Our intimate wedding took place at my husband’s hometown in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental here in the Philippines. The church is significant not only for us as a newlywed couple but also for us Mindanaoans as it was declared by the country’s National Museum as Northern Mindanao’s National Cultural Treasure because of its cultural values and artistic baroque design.
We decided to only have a short guest list, a quick and straightforward reception program with no games, no gala-gala (wedding money dance has been a tradition here in the Philippines) nor a longest money line. No bouquet tossing. No bridesmaids and groomsmen. While we had photographers and videographers to document our wedding day, we forgo the Same-Day Edit (SDE) and pre-nup photos and videos. We only had 6 pairs of principal sponsors who were all present and our maid of honor and best man to help us on our wedding day.
Amidst all of these, we are very happy on our big day as our wedding costs didn’t amount to the typical expenses seen in weddings today. What matters most is we had the best time and we were surrounded by the significant people in our lives.
You can watch our wedding video below.
Why An Intimate Wedding Instead of A Grand Wedding?
1. We Want It Simple And Less Pricey
Choosing an intimate wedding over a grand one often comes down to keeping things simple and affordable. A big wedding might be fun for some. We don’t have anything against it if others have the money to spend on it, but for us, it’s just not our preference. Even if the pandemic hadn’t happened, we’d still choose an intimate wedding.
Ever since I became a minimalist, I’ve been all about finding value in the essential things and letting go of the unnecessary stuff. I’m grateful that my husband shares the same minimalist mindset as I am. We were on the same page about having an intimate wedding. It’s not about impressing others with a lavish event. It’s about investing in experiences rather than extravagance. Most importantly, it’s about celebrating our love in a way that feels authentic to who we truly are.
2. No Debts Just To Have A Grand Wedding
We’re all about starting our marriage without any unnecessary debt. We’ve become intentional about how we spend our money. We’re able to keep costs down and avoid going into debt just to have a fancy party. It’s about starting our marriage with savings, not financial stress.
3. We Want It To Be Surrounded By Closest Friends and Family
Having a smaller guest list means we can focus on quality time with our nearest and dearest, rather than trying to please a crowd. It’s all about creating a day that reflects who we are as a couple, and that’s worth more to us than any extravagant celebration.
4. Quick And On Point
With fewer guests, a simpler setup, a short reception program, and no long entourage, we streamlined the whole thing and made it happen without all the hassle. It was like a breath of fresh air compared to the overwhelming chaos that can come with a big and extravagant wedding.
Expenses List And Actual Breakdown
- Government Requirements – Php1,250.00
Breakdown:
Original PSA Birth Certificate (Php155.00 each x 2) – Php310.00
Original PSA CENOMAR (Php210.00 each x 2) – Php420.00
Marriage Application Fee – Php300.00
Marriage License Fee – Php110.00
Pre-Marriage Counseling (PMC) Fee – Php110.00
CEDULA – Php389.00
- Church Requirements – Php10,600.00
Breakdown:
Baptismal Certificates (Fee depends per church) – Php300.00
Church Fee (Wedding Fee and Priest Stipend) – Php6,500.00
Choir – Php2,500.00
Pre-cana Seminar Donation – Php300.00
Principal Sponsor Fee (Php100.00/sponsor x 5 pairs) – Php1,000.00
- Church Decoration – Php11,000.00
- Church Coordinator – Php2,000.00
- Wedding Reception and Food – Php53,500.00
Breakdown:
Venue, Food, and Decoration – Php28,000.00
Grazing Table – Php5,000.00
Packed Lunch and Drinks for on-the-day preparation (35 pax) – Php3,000.00
Lechon – Php10,500.00
Three-layer Chocolate Moist Cake – Php7,000.000
- Bride and Groom’s Attire – Php7,574.00
Breakdown:
Groom’s Barong – Php2,418.00
Bride’s Gown – Php4,500.00
Bride’s Shoes – Php303.00
Bride’s Earrings – Php164.00
Bride’s Veil – Php189.00
- Wedding Rings – Php24,220.00
- Hair and Make-up Artist (For Bride, Our Mothers, and Maid of Honor) – Php6,000.00
- Hotel Accommodation – Php9,000
- Souvenir Items (50 pcs) – Php3,900.00
- Bride’s Bouquet – Php2,000
- Wedding Essentials (Veil and Cord/Bible Holder/Treasure Holder/Candles/Mannequin) – Php3,717.00
- Emcee – Php2,500.00
GRAND TOTAL: Php137,261.00
Notes From Our Expenses
1. Church Requirements
The baptismal certificate fee depends per church where you were baptized. It is needed to get one for marriage purposes.
The church fee also depends on the church where you will get married. Some don’t anymore require wedding fees and have it for free as they are local parishioners at their Catholic church who regularly give a Gasa Balik sa Dios (It’s like a donation). For us, since we’re not church parishioners at the church, we were required to pay a wedding fee which includes the priest’s stipend. Like the principal sponsor fee, we only paid for the 5 pairs since the other 1 pair are parishioners at that church and the rest are not.
2. Wedding Reception Venue and Food
We saved much from our wedding reception venue, food, decoration, grazing table, and packed lunch (For the on-the-day preparations) as they were all provided by one supplier. Our wedding venue is at HSG Cafe and we highly recommend them. The venue is the perfect one for an intimate gathering.
3. Our outfits
My husband only bought a barong and used his black pants and shoes which allowed us to save for his outfit. I bought all my outfits online and had my gown customized. Also, we just let our mothers, maid of honor, and best man wear their own white or beige outfits. Lastly, we saved much on this aspect as we did not have a long entourage to have their outfits rented.
4. Other Expenses Not Mentioned
Buying online
For other things, we bought the wedding essentials, a mannequin for my gown, souvenir items, and my outfits online. I got to save from those without compromising the quality. People even thought that my gown was expensive which isn’t.
Invitations
I designed our wedding invitation through Canva and had it printed by our friend who owns a printing business. We only gave hard copies to the principal and secondary sponsors and to some family members. For the rest, we only gave softcopies online.
Photo and video coverage
My husband owns a photography and videography business and had his team cover our wedding day.
Have other stuff sponsored
We had our bridal car and transportation sponsored by one of our principal sponsors. Also, we saved on having a wedding singer by having my eldest brother and his friend, who are wedding singers and pianists, perform at our wedding reception.
Please note that this breakdown contains a rough estimate of our actual expenses. Not included are the other transportation and service-related expenses.
Final Musings
The trend towards smaller, more intimate weddings is gaining popularity. Moreover, an intimate wedding won’t appeal to everyone and we fully respect those who have different preferences. If you’re looking for a sign to hold an intimate wedding that you want, this is the perfect opportunity to pursue it.
For couples who, like us, prefer an intimate celebration yet feel pressured to go against their wishes, I urge you to stand firm. Don’t be afraid to pursue for an intimate wedding. Your closest friends and loved ones will support your decision, while those who don’t may not truly understand your desires.
One of the most important things you should do is to prioritize your desires and those of your partner. While seeking opinions from friends and family is a great option, never let their viewpoints dictate your wedding plans. This is your big day. It belongs to you and your partner alone. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event that should reflect your love story, your preferences, and your values.
Interested in learning more about tips to pull off an intimate wedding? Check out my other blog post on how we successfully held our DIY intimate wedding.
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