How I Planned My Own Wedding On Zero Budget!

In 2017 when I walked down the aisle, I had a plan. I wrote everything down and conceptualized it all from my Kukyala to my traditional wedding to the white wedding. We had a budget of 50m for everything, although we spent less than that. We had no savings for it, just our salaries. So we had a whole year of planning. We paid in installments for everything. The number one trick in our arsenal being; looking out for service providers who were excellent at their job but not pricey.  

Budget for the white wedding alone was 20M but, interestingly, we spent less. We had the introduction one day apart from the wedding to cut costs on accommodation for guests and relatives who were flying in or coming from upcountry. Keeping them around for a week or two meant spending more on food and accommodation. I requested my sister to host some, my husband hosted some at our house. I was still living with my parents, so we had space at home too.

For the Kukyala, we didn’t have an entire village in attendance. It was close family and only five people from the groom’s side and the whole event was kept it indoors. So basically it was like an ordinary Sunday at my father’s house. Strictly 5 hours were used and all discussions were closed. Also, we agreed on who covers what and where we will need assistance.  So yes we carried out meetings with close friends and family, four meetings to be exact.

You may notice that I worked with the same service providers mostly for things like décor and cake because the package for all events came with a discount and also, they were really good.

The wedding dress

It’s the most important part of the day, but you don’t have to empty your bank account for it.  I was lucky enough to have a family that believes that the gown is purchased by the father-of-the-Bride so, my brother and brother-in-law blessed me with the gowns. I had a photo of the exact gown I wanted to wear, I shared it with my brother and he ordered one from China at $150. My cousin, who is a bridal stylist helped to fix it to the right measurements because I had lost quite a bit of weight.

My second gown, an off-white Cinderella gown, was picked by my brother-in-law. I don’t know how much it cost him, I didn’t care to ask. My off-white chapel veil cost $12 online from the DHgate website while I hired the white gown veil, also a chapel veil at 100K from a bridal shop downtown.

Look at hiring options or ask a friend that customized and you loved the idea and see how to work it out to suit you. Remember it’s how you feel in the dress not how we would love to see it. Don’t please people with your choices, because you just can’t please everyone. We are only talkers, so whether Anita beryl or Fatumah Asha designed it, or you shipped it from David’s bridals or you hired it, we won’t care. We shall talk!

If you are wondering if I went for gown fittings, no I didn’t.

The Changing Dress

I used my local tailor, Pesh. She was such a sweetheart. In fact, for my traditional ‘mwenda’ and changing dress, she was my shopping guide. We went together to all the fabric shops in town till we had what we wanted. For my traditional dresses, we got the fabric from an Indian lady who sold each piece at 150k making 300k for both pieces and 100k for the tailoring. For my changing dress, I got the fabric from Sheena’s where I got it at 120k and tailored it at 50k.

She did an amazing job. Even though she took time because of the set back of her shop getting burned, we had everything ready on time after she acquired a new location on Titanic plaza

Beauty/Salon

I know you want to look like an angel but also don’t overdo it that we start to question if it’s you or your sister. The experienced Makeup artist or Famous Hair dresser might come at a price higher than your budget. Don’t break a leg, look out for the low key ones or your usual hair dresser. Ask them to practice the look on you earlier or just hire one person that isn’t popular and do a trial with them and see what they can deliver. I am not saying you go for the amateur who will turn you into a clown, expensive can also have its clowning hands, try as many as you can and choose a perfect person.

Nails, you can still go downtown and bargain a price with your usual manicurist. After all it’s just one day, don’t sweat it, but make it worthwhile. I did my nails from Sunset Arcade. Jose treated my girls and I good.

I worked with Sharon KH, a hairdresser in Ntinda, who was recommended by a friend who made my Kukyala dress. In fact, I found her at the shop and she asked me to go in for a free trial and if I didn’t like it, I don’t book her. Makeup and hair for my maids and I cost 1.5m for the wedding. For the introduction, the cost was 300k for the whole bridal party.

Also, we only visited the salon a day earlier for washing, treatment and weaving. My lovely friend gave us her house space for salon. So the whole bridal tribe was at her house as early as 6am. I wanted a mobile salon but couldn’t do it at my parent’s home because we had so many guests there. My brother (call him the groom of honour) was there to help with errands here and there.

The venue

Let’s start with the number of guests. Do you need all those twelve thousand people that won’t even remember your name as soon as they get home after the event? Some don’t even know your spouse or even you, and here you are worried about not inviting them. Accept to step on a few toes.

As you choose a date, look at days that are unusual. Go for a Monday instead of a Saturday. For venue, look at places that won’t need a lot of décor to turn them into your dream location.

During our planning, we wanted some cool venues but prices didn’t favour us. We settled for Grande Hotel in Kikoni and also to cut the number of guests. Coming from a huge family, I wanted everyone to attend but then, it is tradition that the man handles the white wedding and I wasn’t about to have him sell his kidneys to feed thousands of guests.

