How to host a wedding reception on a budget

You can replenish your bank account by asking guests to give cash instead of boxed gifts.

Every couple looks for unique ways to make their wedding stand out from the others. However, it has become more challenging than ever before to organise a perfect wedding in Dubai. The extravagance of your Dubai event often depends on your budget, especially if you pick a 5-star hotel venue. You can easily host a wedding reception for under Dh100,000, but you won't have much room to customise it. However, you can still do a lot by picking budget-friendly options.

Be it catering services or invitation cards, you'll be spoilt for choice when you begin exploring all the options out there. If you're facing indecision and are looking for the secret formula to host a memorable wedding reception on a budget, then be sure to follow this guide.

Venue is key
Most people choose to get married in hotel halls here, but you'd be surprised to see how many other options are available in Dubai. If the weather permits it, pick an outdoor location like a beach or desert. Not only will it be a pleasant change for your guests who're probably tired of attending weddings at the same old venues, but an outdoor location will also make your photos more impressive. There are many beach-side hotels or hotels hidden away in the desert that would be happy to host your event. If you have a smaller wedding guest list, you could even set up a wedding tent in your garden to save yourself a lot of money.

Scrumptious food doesn't have to be insanely expensive
There are plenty of catering ideas for people with a tight budget to choose from. Arabic, BBQ and Indian/Pakistani are currently the most popular types of food in the UAE. From exotic drinks to traditional desserts, you might be able to include a lot on the menu even if you have a tight budget. If the hotel venue allows it, you could save a lot of money by hiring an external catering company in Dubai to explore budget-friendly ideas for your event. Did you know that basic catering services can be booked for as low as D80 per head? You can also save thousands of dirhams by comparing services and quotations from multiple catering companies.

Choose a unique theme
Themed weddings have become very common in the UAE. It's one of the easiest ways to make sure that your wedding reception stands out from all the others. You should consider tailoring multiple elements of your wedding according to the theme you've selected. For example, if it's an Arabian theme, you can ask guests to wear traditional clothes, hang lanterns in the venue and play Arabian tunes.

Consider non-traditional photography ideas
You can preserve and even improve your special moments by using out-of-the-box photography and videography ideas. Give traditional photos a break and make arrangements for a funky photoshoot, which is all the rage these days. To make your wedding video stand out, you can ask your videographer to create it like a documentary, and include interviews of the bride and groom as well as their friends and family. If you're worried that these ideas might exceed your wedding budget, then you should compare quotes before finalising a photography service.

Do something unexpected
Surprise your guests by presenting them with something they weren't expecting. There are many ways to do so. Since the first impression is often the last impression, you should begin by sending out non-traditional invitation cards. For example, you can pick pop-up cards, get the invitations printed on a keepsake plate, or personalise the text for your close relatives and friends. You should also consider arranging a live musical performance or ask your friends to prepare some dances to entertain the guests. Another great way to ensure that your guests remember your wedding for a long time is to hand out wedding favours like key chains, pens or scented candles. Make sure your names and wedding dates are embossed on them.

Money saving tip
As a newly married couple, you might need some extra cash to begin your journey together, especially after spending so much on your wedding. You can replenish your bank account by asking guests to give cash instead of boxed gifts. Just write 'No boxed gifts' at the bottom of your invitation cards to do so.

The writer is founder of ServiceMarket.com. Views expressed are her own and do not reflect the newspaper's policies.