Singaporebrides | Weddings 101

June 2020

10 Common Questions on Wedding Planning Every Singapore Bride Has Before Her Wedding

By Audrie Soh

Share this article on:
Facebook 315

Get the answers to some of the most common questions every bride has on wedding planning here.

Your man has popped the question and you have said ‘Yes’, and now you are faced with the exciting yet daunting task of planning the biggest event of your life – your wedding. But as a first-time bride-to-be who has never planned a gathering for more than you can count with your fingers, you must have many questions on your mind, like where should you start or is it too early to start immediately after the proposal, or is a wedding videographer necessary and how you can get married via a virtual solemnisation.

If you have these questions and more in your head, don’t worry. Let us help you. We’ve put together 10 most common wedding planning questions and answered them to help ease your worries so you can plan your wedding without a hitch.

1. How early should I start planning my wedding?

As early as you want! It’s never too early to start planning your wedding, so go ahead and start saving inspirations onto your Pinterest board so you know exactly what you want when the time is right. The average couple takes around six months to a year to plan their wedding, but if you already know what you want and the vendors you’d like to engage for your wedding, then you might not need as long a time.

Before you settle on a date, do bear in mind to factor in the time needed for any customisation you are planning to do. Customisation takes at least three to six months or more, so if you are looking to customise your wedding dress or wedding rings, you should do so as soon as you have decided on a boutique or brand. Use this wedding checklist to help you plan and complete your to-do tasks on time.

2. What do I need for a virtual solemnisation during COVID-19?

To help couples who wished to get married during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has made it possible for them to get married through a virtual solemnisation done via a video conference. You, your groom and your two witnesses need not be physically present in the same venue for the virtual solemnisation to take place, but you must all be physically present in Singapore.

You will also need to be eligible for the Verification of Documents and Statutory Declaration (VD/SD) and solemnisation to be done virtually by meeting a set of criteria before you can get married virtually. Check our guide on virtual marriage solemnisations to see if you are eligible for the above-mentioned processes.

In-person solemnisations are also now allowed as we enter into Phase 2 of the reopening post-Circuit Breaker. From 19 June 2020 onwards, you are limitated to a maximum of 10 guests if you are getting married at the Registry of Marriages (ROM) and a maximum of 20 guests if you are hosting your solemnisations outside of the ROM.

3. My fiancé and I want to have some quiet time in the morning to ourselves. Is it okay if we skip the gate-crash?

Absolutely! While many couples still choose to incorporate the gate-crash into their wedding day to honour this age-old tradition, some couples have chosen to replace it with a private, first-look session or quiet time with each other or their families before the wedding madness begins. So, if that is what you and your fiancé want for your big day, go ahead and skip the gate-crash – there is no right or wrong.

4. How do I choose a wedding photographer? What should I look out for?

Your wedding photographs will be the only tangible moments of the happiest day of your life, and that makes choosing the right photographer for the occasion all the more important. But with so many photographers on social media and the Internet to choose from, it is easy to get lost in the sea of choices when you don’t know where to start or what to look out for.

When it comes to choosing the right photographer for your wedding, there are three things you should always pay attention to: your preferred photography style, the photographer’s portfolio and your budget. Decide if you prefer a more moody, emotive style of photography or one that is more natural and candid, and use that to help you narrow down the list of photographers. Browse through our list of Singapore’s best wedding photographers and take a look at their work and rates to help you shortlist a few that you’ll like to meet in person before you make a decision. You’ll know if a photographer is the right one for you when you feel comfortable entrusting them with your once-in-a-lifetime celebration.

5. Do I need to hire a wedding videographer? Is it necessary?

If you want to be able to re-live your wedding day through sight and sound of the day’s happenings, then yes, you should hire a wedding videographer because they’ll capture those precious, important moments on video so you can always immerse yourself in the joy of your big day any time you wish to.

The bottom line here is, that there is no right or wrong answer to this question because it all boils down to your personal preference and wedding budget. If you have budget for both a photographer and videographer, then why not hire both so you know every single moment of the happy day will be captured. If you have a limited budget, then ask yourself which is more important to you before you make a decision.

6. How can I make my wedding unique and memorable without breaking the bank?

The truth is, you don’t need a big budget to make your wedding celebration a unique and memorable one for you and your guests. Your wedding will stand out naturally if you prioritise the things that are most important to you, even if you have a modest budget, whether it is letting your personalities shine through the place you chose to marry or how you decorated the venue, or making sure your guests are well taken care of throughout the celebration.

To inspire you, here are stories of some real couples who held beautiful celebrations in Singapore for under $30,000, with a handful who tied the knot for less than $5,000! Find out how they did it and let their stories inspire you to plan your very own unique and memorable wedding without busting the bank.

7. I’m planning a destination wedding. What are some things I should keep in mind?

Planning a destination wedding is a little trickier than planning one locally, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it if that’s what you really want. Before you go ahead and book a destination wedding, take our quiz to help you decide if a destination wedding is right for you. If you’ve answered ‘Yes’ to all the questions, then plan away!

First things first, you’ll have to decide on where you want to get married at. Whether it is in a vineyard in Australia where you first holidayed together as a couple or the Maldives where you were proposed to, be sure to shortlist a few destinations and check if they fall within your budget and has the right season for your chosen wedding date.

To help you plan the destination wedding of your dreams, we’ve put together a list of useful tips you can check against to make sure that you’ve covered all grounds before you proceed.

8. Is a wedding stylist or planner necessary?

Again, there is no right or wrong answer here. Whether you hire a wedding stylist or planner depends largely on the scale of your wedding and your budget. If you are planning a big celebration at a spacious venue and have set aside a generous budget for décor, then hiring a planner or stylist will help lighten your load and allow you to focus on enjoying the wedding planning journey and being a bride.

If you are planning an intimate celebration at a cosy venue, or have a modest wedding budget, then perhaps hiring a stylist or planner isn’t the right choice for you. However, that does not mean that your wedding will be any less beautiful than one with a stylist or planner. Many couples have chosen to DIY their wedding with beautiful results that equals a celebration done by a professional.

9. How should I plan my wedding day? How much time do I need to factor in for each activity?

It is important to prepare a wedding day schedule for your bridal party and wedding vendors to make sure that the day goes on without a hitch. As first-time brides, you may not know how you should plan your wedding day schedule. Fear not, for we have prepared sample wedding day schedules to help you plan yours. You can even download them so you can refer to them at your convenience and even edit, save and share with your family and bridal party. It is free to use, so feel free to make use of them to help you plan your wedding day schedule!

10. How much time should I factor into my wedding day for couple portraits and photos with my bridal party?

Speak to your photographer about your plans to have couple portraits and photos with your bridal party on your wedding day ahead of time and ask them how much time you should set aside for this. Every photographer has a different set of advice, so it is best to check with them directly to ensure that there are no miscommunication on the day itself.

Credits: Feature Image from Roy Fong and Cheryl Wee’s Wedding at The Ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore by Trouvé Photography // Pixioo

All content from this article, including images, cannot be reproduced without credits or written permission from SingaporeBrides.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram for the latest article and promotion updates!