Tips on planning a superb wedding in Singapore

Congratulations on your engagement! Now, let the fun of wedding planning begin. After the elation of getting engaged, the thought of planning your big day can seem a little daunting, but with these top tips for planning a superb wedding in Singapore, there’s no need to feel overwhelmed.

We’ve thought of everything; from choosing your date and setting a budget, to finding that picture-perfect setting for your stunning wedding to remember.

Before anything else, it’s important to discuss with your fiancé how much time is needed to prepare everything for your big day. While a simple wedding may only take 6 months, a more lavish wedding can require over 12 months of preparation. Write a list of the people you really want to be there on your wedding day and check their availability for any dates you are considering. Top tip: try to have at least two wedding dates on hand, just in case your chosen venue is not available on one date, you can immediately check if they are available on the second date.

Now that you’ve set the date for your special day, it’s time to make it legal by applying for a notice of marriage at the Registry of Marriage. While laws vary from place to place, in Singapore you need to apply at least 21 days before or up to 3 months before the date of solemnisation. Check ahead of time to see if any laws have changed and find out what else you need to prepare. If possible, choose a Registry of Marriage venue to exchange your vows.

A crucial aspect of your wedding preparation in Singapore is setting a budget. Discuss together how big a celebration you plan to have and just how much you are willing and able to spend on your nuptials. In Singapore, the date, time and location are all major factors and the cost of a wedding will go up in line with the level of formality and number of guests.

It may be that you’ve always known exactly what kind of wedding you will have, but if not, you and your fiancé need to decide what kind of wedding you’re going to have, where in Singapore you plan to hold it, and how many guests you want. Do you want an indoor or outdoor wedding? A modern wedding or something more traditional? Particularly in Singapore, wedding traditions are often considered a culturally important part of a wedding.

For a venue to accommodate that chic lavish celebration you’ve always dreamed of, Accor provides perfect venues where dream weddings come true. Make your special day a day that everyone will remember. Wedding packages include privileges such as choice of unique wedding favours, free stays in the Bridal Suite, invitation cards and more. Enquire with your hotel of choice for more information.

Here are some wedding venues at Accor:

Fairmont Singapore

Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa

Sofitel Singapore City Centre

Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy

Raffles Singapore

Before committing to your chosen wedding venue, ensure you know how many guests you will be having at the wedding. Too many guests and they may not all get attended to properly and the wedding could lack intimacy, or too few guests and the wedding could lack liveliness. Take time to sit down with your fiancé to finalise the guest-list, ensuring you have the perfect number for your perfect day.

As you progress with your wedding planning you may well find your head spinning with to-do lists and dates to remember, so why not give yourself some head-space by jotting it all down on one timeline. When compiling your timeline, jot down everything you need to accomplish at each phase of your wedding – from six months before the wedding, to a month before, a week before, and of course on your wedding day.

Why not learn about the roles your bridesmaids and maid of honour are expected to carry out as your bridal party, before popping the question to your bridesmaids. Your bridesmaids and groomsmen will be very involved in your wedding and its preparation, so inform them as soon as you can so that they’ll have enough time to prepare for their roles. Remember: Your wedding party will likely be devoting much of their time and money for your wedding, so make sure to show your appreciation of them.

Last but by no means least, it’s time to choose your dress. Your dress will be a key feature of your wedding, so ensure you have ample time to try on different dresses so that you wear one that has the perfect style and fit for you. There are plenty of bridal boutiques in Singapore, so you’ll have plenty of choice when it comes to shopping for your dream dress. Most wedding boutiques in Singapore recommend that you order your dress around six to nine months before the wedding to allow enough time for fittings and alterations.

Top tip: While fun, dress shopping can be time-consuming and exhausting, so narrow down your search by learning the different silhouettes, necklines and train lengths, to work out what will suit you and your venue.