I am getting married this year too. From my understanding, it goes like this.

If let's say dowry is like 10,000. If the groom doesn't have much cash on hand, they can do something like give 5 tables to the bride family (costing RM 1,000 each - total RM 5,000) + another RM 5,000 in cash. Total is 10,000.

OR

Give total 10 tables for the bride family with RM 0 dowry (if they accept it)

But then again, you have to take into consideration the "angpao received" on that wedding day itself. Does it belongs to you - OR - are you going to split it with the bride side? Is your wedding fully handled by you and the bride or its gonna be a split?

A split usually means groom takes up 25 tables, bride takes up 25 tables. Angpao received is divided depending on how many pax are attending. Some have huge family members vs the partner's side. Maybe the groom has 75 tables and bride side only have 10 tables. So therefore the groom is entitle for his own angpao received and bride on her own. Costings are calculated separately.

On my side, I am thinking giving dowry of RM 6000 + 3 tables (worth Rm 4,800) = Rm 10,000 +. Angpao I take all (I as in me and my wife) to cover the entire dinner. If covered everything, aka my dowry is just RM 6000 cash