[Singapore] Mothership says "Don't expect ur guests to cover ur wedding costs! If u can't afford bill by urself, choose cheap restaurant! KNN!"

[whoami]

Funeral invites will be coming, and plenty of jokes about who will be next.

My cheena neighbour mum passed away last year. Attended the wake. Also kana record amt donated.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

ChiCon land is amazing...

 

[Peace Maker]

Wedding is just between 2 persons, need not be too elaborated. You can marry today & divorce next week. Choose a shoe that fits & live your life within your means.

 

[Loofydralb]

Hold in lower end restaurant also ok. More value than void deck wedding

The biggest mistake the chinese make is thinking better is always expensive, posh, glamourous, famous, etc.

For the Melayus, weddings are most lovely when people who love you attend because they want to celebrate with you on your special day. Everything else like location, food, decor, face takes a back seat. Its the people that make it special.
Thus you can see the authentic happiness during Melayu weddings against the fake smiles and grudging handshakes of chinese ones. Go ahead. Continue living your live like hypocrites.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

The biggest mistake the chinese make is thinking better is always expensive, posh, glamourous, famous, etc.

For the Melayus, weddings are most lovely when people who love you attend because they want to celebrate with you on your special day. Everything else like location, food, decor, face takes a back seat. Its the people that make it special.
Thus you can see the authentic happiness during Melayu weddings against the fake smiles and grudging handshakes of chinese ones. Go ahead. Continue living your live like hypocrites.

Uh the m&ds now are trying to out bid each other. Look at the cost of their void deck wedding. N for m&ds its basically a kings ransom..


Understanding the Void Deck Wedding
Standard story
by Julian Wong
October 21, 2017
Understanding the Void Deck Wedding
All images of Sheila & Luqman’s wedding by Sirhan Hazicky, Love Me Tender Photography

“I love that you’re getting married at the place where you grew up.”

On the weekend of the 7th and 8th of January this year, when Sheila and Luqman celebrated their wedding at a void deck in Tampines, this was not a comment they expected to receive.

Unsurprisingly, it didn’t come from a Singaporean. Instead, it came from a friend named Neil, a Korean national who was born in China, has been all over the world, and speaks 6 languages. For him, ‘home’ has always been a concept, never a reality. What Sheila and Luqman treated as tradition—getting married at the void deck of Sheila’s HDB block—he saw as fortunate and meaningful.

What Neil didn’t know was that it’s common for the bride’s family’s side of the wedding celebrations to take place at her home. And neither do many Singaporeans.

When it comes to void deck weddings in Singapore, the racist, vindictive rant of one Amy Cheong remains fresh in the minds of many. Back in 2012, the then assistant director at NTUC infamously questioned how society “can let anyone get married for 50 bucks.” She was consequently fired for her remarks, but the cultural practice of void deck weddings has remained relatively unexplored in mainstream narratives.


Malay weddings have evolved to sometimes include Western outfits. Some couples even opt to have a combined wedding, bringing both sides of the family together in one celebration. Sometimes it's an issue of cost, sometimes it isn't.
Madam Sharifah Naraini Syed Hussein Alsagoff is 78-years old this year, and has been married for over 50 years. She tells me that void deck weddings are a remnant of a kampong* tradition.

Back in those days, in the Malay community, everyone knew everyone. As such, the entire kampong would be invited if one of its residents was getting married, and everyone would chip in to help with the cooking and setting up of decorations. While wedding attendees now give money, they used to bring food items like rice and sugar instead.

Despite being born into a rich family (her parents migrated from Arabia and lived in a house on Wareham Rd in Tanjong Katong), Madam Sharifah enjoyed these kampong festivities more than she did any hotel or restaurant wedding. Void deck weddings come close, she muses, but they’re not the same.

“What’s not the same?” I ask.

“It was a lot more playful in those days,” she says, “We would recite poems to each other, tell jokes, and so on.” She uses the word ‘muafakat’—meaning ‘compromise’—to describe the kampong spirit of where she lived for the first 12 years of her marriage after moving out of her parents’ bungalow to live with her husband. Those were the days when celebrations would start around 2 in the afternoon and last late into the night.

Today, the food and decorations at void deck weddings are more likely to be taken care of by a hired vendor rather than family and friends.

*kampongs generally refer to traditional villages, especially of indigenous peoples


Malay weddings begin with the nikah (solemnisation). This is where the tok kadi (authorised wedding official) will officiate the solemnisation which involves the father of the bride shaking the hand of the groom and giving his blessing over their marriage. Those who are present for the nikah are usually direct family members and relatives as it is considered a private affair.
All the same, practices like the kompang procession have endured. In the past, this was how the groom declared his presence at his bride’s kampong. They would loop around the ‘village’ beating their drums to announce their arrival.

This is not unlike the Chinese practice of gatecrashing, when cars honk incessantly upon the groom and groomsmen’s arrival at the bride-to-be’s home.

Yet in the imaginations of many Chinese Singaporeans, void deck weddings still stand in contrast to hotel banquet weddings, which are frequently associated with affluence. While hotels are indeed expensive, to judge a couple’s choice of venue as being merely about cost is to miss the bigger picture.

