unique places to celebrate "i do"

What makes your job interesting?

Hao Lun: “The highs and lows of a wedding - basically experiencing an emotional rollercoaster ride during a wedding day inspires me. It is not in the everyday life that we get to experience the emotions that a couple feels on their big day. I am amazed at the numerous moments that could be captured and being able to witness them up close keeps me feeling alive.” 

What are some things that couples should know before engaging a wedding photographer?

Hao Lun: “We typically work on a hire-by-hire basis, so be sure to book us early especially if you are planning a wedding day on a popular date. You should also visit our websites and make sure that our work resonates with you before contacting us. 

What are the usual peak seasons?

Hao Lun: “Usually between the months of May to July and September to December.”

What are some questions that couples should ask a wedding photographer before engaging his/her service?

Hao Lun: “Their inspiration and motivation - It’s really important to know more about the photographer's style and what he looks out for during the wedding as well as his approach. Be sure that you are comfortable with the way he works during the wedding day. Also, find out what advice he can offer to help you plan the wedding e.g. the time to have an outdoor shoot, locations for the shoot. We may not be wedding planners but we have loads of wedding day experiences!”

What are some of the most scenic spots in Singapore that you would recommend to couples for their wedding photo shoot?

Hao Lun: “Places that are rustic and unspoiled appeal to me - so I guess Punggol would be a place that I recommend. Otherwise, some random forest that I really like is one that’s near Bidadari cemetery.”

If a couple has time constraint, what are the best hours that you’ll recommend for photo-taking?

Hao Lun: “The best time to take photographs are during the hours when the sun is quite low in the horizon - which is from 7-9am and 4-7pm. On a wedding day, I would usually recommend them to have the photo shoot during these hours. If their schedule does not allow us to do so, the best time is during pockets of free time when they are not overwhelmed by the many tasks they have to do during a wedding day.” 

How can couples make their photo shoot more unique and memorable?

Hao Lun: “Everyone is unique in the way they interact with their loved ones, how they understand each other’s nuanced behaviours, and I encourage them to freely feel that way during the photo shoot. Just be true to themselves, and naturally the photos will shine.”

So, besides encouraging couples to ‘be themselves’, this proud father of one also proposes that couples prep themselves before the shoot by resting up and watering well the night before. This creative soul usually brings couples for a walkabout at the site during the shoot to get the best angles and composition. To elicit emotions ideal for the shots, Hao Lun would also invite them to share some of their innermost thoughts. Being a thoughtful chap, he preempts the couples of his intentions before prying. 

What are the top 3 things couples should bring along on the day of the wedding shoot?

Hao Lun: “Wet tissue, fan and sweets!”

We say, that is pretty on point especially when you’re posing in hot and sunny Singapore! 

We hope this insight from a wedding photographer helps you with your wedding planning homework. Feel free to reach out to Framewerks for their professional advice or a free cuppa Joe (maybe)! Or you can check out some of his work featured on Wedever (Corner House, W Hotel Sentosa, Grand Copthorne Singapore).

Before we end off this post, here is a quote from the tender-hearted Hao Lun penned during Father’s Day:

“Wedding photography is not just a job. It's the beginning of creating something much larger than yourself. This line of work has made me immensely proud to have played a small role in many couple's next stage of their lives, and it has thrilled me whenever I hear of news of them starting small families of their own. This warm and tingly sensation in my heart is immeasurable, intangible, but so important to me.”

Awww...

1. Pick the right day

A tour guide once told me:

“I can organise my ship, I can organise my crew, but I can’t organise the weather”

It’s true. Whether the weather is fine lies out of our control - unless rain-seeding is within your budget, of course. We can, however, pick promising time periods based on the weather forecast. I read an interesting post concluding that February to early April and November have promising historical forecasts - you’ll likely avoid the rainy seasons, haze and hot months. Feel free to dig deeper into the data from the Meteorological Service Singapore yourself!

2. Pick the right time

Another card to play is time of day. Pick a cooling time slot - evenings are great, plus you potentially get a sunset and two different ambiances (light and dark). Or if you’re having a simple ceremony, why not consider an early-riser solemnisation? Some venues happily provide breakfast and brunch event menus, such as Spruce Phoenix Park, or Kombi Rocks. All-day breakfasts are in season after all, and you’d definitely stand out with the timing.

[photo credit: framewerks]

3. Pick the right place

If you want to play it safer, find a venue that has both outdoor and indoor spaces. That way, you’ll get the best of both worlds; a rustic, natural backdrop, with the option of ducking into sheltered, air-conditioned comfort. For example, Vineyard at Hort Park has a sheltered outdoor verandah beside it’s air-conditioned indoor area. Take your vows outside under fairy lights, then move indoors to eat, leaving the buffet spread outside. Masons at Gillman Barracks also has a similar setup, with a indoor air-conditioned area, and an outdoor verandah (optionally, the carpark can be rented and used as a space as well).

