My Dream Wedding on a Budget

Growing up in a lower-middle-class neighborhood in Jabodetabek, I was often surrounded by weddings held at home. I used to get annoyed by the noise from neighbors hosting weddings, which would last all day long. In my younger years, attending these home weddings felt uncomfortable. But attending weddings in halls wasn’t always perfect either—especially when the number of guests exceeded the venue’s capacity, with limited seating, leading to long lines just to get food.

Of course, I wanted a wedding that invited as many people as my Mom wished, as well as my friends, but my budget was limited. It didn’t seem realistic for my parents, who were retired civil servants, to fund my wedding. So, the wedding I envisioned had to come from my own finances, along with whatever help my future husband or his family could offer. Ultimately, I was realistic; the fundamental aspect of my wedding was that it should be held outside my parents' home, ensuring that all guests could sit while eating and making sure that everyone had enough food until the end of the wedding event.

Then, unexpectedly, fate brought me someone who would become my partner for life. 

It’s been 10 months since I got married, and I’ve finally organized the notes for my wedding budget. The total cost came to IDR 42,241,720, with 100 invitations sent, assuming each would bring a plus one. While the event wasn’t perfect, it fulfilled my dream of having a wedding outside my parents' home with a limited guest list. However, I could see a hint of disappointment on my mom’s face—being her only daughter, she had hoped for a larger wedding. As an extroverted person who loves big family gatherings, the limited number of invitations must have been difficult for her. Although she also had mixed feelings because last year she had just invited guests for my brother's wedding, she felt embarrassed to invite again but was also happy to know that the responsibility of returning the wedding envelopes would be lessened if the number of invited guests was smaller.

My wedding was a whirlwind. My husband and I met in May 2023 while working on a research project in East Kalimantan. Things escalated quickly, and by June, we decided to take our romance relationship to the next level. He visited my home in August, and by October, he formally proposed with his family. Everything moved so fast! By August, even before the formal proposal, we had already completed my premarital health check at the Puskesmas and registered my wedding plans at the KUA for a December wedding. 

I ordered catering for 200 pax, which cost IDR 22,000,000 at Ponyo restaurant in Bekasi. Initially, I wanted to order for only 100 pax and send out just 50 invitations. However, the restaurant required a minimum order for 200 pax if the event was held outside of weekends because my wedding was planned for the first weekend in December. So, I decided to increase the number, which also allowed me to invite more of my Mom’s guests. At least I could add a bit of happiness for my Mom at that moment.

I’m proud that I managed this budget myself, with some help from my in-laws, who generously contributed half of the total costs during the engagement.  

There were limitations with a tight budget. Because of that, the food wasn’t as extravagant as I had hoped, but thankfully, it was enough, and we even had leftovers. Due to budget constraints, I didn’t have a wedding stage—which might have seemed unusual for a typical Indonesian wedding—but since we chose a restaurant as my venue, I think all the guests had a place to sit and eat. This was my concern at weddings I’ve attended, as I personally prefer sitting while eating, but unfortunately, at most weddings I’ve been to, seating is often limited.

As I grow older and am now married, I see weddings from various perspectives. It’s perfectly fine to have a grand wedding in a hall if needed, a simple one at home, or even just a ceremony at the KUA—especially since thousands of angels are believed to gather during the Akad wedding ceremony, and that’s what truly matters. For that, I am grateful for my own Akad experience I’ve had.

My dream wedding on a budget wouldn't have been the same without the participation of my closest friends and family. I’m especially grateful to my immediate family, including my uncles, aunts, and neighbors who supported us throughout the planning process. I want to express my deep gratitude to my lovely and gorgeous friend, Uppe, for guiding us through the style of my wedding documentation; a big thank you to my childhood friend, Asti, for offering a discount on the wedding decorations; and to Ferlia for her amazing makeup and special treatment during the event. I’d also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Mas Anggi for being my wedding advisor and to Mas Bayu, who served as the witness for the wedding.

To all my relatives and friends who helped out and came to celebrate, your presence made my special day even more meaningful. Thank you all! 

Even though my romantic relationship progressed quickly before marriage—thank goodness—and there wasn’t enough time to save for a wedding budget, I am grateful for how everything turned out. My wedding may have been simple and on a limited budget, but it was exactly the fundamental dream wedding I wanted. Most importantly, the event wasn’t held at my parents' home, so it didn’t disturb the neighbors. It wasn’t cramped; all the guests could sit while eating, and there was even leftover food! Alhamdulilah :)