Much like how kampong weddings used to be large scale events, void deck weddings are meant to facilitate large numbers of guests. Unlike a hotel banquet where you have a space for a fixed number of people for a fixed amount of time, a void deck can be booked for a few nights, allowing the married couple to accommodate different guests on different days.

In a hotel banquet format, with fixed courses and fixed timings, this would be a nightmare.


One segment during the kompang group’s performance is when guests or relatives are invited to perform the silat pengantin. The silat pengantin is a series of movements based on silat but is more graceful than aggressive. It is performed by male guests or relatives as a sign of respect for the couple.
“Logistically, it just makes sense,” says Chegu Thamrin, a wedding photographer who runs HundredPrints. “Void decks are the most accessible by public transport, and there’s always parking space. Pasir Ris for a Jurong resident might be inconvenient, but having it at a void deck, there’s no excuse not to come!”

He then goes on to explain the phenomena that many Singaporeans understand as ‘just walking into any Malay wedding and claiming to be a friend of someone’s relative.’

“Hospitality is a big part of Malay culture, and we would never turn down any curious, uninvited guest,” he says, “In some situations, if the couple is influential in the community, it’s normal for strangers to show up to pay their respects.”

He adds, “The Malay community is a closely knit one, and if possible, we would want to invite the whole kampong or estate. Also there are the little things like how, when it’s a void deck wedding, it’s a polite gesture to invite those who live on the 2nd storey right above.”

Finally, if you’re in the family tree of whoever’s getting married, that’s a ‘die die must go’ situation.


The kompang group escorts the groom when he makes his entrance for the gatecrash. When the groom finally joins his bride, the kompang group usually performs a song or two for the couple.
This hospitality means that 1000 pax weddings are extremely common, making void deck weddings hardly as cheap as one might assume.

“Where Amy Cheong might have gotten that idea from is because it’s $50 per day to rent the void deck space,” Luqman tells me, before Sheila proceeds to break down the rest of the numbers.

Most families rent the void deck for at least 2 days because vendors need time to set up the decorations. Because there’s no online booking system, you have to personally head to the town council, where the booking of void deck space can only be done 5 months in advance at the earliest. There’s a $300 deposit, and it costs $12 per electricity point and $8 per water point. For her wedding, these ‘utilities’ came up to a total of $64. After this, costs start to skyrocket.

The cheapest decoration package out there, Sheila says, costs $2500. But the average price is between $3000 to $5000. For her wedding, she hired a vendor who provided an all-in-one package which included food, decorations, photo services, bridal outfits, make-up, and door gifts. This set them back $21,888. And it was just for her side of the family.

That said, it’s far more common for couples to spend up to $40,000 to $50,000 for such void deck festivities. Chegu tells me that bridal outfits often cost at least $3000, and for food catering, it’s an average of $18 to $25 per head. You can do the math yourself for what 1000 guests would then cost.

At Malay weddings, the couple is considered the King and Queen for the day, and so wedding decorations often include a dais—essentially an elevated platform with a throne on which the couple sits to receive blessings and well-wishes. It’s also known as a gazebo or pelamin, and depending on how elaborate this is, it can cost up to $5000 or more.


Before the groom joins the bride after the kompang procession, there's something called the sanding. This is where the real party happens, and the groom has to perform standard gatecrashing activities like singing and dancing. Finally, the groom has to pay a “duit kipas” which is like an official angbao for the Mak Andam before she removes her fan and allows the groom to join the bride.
Over the course of researching this story, I’ve learnt that there are plenty of similarities between Malay wedding culture and that of other races.

Sheila laughs about how at her side of the wedding celebrations, she knew only a quarter of the guests. Everyone else was invited by her mother, grandmother, and relatives. Luqman adds that they had a separate dinner for his side at a restaurant in Centrepoint because his parents insisted on it.

It was also because they didn’t want to deal with uninvited guests.

“It’s just easier to let your parents decide everything,” says 30-year old Shafiqah Song. “At the beginning, your parents ask you what you think of this and that, but in the end, you know they just want it a certain way. So I just let them do everything.”

“That’s a lot like Chinese weddings, where sometimes you just want something small but your parents insist on a banquet or on inviting all their colleagues or friends,” I tell her.

When I then ask if it was also her parents who picked the void deck as the venue, she says yes. Likewise, Madam Sharifah had been the one who chose the void deck for her daughter’s solemnisation ceremony. The void deck wedding, it seems, is just a cultural practice.

This feels like a relatively bland observation due to the ubiquity of Malay void deck weddings. But it’s an important distinction to make for the simple reason that many still assume that void deck weddings happen because couples can’t afford anything “better.”

More significantly, there continues to exist a clear double standard when it comes to void deck utilisation. Funerals and wakes that are held at void decks, for instance, don’t get stereotyped as being cheap arrangements for poor Chinese families.

If we can mourn a person’s passing, can we not celebrate the beginning of a couple’s new life together in equal capacity and goodwill? All these events deserve the same respectful reception, and are, ultimately, motivated by similar reasons, such as accessibility.


