Introduction & Disclaimer


Dear Brides-to-be & Grooms-to-be,

I am very pleased to present my wedding preparation kit for all couples who are going to get married soon or in the mid of preparation.

A small introduction of me, I first started to prepare my wedding on August 2007 as my big day was on March 2009. As and when I had gone through my preparation, I started to compile and share my experience to guide all couples.

This blog will assist you on the information on how you can start your wedding and some resources. So-called a useful blog that compile from my research and experience to provide all informations for all brides-to-be or grooms-to-be.

As I say, all informations compile from my research and experience, you will expect some copyrights from other articles & websites.

For advertising, you are always welcome to share with everyone. Give me your email and I will contact you directly. Advertising in this blog is FREE.

Hope this kit will be useful to you! Have fun!

Copyright 2008-2009 © wedding-prep-kit.blogspot.com & Other Websites


Past Updates


◕ October 2008
◕ November 2008
◕ December 2008
◕ January 2009
◕ February 2009
◕ March 2009
◕ April 2009
◕ May 2009
◕ June 2009
◕ July 2009
◕ August 2009



Labels

◕ Checklist
◕ Copyright
◕ Emergency Kit
◕ Guide
◕ Preparation
◕ Tradition
◕ Wedding Mistakes
◕ Wedding Website


Bridal Studio

◕ Bridal Package
◕ Bridal Studio
◕ Wedding Gown


For Brides

◕ Brides
◕ Bridal Bouquets
◕ Bridal Shoes


Hotels

◕ Hotel
◕ Wedding Venue


Solemnisation

◕ Outdoor Wedding
◕ Ring Pillow
◕ ROM
◕ Solemnisation
◕ Wedding Vow


Photography & Videography

◕ Photography
◕ Pre-Wedding Photoshoot
◕ Videography


Venues

◕ Restaurant
◕ Wedding Banquet


Locations

◕ Beach Road
◕ Bugis
◕ Changi
◕ CityHall
◕ Clarke Quay
◕ East Coast Road
◕ Havelock Area
◕ Newton
◕ Orchard
◕ Raffles Place
◕ Sentosa
◕ Tanjong Pagar


Transportation

◕ Transport


Stationery

◕ Invitation
◕ Wrist Corsages


Songs

◕ Chinese Song
◕ English Song


Updates

◕ Advertising
◕ Promotion
◕ Wedding Show


Share your view








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Saturday, November 8, 2008

Choosing the Wedding Banquet - Questions to Ask

This is taken from Singapore Brides Forum.

Here are the questions you may want to ask when you book your wedding banquet:

* How much is the deposit?

* How much are the chair covers (if you would like to have them)?

* How many complimentary barrels of beer are included in the package? How many litres per barrel? Cost of extra barrel of beer? Can they throw in an extra complimentary barrel of beer?

* How many complimentary parking coupons can they provide? What happens if you need more? Same questions goes for the invitation cards.

* What are the corkage charges for hard-liquor, stout and wines?

* Is there any complimentary for wines per every confirmed tables?

* How many complimentary nights of stay is provided? If only one night, try to get two nights. In my opinion, if they provide anniversary dinner voucher, ditch it in exchange for an extra night stay.

* What is the number of tables a waiter/waitress will be serving? Who is their pool of banquet waiters/waitresses?

* Who will take charge of the event? Banquet Manager or Banquet Executive?

* How many people are invited for the trial-dinner? Full or partial menu for the trial-dinner? Is the trial-dinner on a weekday or weekend? Who will be there during food tasting?

* Are complimentary fruit cakes or chocolate pralines provided? If fruit cake is provided, what is the cost involved if you would like to have chocolate pralines?

* Who are the vendors for invitation cards, centrepieces and wedding favors?

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12:53 AM



Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Checklist : Wedding Lunch/Dinner Banquet

First of all, I would like to congratulate to those who will be getting married soon.

As you are looking for wedding venue, Singapore Brides is a very informative website to provide you the list of hotels and information on location, contact, website, capacity, ballroom set-up, promotions, etc.

Everything will need to take in considerations and don't forget the wedding is all about both of you.

Most importantly, 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.

