Bargains for your bridal package!

After reading a couple of older posts, I realized I haven't posted anything on the bridal packages. Here's a guideline of what you may request from the bridal studio you have decided on when bargaining in no sequential or order of importance. :)

1. Photos selection (Soft copy & printed). Its usually 30-36 photos for a mid range package.

2. Free design & re-designing of layout (How your photos are arranged, printed out, the effects etc)

3. Free addition of pages if you purchase/choose to have more photos printed and wish to have photos spread out. Some bridal studios charge $120 per page if you overflow into a new page. Therefore, if the album you've chosen has 4 folds x double sides (my case), it'll be $120 x 4 folds x 2 sides = $960. This is a trap you shouldn't allow yourself to fall into. - Refer to No. 36

4. Rental of OTR (Off-the-rack) x 1 Solemnisation dress

5. Rental of OTR x 1 Solemnisation suit

6. Rental of OTR x 1 Wedding gown (Actual day) - Refer to No. 14

7. Rental of OTR x 1 Tea dress / Kwa (Actual day) - Refer to No. 14

8. Rental of OTR x 2 Evening gowns (Actual day) - Refer to No. 14

9. MTM (Made-to-measure) gown if you don't find anything you like off their racks FOC

10. 4R photos x 100 pcs (Repeated ones from your selection in No. 1)

11. Mini album of selected photos (No. 1) x 1

12. Table portrait of selected photo from No. 1 x 1 with FRAME

13. Wedding portrait of selected photo from No. 1 x 1 with FRAME

14. Open choice of gowns (All ranges)

15. Open choice of covers and laminates or material used at no additional costs

16. Rental of wedding car (They usually charge $300 for a Mercz-300 with petrol & driver)

17. Pick your photographer

18. Pick your make up artist

19. Transportation for day of photoshoot

20. Free re-shoot if you're not satisfied with photos

21. 3-5 Outdoor locations

22. 2-3 Indoor shoots

23. Different makeup/looks for all outfits

24. MTM x 1 pants for groom

25. Rental of suits x 2 for groom (Actual day)

26. No charges for over-time shoot at night

27. No charges for early shoot - Both the photographer and makeup charged me $120 EACH for coming in 2 hours earlier. :(

28. Rental of suits for groomsmen (Actual day)

29. Rental of dresses for bridesmaids (Actual day)

30. Rental of suit x 1 for both fathers (Actual day)

31. Rental of dress x 1 for both mothers (Actual day)

32. Open choice of car decoration

33. Open choice of hand bouquet (Actual day)

34. Open choice of corsages for family and bridesmaids (Actual day)

35. Makeup and hairstyling x 2 for bride (Actual day)

36. Some bridal studios allow returning of ALL photoshoot soft copies - If not, "under-table" through your photographer.

37. Wedding banner x 1 (Actual day) - This is for placing at your wedding venue foyer to notify guests which ballroom/floor it is

38. Trial makeup x 2 (Day & Night makeup)

39. MTM shirt x 1 for groom - Not all bridal studios offer that

40. No early charges for makeup artist (Before 6-7am on actual day) - Mine charges $100 per hour you require her to come before 7am! *Slaps forehead*

41. No early charges for drivers (Actual day) before 7am too!

42. Photographer and videographer for actual day (I don't think the quality will be very good though) - Its easier for photographs to be captured if models hold still. But its a whole new ball game for candids and captures on the move. Just my two cents worth.

43. Open choice of flowers for all following cars (Actual day)

44. Outfits x 5-6 for bride on day of photoshoot - Refer to No. 14

45. Suits/Outfits x 2-3 for groom on day of photoshoot


I think that's all for a mid to high range bridal package. I didn't manage to get all of the above for mine. Didn't perform enough research before we settled on the package. Of course, this is just a guideline. However, my colleague managed to get ALL of the above for $3k-ish (I feel like bawling my eyes out!)

But, of course. It also depends on type of bridal studio you've engaged. A general rule of thumb is to view the gowns they have (usually prepared in an ipad) and photos of actual couples they have printed as samples before wasting time to bargain. Hahaha.

Hope this entry will help some poor brides-to-be in getting their moneys worth!