It's common to see the bride kissing the hand of the husband as a form of respect, now that he is considered her protector and custodian. Kissing the hand of someone is also regarded as a form of respect, usually towards someone who is older in the family.
At the end of my conversation with Chegu, he relates an incident where a void deck wedding observed a moment of silence when a Chinese funeral procession went by the block. It was only when they were out of sight that the festivities resumed.

This, we agreed, was a vision for how this country can exist. He says, “We should be free to compare the differences (in cultural practices), yet still highly respect them.”

“That said, it’s a two way thing,” he adds as a final comment, “It’s also our responsibility to remind our non-Malay friends of the etiquette, such as how they should dress and what time they should come at for the reception. Food is free flow, but you don’t hog tables like in a banquet setting.”

He reminds me that at every Malay wedding, it is the nikah—the solemnisation—that is the most important part. Everything else, like the venue, is secondary.


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[Scrooball (clone)]

Cheebye! Can’t afford wedding banquet shouldn’t even get married !

The young punks these days really have no sense of shame.

 

[Leckmichamarsch]

Ugly like Fuck Low SES peasants wannabe also want 6 star wedding and expect people to cover their cost???? Either Madness or stupidity.

you pay, he
fucks

 

[rushifa666]

Last time people can do it at restuarants not expenisve. Now debt slave sinkies are all determined to jump out window, every aspect of their retarded lives is more debt.

 

[rodent2005]

Does it matter how much you give? What's the worst that can happen to you? Not invite you for the second marriage's wedding?

A bit problematic if the people marrying are your cousins, nephews or nieces.

 

[syed putra]

Malay weddings, if held at 6 star hotel or void decks, do not expect guests to pay.
Payment are based on voluntary but host normally already budget for the entire cost.
That's why in kampungs, entire village are invited, plus they help out in cooking and preparation. But nowadays, it's less hassle to just use catering services.
And you do not need to sit through entire dinner or lunch. Just greet host, congratulate couple, eat and leave.

 

[JustOneSingh]

I ever asked my cheena friend why dont he hold his wedding at void deck. He told me very pai seh. Neighbours and friends may look down on them.

Times are bad. Just hold your wedding dinner at void deck lah. Why worry what others said. Dont beg, steal or borrow. U can always walk with ur head up.

Bhai,

I wonder why, like even funerals, must be very grand.

 

[JustOneSingh]

I have been married 4x and made a profit out of marriages

Bhai,

You made more money from divorces?
Your ex-wives has to pay you for all the s_x you had given them?

 

[Scrooball (clone)]

Malay weddings, if held at 6 star hotel

LOL nice joke

 

[JohnTan]

Thanks to covid, most wedding banquets have to be scaled down. This will reduce costs substantially for the married couples. Couples need to thank Bro Lawrence and his MTF for this.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Actually, wont it be better to hold m&d weddings at a community center? The area is as big as a void deck n all the stuff already there as in taps n toilets etc... N also away from residential areas but still walking distance n wont bother the neighbours. N since m&ds are the recognised race in singkieland constitution. The gahmen should give them discounts

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Last time people can do it at restuarants not expenisve. Now debt slave sinkies are all determined to jump out window, every aspect of their retarded lives is more debt.

The issue is singkies themselves. N both m&ds n cina want face. m&ds outdo other m&ds by having the best void deck wedding. Especially the decorations n costumes etc.. so my wedding better than my cousins wedding etc. Cina banquets are lavish bcos have to show face to relatives etc.. n of course parents show off n so on. For m&ds i wont add in this 2nd point.


But For cina if they are willing to accept circumstances n be realistic n concentrate on the marriage instead of the wedding. The marriage might be more fruitful n successful. Nowadays alot is facebook wedding to show off. They are there to put photos on how lavish a wedding they had... the photo shoots..the honeymoon..and how often after a few years the photos all get taken down...n than divorce quietly. So for divorce why don't put face book?

If the couple concentrate on the marriage n cannot afford grand wedding are both parties willing to accept a simple wedding? Some just have church wedding ...than lunch at the reception hall than that is it. Some have the Rom n a maybe more atas meal than that is it. In the past. Some couples had to do w the basics bcos poor circumstances. N i know of families who r ok with simple wedding. They prefer the couple put the money in the flat etc..n if a couple n their family not willing to accept a simple n practical wedding. They better off not getting married in the 1st place

 

[eatshitndie]

best in bedok is this covered community area next to hawker center. it reminds pioneer sinkies of kampong style wedding in the middle of village at the open space before towns build townhalls. the entire town or village would show up and celebrate wedding with bride and groom. and makan would be shared with all next to open space. in this case, please proceed to hawker center and order and pay for your food.

 

[JustOneSingh]

 

[laksaboy]

The bride and groom should consummate their marriage while being witnessed by all the wedding guests. They should stand up, sing songs and clap their hands.

That's what a proper wedding should be like.

