Wedding

Planning for Wedding Part 3 – Date Selection, Banquet Booking and Bridal Boutique

Date Selection

Chinese always believe to count for the auspicious dates for marriage. So, where to look for auspicious date? Most of our friend and myself went to this Master Long for the calculation of dates. Back in 2013, the charges has already increase to $120 SGD from $100 SGD. Maybe during our visit he just shifted to his private buangalow from the yck condo.

What he need is both the chinese and english name of both the groom and bride. Date of birth and time for both couple and the year of birth for both side parents. Basically he will provide you 3 years of dates are consider auspicious dates that you can move on to book banquet, ROM, and when to shift in to new flat. He also will provide and explain how to deal with chinese customary. Simply SMS him to have an appointment at his place.

Long Tien Xiang
Tel: 90675008
Address: 31 Pinewood Grove Spore 738263

Here are the content of instruction you may wish to follow

Banquet Venue

You can always search online from singaporebride which banquet venue you will like to host, you can get to see the photos of the ball room and most importantly the price of the table and their menu. Compare the prices across and find the most suitable one base on your needs and budget. Have a rough estimation of tables you required that will narrow down the suitable venue to host your banquet.

Tips: Avoid ballrom will pillars that will block your guest viewing the stage or projector. Layout of the ballrom is important, knowing how you can march in. You wouldnt want to march for just a few steps and reach the stage or to march through guest tables to reach the stage.

Well, personally I have some hotel in mind, but, I always keen to host at mandarin oriental reason because Mayday will choose to stay in Oriental during their stay in Singapore. So, I always hope that there is a chance to come across them during my wedding day and that will be absolutely PERFECT! I think too much though.

So when I get to know the Mandarin Oriental show casing for banquet, I went down to have a look. There is the day I met Jenny, who is our wedding banquet coordinator manager. We were brought around to see the types of ballroom available, follow by some tasting of their light food and viewing of their respective available theme, wedding cakes and their wedding favors available.

Without much hesitation, we sat down with jenny to check on the available dates. My visit was on 1 Sep 2013, and most of the dates for 2014 are booked, so I looked into the 2015 1st quarter dates and make our booking on 21 March 2015. Table rates was $1438 per table and upon booking on the day, entitled to $1408 per table. We place a deposit of $5000 sgd on 14 Sept 2013 to confirm our booking.

  1. WEDDING BANQUET PACKAGE

4.1    Type of Cuisine              :           Chinese 

4.2    Type of Banquet             :           Chinese Set Menu

Please see the attached proposed menu

4.3    No. of reserved tables     :           02 (subject to Minimum Guaranteed Attendance)

4.4    Price per Table                :           SGD 1,438.00 (subject to Minimum Guaranteed Attendance)

4.5    Special Dietary Requirements:    Type    :           Muslim and Vegetarian Set Dinner Menu

(Optional)                                   Price    :           SGD 143.80 per Guest

**Price quoted above subject to 10% service charge and prevailing government taxes  

  1. WEDDING BEVERAGE PACKAGE

The Hotel will provide Attendees free flow soft drinks served from 7.00pm to 11.00pm.

The following additional options selected below:-

  • Stout at SGD 12.00 per glass (based on number of glasses ordered by Attendees)
  1. ROOM SETUP FOR EVENT

6.1    Cocktail Reception

         Area        :           Pre Function Area I [Lobby Level]    – Reception table with 6 chairs,Cocktail rounds

6.2   Dinner 
          Area        :           The Oriental Ballroom [Lobby Level] – 35 round Tables, Maximum of two (2) VIP Tables, Stage with wedding decorations, champagne fountain and model wedding cake

  1. AUDIO VISUAL

  We are delighted to arrange the following audio visual equipment with compliments for the Event:-

  • Existing Sound System with CD player
  • Rostrum with microphone
  1. PARKING FACILITIES

8.1    Three (3) VIP car park lots at the Hotel’s entrance for bridal car. Please advise us the car registration numbers at least three (3) days prior to the Event.       

8.2    Complimentary Marina Square Parking Passes   :           Up to 25% of Final Attendance

9    ACCOMMODATION

9.1    Accommodation for Customers

9.1.1 Complimentary 02 nights stay in a City Suite in Hotel under the name of the Customers.

9.1.2 (a)           Check-In Time             : Saturday, 21 March 2015 at 2.00pm

         (b)           Check-Out Time          : Monday, 23 March 2015 at 12.00 noon

9.2    Accommodation for Attendees (Optional)

9.2.1       Deluxe Room              SGD 315 per room per night (Room only)

                                                   SGD 335 per room per night inclusive of 2 buffet Breakfast
         – Subject to 10% service charge and prevailing government taxes

