A Quick Guide to Planning a Wedding in Singapore
So we heard you just got engaged, congratulations! You may already be aware that planning a wedding is no walk in the park, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Luckily, we know a thing or two about throwing parties. Take it as a little gift from us, because we curated this guide to planning a wedding in Singapore just for you!
We don’t want to overwhelm you so allow us to take you through the process step by step, from setting a budget to picking suppliers. Ready? Let’s begin!
Look for Inspiration
The first step to planning a great wedding is to visualise how you and your partner want it to be. Are you the type of couple who wants a grand and classic wedding? Or perhaps an intimate and rustic one?
Either way, Pinterest will be your best friend here. Set up an album containing your wedding pegs, including wedding colours, decoration, and everything in between.
This album will be a handy point of reference once you start planning the logistics. If you’re hiring a wedding planner, this will also allow them to easily think of the best suppliers that can give you your dream wedding.
Setting a Budget
Having wedding pegs on hand will also allow you to think of a realistic budget. Sit down with your partner (and even your parents if they’re covering some costs) and talk about how much you’re willing to spend in total.
You can start by doing a preliminary search on average wedding costs in Singapore to get a ballpark figure. On average, a couple spends about $30,000 to $50,000 for a wedding, excluding the honeymoon.
Once you have a good idea of how much the total budget would be, try to break it down by setting a budget for each supplier you’ll need.
In most cases, a bulk of the budget would go into the reception, particularly venue rental and catering. Therefore, it’s important to also discuss your guest list (including plus ones and children) from the get-go since capacity would heavily affect your overall budget.
Remember that the cost of a venue for 50 people would be significantly lower than another one for 200 people. Spend only within your budget and needs.
Decide on a Date
The next step you should take is to decide on a wedding date with your partner. There are different ways to go about this.
First, you can start by narrowing down your venue options for the ceremony and reception. You can schedule a viewing for each and ask them what dates are available.
Remember that peak months for Singaporean weddings are from June to July and November to December, which means that prices will increase during these periods.
Another approach is to check your family and friends’ schedules first, and see if they line up with your planned date. It would be helpful to mark these dates on your calendar before deciding on a date.
What’s most important is that you have ample time to make the necessary preparations without feeling like rushing, which normally takes about eight to nine months. Be sure to also discuss alternative dates just in case.
Picking Suppliers
So now that you have decided on a few things, it’s time to think about picking wedding suppliers.
The easiest way to do this is by hiring a wedding planner. Chances are they already have a long list of trusted suppliers, all they have to do is to present these options to you.
If you’re taking the DIY route, you need to look for the most important suppliers that are essential to your wedding first.
Apart from the venue, you might want to consider setting up a meeting with a wedding photographer and videographer before anything else. Since they easily get booked, it’s important to see if they make the right fit for you right away.
Look for wedding stylists and florists in charge of making the reception and ceremony as beautiful as possible. Their costs will ultimately depend on how extensive you want the decorations to be.
It’s also important to hire a wedding coordinator to ensure that your wedding will go as smoothly as possible. This may or may not be your wedding planner.
For the reception, you’ll also need a host and someone to man the sound, lighting, and entertainment system. For the latter, you can find these suppliers at equipment rental companies.
If you don’t have a vehicle to use on your wedding day, consider renting a luxury vehicle to take you anywhere you need to be.
You’ll need a wedding cake supplier on top of catering services. In some cases, these suppliers can also supply dessert bars on the day of the wedding.
For your wedding outfits, you can have gown ateliers and tailors to create a bespoke design for the bride and groom. You’ll also need a makeup artist on your big day.
If things get a bit hectic, you can pick out wedding rings last, unless you plan on engraving it. In that case, it can take a few weeks.
The most important thing to remember when picking out suppliers is to meet them individually. Here, you can discuss your plans, budget, and availability.
During the meeting, you can also get a good idea of their demeanour and personality. If you feel like there’s something “off” about them, then that’s a sign that you should keep looking.
Otherwise, be sure to get everything in writing. Review the contract carefully and clarify any clause that may incur additional costs.