 

[Leckmichamarsch]

The Average Cost of Weddings in Singapore 2020 + Saving Tips

Planning a party for 100 or more can be challenging. Budgeting is key to planning a successful celebration. On average, weddings in Singapore cost about $30,000 to $50,000 and can go up to $100,000. The cost of wedding largely depends on the type of wedding you envision, as well as the scale of it and the number of guests you are planning to invite. This article will share with you the various components of a wedding (we will try to be as detailed as possible) and the average costs of each to help you better budget for it (there is a table summary at the bottom of the article). We also share our vendor recommendations with you. We share some wedding saving tips with you throughout this article, but I encourage you to download our wedding savings guide below.
This article was updated on 17 December 2019.
Before you go, do not forget to download our free e-guide below. It shares 8 hacks that you can use to save up to $18,700 on your wedding!

The Average Cost of Weddings in Singapore
Essential Resources:
Apply for a credit card that gives you rebates
A wedding will incur some significant expenses. Be sure to apply for a credit card that gives you rebates so you can get more savings. Our friends at Singsaver have shortlisted the best credit cards here for you.
Should you get a personal loan for your wedding?
We recommend spending within your means for your wedding. You should try to avoid debt and any unnecessary stress. But if you prefer taking up a loan to reserve your disposable income, here are the best personal loans offered by the banks in Singapore.
Get travel insurance for your honeymoon
Always be sure to get travel insurance for your trip. A plan may only cost you tens of dollars but is crucial coverage in the event of anything unfortunate. We get our travel insurance from Singsaver. They will recommend the best insurance plan most suited for your trip.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. They come at no extra cost to you, but if you purchase through our site, we get a small commission or bonus which keeps our site running and allow us to continue creating free content for you. We only recommend vendors that we trust to use for ourselves. Thank you for your support! You can refer to our disclosure policy for more information.1. ROM & Solemnization ($2,500 – $7,000)

Source
It does not cost much to get legally married in Singapore. The actual cost to get registered is only $42 (Singaporeans & PR), and $380 if you both are foreigners.
The bulk of the cost comes in hosting a lunch reception. If your solemnization is separate from your wedding banquet, it will usually consist of a venue booking and a lunch reception.
Wedding Venue bookings ($1000 – $3000)

• If you plan to have your solemnization outside of ROM, booking fees for churches range from $1,000 – $3,000. Some churches take donations instead, and some churches are only open to members. See the church wedding venues in Singapore.
• If you are opting for a restaurant wedding venue, most venues quote a minimum spend on F&B. If you are able to hit that, they will usually waive any venue booking fee.
• Hotels have solemnization venues that you can use if you throw your wedding reception or banquet at their ballroom venues.

Lunch Reception ($1,500 – $4,000)
If your lunch reception is after a church ceremony, you will usually hire a wedding caterer for your event.
Standard lunch menus average from $15 – 25 per guest. For 100-150 guests, it will range from $1,500 – 4,000.
For a more bespoke experience, menus start from $25 per guest. Your reception will start from $4,000 upwards for 100 guests. Here is a list of our Top 10 Popular Wedding Caterers in Singapore
Red Packet ($80 – $120)
It is customary to give your solemnizer a red packet. On average, people give about $80 – $120. The minimum amount is $50, as per the guidelines on the ROM website. If your solemnization venue is not at ROM, do accommodate the transportation cost.
2. Wedding Banquet ($15,000 – $36,000)

Wedding banquets on average cost about $100 – $180 per person. Chinese weddings on average have 150 – 200 guests, bringing the total cost to be $15,000 – $36,000.
Depending on the venue you choose, 5-star wedding venues can start from $200 per pax. Check out our wedding venue recommendations for 2020, or you can simply pick a wedding venue to suit your wedding theme. You can find a full list of wedding venues in Singapore and banquet prices on Singapore Brides.
Saving tips:

• Host your wedding on a weekday, or opt for a weekend luncheon instead. Prices will be cheaper.
• Instead of a hotel ballroom, you can opt for a Chinese restaurant.
• If your parents insist on hosting it in a hotel, you can opt for a 3 – 4-star hotel, or a boutique hotel to save on cost.
• Host your solemnization just before your banquet, so you can skip the lunch reception.

3. Engagement Ring ($3,000 – $5,000)
Most people budget around $3,000 – $5,000 for their engagement ring.
The average budget can get you a ~0.3 – 0.4 carat diamond (with setting), depending on where you purchase it from, and the specifications.

Where to Buy your Engagement Ring:
MADLY Gems, for bespoke artisanal engagement rings
Homegrown in Singapore MADLY is an international award-winning bespoke jeweller who creates breathtaking, prismatic treasures for clients who value individuality when it comes to their jewellery. This sparkle house believes that true luxury is customised, not standardised. They also encourage their customers to shop around as much as they can before coming to see them. This way, you would “see the difference” of their gemstones that are carefully selected from the finest 1% of gem-quality material mined and cut by tradesmen who ethically source and craft for the world’s most renowned jewellery houses.
MADLY’s commitment to provocative design, peerless craftsmanship, and quality gemstones of exceptional colour, cut, and brilliance earned them a feature in the International New York Times, as well as worldwide recognition such as Singapore Tatler’s Best Jewellers, and ‘Jeweller Of The Year – Asia’ in the recent UK Luxury Travel Guide’s Lifestyle Awards 2018/2019. Expert jewellers of MADLY dedicate themselves to replicating your wishes from conceptualisation to finishing, making sure your jewel blossoms into something that’s worthy to be called the symbol of your love. They don’t just make jewellery for you; they make it about you!

