Money no matter when wedding

Money no matter when wedding

By Stevie Emilia

It is the Year of the Golden Dragon, which supposedly brings
luck and prosperity for all. Many believe it is the perfect time
to get married.

JAKARTA (JP): Get married in 2000 or forget it. The appeal of
the new millennium and the Chinese Year of the Golden Dragon are
so strong, that it makes many couples want to tie the knot with
their loved ones this year.

"This year is the turn of the century ... It's a good time to
start our life together," said Aryanta Sukma, who plans to marry
his girlfriend of three years this July.

The high number of weddings have forced some couples to change
their wedding date after failing to reserve one of the limited
numbers of reception halls.

Aryanta said he and his future bride wanted to marry in early
January but when they tried to book a reception hall in Kelapa
Gading, North Jakarta, last November, there were no dates
available.

"We were too late. It was already fully booked until April,"
said the 29-year-old accountant, who is allocating over Rp 100
million for his wedding.

Unwilling to give up their marriage plans for this year, the
couple then searched for another reception hall which could meet
their expectations, but to no avail. Finally, they settled on a
wedding package at a five-star hotel.

For most couples, their wedding deserves the best as it is the
moment when they make the most important commitment of their
lives.

Certainly, what is the best for one couple might be different
for another, depending on, among other things, the budget. For a
low-income family, a modest party at their house is still the
best option, while others who want to avoid the hassles of
wedding ceremonies might opt for a photo session from the so-
called "honeymoon package" at a bridal photo studio, either to
save time or money.

But for the rich, a cheap or simple party is not an acceptable
option. For them, price does not matter. And hotels, wedding
halls, decorators, beauty salons, photographers as well as
printing companies and business which provides wedding keepsakes
for the guests are ready to please them with grand weddings -- at
the right price.

At this time of the month, popular wedding halls in Jakarta
are busy staging memorable weddings.

Busy halls are mostly in hotels or prestigious buildings, such
as the Jakarta Convention Center, Balai Kartini, Balai Sudirman
and Wisma Bidakara. But hotels are still the favorite because not
only do they provide a reception hall, but also food and numerous
complimentary services to pamper the newlyweds, including a one-
night stay for their wedding night.

The five-star Hotel Gran Mahakam in the Blok M area, South
Jakarta, for example, offers three wedding packages priced
between Rp 55,000 and Rp 75,000 per person, while Hotel Mulia
Senayan sets the prices at Rp 65,000 and Rp 75,000. All the
prices -- excluding 21 percent tax -- are only for the buffet and
hall. For an extra food stall, one has to pay up to Rp 50,000 per
person, depending on the order. A party of 1,000 guests might
cost over Rp 100 million for the food and hall alone.

But the high price does not falter the rich.

"We usually host about two weddings a week, but now it might
be double that," revealed Mulia assistant public relations
manager Sarah Hutabarat.

Wedding halls offer relatively cheaper prices than hotels, but
that is only for the hall.

Balai Sudirman in South Jakarta sets the prices for its two
meeting halls at Rp 10 million and Rp 15 million respectively.
But the price is Rp 750,000 more on the weekends.

Bidakara's Bina Karna hall in Central Jakarta is available for
Rp 10 million. But it is fully booked on Fridays, Saturdays and
Sundays until this November.

Bina Karna customer relations officer Dessy Agustiany said the
meeting hall hosted 14 wedding receptions in January and there
would be about 19 this month.

The new millennium and the Year of the Golden Dragon could be
responsible for the wedding fever.

"But some couples also told me they're getting married because
it was already part of their plan. With the better economy and
security, they are rushing to get married before the situation
gets worse," she said.

The hall and the food are not the only things they pay for. A
couple still has to buy wedding invitations and gifts, hire
decorators and photographers, and most important of all, order or
rent a wedding dress and beauticians to do their hair and make-
up.

Since lavish weddings not only need money but also time and
professionalism, the service of wedding consultants, who
specialize either in international or traditional weddings, have
become a popular option even though they cost more.

For a complete wedding package, which includes a grand
reception in a noted reception hall, a wedding consultant company
might charge hundreds of millions of rupiah.

Paula Meliana of Eva Bun wedding gallery, which provides a
one-stop wedding service, said for most international weddings
many Jakartans preferred wedding packages to avoid the headache
of organizing their own.

People prefer to hold receptions at hotels, wedding halls or
restaurants instead of in their house not only because it is more
convenient, but also to accommodate the many guests.

"About 90 percent of the couples here now prefer to get
married in hotels, wedding halls or restaurants. These days
receptions at houses are held by those who are on a low budget,
or who invite close relatives only," said Paula, the wedding
gallery's general manager and designer.

She also recognized that the wedding has become a status
symbol.

"Most people use weddings to show off their wealth and status.
They also want weddings to be special since it's a once in a
lifetime event," said Paula, who will present her latest design,
the Cool Bride, at the Fashion Cafe next Saturday and Sunday.

Wedding packages, apart from honeymoon photo sessions, are
expensive. A complete package at Eva Bun, which does not include
the food and reception hall, might cost up to Rp 48 million.
Every month, the wedding gallery serves about 100 couples.

"Busy months are usually September to December, but this year
is different. We're already busy," said Paula.

Traditional

Although most Indonesians are strongly influenced by foreign
trends, they still stick to tradition when it comes to weddings.

Jean Liustina, the salon manager at Martha Beauty Gallery in
South Jakarta, which provides packages for traditional weddings
from 26 provinces, said a couple usually complies to their
parents' wishes when choosing a traditional wedding.

"A wedding here is often considered a social event which
concerns not only the couple but also their family, relatives and
neighbors," Jean said.

The gallery, which serves up to 15 couples a month, offers a
make-up service and hairstyling for the bride and groom from Rp
1.1 million to Rp 1.75 million. An off-the-rack wedding dress is
available at between Rp 800,000 and Rp 2.5 million. Extra
services, such as make-up and costume rentals for the parents and
bridesmaids, will cost more.

"If our clients want to have a particular dress for their
weddings, we can make them," Jean said.

But traditional weddings are more difficult to handle due to
their variety and complexity. The entire procession might take a
few days or even the whole week, and this will certainly boost
the prices.

"We can adjust the wedding package to suit one's budget, but
most clients do not set a limit as they want their weddings to be
memorable and perfect," said Jean.