It can be unthinkable for those who have already deep dived into their marriage plans but are now slapped by the harsh reality of the COVID-19 pandemic. The dilemma remains: to postpone or even cancel the wedding?
Wondering if guests will turn up; fixating over the deposit that has already been spent, it can be a pretty stressful affair for couples to decide on whether to move forward with the wedding as the date looms nearer.
And now with the “circuit breaker” measures implemented, it further adds to the uncertainty Singaporeans could be experiencing.
Postponed wedding due to COVID-19
So it did not come as a surprise when we read that another Singaporean couple had decided to postpone their wedding—except the fact that they were not too affected, and had it all under control.
Postponed wedding due to COVID-19. | Photo: The Woke Salaryman / Facebook
The Singaporean man’s experience was detailed through a series of illustrations posted via The Woke Salaryman’s Facebook on 7 April 2020.
Didn’t know whether to proceed with wedding
The wedding was originally set on 6 June 2020. It was only after much deliberation due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic that the couple decided to postpone their wedding.
Even so, the couple realised that they were “okay” despite what others would describe as “a traumatic event”.
And he lists possible reasons to why that might have been the case.
Deliberately kept wedding budget modest
The couple had a relatively no-frills approach when it came to budgeting for the wedding.
They only splurged on the necessary which included making a downpayment for the location and date, as well as securing the venue and food options.
Although the estimated cost of their wedding came to $20,000—still a considerable amount spent—it was still lower than the average wedding in Singapore which could cost between $30,000 to $50,000.
Efforts made to reduce costs included shooting pre-wedding photos and creating invites on their own.
For many, wedding rings are a symbol of the love one has for each other.
But like how you can’t put a price on love, this couple had the same mindset” “we don’t believe in expensive rings”.
Lucky for the Singaporean man, he only forked out $200 for a wooden ring which he bought off etsy, an online store.
Highlights importance of having enough savings
He further explained how the low cost of his wedding led to them being able to cushion the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, he emphasises the importance of managing one’s personal finance adequately.
“Right now, a $20,000 loss is still quite painful, but with our 6 month cushion of savings, we can take the hit without resorting to taking on debt,” he wrote.
Imagine if the couple did not have enough savings, they would have taken on debt to fund their wedding, which could have stressed them out even further.
Their combined savings over 6 months amounted to $62,000.
Potential strain to the relationship
Taking it a notch further, he imagined a scenario if they had an expensive wedding, coupled with no savings…
The financial strain, according to him, would have led to arguments and affected their relationship.
“It might have torn us apart. Weddings can be really stressful.”
Still, it was not a walk in the park for the couple who “worked hard and sacrificed a lot in preparation of hard times” over the course of 6 years.
But even if they were able to tide through the COVID-19 situation with sufficient finances, they eventually decided to postpone it due to social responsibility.
Social responsibility: doing what is right
He has some words of advice to those who are facing a similar situation as him.
His words of advice also extends to protecting the health of loved ones and friends.
As much as couples wish for loved ones and friends to grace their ‘special day’, he says that it should never be at the expense of their health—or even life.
“Remember, your wedding is just one day. Marriages are supposed to be forever.”
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Also read: Hospital Nurse Cancels Own Wedding To Fight In Coronavirus “War Zone”