Click here to schedule an appointment with Madly Gems >
For more, read our guide on How to buy an engagement ring in Singapore or where to buy your engagement rings in Singapore. You may hear rumours of a 2 or 3-month salary rule of thumb for the budget, though my advice is not to be pressured by it. Buying an engagement ring is a solely personal decision.
Customising your own wedding ring nowadays is more common and affordable. Before buying a ring, be sure to do your research, or sign up for a class to learn more about diamond shopping.
Saving tips:

• Rings from commercial retail outlets are generally more expensive for rings of similar specifications, as there is a markup for the retail spaces.
• Shopping online for cheaper alternatives could be an option, though be wary and only shop from reputable online jewellers. Make sure that your diamond ring comes with proper certification that matches the ring.
• You can choose to compromise measurements for one of the 4Cs – cut, clarity, colour, and carat to better fit your budget.

4. Wedding Bands ($3,000 – $5,000)

Source: Love & Co.
A pair of wedding bands on average cost between $3,000 – $4,000 for a pair.
The eventual cost will depend on the shop you purchase from, the brand, the type of material (18K gold or platinum), and the gem (diamond or gemstone) that you are including on your band.
5. Bridal package for your Wedding gown & suit ($2,000 – $6,000)

Bridal packages cost about $2,000 – $6,000 on average.
Bridal studios are often one-stop solutions. For convenience, you can pick up a bridal package that includes wedding gown and suit rental, pre-wedding/actual day photography, makeup and hairstyling services. The eventual cost depends on the inclusions you want. For the photoshoot, it depends on the locations and number of photos you wish to purchase. Some bridal studios have destination shoot services too.
While it may be more expensive to go ala-carte, going ala-carte can allow you to select vendors with specific styles you prefer.
If you wish to go ala-carte,

• Renting an ‘off-the-rack’ gown on average ranges from $500 – $1,500, depending on the boutique you choose.
• Customising your own ‘made-to-measure’ gown on average ranges from $1,000 – $3,000.

Wedding shoes ($100 – $200)

Source: ChristyNg
I got my shoes from ChristyNg, which allows you to design your own. Though you can simply shop around the stores for a cheaper pair that will match your gown. Most bridal boutiques have accessories that you can borrow with the gown, otherwise, you can use your own.
6. Actual day wedding photography ($1,000 – $2,000)
Actual-day wedding photography on average costs $1,000 – $2,000. Check our Noteworthy Wedding Photographers for more recommendations.

Recommended Wedding Photographer:
Dapper Pictures, to capture your most beautiful and precious moments
Kevin, the principal photographer of Dapper Pictures, is an award-winning photographer with his works featured both locally and overseas. As a wedding photographer, Kevin feels happiest connecting with couples and capturing their unique love story and precious moments on camera. Dapper Pictures is highly recommended by their couples for his quality of work and dedication to details. Kevin commits to no more than 4 shoots each month, as he strongly believes in keeping himself fresh, creative and passionate. On top of his dedicated professionalism and likeability by couples and guests at weddings, another reason for our recommendation is that his photography package is great value for his work which includes both pre-wedding and actual-day at just below $2,000! Click here for the full package inclusions.

Click here to check out Dapper Pictures >
7. Actual-Day Wedding Videography ($1,500 – $3,000)
On average, your actual day wedding videography will cost $1,500 – $3,000. The eventual cost depends on whether you want half-day (4 – 5 hours) or full-day (10 hours). For wedding videography, per hour rates on average range from $150 – $350. For more recommendations, check our Noteworthy Wedding Videographers.
Videography requires more equipment and manpower. Editing also takes more hours, and rushing out a same-day edit (SDE) can be stressful, hence the higher cost. But videography captures moving expressions that photos will not capture, so I highly encourage you to have a wedding videographer capture your big day.

Recommended Wedding Videographer
50nFifty, for beautiful and heartwarming storytelling
Founded in 2013 by Creative Director Cino Chee, 50nFifty Productions has been producing beautiful images and impactful narratives for couples through their lenses. Photographing and filming since 2008, Cino is not a believer in formulaic and run-of-mill photography and videography. “Cameras alone do not tell the story, people do.” Known for his signature contemporary journalism style, Cino is on a constant quest to push boundaries as he moves hearts through his meaningful and purposeful creations.
On top of their vast experience and quality equipment used, Cino and his team make it a point to get to know you and your story, and find out what matters to you as a couple in order to capture the beautiful testimony of your love story on their cameras. 50nFifty offers storytelling videography for both pre-wedding and actual day. To maintain a high quality of their works, the team commits to no more than 3 assignments per month. Read their reviews here.

Click here to check out 50nFifty Productions >
Montages on average are about $100 – 300. You can do it yourself if you have the time, otherwise, click here for a list of montage vendors.
Saving tips:

• Opt for a company that does both photography and videography for combo packages.
• Promotional packages may feature complimentary pre-wedding shoots, montages or SDE. Do ask if they are running any offers.

