Hi Och/Clover,
About the garden: we had to pay to rent the garden for the late afternoon (3-6pm). Again, my memory fails me as to the price we paid, but it wasn't too much, think about $500 or so. That covered rental of the garden for 3 hrs, and seats with white chair covers arranged in theater seating style. We also brought in a florist to decorate the garden setup further; and hired a string quartet to play at the ceremony (and for the cocktail hour) We did not cater lunch, only drinks, because it took place in the late afternoon. Our schedule for the day ran something like this: 5.30pm: ceremony 5.45pm: throw bouquet to single women (hahah) and take photos around garden with guests, 6.15pm: tea ceremony and more photo taking 7.15pm: dinner starts (hibiscus room). We only invited very close friends and family and relatives for the ceremony, so most people headed off for the tea ceremony right after the garden ceremony. The rest of our close friends headed to the cocktail area where we had informed the staff to start doshing out the alcohol early.
What I found about having a ceremony right before the dinner is that it really helps your dinner to start punctually. No more stupid late guests coming at 8.30pm. All of our guests were ontime, given that most had attended the ceremony moments earlier, so our dinner started super earlybird early at 7.15pm or so. Think it's a Singapore record for ontime early wedding dinner. hahaha I am so sick of wedding dinners starting late. The rental of the garden includes rental of a backup room (in case it rains, the room was one of the camellia rooms). They had set it up exactly as they had set up the chairs in the garden and all, so that was very nice. We also used the backup room for our tea ceremony, so it was all very organised and convenient.
I was so afraid it would rain, because the day had started off being real cloudy and overcast, and the weather forecast was rainy. And while getting my makeup done in the hotel suite above, I could look out the window and see that the clouds were evil looking and threatening to pour. But somehow, when the time came, the evil clouds parted to reveal bright brilliant sunshine. We couldn't have been happier.
Och, yes the cake is very chic looking isn't it? I thought it was simple chic and classic. Not mindlessly overtly frou frou and crazy,and most importantly, no obiang pillars! I'm glad the same cake is on your shortlist. Great minds think alike! hahaha. I'm sure I can get around to scanning in some pictures before Sep 02.
Clover, I think you've put it succintly, it is sort of a state of uneasy calm. I've had to evacuate/run out of subways etc on a few occasions since due to bomb/anthrax/whatever threat. We're getting so used to it now, it doesn't even faze us anymore. Need to evacuate subway station ah? Ok lor, just walk out and take the bus. No biggie. The Grand Ballroom is real pretty when it's all decorated. Don't think you should be worried about the pillars at all.
And girls, I second/third/fourth what everyone else has said: take your time checking out the different bridal houses. Don't let their "free this discount that" hook you into something that you haven't clearly thought about. Try on as many gowns as possible at all the bridal shops you visit to get a sense of their styles. I found that each bridal store has their 'signature' style, and that can really help narrow down your choices. And lastly, have an open mind. Try on gowns that you wouldn't usually be caught dead in, gowns that you think are too frou-frou/prissy/plain, gowns that make you look too fat/too thin/too whatever, you'd be surprised at how wrong you can be. For eg, I ended up with a gown that was totally NOT what I initially envisioned and wanted when I first started the gown hunting process and couldn't be more pleased with it when all was said and done.
That's all my two-cents worth opinions for now.
Am keen to know abt real cake too cos wanted real cake as well. I booked with Hyatt already but am obsessed with the pillars
. BTW, which bridal house were you with? 
..and which bridal house are u with? As you can see I am doing mini survey *hee hee* 