         – A maximum of up to 5 rooms for 2 nights stay will be subjected to availability

         – Additional room rates may vary from the above quoted rates    

  1. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS

  The Hotel will provide the following additional special arrangements:-

  • SGD 30.00++ off per confirmed table for booking of 35 tables and above (1 Sept 13 – Wedding show perks)
  • Free flow of beer from 7.00pm to 11pm (1 Sept 13 – Wedding show perks)
  • Waiver of corkage charges for all duty-paid wines and hard liquors brought in   (1 Sept 13 – Wedding show perks)
  • Complimentary 01 X bottle of house wine per confirmed table as part of package
  • Complimentary food tasting for 10 persons
  • Complimentary one night stay in Deluxe room for your wedding entourage inclusive of breakfast at Melts- The World Café for 02 persons
  • Complimentary usage of Pre-function area II for solemnization prior to event
  • Complimentary 02 units of LCD projector and portable screens with DVD player

Another reason I fancy Oriental is their food menu, personally im not shark fin person, so the menu replace shark fin soup to others and the chili crab bun replace the traditional noodle/rice dish and most important molten lava cake as dessert which different from other banquet. But of course, the price tag doesnt come cheap.

So going for the showcase I expect to get some perks from them, such as free flow of beer, corkage fee waive when we bring in wine. Complimentary of wine per confirmed tables, additionally of a total 25% car park complimentary of confirmed guest. Usuage of projectors and screen in the ballroom. Free one day room for a night complimentary of spa package, and room service up to $80.  See above for the package. Enjoy discounted rate for room booking. They dont provide ang bao box but nevertheless, the service i had from them is really thumbs up. I will elaborate and review my actual day with Mandarin Oriental in the next post.

Bridal Boutique Selection with Actual Day Photography and Videography

I always have my own target and that same goes to bridal boutique. I was eye on Z wedding gown that i saw online and i couldnt bother lookin into other bridal boutique.

Zwedding consider as expensive bridal boutique. But I can tell you their gowns are really amazingly good looking. Is that simple classy look and it doesn’t require to use those crystal to make it look like those old fashion gowns that can be found 20-30 years back. The young classy elegant look is what I am looking out for.

I did visit their boutique at tanjong pagar myself and friend. But was not properly engage and didnt get the chance being serve to view their gowns. I was given album to view instead.

So I walked out with a little disappointment and waited for the Bows hosted opposite at plaza singapura and visit with hub to be to check out the price. Before that I did some research on finding actual day photography and videography quotation to compare prices. But didn’t find any eye catchy.

During my visit at the zwedding booth at bows, I was attended by one of the staff and she start offering me package. They are selling their pre wedding shoot while im looking for actual day package. Half way through, Grace spotted me and make friendly greetings with us. We were offer as follo with Chris Ling photography and videography for actual day. With that it save my trouble sourcing a suitable one.

Total cost of $8154 sgd +7% GST, we paid $8724.78 sgd for actual day gowns suit photography and videography. What was not included is the rental of car and make up for both mothers. Very important note is to ensure that the gowns are open full range for selection. You wouldnt want to pay extra for the gown you eye on and they tell you is exclusive range from your package. Beware of this!

 

We spend quite a bit on these but we feel that with a team they will be very well coordinated and they also provide me a wedding coordinator for me. So when it is time to gown fitting they will call me and help me book my make up artist who they provide me amber and my photographer and videographer. They are professional. 

I heard that if you buy their prewedding shoot package you may be offer with better package for actual day. If your budget premise visit zwedding to have a look you wont disappoint with their works. I will share more on my actual day on another post.

12 comments

    1. About 3 days? But I heard from one of my readers saying that she tried contacting Master Long, but he seems to had stop his service

        1. Yea, so did you get another contact to count for your auspicious date. If is good, maybe you want to share with me and my readers?

  1. Hi Shuxian, thanks you for the very speedy reply. yah, please let me know her contacts. can I check if they extended the bridal suite stay to 2nights for you? Thanks!

    1. Hi Chloe,

      I had email you Jenny contact number. Do check it out. They do offer 2 nights bridal suits to me. But I did make some request.

  2. Hi, I’ve been following your blog for awhile. I am looking to sign with Mandarin oriental as well. Would be grateful if you could share with me the perks or any special ‘freebies’ that were thrown in so that I would not be short-changed. I left my email address. Perhaps we could liaise there. Thanks you!

    1. Hi Chloe,

      The followings are what the hotel provide, they don’t really have much perks and special freebies. If you wish to know more, perhaps I can give you the contact of my event manager. You can discuss with her if she can give you a better offer. Let me know if you wants her contact u can always whatsapp her and check with her. Perhaps you can say recommended by shuxian wedding on 21 march 2015 not sure if she still remember.

      The Hotel will provide the following additional special arrangements:-

       SGD 30.00++ off per confirmed table for booking of 35 tables and above
      (1 Sept 13 – Wedding show perks)
       Free flow of beer from 7.00pm to 11pm (1 Sept 13 – Wedding show perks)
       Waiver of corkage charges for all duty-paid wines and hard liquors brought in
      (1 Sept 13 – Wedding show perks)
       Complimentary 01 X bottle of house wine per confirmed table as part of package
       Complimentary food tasting for 10 persons
       Complimentary one night stay in Deluxe room for your wedding entourage inclusive of breakfast at Melts- The World Café for 02 persons
       Complimentary usage of Pre-function area II for solemnization prior to event
       Complimentary 02 units of LCD projector and portable screens with DVD player

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