8. Pre-wedding Photography and Videography ($1,600 – $2,700)
Pre-Wedding Photography ($800 – $1,200)

Source: Withminn Photography
A local pre-wedding shoot on average ranges from $800 – $1,200. The actual cost will depend on the number of hours and locations you require. Casual shoots are slightly cheaper. Opting for freelancing or newer photographers will get you slightly cheaper prices too.
Pre-wedding Videography ($800 – $1,500)

On average, a pre-wedding video or a Save the date trailer will cost you about $800 – $1,500.
Videography usually will cost more than photography mainly because the equipment is more expensive, and it takes a much longer time to shoot and edit videos.
Destination shoots ($3,000 – $7,000)
If you are opting for a destination shoot, budget about $3,000 – $7,000.
Destination shoot packages on average start from $2,500. The package cost will depend on the country you pick and how many days you require. Do note that airfare and accommodation of the photographer would have to be borne by the couple. You will also need to budget for your own travel costs and expenses.

Recommended Videographer:
Candid Moments Cinematography, for organic and spontaneous wedding videos
Candid Moments Cinematography is known for its epic drone shots and stunning timelapse and hyper-lapse footages, giving each wedding video a sense of spontaneity. While the team focuses on stunning cinematic shots, they also make sure that moments and emotions are captured seamlessly in its most natural and raw essence. The Chief Cinematographer and Director, Julian, prefers not to capture in a documentary style to keep the films organic. Candid Moments Cinematography also does not settle on mainstream music, they make sure that the track curated for the videos align with the couple’s personality and story. Read their testimonials here.

Click here to check out Candid Moments Photography >
Saving tips:

• To avoid added travel costs for a destination shoot, an alternative is to seek out a local photographer from that destination (that’s what we did in for our Philippines wedding photoshoot!).
• Photographers may organize destination shoots to specific countries each year. If you can plan ahead, you can sign up for a cheaper price.
• Bridal studios can offer you added convenience as they are able to take care of your gowns and makeup on top of photography. Bridal packages on average range from $3,000 – $6,000. That being said, be sure to find a reputable boutique with good reviews. Be sure to read through your package inclusions and T&Cs carefully. Some studios do not give all the edited copies and require a top-up. Personally, I prefer getting a dedicated photographer of my choice as I get to choose the style I want, but this may be an option for you to consider.

9. Bridal Spa ($200 – $1,500)
Pamper your skin before your wedding to boost that glowing look brides have on their wedding day. Bridal Spa Packages on average costs $200 – $1,500, depending on the type of treatment, the number of packages and each duration that you pick. Check out our Top 10 Spas in Singapore for your Wedding Day.

Recommended Bridal Spa:
Porcelain, for skin refinement and innovative treatment
Porcelain has taken the industry by storm since its foundation by Pauline Ng in 2009, collecting 60 awards from media and recognised institutions. Taking nature and technology, two elements seemingly at odds with each other and merging them into harmonious skincare solutions enable this face spa to target the root of the problem and stimulate regeneration – never a symptomatic approach. All of Porcelain’s products are carefully formulated and crafted in-house using only the finest ingredients to ensure the consistently high-quality formulations that suit all skin types – specifically designed for use in humid climates like Singapore.
Each of Porcelain’s highly trained therapists notes down your skin’s stories to create a personalised treatment regime designed to accurately address your skin’s needs. Whether it’s the mask used for your spa facial or the moisturiser you bring home, you can be assured that your skin will be nurtured and nourished. They are also known for no hard-selling and transparency. Book an appointment here and walk down the aisle with that sought-after ethereal bridal glow.

Click here to check out Porcelain, The Face Spa >
On top of pampering your face, don’t forget to do your nails too! Check out these nail salons in Singapore. for my wedding, I brought my mum to The Nail Social for a pampering manicure and pedicure.
10. Makeup artist & hairstylist ($400 – $1,000)

Source: Cynderella
Makeup artists (MUA) on average costs $400 – $1,000, depending on half or full day and how many looks you want.
Check out our recommended Noteworthy Makeup Artists and Hairstylists. See the price list of Makeup Artists in Singapore for wedding makeup rates.
Saving tips:

• Hire the same makeup artist for your pre-wedding and ROM/actual day and may get a promotional rate

11. Makeup & Attire for bridal party and moms ($500 – $1,000)

Budget at least $500 – $1000 for your entourage, depending on how big it is.
On average,

• Each outfit for a bridesmaid ranges from $50 – $100.
• For makeup and hairstyling, per pax costs about $100 – $150.
• For groomsmen, it depends on your choice of outfit.