Here are my point of views for your reference:

1) How to start
* Set your wedding date
* Estimate number of guests to invite
* Make your hotel selection

2) Factors to consider
* Many hotels and some restaurants have minimum requirements which you have to fulfill before you can place your booking.
* Some hotels have different minimum requirements for weekday and weekend booking.
* The wedding package is usually more expensive for weekend booking than weekday.
* Check the maximum capacity of the venue because it is not advisable to book a banquet venue where your estimated number of guests is already the maximum capacity of the venue. Many times, your guest list actually increases as the wedding date draws nearer.

3) Budget
* Consider the date you are choosing.
* The packages are based on weekday and weekend rates.
* Rates are also different between lunch and dinner

4) Location
* Consider the accessibility of the venue.
* Is transport such as MRT stations and bus-stops available ?
* Check the hotel area if it is easy to hail a cab nearby.
* If there is a need, provide a shuttle bus for your guests in case they do not own a car or it is not accessible to the hotel eg, Sentosa.

5) Ballroom
* Layout of the ballroom is important to ensure that your guests are able to view your march-in and stage without any blockages such as pillars.
* The shape of the ballroom also affects your march-in.
* Do consider how long or how short your march-in you want to have?
* Find out if the main door leads straight to the stage or you have to do some turns in order to get to the stage.
* Suggest to your coordinator if you can view other couples' wedding set-up so that you can get the clear picture on how it will be like when it is your wedding.
* Check the number of ballrooms available if you are holding your banquet in a hotel. Some hotels have more than one ballroom so there could be more than one wedding banquet held on the same day. You wouldn't want your guests to appear at another ballroom if clear instructions/signages are not available!

6) Projectors
* Rent the projectors or live feed in case there is blockage just to ensure they have a clear view.
* Negotiate for complimentary rental. Normally coordinator will throw in for free.
* Check if there is any projector and LCD screen in the ballroom.
* How many complimentary projectors can the hotel throw in if your big ballroom happen to use more screens?

7) Number of tables
* Check the minimum and maximum number of tables for the ballroom.
* Do consider to have 2 reserved tables in case some guests don't turn up.
* Try not to stretch the limit as you will want your guests to feel cosy and comfortable in that setting. It's important to ensure there is enough space for everyone to eat, mingle around and take group photos.
* When signing the contract, always try to set the minimum number of tables to the lowest possible so as not to incur any charges if you can't meet the minimum closer to the date.
* Do ensure both parents to estimate the number of tables before signing contract.
* You may want to check for the number of baby chairs available if you are expecting babies to attend.
* One table usually seats ten guests while larger tables can accommodate up to twelve guests. But make sure this is not very cramped for your guests.
* Most hotel provides a complimentary trial dinner for 6 or 12 people. The trial dinner is usually conducted two months before the actual wedding.
* How many people are invited for the trial-dinner? Full or partial menu for the trial-dinner? Is the trial-dinner on a weekday or weekend? Whether there is extra cost if adding more people to each table?

8) Decoration (Flowers on table/stage, dummy cake, flowers along aisle)
* Usually different themes are offered for selection.
* A dummy cake is usually placed on the stage as part of the decorations. How many tiers?
* Check if the flowers are catered from a reliable supplier.
* Check the design and colour of table/chair covers, especially for the VIP table. They play an important role too!
* If chair covers are not provided, what will be the additional cost for the chair covers?
* Ask for sample before making decision on the venue.

9) Reception Area
* Reception area is important as it's the place where you receive your guests and that is also where they obtain information about their seating arrangements. It should be cosy enough for them to mingle around.
* Remember that the cocktail session will be held at the reception area. Can it accommodate guests who turn up early for the cocktail before they are allowed to enter the ballroom?
* Will there be seats for the elderly if you are not going to open the ballroom until much later?
* Ask if the reception area is shared in case the venue has more than one ballroom or whether another wedding banquet is held on the same day. Display visible and clear signages to avoid confusion.

10) Food
* Decide on the type of cuisine you wish to have. It's not just the quantity that matters! Quality is important too!
* Ask your coordinator about the charges for Muslim or Vegetarian food. Not all hotels have halal-certified food for Muslims.
* Some hotels offer meals for children too.
* You may want to check their first dish music/song and request if can change accordingly to your preference.
* What is the number of tables a waiter/waitress will be serving? Who is their pool of banquet waiters/waitresses?

