A little over a year ago, UK-based couple Georgina Porteous and Sid Innes was in the spotlight for being one of the thriftiest couples — they spent just a pound on their wedding. Before you write them off, the couple celebrated in style — with rings, flowers, cake and a photographer too!
Back home in Chennai, software engineer Vidya Vaidyanathan and her fiance Aditya decided to have a low-key wedding not because they couldn't afford it, but simply because they chose to. "I have been to so many big and flashy weddings that I decided that it simply wasn't my style. Plus, the waste that comes out of such big weddings is unimaginable," says Kripa, who also volunteers with an environmental organization in the city. "We decided to not just have a green wedding but to also save as much as we could on the actual ceremony. It is not necessary that we spend extravagantly to have a classy ceremony now, is it?," chips in Aditya.
So, how does one 'not spend' on a wedding, especially when it is the 'big fat Indian wedding?' Kripa laughs, "Well it helps to have a lot of friends who are willing to chip in. Also, knowing the right contacts can go a long way." Swati G, who tied the knot a few months ago, concurs. "My husband Rajeev and I planned everything from the start. We had our wedding ceremony at our ancestral home in Madurai and our family poojari conducted all the rites and rituals. Apart from the dakshinai we did not pay him anything. Our family helped cook the whole meal, which was a traditional south Indian fare. We minimized the use of flowers for the decorations, which again helped in cutting costs. Also, it really helped that we were a small gathering of just about 40 people - just our immediate family and friends," she explains. The reception, says Rajeev, a graphic designer, was a little tricky to plan. "Swati and I wanted a beach setting and one of our mutual friends was kind enough to let us use her beach house on ECR. We invited all our friends and family and had a pot-luck of sorts - it was one giant party."
"The key thing to remember is to spend only what you have," says ad copywriter and freelance photographer Mahesh R, who will be tying the knot later this year. "Once the dates were decided, my fiancee and I decided to sit down and calculate how much money we could spend without borrowing from our parents or taking a loan. It helped that we were seeing each other for a long time, so we knew we had to save for our wedding eventually. We started a fund and saved quite a bit, which eventually will go into all the expenses that we cannot avoid," he explains adding, "At the end of the day what matters is that it is your special day and you are happy."
How to save on your wedding day
Wedding dress: For traditional weddings, like for instance a Tamil Brahmin wedding, it is customary to wear a madisaar (nine-yard sari). Says Srinidhi R, who recently tied the knot, "There are a range of saris that cost anywhere from 700 to 7,000. While many brides opt for a costlier nine-yard, I got one that was cheaper, because anyway, I was to be covered with flower garlands and jewellery. The actual ceremony where I had to wear the madisaar hardly lasts for 20 minutes, so it didn't make sense to wear such an expensive sari for just that period of time. Plus, no one really wears their wedding sari after that."
Jewelley: There are plenty of jewellery that are available to rent. Or wear traditional jewellery that has been handed down generations, to give your wedding a sentimental touch.
Return gifts: Set up a nice backdrop where friends can click pictures of themselves with the bride and groom. Use a polaroid camera so that the results are instant and these can make for excellent keepsakes too!
BDST: 1706 HRS, SEP-07, 2014
