Movies About Money: How You Can Afford the Wedding in Crazy Rich Asians

If you’re in the mood for a good romantic comedy, add Crazy Rich Asians to your list! The movie follows Rachel Chu and her boyfriend Nick Young on a trip from New York City to Nick’s hometown of Singapore to meet his family and attend his best friend’s wedding. At the start of the journey, Rachel finds out the handsome, low-key guy she fell in love with is secretly a millionaire, and Singapore’s most eligible bachelor. Hilarity, and a little heartache, ensue as Rachel discovers it’s not easy being a strong Chinese-American woman in Nick’s crazy, rich Asian family.

While the film is a typical romantic comedy, there are many things that make it unique. First of all, it’s extremely relatable. You don’t have to be rich or crazy to sympathize with Rachel as she encounters numerous obstacles while “meeting the in-laws.” In addition, unlike many of the Cinderella-type stories we’ve seen in the past, this movie celebrates self-made women. Rachel, an Economics Professor, was raised solely by her mother, an immigrant from China. Neither Rachel nor her mother have the money Nick’s family has, but it’s clear neither of them long for something more. Their lives aren’t falling apart and they don’t need saving. On the contrary, they’re forces to be reckoned with who stand strongly on their own. And they’re extremely happy, unlike Eleanor Young, Nick’s controlling mother who quit college to marry Nick’s wealthy father. Eleanor disapproves of Rachel because she’s not like them.

While there are many scenes in the movie that stand out, the one everyone’s talking about is the wedding. With wedding season right around the corner, there’s no better wedding to envy than the one that takes place in Crazy Rich Asians. Imagine guests sitting amidst three-foot tall grass, plants, palm leaves, and orchids as ferns line the walls and the aisle. Each guest holds a glowing wand that looks like a floating lightning bug. In the background, a lullaby version of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” is sung by Kina Grannis. The bride enters barefoot, and just as she starts to walk forward, water floods ahead of her down the aisle as though she’s walking on water. The moment is breathtaking. Camera shots are executed perfectly so that the love between bride and groom is so intense, you can feel it.

In the film, it’s referred to as “the wedding of the year,” and estimated to cost $40 million. In an article by Bazaar, the movie’s production designer Nelson Coates admits they made “a crazy rich movie on a sane, modest budget.” My thought: if they fudged it, anyone can!

So, how does someone finance “the wedding of the year?” With a Personal Loan!

At Connexus, Personal Loans require no down payment or collateral. While they do charge interest on the money you borrow, the interest rates are low, and there’s no penalty for paying the balances off early. Many borrowers use Personal Loans for large purchases (a wedding!), unexpected expenses, debt consolidation, and more. Plus, Personal Loan rates are more than twice as low as credit card rates. So stop procrastinating and start planning. The future waits for no one.

As for Crazy Rich Asians, I just read a sequel is in the works!