VietNamNet Bridge - As spring comes to town, many young couples are preparing to make their dream day come true. They are not willing cut corners to get the wedding day exactly the way the pictured it. And they pictured it as a gala event admired and envied by all the guests.

To have and to hold 

Low-cost wedding ceremonies for workers

A wedding planner in HCM City said that to become the beauty queen on her day, a woman must spend two hours with a skilled make-up artist to highlight her youth and beauty. This service costs around VND2 million (US$110) on average.

After that, she will use at least three dresses costing betweenVND1.5 million to 3 million each to rent for a day. She, of course, will be unhappy with the end result. Then, she will take hold bunches of flowers during the party, each costing VND500,000.

After the wedding at a luxury hotel, she and her sweet-heart will enjoy a honeymoon somewhere overseas, taking photos and video shoots.

All this does not come cheap, and they couple end up splurging hundreds of millions of dong. The question is: How many men can refuse their future wife’s wishes for a lavish wedding, as their own happiness depends on making their partner happy?

The answer is: Very, very, very few.

At the end of the day, the young couple will have to save money for several years to pay off debts incurred for the big day.

"It seems not many young people understand that money – whether it be a lot or a little – shouldn’t matter if you’re in love," said photographer Pham Hoai Nam, who has done well for himself with photo shoot contracts for young couples in HCM City this wedding season. Nam himself feels that weddings should be held in a civilised and economical way for family members, relatives and friends.

"The wedding is only for one day. A marriage is forever," he said.

Does that mean spend on one day and repay forever?

VietNamNet/VNS