Weddings ain’t cheap. It comes with a hefty deduction on your savings. Hence, soon-to-weds make a real effort to think of creative ways to make their wedding beautiful yet not that pricey.

In all my dealings with our suppliers, I get really happy when I get to negotiate a discount from the usual package. Because it would mean we can have a budget for the additional items that we haven’t foreseen that may come up later during the detailed design phase (yeah, talk about EPC business, hahaha!).

Hence a certain encounter I had last week brought us to a really tricky situation. We would be able to save from the VAT if we will not ask for the official receipt. And with VAT, we’re talking about more than 20,000pesos here. I can do a lot with additional 20,000pesos. I can have 2 lechon with that. Or one additional dessert. Or pay our musician/strings ensemble. Or pay our hair & make-up. Or pay the entourage flowers. Or have a mobile bar. Or pay a one-way ticket to Japan. Or book the hotels for the entourage.

But not paying the VAT would be tantamount to tax evasion. As an employee, I’ve been paying enough tax as it is since it is immediately deducted from my salary. And well, knowing that a major portion of my salary only goes to greedy politicians really aches me and can be motivation enough not to pay for the VAT.

But the Philippines needs some change. And we can contribute to that change by starting the change ourselves.

It has been a difficult decision. It’s easier to be selfish and just think of the amount we will be able to save. But we want to do it the right way hence we decided to pay for the VAT, even if it costs us. Something will just have to be given up (the mobile bar, for instance). As Hubbie pointed out, it is important that we start our new life as husband & wife in the right way, in the just and correct path.

And I can only hope that all couples, when presented the same situation, would also take the same course. Our country needs our help guys.