We often associate beautiful weddings with hefty price tags. But with careful planning, they don’t have to cost an arm and a leg! Fall in love with our pick of budget-friendly wedding essentials from Taobao that’ll leave you saying yes a million times over.
If you’ve recently said yes to a lifetime with your other half, congrats! However, chances are, you and your partner might have had some talks about finance, and with the ton of bills and loans to pay off (especially if you are taking the BTO route), throwing an epic celebration might feel like a distant dream. And we don’t blame you. Weddings in Singapore are notoriously known to set couples back by S$30,000 to S$50,000 on average! However, don’t let that stop you from throwing a party to remember. While we’re used to seeing grand weddings, off, and on, social media, unconventional celebrations have been on the rise. Weddings need no longer burn holes in your pocket with smaller guestlists, off-the-rack gowns, and even DIY door gifts and decor gaining a respectable amount of recognition. To help you out, we’ve sussed out the best penny-pinching tips, plus scoured the web for the best Taobao wedding dresses and decor — so you can have a blast on your own terms!
Saving Tip #1: Be Smart About The Venue
If we get down to the bare-bones of getting married, making it official in Singapore via ROM only costs about $42. So where does the bulk of the money go? To fancy-schmancy venues, of course. Disclaimer: We have nothing against posh hotels or expensive restaurants — if you have the budget for it, go ahead! But, for those on a tighter budget, a classic hotel banquet will cost you up to S$4000 per table of 10. To make matters worse, some hotels enforce a minimum number of tables you have to ‘order’. This will all add up to a pretty crazy sum total.
A great budget-friendly alternative would be to combine your solemnisation with a simple lunch reception (cheaper than dinner). Whether you choose to hold it at your favourite restaurant (some go for as low as S$21 per head), the beach or even a function room, you will be able to save a lot more money for the things that truly matter. This could be a longer honeymoon or furnishings for your new home.
If you’re on a super tight budget: While there are affordable photographers and videographers on the market, you can crowdsource the photo-taking job to friends or family who have a knack for it. Polaroid cameras or disposable film cameras are also a great way to get your guests involved in helping you (and themselves) document the festivities!
Saving Tip #2: Say Yes To Different Taobao Wedding Dresses!
Wedded brides, old or new, will tell you that the most worthwhile thing to do is to rent a dress. And it does make a lot of sense — after all, you’ll only ever be wearing it once in your life. Unfortunately, rented dresses aren’t actually that cheap and can cost up to $10,000, depending on your preferred gown style and brand.
Thankfully, there are plenty of pocket-friendly options available with Taobao wedding dresses that even offer made-to-order pieces for under $500 (some even go for less than a hundred bucks!).
But First: Grooms, we didn’t forget about you! Considering how affordable off-the-rack suits already are, it would make more sense for you to get yours locally to save on shipping. All you need is a good tailor and you’re off to the races!
1. Classic V-neck Ball Gown
Image credits: Taobao
This long-sleeved lace ball gown is the epitome of classical elegance. Think Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady, with gorgeous lace and bead detailing and a beautifully epic train that’ll make you feel grand — like a Hungarian princess.
Image credits: Taobao
It’s also a great piece for those looking for something slightly more conservative or traditional. While it’s available in the standard sizes from XS up to XXXL, you also have the option to have this fully customised and tailored — a huge steal if you ask us!
Price: From ¥511 (~S$108.90)
Login to purchase your Taobao wedding dresses here.
2. Boat Neck Lace Gown
Image credits: Taobao
If we could summarise this dress in one sentence, it’d be business in the front, party in the back!
Perfect for those looking for a good balance of simplicity and grandeur, this wedding dress sports a chic boat neckline in the front. The element of surprise comes in the rear, with a lovely faux-backless lace display that skirts out into a long mermaid train. While it only comes in two standard sizes (S and M), you, fortunately, have the option of having this tailored to your size as well.
Price: From ¥1980 (~S$422.60)
Login to purchase your Taobao wedding dresses here.
3. Mermaid-style Lace Wedding Dress
Image credits: Taobao
A timeless and flattering cut on most body shapes, this lace dress is ideal for those in search of something simple and sexy for their special day. Expect meticulous handiwork throughout the dress, with lace detailing that’s classy without coming across as too old-fashioned or gaudy. By default, this is a made-to-order piece and comes with an option of extra trailing if you feel like adding some drama.
