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The Cost of a
“Traditional” Wedding in the Philippines
Should you elect to have a
traditional wedding in the Philippines (in other words, a reception, fancy
dresses, an exchange of vows in front of visitors, dancing, etc.), you’ll want
to plan ahead for the expense. While it’s tradition in the U.S. for the parents
of the bride to pay for the wedding, in the Philippines, it’s very likely to be
the western fiancé who’ll be footing the bill. That’s you.
So, what should you budget
for, and how much? You’d do well to ask your fiancée what she’d like before
planning anything. She might want a simple wedding instead of an extravagant
one. Then again, she might want rose petals and gold coins to litter the pews.
Who knows? Ask her. Then ask her if she knows a Filipino wedding planner, or
at least someone who has helped put a Filipino wedding together before. Visit
the ASAWA forum, or one like it, and read what others have had to say about the
costs associated with their weddings. There’s a wealth of information there.
Here’s something to get you
started, though. From my email exchanges with ASAWA visitors, as well as forum
posters, a wedding and reception in the Philippines can run anywhere from $1,000
to $5,000, U.S. (50,000 – 250,000 Pesos), with a median of perhaps $2,500 U.S.
(125,000 Pesos). No matter what you pay, you’ll be getting a deal, since
comparable weddings in the U.S. would cost four to five times as much, if not
more.
Here are some items you might
be expected to pay for:
1. Reception dinner facility
rental (restaurant, community hall, etc.)
2. Reception dinner and drinks
3. Transportation to and from
reception (jeepneys, buses, trikes, taxis, etc.)
4. Reception gifts
5. Reception band, singer, or
DJ
6. Church rental (or Community
Hall rental) for wedding
7. Transportation for everyone
to the wedding
8. Flowers and decorations
9. Band and/or Singer 4.
Invitations
10. Wedding gown (custom made
costs more than off-the-rack)
11. Bridesmaid dresses (custom
made costs more than rental)
12. New clothes for bride’s
mother (dress) and father (barong)
13. Photographer
14. Vidographer
15. Wedding Cake
16. Lechon Baboy (A big
roasted pig – pretty much mandatory, and you may need more than one, depending
on how many people you entertain)
17. Wedding and Engagement
rings
18. Hotel rooms for yourself,
the bride’s family, and certain guests |
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