So you said yes! Then the questions start. Where will we marry? What will it cost? Want to start your wedding planning in Singapore here? I’ll tell you what to do first. Go slow. Scary, yes. Super normal too. Just begin, and it gets lighter by itself.
Have a good chat first
Don’t open any wedding site yet. Just talk. Picture the day you want. A big, loud party? Or a quiet one? Then each say what matters most to you. Feeding ten people is easy. Feeding three hundred? That one is a big, big job. When you two agree on the big things, there is less to argue about. Really.
Work out your money first
Pick one money number. It must feel okay to you both. Write it in your phone. Food and the venue? They swallow most of the cash. Look at those two before anything else. Parents often love to help. So go ahead and ask them. Hold back a little money for the surprise costs. They always show up. Dropping a nice extra is easier than finding more money.
Pick your date and check the legal side
Check the Registry of Marriages website to learn how to give notice. You can’t marry right away. There is a waiting time before the wedding. Plan around it. Are you Muslim? Then you have a separate office: the Registry of Muslim Marriages. Choose a day. Both families must be free. Weekends and lucky dates get taken fast. Try to book it early.
Make your guest list
The number of guests changes the venue and the food bill most of all. Write down everyone you’d love to have. Then sort them into must-come and maybe. Parents will have names to add, so expect that. Singapore weddings often have lots of aunties, uncles and workmates. A rough number is fine for now.
Find a place you both like
Weddings happen in hotels, restaurants, chalets and community clubs here. Go and see two or three in person. Visit at the same time of day as your wedding. This way you see how it really feels on the day. Ask what is in the package. Find out the minimum spend too. What about rain? Ask them that. Then listen to your heart. Do not pick a place that costs too much.
Book your key vendors first
Ready to start your wedding planning in Singapore?The best photographers, makeup artists and emcees are often full months ahead, mostly on busy days. Read fresh reviews. Look through a full album, not only the best photos. Find out what they’d do if they fell sick right before your wedding. Get every promise written down. Good people make the day feel easy.
Think about the food
Guests will still be chatting about the food months later. Don’t rush this one. Tasting offered? Go and taste it. Tell the caterer about halal food, no-meat guests, and allergies. Do it early. A lot of couples here pick a Chinese banquet. A buffet works too. So does a snack table. Pick food your guests will like. Keep it within your budget.
Sort out outfits and beauty early
Dresses, suits and outfits like the qipao need time to be fitted and fixed a bit. Start looking a few months before. Book fittings one at a time. Try your hair and makeup before the big day too. That way you won’t get a shock that morning. You’ll worry less on the day.
Plan your home too
Lots of couples sort out their home while planning the wedding. Thinking of a BTO flat or a resale one? Check the rules on the HDB website early. The dates for your flat can clash with your wedding payments. So figure out your monthly home costs before you spend big on the dinner.
Keep a list and take it easy
Write a checklist with dates on it. Your phone notes work fine. Begin with the wedding day. Go backwards from there, and tick off things each month. Something will go wrong at some point. Maybe the florist turns up late. That’s life. Breathe. Just laugh and carry on.
FAQs
When do we start?
Many couples begin about nine to twelve months early. Good places and weekend dates go fast. Starting later is possible. You just get fewer choices and less time to compare prices. I’d start early.
What is a fair budget?
Depends, to be honest. How many guests? Which place? Everyone’s different. Call a few places early and ask for their prices. After that, build your plan on the number of guests you expect.
Is it a must to register our marriage?
Yes. If you’re not Muslim, you register at the Registry of Marriages. Muslim couples use the other one, the Registry of Muslim Marriages. Before you pick a date, look at both websites. Steps and fees change, so check the new ones.
Do we need a wedding planner?
It depends. A planner is great if you have no time at all. Like lists? Then do it yourself, and let your family pitch in.
What do we book first?
First, book the place and the date. Next, the photographer, the caterer and the makeup artist. They get booked quickly. Gifts and decor? Small stuff. Do them later.
Conclusion
Looking at the whole wedding at once can feel like too much. So don’t. Take just one little job today. Another one tomorrow. Be nice to each other and tell the truth. Sort the budget first, then the date, then the people who can’t be replaced. The rest can wait. You’re starting a marriage, not only a party, so enjoy it. Maybe begin tonight with a chat over dinner. You’ll be okay. Promise.