11) Drinks
* Soft drinks and Chinese tea are usually free flow throughout the event.
* Some hotels offer you a complimentary bottle of wine per every confirmed table! Check the requirement for the minimum tables.
* Some hotels can arrange subsequent bottle of wine at a special price per bottle if you happen to need more. Ask for the price.
* Ask about corkage charges if you are bringing your own wine.
* Check on waiver of corkage for all duty paid hard liquor, wine & champagne.
* Majority of hotels will provide a complimentary 30 litres barrel of beer which amounts up to 80 glasses. If not, additional 30 litre barrel will cost from $550 onwards. The best is to negotiate for free flow of beer if possible! But this usually applies to weekdays and 4-star hotels.
* Ask if there is any require on the minimum of tables in order to get free flow of beer and also check the timing given. Some hotels provide free flow of beer from minimum tables of 25 and above between 8pm to 11pm.
* For wine, an estimation of consumption should be based on 1.5 bottles for every table. If you have 30 tables, you should have 30 x 1.5 bottles ready for guests. To cut down on alcohol consumption, its best not to serve alcohol during the cocktail. Serve alcohol when the dinner starts.
* Several companies offer wine on a consignment basis. So it means that you can order as much as you want and return those wine which have not been opened for consumption for a refund.

12) Wedding Favors
* Hotels will usually provide wedding favors for all your guests. There are usually different types of favors to choose from, consumables and non-consumables.
* On top of wedding favors, are complimentary fruit cakes or chocolate pralines provided? If fruit cake is provided, what is the cost involved if you would like to have chocolate pralines?
* Check if the packaging are included for wedding favors.

13) Carpark
* Hotel normally offer complimentary VIP lots for bridal car at the main entrance. Ask how many lots can they provide?
* Hotels will offer complimentary parking for a certain percentage (usually 20%-25%) of your confirmed attendance.
* Check on the number of lots that can be reserved for your guests.
* Ask about the location of the carpark. Some of the carparks are actually not located within the hotel.
* How many complimentary parking coupons can they provide? What happens if you need more?
* Check for the nearest carpark in case the hotel carparks are full.

14) Invitation cards
* Hotels normally offer complimentary invitation cards (not inclusive of printing) for a certain percentage (usually 70%) of your confirmed attendance according to the minimum tables you have stated in the contract.
* Ask your coordinator which printing vendor did the hotel liaise with.
* How many complimentary invitation cards can they provide? What happen if you need more?
* Check out the available designs and printing rates if you know where your vendor is located.

15) Bridal Suite
* Most hotels will offer complimentary one or two nights stay in the hotel suite.
* Some hotels offer complimentary day use room for helpers and some hotels throw in a complimentary one-night stay of standard room for helpers.
* Check out the discounted prices offered by the hotel if you have overseas guests attending your wedding.
* Some hotels even provide welcome set meals for the couples, topped with cakes, fruits and chocolates!
* Make sure there is Pre-dinner or Lover's supper for Wedding Couple.
* How many complimentary night stay is provided? If only one night, try to get two nights. If they provide anniversary dinner voucher, try to ditch it in exchange for an extra night stay.

16) Wedding Package includes
* 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 12 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)

17) Drive a bargain (This will usually work only if you book early)
* Extra night of stay
* Extra complimentary barrel of beer
* Chair covers
* Increase the number of invitation cards and complimentary parking.
* 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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12:17 AM



Wednesday, October 29, 2008

The Tradition of Having Wedding Dinner

The banquet is an important part of Chinese culture. More than just a meal, it represents an opportunity to build relationships.

Dishes carry symbolic significance at a banquet including :

1) A cold platter of jellyfish and various meats arranged in dragon and phoenix shapes. In Chinese culture, dragon symbolizes the yang or male aspect, while the phoenix is a representation of the ying or female aspect. The dish, therefore, is a symbolic marriage of the ying and yang, which is a fundamental principle in Taoist belief.

2) Whole chicken dish serves to represent hopes for a good marriage and the union of two families. When served whole, the chicken emphasizes the ideal of family unity.

3) Duck represents fidelity.

4) Fish is usually served whole, and is a very important menu in a Chinese banquet. It is usually served last and the dish is pointed towards the guests of honour. The whole fish is a symbol of togetherness. The Chinese word for fish is yu and it is similar in sound to the words meaning 'abudance' and 'surplus'. So serving whole fish at the wedding banquet is believed to ensure that the couple will not lack for anything in the coming year.

5) Chinese dates, peanut, longan and sunflower seeds. The names of these four items spell out the phrase 'zao sheng gui zi', which means to have a precious or noble son very soon.

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11:51 PM