[Photo Credit: Vineyard at Hort Park]

Better yet, indulge in Singapore’s penchant for climate control and find an air-conditioned outdoor space. Places that come to mind are Alkaff Mansion’s Grand Marquee, or Pollen’s terrace in the Flower Dome. Or perhaps B.Y.O.T. (bring your own tentage)?

[Photo Credit: Pollen]

Shameless plug - we’re adding space information to venues, so at a glance you’ll know what sort of spaces a venue has. Check out each venue’s page for this section:

Remember also to personally visit and experience the venue at your intended wedding time - don’t rely on second-hand information. I once stayed with a friend who insisted 18°C was hot! One couple’s cool is another couple’s warm, so go and check out the premises. Have a nice meal there, or specifically request to view the venue at the intended wedding time.

4. Prepare your guests… and prepare for them

Aside from picking the right venue and time, there are little things you can do to make your guests more comfortable:

Go easy on the dress code, and be more specific. Even if you can’t bear the national dress code of berms and slippers on your special day, “No ties. Jeans allowed” says a lot more about dressing comfortably than “smart-casual”.

Arm your guests against the heat. Consider providing paper fans (other sites had the genius idea of printing your program on a paper fan) or renting a portable air cooler. Oh, and consider insect repellant too!

8 cups of a day. Keep your guests hydrated with ice-cold drinks, and remember that alcohol is a little dehydrating. Do provide ample alternatives, or save the alcohol for the cooler part of the celebration.

So… do it!

For couples deliberating an outdoor wedding, hopefully this gives you greater confidence in that decision. Singapore has many beautiful outdoor locations to celebrate “I do”, so go ahead - pick a truly unique and memorable spot for your wedding or solemnisation. If you need some help finding the right spot, consider browsing through Wedever’s list of unique venues!

“If I knew, it would ruin the surprise” 

Honestly, if I knew, I would have gone on to make a fortune as a soothsayer. Like duh.

“When you see a sparkler on my finger”

If you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it... Surely it will be obvious, wouldn’t it? 

“You’ll know when Facebook knows”

Sorry, I hate to break this but Facebook is my new best friend.

“I’m waiting until I get to be your age”

No. I’m kidding, really

“When you see me surviving on bread and water for months.. Maybe years”

#truestory especially when wedding cost can come up to a staggering minimum of S$44,000. Do I even make this much money in a year?!

“I’m saving up! $1 dollar per day”

Like c’mon! We’ve got to start somewhere

Ready when you are... and only then

So, there you go. May this burst a blood vessel or two.. just kidding. 

Don’t let societal pressure rush you into something you’re not ready for. We'll always be here, and we'll wait till you’re ready to make the jump! Planning a wedding shouldn’t feel like an 8 on the Richter Scale - make yours special with a unique venue and spice it up with some DIY fairy dust. You will set unicorns flying on your wedding day. Enjoy!

A brand new Wedever

Well, we’re taking small steps:

Unique venues. When you want a wedding that breaks from the norm, a novel venue is great place to start. We’ve revamped our list of wedding spots to feature offbeat venues in Singapore. 

Venue Collections. To help you find the right venue, we’ve grouped them by their vibe and style. Whether you dream of a garden wedding or like something quirky, you can find similar venues in a jiffy.

Quick Facts. Speedily shortlist the venues work for your guest list and wallet with our quick facts. Glance venue capacities and minimum to average spend per guest.

Beautiful and Helpful Photos. We’re working with great photographers like Bloc Memoire to get you pretty and useful venue pictures. You know, the kinds that highlight solemnisation setups, seating arrangements, march-in entrances etc.

Photo credit: Bloc Memoire

Price Calculator. Less PDF trawling and Excel plugging. Our calculator lets you estimate venue costs more accurately - choose menus and items, specify the quantities, and even save your estimates to compare with other venues.

Of course there is still much to do, much to improve. We love feedback! Each suggestion helps us make finding the perfect wedding venue easier - so feel free to drop us a note at [email protected].

with love, 

Who is the wedding for? Identify the folks' agenda

Selecting a wedding venue should be simple. Couples should have all the say - it's their wedding! I concur that weddings should be about the couple, but sorry guys - who is the wedding for?

Heard of the "tiger mum"? In cosmopolitan Singapore with a East-meets-West culture, couples are at times still torn between fulfilling one's filial piety duties and wanting that unique alternative once-in-a-life-time experience.  

I feel you. We're still Asian after all. Some of us still have folks who are more traditional and "face-conscious". We have obligations to fulfill our businessman-father's wishes of a toast with partners in a prestigious setting. If you are looking to fulfill daddy's wishes, save yourself the venue-hunting hassle. Hotels are your best bet - go for the big brands and you're set to go (assuming you have the budget to spare, or perhaps Dad can finance a tad).

Credits: Capella Hotels and Resorts

Hotels can be expensive but what do I get in return?

Hotels are like an one-stop-shop for your celebration needs. While the price tag can be hefty - depending on the hotel ratings, dates and menu - they usually afford the greatest peace of mind.

Hotels offer wedding packages with an assortment of privileges (or "benefits") ranging from a complimentary day room for the bridal entourage, to venue and floral decorations, a selection of invitation cards and wedding favours for your guests. This spells less vendor-sourcing for the couple.

