Many hotels are usually quite fully booked one year in advance. This is especially true for dates that fall on weekends. You have to start searching for your perfect wedding venue preferably one and a half year prior to your wedding date.

How do I start?

One of the two things you need to decide is your wedding date. The other is your estimated number of invited guests. Then you can start going through the listing of wedding venues here and make your selection.

The many factors to consider

Many hotels and some restaurants have minimum requirements which you have to fulfil before you can place your booking. Some of the hotels have different minimum requirements for weekday and weekend booking. The wedding package is usually more expensive for weekend booking than weekday. When you make your booking, you must also check the maximum capacity of the venue. It is not advisable to book a banquet venue where your estimated number of guests already is the maximum capacity of the venue. Many times, your guest list actually increases as the wedding date draws nearer.

What does a wedding package includes?

It usually includes the following,

• Complimentary one or two nights stay in the hotel suite
• Complimentary bottle of champagne, fruit basket and breakfast for two
• Complimentary parking for up to 20% of confirmed attendance
• Complimentary barrel of beer
• Complimentary trial dinner for 6 or 10 people
• Complimentary fruit cake or chocolate pralines for all your invited guests
• Free flow of Chinese tea, soft drinks and mixes (not inclusive of juices)
• Wedding invitation cards with envelopes based on 60% or 70% of confirmed attendance (not inclusive of printing)

You can drive a hard bargain

Try asking for extra night of stay, extra complimentary barrel of beer, chair covers or increase the number of invitation cards and complimentary parking. This will usually work only if you book early. Or, you can change the items like anniversary dinner voucher to others. Remember to check the corkage charges for hard liquor and wine.

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