WHAT will be the vibe of your wedding and would you choose the One&Only Desaru Coast, St Regis in Langkawi, a chateau in France, a palace in India or even the Tenerife El Duque beach in Spain for your wedding destination.

       It is your special day and it is a once (twice or thrice for some) in a lifetime experience.

       Do you want it big and loud, glitzy and glamorous to make you feel like a spectacle or opt for a simple ceremony to save money for your after wedding journey?

       Destination weddings are certainly in vogue and there are plenty of destinations in Malaysia to pick from.

       A wedding planner of 25 years said she had managed a local beach destination wedding for a couple for RM25,000 for 40 guests, and one on a yacht for RM50,000 for 30 guests pre-Covid-19.

       The choice for the type of wedding you want is really yours; it is about how much you are willing to spend for the special day.

       “We are still deciding over Langkawi and Phuket. Even though we earn in British pounds, the cost is a factor in decision making as we will have guests and family joining us at their own expense,’’ said Monica (not her real name).

       At the height of the pandemic, only 10 guests including the couple were allowed. The easing of restrictions has resulted in bigger crowds at weddings but for the couple, it is still a challenge of who to leave out.

       “I really didn’t know whom to leave out as my mother wanted to invite all our relatives. I had my own list and it was tough.

       “So, we decided to split the list according to the ceremonies. We also opted for a joint lunch and skipped the dinner reception to save cost,’’ said Dr Raj (not his real name).

       With the easing of restrictions, there is a flurry of weddings as those who waited for two years to tie the knot are doing so to avoid any future delays due to a possible lockdown.

       For some, the cost is a big factor, for others, it may be the least.

       Recently, K-drama darlings and Crash Landing on You RiRi couple - Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin - tied the knot in a fairytale outdoor wedding in a luxurious hotel overlooking Mount Acha and the Han River in South Korea.

       Their wedding bill could have hit over 100 million won (RM343,000) with a delectable eight-course menu which included osetra caviar, grilled lobster and South Korean beef tenderloin, according to reports.

       At Paris Hilton’s wedding last November, guests were served with gold-leaf potatoes among other extravagant delicacies.

       When one of Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani’s daughter got married in August 2020, the cost reported was over US$100mil (RM422mil) as it spanned over several days with multiple events across several cities.

       You may call it an extravaganza but it is what they wanted as their budget was limitless.

       Don’t underestimate weddings in Malaysia too. Some make it so special that guests can remember them even after a decade.

       Precious Moments Wedding & Events Planner founder Evan Chee“Weddings have become somewhat intimate with less guests since the pandemic,’’ said Precious Moments Wedding & Events Planner founder Evan Chee.

       She said, trend wise, it depends on the couple’s budget.

       “A couple normally gives us a budget and we work with that to pick the location, menu, decoration and others,’’ she said.

       If you have the means then go ahead but if you are going to take on debt to splash out for a wedding then you need to think twice.

       Taking on huge debt just for the glitz and glamour of a wedding is fine if you can afford to service the loans, but if you can’t, it will become a burden in your marriage.

       “It is just too risky and who are you trying to please yourself or others?’’ said another wedding planner.

       He said, you can have a wonderful and memorable wedding no matter what your budget is.

       You can either get a planner or plan it yourself. Know the kind of wedding you want and be honest as to how much you really want to spend.

       A wedding is a very personal thing and requires detailed planning. A checklist is vital and the budget should include the cost of venue, attire, photography, ceremonies, reception, decorations, invitation cards, wedding cake, miscellaneous items and so on.

       Break down the budget to the smallest item.

       To save cost, you can limit the guest list, have a joint reception and select a venue that doesn’t cost too much.

       Whatever you decide, it is your day and your money.