Initially, our plan was to fund 80% of the budget ourselves before the rest came in and we came to a mutual agreement of 150Pax guests. The hotel gave us a good deal of 45k per plate, free venue and DJ at 200k. Unfortunately, this DJ disappointed us. We didn’t meet him prior to share our music selection, so he played whatever he wanted. However, we refused to let this ruin our beautiful day. We danced and had so much fun.

Décor

Madam, don’t make the man sell his kidney for flowers when he could spend more on beer and keep everyone happy (jokes aside). Décor doesn’t have to cost you 200m. Again, expensive doesn’t necessarily mean beauty. Look for decorators with good work and can sit into your budget and also give you something beautiful. Opt for artificial flowers instead of fresh ones, Opt for seat covers and plastic chairs, dress them well instead of having the latest glass or tiffany chairs.

My Décor cost 4M if I remember right. I met this young lady at a friend’s baby shower, she had done décor for the day. She told me about herself, we had been to the same university. She showed me some of her work. She hadn’t done a wedding yet. Yes, I took the risk of us being Beth Events 256’ first client. I shared my vision and she did a great job. She did décor at my wedding and Kuhingira. You guys, I was wowed. Leez Kobusingye please. Do it again on my next wedding!

Photography/Videography

I haven’t seen wedding photographers in Uganda that specifically do wedding photography and nothing else, but I know we are getting there. So, it’s true these are memories you must keep so they must turn out fine. I would say don’t compromise, but also to get a perfect shot isn’t about money, it’s the creativity and the setting you choose. Maybe you can have a director for the shoot as well. But also, if you cannot afford the branded famous guy, why not try someone else who is affordable but with a good eye. Maybe a story teller.

My husband, being a freelance photographer directed our wedding shoot. It was mostly a bar setting so we used the lawns. He did all the talking with the restaurant and MOMO Studio, our photographers.

Now, I am not a fan of posing because I am terrible at it and I speak a lot so you will always catch me talking. My Kuhingira was covered by Tweny moments. He did an exactly lovely job. He captured memories not the poses. I have all the right pictures and moments. In case you are wondering, let’s just say both functions didn’t cost more than 5m.

Entertainment

Why are you looking for a band of 10m when you could just have a DJ? Infact, why do you want both if you can’t afford them? Okay, if you want both, split the entertainment budget on a DJ and Band. Again, sometimes people don’t have the right platforms to buzz about themselves but are seated on talent. Scout for a good band on one of those theme band nights in town and a good DJ and bang! Your day is made. Don’t hire an MC because you saw them at Sarah’s wedding, get a relative who is good at it and the bonus is that they know both families so they won’t seem like they need company or they won’t have to make up stories.

We had both, my matron’s husband is a CEO of a Christian Band, and he put something together for us for church. I sent him the songs earlier so that they practiced. Of course I paid his fuel then he told me that this was his family’s contribution to our wedding. And, just like that, we had a band. If the venue can give you a DJ as part of the package, use them but please meet them prior to the event, before they mix whatever they desire.

Transport:

I know you want to hire the cross-country. I agree those beasts make the convoy smart. In fact, they look good in the pictures and videos. They must be comfortable too But, can’t you find something cheaper, better still, do the cars have to be the same? You can ask relatives to step in and the fuel is on you. If people on the entourage know how to drive, why hire a driver? But of course it’s your day, you must be treated like royalty so find something within and maybe ask a cousin to do the honours of driving.

As Africans, we have the culture of transporting the parents too. Talk to them, fuel their cars if they have and let them drive or simply hire a van for them. We got our cars from a cousin, she gave us drivers too and fuelled them.

Cake

Now, I love cake, I would rather go naked and have my cake. My friend Annah of Annah Cakey House had just started out. I was her first wedding client. She practiced I think every day to give me perfect cakes. Yes, she did my introduction and white wedding.  I showed her my Pinterest images, shared flavours I needed. She made a dozen cupcakes for me, my mum and grooms man (brother) to taste. Yes we had cake tasting at home. She did the delivery to perfection.

The Invitations/Order of service

My husband did all the artwork for the invitations, I got all the lyrics or the hymns/songs and the other details as the church required typed out. We only invested in the printing. And we know how much people don’t attend the church function so we made only 15 copies given that even the projector was available at church. The introduction invitation cards were printed for free by a friend, while those for the wedding were done at a small cost on Nasser road.

Jewellery

Sharon Kia made/designed all our jewellery. She was recommended by a friend, I didn’t even make other consultations, when my mum and I met her, and we just went all in. I wore no tiara, I wore a garland. Kia was the best thing that happened to my Jewellery.

However, I did some shopping down town for the maids and spent 50k on all their jewellery and for mum, sister and I, I spent 300k.

Negotiate

Haggle, haggle even the richest of men haggle. Always try to get the best price first although DON’T compromise on quality while at it.

Lastly, don’t stress.

The most important part of your day is you and your partner. Keep calm, relax and enjoy every bit of it.

How did we pay?

We worked out payment plans and believe me the only balance we had was on photography and décor, which we handled after the functions and still they were patient with us because we had a payment plan which we were committed to.

On that note, for the service providers on our day(s) thank you for being very patient with us.

weddings@satisfashionug.com