For your mother and mother-in-law, it is optional to do this depending on whether they already have a suitable outfit, but we allocated about $300 – $500 each to shop for an outfit for them.
Tips:

• Have separate artists work on your family and bridal party. Depending on how many bridesmaids and the timeframe you have, you will want to allocate 1 artiste to max 3 bridesmaids. As I had 7 bridesmaids, their makeup was done by Eesha K (recently rebranded as EK Makeup Studio). They have a bigger team and were able to doll up my bridesmaids in time.
• For our wedding, I got infinity convertible dresses from The BMD Shop ($33 – 39). These dresses made it very easy for they are free-sizing and they can be wrapped in different styles. Check out these blog shops to buy your bridesmaid dresses.
• Forever New also has many gorgeous collections for bridesmaids, though the pricing is more expensive from $100 – $200 for each dress. I bought my bridesmaids shoes from Mitju at $40 each. For our groomsmen, we got full suits from Zara during a sale, and each suit was about $150. We bought our ties online for about $10 each. Each groomsman wore their own brown shoes and an inner dress shirt. I’d suggest shopping during the sales period, like Great Singapore Sale (June-July), Black Friday or 12:12 to get good prices. Click here for photos.

12. Wedding Flowers ($500 – $2,000)

Flowers by Elly Floral Artistry
Depending on your needs, budget around $500 – $2,000 for flowers.
Below are the average costs of wedding flowers:

• Bridal bouquet: $100 – $300
• Bridesmaids bouquet: $50 – $70 each
• Boutonnieres & Corsages for groomsmen and family: $10 – $20 each
• Floral decorations: If your venue does not provide floral decorations, the cost of this will depend on your requirements. On average, small centerpieces are about $50 – $100 each. A more elaborate flower centerpiece for the VIP table is about $100 – $200. For my wedding, our solemnization and dinner cost about $3,000 for flowers and we had centerpieces on every alternate table. To lower your cost, you can consider using more foliage (greens) for decorations rather than florals.
• A floral arch or canopy will start from $500 onwards
• Car decorations: $100 – $300, depending on how elaborate

Saving tips:

• Opt for artificial flowers to save cost of wedding, and you can keep them as souvenirs too.

13. Wedding Planning / Styling ($2,000 – $3,500)

Styling by Fabulation
On average, wedding planning costs about $1,000 – $1,500 for the service fee. Do ask if the vendor includes actual-day coordination as well.
For a wedding stylist, the average cost is about $1,000 – $2,000 for the service fee. The fee excludes the props, rental of equipment, and eventual cost will depend on how extensive your decorations are. Check out the Top 10 Wedding Stylists in Singapore, and here is a list of popular wedding themes you can choose from.
You might want to budget an amount for decorations and props as well. Below are some elements you may want to consider. Here is a list of shops to get your wedding decorations and props.

• Wedding arch
• Aisle
• Staging
• Reception/album table
• Table Centerpieces

Saving tips:

• If you opt for a hotel/venue that has incorporated styling and decorations into their packages, that may reduce the need to get an external vendor, thereby reducing the cost of wedding.
• You can opt for bigger props to make a statement piece, and possibly use for a photo backdrop.

14. Wedding cake ($500 – $1,000) or dessert table ($500 onwards)

Source: Winifred Kriste Cake
Budget around $500 – $1,000 for a wedding cake. A dessert table on average will cost you $800 onwards.
If you are having a hotel wedding, they would have a model cake included in the package, as well as champagne. Champagne for popping costs about $40 – $80/bottle on average. Here are Top 10 Bespoke Wedding Cake Designers in Singapore. For our wedding, we got our wedding cake done by Winifred Kriste Cake.
15. Wedding Invitations ($200 – $500)
Wedding Invites cost about $1.50 – $3 per invite. Budget about $150 – $450 for this. Here are the Top 10 invitation designers in Singapore.

Recommended Wedding Invitations:
Mylin design & co. for personalised designs inspired by nature
What started as a desire to help friends to customise dreamy invitations for their weddings soon turned into a full-time commitment. To Mylin, designing can make a difference to everyday life and allows people to connect over meaningful designs. Her passion lies in exploring new textures and mediums, to create personalised invitations that express the couple’s unique style and identity. Each design is unique and meticulously handcrafted, all in line with her ethos of ‘less is more’. Often inspired by nature, her works are beautiful and surreal. Besides designing wedding stationery, her services also include creating wedding animation/video montage, reception styling, and corporate design.

Click here to check out Mylin Design & Co. >
16. Wedding Car Rental ($300 – $600)

The average cost to rent a wedding car is $300 – $600.
The cost depends on the model you pick and the hours you rent for. Here are 12 Places for Wedding Car Rental in Singapore, hopefully this helps you to reduce your cost of wedding. Do ask if the vendor has packages that include car decorations.
Saving tips:

• Alternatively, you can use your own car, or ask around to borrow a suitable car model

17. Photo Booth ($500 – $1,000)

Source: Busybody
Photo booth rates on average range from $500 – $1000 for 1 – 2 hours.
The package cost depends on how many hours you require. Check out our recommended list of Noteworthy Photobooths for Your Wedding Day for the best deals to reduce your cost of wedding.
Saving tips:

• If you wish to save on hiring a vendor, you can set up your own backdrop, and place a camera on a tripod to capture the ‘photo booth’ images as soft copies.

