I just said "Yes!" What do I do now?
Chances are you will start scouring social media for the latest wedding inspirations from around the world. From Pinterest to Instagram to blogs and Facebook pages, lovebirds endlessly peruse options in hopes of ensuring their big day matches their fairytale fantasies.
Wedding planners have observed the shift among Asian couples to a search for more personalised and exclusive services, thanks to the proliferation of choices on social media.
"Wedding traditions have changed a lot in Asia," says Michelle Yuan, the founder of Asia Wedding Network, an online platform. Weddings have become more bespoke and personalised, she says, similar to those in the West where couples show off their personality and style to create one-of-a-kind experiences.
"Asian couples are becoming more influenced by weddings in the West due to the rise of social media such as Pinterest and Instagram where it's so easy to see beautiful wedding inspirations from around the world," she said.
Sonya Yeung, creative director of Bliss Creations Ltd, agrees that social media are so ubiquitous that it's hard to plan a wedding without visiting one of the many sites or blogs that feature the latest trends.
"Keeping a strong sense of what is truly important to you and your fiancee can help reduce the stress of wanting everything you see in those beautiful [Pinterest] pins and blogs," she said.
Ms Yeung observed that more Asian couples are looking for unique ideas to ensure their personalities are reflected on their wedding day, and are also opting for more intimate wedding experiences.
Vicky C, chief wedding stylist at The Theme Wedding Design, agrees that more Asian couples are paying greater attention to detail, from ring bearers to signing pens, guestbooks and little mementoes that can leave a big impression.
"With the help of social media, the concepts of brides and grooms have widened and they may want to know more about attentive wedding planning," she said.
Brides draw ideas from social media and want to replicate what they like and thus are more willing to spend to get what they want, according to Jonathan Goh, wedding director at Wedding Acts, a Singapore-based destination wedding planner.
Social media are also useful for wedding planners as having reference pictures makes it easier to know what look, decor or ideas couples want.
"I can only truly understand what they are looking for after seeing the pictures that they have gathered on social media. Because the same adjectives -- words like 'elegant wedding' or 'subtle opulence' -- can mean very different things to different couples," he said.
HEAVY SPENDERS
Of course, all those details can add up to a higher price, and that's reflected in the growth of the wedding industry.
Hoi Cheung, co-founder of Hitchbird, an online resource portal for destination weddings in Asia, said the industry in Asia was growing by 10-20% per year in terms of money spent. He sees significant growth coming from India (US$60 billion) and China ($80 billion). In comparison, the United States spends about $50 billion annually.
"This is a result of couples being more willing to spend big on their weddings and an emerging middle class," he added.
Research suggests that the cost of the average wedding globally has reached an all-time high. In Hong Kong, the figure has reached $40,200, according to the lifestyle portal EDSLife.
In the US, couples spend $33,000 on average for their big day, according to The Knot, a US-based wedding planning site.
Keija Minor, editor-in-chief of Brides, said social media have led couples to believe that many high-cost wedding features are attainable with the average budget. "It's taken the most extravagant and made it seem standard, because we've seen so much of it," she said.
Kristen Cooper, executive editor of The Knot, also suggested said that social media have influenced couples to seek "larger than life" ideas and raised expectations of how their weddings should turn out.
Ms C of The Theme Wedding Design added that couples nowadays are looking for little extras to set their events apart, so spending is up, although inflation is also playing a role.
"A photo booth, dessert table, candy corner or flowery backdrops are a few of the new concepts and creative ideas that have become popular, while others are still being developed in the market," she said.
Mr Goh said that although couples are inspired by social media, they are becoming more discerning about how they spend for their wedding.
"They tend to know what they want. The average cost per wedding or per guest has risen but I think it is more because of inflation than it is because of weddings showcased on social media," he said.
Jackson Ho of Hong-Kong based Match & Fusion said couples in Hong Kong were very budget-conscious because wedding spending is relatively high there.
"Even though they do have the pressure of preparing picture-perfect decor, they would rather give up on some extravagant yet expensive items," he said.
In his view, what people see on social media has limited impact on actual wedding spending.
"The only way social media affects weddings is that some couples use social media platforms to spread their wedding information instead of printing invitations cards," he said.
While cost per wedding in Hong Kong has been rising every year, Mr Ho said this is due to the limited venues as well as rising food and beverage costs.
Asia Wedding Network's Ms Yuan added that while Western style weddings have become more prevalent among Asian couples, they still usually host traditional ceremonies in accordance with their rituals and beliefs, adding to overall costs.
Asian couples often stage one ceremony incorporating all the Asian traditions and rituals for their families, and another that is more modern for the couple's friends, and where they can show off their personalities and style.
The traditional Chinese banquet is not just a meal but a gesture of appreciation to parents, which usually involves pricey components from banquet invitations to luxurious multi-course meals.
"Chinese banquets are definitely the most expensive component of Hong Kong weddings. Wedding packages at hotels in Hong Kong are increasing by 10-15% per year," Ms C said.
PERSONAL TOUCH
However, arranging an intimate, personalised wedding doesn't necessarily mean going above and beyond the budget.
"Sometimes when couples are willing to prepare personalised decor by themselves such as handmade flower decor or centrepieces, they can save some budget," Mr Ho said.
"Personalisation is not equal to high spending," added Ms C. "Personalising most of the items in a wedding by DIY can also keep the cost rather low.
"The value of a wedding consultant is to provide professional advice to couples on where and which part of their wedding can be personalised with the best utilisation of the limited budget."
Bliss Creation's Ms Yeung added that personalisation is about ensuring a great atmosphere and intimacy.
Some effective approaches can be as simple as placing framed photos of the couple and friends or creating a monogram that you use throughout your stationery and decor.
"The list is endless and they don't need to break the bank. We have worked with many couples who have had extremely personalised weddings without spending above and beyond," she said.
She said couples have become more focused on having an intimate wedding and this has resulted in guest lists being reduced. In some cases couples decide on a destination wedding in order to achieve this.
Ms C advises couples to build a 10-20% buffer into their budget and review their financial status from time to time during the planning process.
"Make sure every single item is necessary and affordable within your budget before making any confirmation. See if you can get the best items at the lowest price after comparing at least three alternatives," she said.
"Be realistic," Mr Goh added. "Some decor that they have seen on social media does come with a price tag."
Mr Ho agreed, saying that the most important thing above all is that the big day is only a one-day event, so couples should be clear on how much they are willing to spend.
"Don't compare your wedding with those of other couples as each couple has its own mindset in terms of spending on their weddings," he said.