The true cost of convenience

PINTEREST is a double-edged sword: a realm of inspirations, and a rabbit hole of towering expectations that can't be met (without tons of money, anyway).
With a plethora of DIY projects and independent specialists at a click away, the tables have turned on conventional bridal houses, as they are increasingly an alternative for brides- and grooms-to-be. And perhaps, for many good reasons.
HARD SELL AND HOSTILE
First thing first, visiting the bridal fair is no different from diving into a shark tank. Specifically, if you stroll into the base camp of bridal houses off guard and unsure of what you want.
Apart from yours truly, three other individuals/couples in this article were cornered into buying a pre-wedding photo shoot package at the bridal fair. These packages, which typically encompass an extensive variety of products and services, offer an undeniable convenience for couples, and that would have made a great enough pitch.
But playing on the naivety of first- and one-time customers, and telling them that their choices for their wedding are misguided is out of the line. All of us were pressured into making a purchase there and then because "it's a fair-exclusive rate" or "if you walk out now, you'll miss this offer".
Fortunately for PR and communications manager Nicole Yeoh, she visited the fair knowing that she wanted a simple wedding. She walked out unscathed, but with a "negative experience" to share.
"They were very aggressive, even if you're just walking past their booths. They prey on your insecurities and keep forcing you to add all kinds of unnecessary items. One stared at me in horror when I said I don't want pre-wedding shoots," recalled Yeoh, who resorted to hiring independent vendors.
MONEY-MILKING MADNESS
For the rest of us who walked right into the trap, it was only the beginning of a series of rude awakenings. In the follow-up visits to our respective bridal houses, we helplessly watched the latter's scrupulously schemed methods unfold.
Newly-weds Melanie Yan, 28, and Chin Wai Hong, 30, ended up paying more than they bargained for.
"At the fair, we were shown plenty of gowns in the albums. But we discovered at the shop that all the gowns are so badly maintained, that for our wedding day, I rented gowns from elsewhere while Wai Hong wore his own suits.
"Everything in the premium category incurs extra charges; same goes to additional photos," warned Yan.
Opting for better gown designs and workmanship could cost anywhere between RM500 and RM1,500, while additional photographs could go for over RM100 per piece!
Of course, clients reserve the right to not accept premium or additional offers. However bear in mind that these packages are designed to appear like they promise you the world, but in actuality, are really mediocre at best – leaving you little choice but to fork out more money.
Besides finding "dirty-looking" dresses which the bridal house insisted to be "cream-coloured", bride-to-be Leong Mei Seong, 28, reported receiving low quality frames for the photos she took with her fiancé.
"There are also hidden costs for products used during the make-up session, such as the ampoules of serum, faux eyelashes, and make-up sponge, which weren't stated in the package," Leong added.
And you can count on these businesses to leverage on the fact that weddings are a once-in-a-lifetime event, to make the top-up happen.
COOKIE-CUTTER CONCEPTS
If you and your partner have a preferred style for your photographs, a bridal house's pre-wedding shoot package probably wouldn't cut it as the overall look and concept tend to be run-off-the-mill, despite the grandeur.
For this reason, Queenie Sun, 27, sourced another freelance photographer to materialise the pre-wedding photos according to her taste.
"My two cents (on bridal houses): overpriced mass product with no originality. I found better deals elsewhere after engaging one, and because we couldn't refund the money, I had them shoot my actual wedding day instead," Sun lamented.
Noticing the template trend early, a bride-to-be (who wants to remain anonymous) expressed her choice to steer clear of bridal houses.
"I've been seeing photos of the same locations and backgrounds, poses and outfits, save for the couples in them. That's why I'm not going to engage one for myself," said the account manager, who's tying the knot next year.
Having said that, not getting things the way you want them doesn't mean that the photographs will turn out awful. My partner and I had a blast at the photo shoot, which was professionally executed, while Yan and Chin were pleasantly surprised by their pre-wedding snaps – although the couple still favours the casual engagement shoot they did with an independent photographer.
Sure, there won't be a lot of room for artistic freedom, since the photography team is accustomed to their own approaches. But you can give the bridal house a heads-up of your ideas, if you happen to have signed a package. We did and managed to squeeze in as many personal touches as we could.
Whatever your stance at this juncture, I hope to share a key takeaway from our collective experiences: remember that you always have a choice, even if anyone tries to convince you otherwise. With the technological resources we have at our fingertips, claim your freedom to explore your options. And most importantly, enjoy the process!