18. Wedding Entertainment ($500 – $1,000)*

Recommended Wedding Live Band
White Ribbon Live Music, for your own special love song
Made up of seasoned singers and musicians, White Ribbon Live Music draws on their exclusive talent pool to make sure that you get the best soundtrack for your wedding day. Local singer-songwriter Ruth Kueo stands as the founder – and with her co-founder, Ashton Koh – gathered experienced and talented music performers to create a strong team with versatile style. Their talent and knowledge in singing allow them to create new arrangements for the songs they play on various occasions – making sure that no performance is ever the same. This paved the way for them to play over 500 different weddings and events in the country and abroad successfully. They also continuously update and expand their repertoire to keep up with the ever-changing music scene. Upon request, their musicians can write and compose the song that conveys your love story, which makes the matrimony more special and unique on its own. With White Ribbon Live Music, you can find the perfect melody to resonate with your love story!

Click here to check out White Ribbon Music >
On average, hiring a 2 piece band is around $1,000 – $1,300, while a 3-piece band cost around $1,300 to $1,600.
For emcees or wedding singers/band, budget around $500 – $1,000 for your spending. Here’s a list of Top 10 Wedding Emcees in Singapore.
Saving tips:

• Ask a friend to help you emcee. He/she could be part of your bridal party.
• If you have talented friends, you can ask them to perform/sing at your wedding. Alternatively, you could also do it yourself for a memorable evening!

19. Wedding Dowry ($1,000 – $3,000)
For Chinese weddings, you will have to prepare for the Betrothal gifts process, also known as Guo Da Li (过大礼).
The groom/his family will also give a dowry (also known as Pin Jin 聘金) to the bride’s parents as a traditional way of showing sincerity. You can decide on the amount you want. Usually, it will be presented in amounts with numbers like 6 and 8. You can purchase traditional packages to present along with the dowry. Read our full guide to Guo Da Li here. Here are the Top 10 Shops to get your Guo Da Li.
20. Honeymoon ($5,000 – $8,000)

Source
The cost of your honeymoon depends on where you plan to go and how long you plan to stay. Most couples plan for a 2-week long holiday to somewhere more exotic.
A budget of $5,000 – $8,000 may take you to Europe, US, South Africa, Egypt if you plan early and secure your tickets on a promotion.

• Scoot flies to Europe destinations – Athens and Berlin – check it out here. You can fly to Santorini for about $300 per pax from Athens.

If you choose closer destinations like Indonesia, the Philippines, or Thailand, you can reduce your budget slightly. Though you may want to compensate by staying at a luxury resort which on average costs about $300 a night.
You can fly to Japan and Hong Kong for about $600 – $800 airfare, but accommodation in those countries are more expensive, averaging about $200 – $300 for a small room.
Countries like India and Myanmar are ‘exotic’ and have much cheaper accommodation so you can enjoy more for less. 5-star hotels only cost on average $100 – $200 a night, and they look stunning.
Not sure what to pack? Simply follow our honeymoon packing checklist.
21. Miscellaneous ($1,000 – $2,000)

Photo Credits: Simplifai Studios
You will need to budget a little extra for red packets given out that day to your bridesmaids during the gatecrash, vendors, and for presents and flowers for the family. Other miscellaneous costs include wedding favours, or an after party.
Tip:

• Buffer about 5 – 10% extra on top of your total budget in case of any last minute expenses.

22. Table Summary

Wedding cost	Range, on average
ROM & Solemnization + venue booking	$2,500 – $7,000
Catering / lunch reception (for 100 – 150 guests)	$1,500 – $4,000
Wedding Banquet (for 100 – 150 guests)	$15,000 – $36,000
Engagement Ring	$3,000 – $5,000
Wedding Bands	$3,000 – $5,000
Bridal package	$2,000 – $6,000
Actual day photography	$1,000 – $2,000
Actual day videography	$1,500 – $3,000
Pre-Wedding Photography & Videography	$1,600 – $2,700
Makeup artist & hairstylist	$400 – $1,000
Bridal Party Attire & Makeup	$500 – $1,000
Flowers	$500 – $1,000
Wedding planning & styling (if needed)	$2,000 – $3,500
Wedding cake (if needed)	$500 – $1,000
Wedding Invitations (if needed)	$150 – $500
Wedding car rental (if needed)	$300 – $600
Photo Booth(if needed)	$500 – $1,000
Wedding Entertainment(if needed)	$500 – $1,000
Wedding Dowry (variable cost)	$500 – $3,000
Honeymoon (variable cost)	$5,000 – $8,000
Miscellaneous (variable cost)	$1,000 – $2,000
Subtotal:	$48,950 – $94,300
Optional / variable cost:	$10,450 – $20,600
TOTAL:	$32,500 – $73,700

**costs are estimated and are rounded up for easier viewing
Planning your wedding budget at the start will help you greatly, especially when it comes to making decisions later on. We hope that our cost of weddings guide has helped you have a better idea of how much to budget and save for your upcoming wedding. That being said, this is only a guide to follow, based on estimates and averages. The actual cost of your wedding is in your control, and you can choose what to include or exclude. Ultimately, your wedding day is meant to be a special and memorable occasion. Whether you choose to have it as a grand celebration, or an intimate affair is entirely up to you.
There are also many ways in which you can save on your wedding. Before you go, don’t forget to download our free e-guide on how you can save up to $18,700 on your wedding!

Want more? Here is a wedding guide to help you with your planning. If this article has helped you, please kindly share it with your friends and family.
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