How to keep a Malay wedding under RM30k without looking cheap?

We did ours for around RM28k with about 700 guests, so it's doable but you must control the big three: venue, catering, and the pelamin/deco. We held it at a community hall (dewan) instead of a hotel, huge saving. For catering we went with a kampung-style caterer doing bulk briyani, way cheaper per head than fancy stations, and honestly guests remember good food not fancy plating. For the pelamin, we booked a mid-range decorator and reused the same set for both sides. Skipped the expensive live band, used a good sound system with playlists. The secret is guest count, every extra 100 guests is real money, so trim the 'jemput sebab segan' list.

RM30k is realistic if you prioritise and DIY smartly. What blew my budget almost was the little things adding up, so track every ringgit in a spreadsheet. We saved big by: getting a photographer who's a talented friend/junior rather than a top studio, booking the caterer in off-peak season, and buying the door gifts (doorgift) in bulk online. My baju pengantin I rented instead of custom-made, nobody could tell. Also negotiate everything, Malaysian vendors expect it. One warning: manage both families' expectations early and firmly, because 'orang tua nak besar-besar' is where budgets die. Have that honest conversation before booking anything. We came in at RM27k and it was beautiful.