Seven stylish ways to tie the knot without breaking the bank

 

So you've come to terms with the fact that you just can't afford a wedding fit for royalty. Or maybe you'd just rather spend those hard-earned shillings on a new house, an education fund for your future children or even a fantastic holiday just for the two of you, rather than shelling out a few million or a lot more on a wedding that will look more or less the same as the others before it. Either way, whether you're on a budget or just want to break out of the mold, we've got some good, if shocking, news: You can have a beautiful wedding without spending a fortune. It's true that planning a wedding on a shoestring budget will require some effort and a bit of imagination.

 Other than that, it just takes courage and an open mind. Remember that you have nothing to lose before you have a big fat bill hanging over your head as you start a new life together. Take it home, it doesn't have to be your home. Some of us have big, beautiful blends. If yours isn't one of them, think of someone you know who wouldn't mind borrowing—or even renting—for a reasonable fee—for the occasion. All you need is to decorate with a little creativity and your own personal touches and voila! You have a wedding venue fit for a princess. For an evening wedding, place small brown paper bags on top of small votive candles to create a beautiful ceremony aisle to light the romantic path to your reception. There is no law that says you have to exchange vows in church. Imagine how beautiful the photos will be if you are lucky enough to have an area full of colorful climbing tropical flowers.

 If not, you can always bring flowers – you can even plant them if you plan a few months in advance, this is Uganda and things grow fast. For an outdoor home wedding, make sure you have a section with a roof or rent a tent in case of rain. Or simply arrange for the part to be moved inside if needed Take your celebration to the beach What could be more beautiful than exchanging your vows on the shore of a lake at sunset? Then serve up trays of champagne or your favorite cocktail and a delicious—but simple—barbecue for your guests right after.

 Or have a church ceremony in the morning and a beach party reception in the afternoon. You can reserve a private stretch of beach for your function for a relatively cheap price. Wear a simple white slip dress and go barefoot with flowers in your hair and you will look stunning and unique. Hire a couple of guys to cook your meat to perfection, and all you have to worry about is some salads and drinks – which can be as simple as beer and sodas. Whether it's an afternoon of work or dancing under the stars for an evening event, your guests can exercise and cool off by dipping their feet in the water. Who needs a five-star hotel? University campuses also often rent out their grounds and halls for weddings and other events, as well as private clubs.

 We know someone who once attended a wedding at the zoo! Your options for unique and often less expensive wedding venues are virtually limitless if you use your imagination. Keep it civil There's something low-key and modern about a civil wedding, no matter what your mother says. Any couple can apply for a civil wedding ceremony. The bride and groom simply register with the Registrar of Marriages on the fourth floor of Amama House on St. George Street in Kampala. You can wear whatever you want, and — for those who secretly wish they could flee the country so they didn't hire every relative they've ever met — you'll have to stick to a handful of guests due to limited room capacity.

 Host a simple reception afterward at home, at a restaurant, on the beach, or any of the other ideas listed here. Or you can plan a fancy reception for the future when you can afford it. Keep your head up and remember that marriage is more than just putting on a show. Dinner Contrary to popular belief, there is no rule that you invite everyone you ever meet to your wedding. A simple yet elegant dinner—whether at a restaurant or at someone's home—creates an intimate celebration attended only by your closest friends and family.

 This is the perfect follow-up to a civil wedding ceremony - but you can exchange vows anywhere - even at the dinner table, right before the food is served. Speeches can be made and gifts given out, and those who want to dance the night away can do so at a venue of their choice. Wedding and kangula on the same day Before you laugh at the idea and skip to the next one, remember that none of these functions need to last all day. By shortening one or both ceremonies, both can be part of one big wedding day. 

This option has its advantages, especially if you have a lot of relatives coming from out of town for your wedding. That way they will have to complete and pay (or you will have to) one round trip instead of two. Here's an example of how it can work: Early in the morning, your home is ready for a showing. Members of different families meet and mingle; the groom and his family pay the bride price, the bride is given away, and so on. Light food and drinks may be served, but the main meal will be held later, at the actual wedding. After the performances, gift giving, etc. are complete, both families will head straight to the ceremony and reception location.

Let the officiant walk you through the wedding vows and then immediately begin the reception. Another option is to have the minister (or whoever is officiating at your wedding) say the vows right after the kwanjule, right there in the same place. While many will be nervous at the prospect of packing both of these traditionally very long services into one day, it also has a number of advantages: The first, of course, is that you save a lot of money by essentially folding two large functions into one. Think of your kwanjula as a kind of pre-wedding ceremony, which of course it is, only in this format, you have one big, long wedding day, rather than splitting up the functions to be held over individual weeks, or even months.

 In the end, of course, it comes down to personal choice: What is most important to you? Have a wedding that conforms to custom or a wedding that is unique? Is it worth spending more than you really have to for two separate functions, or might you be willing to live with a shortened kwanjaula to have more money for the wedding – or maybe the honeymoon? Village Wedding For anyone leaning towards a traditional theme, what better way to celebrate your African roots than to literally come home? You can have your wedding in an expensive hotel in Kampala - most likely owned by a corporation somewhere in Europe - or experience the Western tradition of overpaying from a supplier. Or you can have a wedding ceremony in your family's village. After all, it's supposed to be your real home.

 And even if you take into account the propensity of Ugandan villagers to invite themselves to events with free food and beer, you'll still be happy to spend a lot less than if you stayed in the city and did it. in the usual way. In general, prices in the village are much lower than in the capital, and your country "aunties" may still offer to cook you a big feast. We envision a "back to the roots" theme. With a good wedding planner, you may not even need to buy tents. A few poles with banana leaves hanging on them could be erected in the village to provide shade.

 True, things may not go exactly as planned at a village wedding - but we're sure it would be an experience to remember. Go for it In some ways, perhaps the most romantic wedding you can have is no wedding at all. Maybe that's why couples on TV and in movies seem to elope far more often than their real-life counterparts. But really, think about it: You and your loved one saying your vows on the beach in Zanzibar with a few friends or maybe just strangers watching Eloping has other obvious benefits, one of which is huge money savings and the stress you reap. 

On the other hand, it also carries risks: You are the only one who knows how your parents might react to such news. Some may be slightly disappointed that they missed the wedding, others may disown you. But if you're one of those couples with few ties and people you disappoint, we recommend considering this option, especially if money is tight. Wouldn't you rather spend the money on a fabulous getaway for the two of you than on buffet platters for 600 of your "closest friends"? Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.