Typically, hotels charge by the table for banquets, and number of persons for buffets and solemnisations. Wedding packages usually state a minimum number of invitees, of say 20 tables (200 guests) and can vary in terms of their privileges.

A typical wedding package includes the following:

Complimentary wine / barrel beer

Free flow Chinese tea and soft drinks

Wedding cake and ceremonial toasting set up

Complimentary night's stay in hotel suite

Floral and selected wedding theme decorations

Guestbook and wedding favours

Privileges are usually negotiable. Couples may choose to trade up or down - all you need are the skills of a good negotiator and perhaps a kind account manager. Apart from some decorations and logistical decisions to make, the hotel operations team will be the ones overseeing pre-event preparation, actual day execution and affording further assistance to the couple on the wedding day. On top of that, most hotels will remind you of the tasks that you have to do in the months and weeks leading to your big day.

Benefits of hosting your wedding in hotels

The ego-boosting, 'gold shimmer' treatment for the face - In other words, hotels create an impression by merit of their names even before your guests step into the venue (remember, BIG names for maximum impact).

Likely to yield higher returns on investment - typical Singaporeans budget their wedding token for the couple by considering the wedding venues (not foolproof though).

The call of the luxurious bridal suite - who can resist returning to a special hotel suite after a long day of celebration and merry-making? This perk probably makes you feel like you've stretched your dollar.

Less logistical nightmare for the couple - no sourcing and coordination for florist, wine and spirits vendor, wedding decorations specialist, food caterer etc.

Wedding and Banquet coordinator included - Hotels lessen your stress by having an inhouse banquet manager or wedding coordinator who will help you run and manage your wedding event on the actual day.    

Little or no parking woes for you and your guests - bridal parking lot is on the house. Additionally, hotels usually provide complimentary parking within their premises as a percentage of confirmed attendance.

Accessibility - Hotels are usually located in popular, easily accessible areas where guests can commute via public transport conveniently. Otherwise, guests can take advantage of the free shuttle bus services provided by some hotels at designated pick-up points.

Extra freebies and perks - Some of the hotels throw in an 'anniversary' gift as a perk in their packages - such as a free night's accommodation dated for the following year (1 year anniversary celebration). Other freebies include usage of day room for the bridal entourage, which solves the issue of finding another venue to house your tired brothers and sisters.

All about the food - Nobody wants food that disappoints. Some hotels are known for dishing up tasty, quality food which is sure to be a crowd pleaser and good table topic.

Drawbacks of hosting your wedding in hotel

Probable heftier price tag - a table can cost up to SGD$2000 (with service charge and gst) for a Saturday luncheon at a reputable hotel.

Over-estimation on ang pao returns - It remains a popular strategy where couples use token money from well-wishing guests to cover part or all of the reception expense. With a heftier price tag per guest, couples could run into a situation where there is a short fall in the monies received when a handful of guests gave ang pows that are below the minimum cost per pax. Couples may have to max out their credit cards to cover the outstanding amount.

Less customization - Hotels usually offer a fixed selection of themes for ballroom decoration. Likewise, couples can't do anything to the hotel infrastructure and furnishing. Hence, you can't be going for an old school, vintage canteen feel in say, the luxuriously carpeted St. Regis Hotel. Side note: It is wise to take into consideration the 'feel' that the hotel exudes during the preliminary venue search so that it matches the ambience and theme you so desire for your wedding.

Tried and tested is less memorable - While the 'tried and tested' hotel venue you've selected probably wouldn't leave your guests in awe because they might have already seen it, you can still do up your own wedding decorations via external vendors (subject to approval of the hotels) or DIY some of your own stuff like place cards, token box and wedding favours.

All about the food, again - While there are hotels that are capable of dishing up decadent dishes, some may not even be on par with restaurants whose sole existence is to serve excellent cuisine. It does not help that the hotels only allow for food tasting after confirmation on the wedding package. In this regard, couples would have to rely on their prior experience perhaps through attending friends' weddings or by word of mouth.  

So, what is the real advantage of a hotel wedding?

For those less concerned with face value or have free rein, the appeal of selecting a hotel wedding is the convenience offered. They are the one-stop shop for things wedding-reception-related, which translates to less sourcing and vendor management for the couple. However, this does not mean the hotel operations team will give you a seamless wedding experience. Hiccups happen, but it sure means less things to worry about during the planning stage and the reception day. For a once-in-a-lifetime moment, who wouldn't mind less stress, more time in order to get into that near perfect physical and mental state for the Big day?

What do you think? Where are you hosting your wedding and why?

That was the question we asked, many Googles, blog posts and forum comments after. Click link. Alt+Tab. Ctrl+C. Ctrl+V. Repeat. Surely with today's technology and the numerous great startups around, we could come up with something better?

A one-stop shop to browse venues, shortlist them, assess them, and start making arrangements for visits... Something to ease the pain of the venue hunt, so you can focus on other preparations, and actually have time for each other. Something that helps you find the right venue, not just a "good-enough" one.