not being invited, said my friend. And in our country, this may get tongues wagging. But do you have to care about it, really? It is your wedding, and the most important people there are the two of you and your families. So don't be hesitant in holding an intimate wedding, especially if you have a limited budget. It's the meaning of the union, and not the spectacle, that counts.

Photo credit: Stock Photo: Wedding Day 4 by bjearwicke from sxc.hu.