Price: From ¥1499(~S$319.90)
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4. Backless A-Line Dress
Image credits: Taobao
Despite its simplicity, we love how sophisticated this boat neck wedding dress looks. No-frills yet effortlessly angelic, the classic gown finds dimension through its scooping cowl back — a chic peek-a-boo statement for photoshoots. Available in S to XL, the dress also comes with a made-to-order option.
Price: From ¥375(~S$80)
Login to purchase your Taobao wedding dresses here.
5. Origami Strapless Gown
Image credits: Taobao
This gorgeous pleated number is tailored for the modern bride with a thirst for texture. It also happens to be the most affordable dress on the list! We love options, and this one differentiates itself by breaking away from the conventional lace detailing — making it a little more fun and well-suited for our tropical climate.
Pro-tip: While it comes in a range of sizes (XS to XXL), we reckon that it helps to err on the side of caution with this particular design — because of its intricacies. Opt to have it made to order instead.
Price: From ¥308 (~S$65.70)
Login to purchase your Taobao wedding dresses here.
Saving Tip #3: Source For Your Own Wedding Decor
Being on a budget doesn’t mean sacrificing meaningful details. In fact, purchasing your wedding decor off Taobao opens up more opportunities for you to purchase conventionally expensive decor for less!
1. Customised Wooden Signages
Image credits: Taobao
Welcome your guests in style with this simple wooden panel adorned with your choice of artificial flowers. Take your pick from three different styles and customise them however you like, these rustic signages are versatile enough to fit any wedding aesthetic — and they look way more expensive than they really are.
Pro-tip: Once the celebrations are over, don’t be too quick to toss your decor away. Bring your signage home and turn it into a wall feature!
Price: From ¥188 (~S$40.10)
Login to purchase your Taobao wedding decor here.
2. Wooden Ring Holder
Image credits: Taobao
Skip the ring pillow and opt for this adorable wooden ring holder instead! Not only is it customisable (personalise it with your names and date) and available in four colours, we think it’ll look especially great when photographed on film.
Pro-tip: After the wedding, use it as an everyday ring holder — or transform it into a photo frame.
Price: From ¥138 (~S$29.50)
Login to purchase your Taobao wedding decor here.
3. Confetti Balloons
Image credits: Taobao
What’s a celebration without balloons? However, they do often tend to add up in cost (S$6.90 per pack usually), making it a very pricey purchase for something so ephemeral. Thankfully, we found some confetti-filled balloons on Taobao that come in 8 different colourways that are affordable enough to hardly make a dent in your budget.
Price: From ¥9.90 (~S$2.10)
Login to purchase your Taobao wedding decor here.
4. Wedding Tea Sets
Image credits: Taobao
Traditional Chinese weddings will usually include a tea ceremony for the bride and groom to pay homage to their elders. Unfortunately, the tea sets used in these ceremonies tend to get the least amount of love before, during, and after the act. So to help you plan ahead, we recommend adopting this stunning set instead. Not only is it way cheaper, but it is also free of the usual loud and extravagant motifs.
Pro-tip: While you’re at it, check out various traditional decals on Taobao. We found over 22 different variations of the Double Happiness emblem!
Price: From ¥35 (~S$7.40)
Login to purchase your Taobao wedding decor here.
Celebrate Love (And Great Savings) On Taobao With YouTrip!
We did some calculations — choosing the cheapest of the Taobao wedding dresses, giving an allowance of S$2,100 for the luncheon, opting for 10 packs of balloons, and factoring the rest of the decor in. It came up to S$2,668.40. Of course, there’ll be other costs to factor in like bridesmaid gowns and the groom’s suit. However, as a gauge, we feel like you could get away with a pretty decent wedding for under S$5,000.
At the end of the day, it’s your celebration. So take our advice with a pinch of salt and just have fun! Just remember to make every cent count, especially when shopping online by harnessing the power of your YouTrip Card’s sweet wholesale exchange rates and exclusive YouTrip Perks deals!
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*All currency conversion rates are accurate to the nearest 10 cents on 11 January 2022 SGT 01:30. Bank card prices are calculated based on 3.25% foreign currency transaction fee.
