Should You Get a Wedding Planner in Singapore?

Wedding planners or coordinators are consultants that work very closely with you to create your dream wedding.

Hiring a wedding planner in Singapore is not as expensive as you think. You see, you can opt for their on-the-day expertise and use them as support for a few hours. Although you are paying for a few hours, the wedding planners offer a variety of services. These services include creating your seating plan for your guests, hosting your ceremony, contacting your vendors, and more.

For couples who reside in Singapore or couples who plan to have a destination wedding here, getting a wedding planner on board the journey may help you overcome the wedding blues!

3 Things to Consider Before Getting a Wedding Planner

Discuss these things with your partner. You will be able to move forward with your wedding planning once you figure out your budget, priorities, and time allowance.

1. BUDGET

Apart from deciding the overall budget for the wedding, you must decide how much you are willing to set aside for professional help. The price range for a planner depends on the scope of service you require. Your budget will determine the scope of help you can get.

2. PRIORITIES

What are your prenuptial and wedding priorities? Do you want to experience a stress-free wedding planning, or do you want to ensure that your wedding is Instagram-worthy? Logistics may be important for you and your partner too. So, identify what is most important to you.

3. TIME

How much time do you have left before getting married? Are you willing to set aside your commitments to focus on wedding planning? This would include sourcing for vendors, creating the guest lists, establishing a ceremony theme, shopping for essentials, and communicating with the guests.

3 Benefits of Having a Wedding Planner

Wedding planning can make you experience a roller-coaster of emotions. A wedding planner can help you create your dream wedding celebration and bring you other benefits.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

1. RELIEVING STRESS

Leaving the most stressful tasks to the hands of a trustworthy wedding planner will allow the bride and groom to fully immerse themselves in the bliss of the moment. You do not have to think of the trivial details alone. A competent wedding planner will ensure that every detail is executed according to the plan. Moreover, the planner can play an important part in creating your dream wedding celebration.

2. INCREASING YOUR NETWORK

When looking for professionals to provide hair, makeup, floral, or catering services, there are many individuals with competent skills and elaborate marketing strategies. How should you begin your search? A good wedding planner would have the best network of suppliers that would suit your requirements. For couples who have a tight budget, wedding planners can help you avoid getting ripped off by vendors.

3. EXPANDING YOUR LOCAL GRASP

Having a Singaporean wedding planner will allow you to reap the benefits of their local expertise. There are many beautiful indoor and outdoor locations for holding a wedding ceremony, and Singaporean wedding planners would know the good places to do so.

3 Singapore Wedding Planners

Here is a list of skilled wedding planners in Singapore.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

1. CHÈRE WEDDINGS & EVENTS

Chère has left a mark on over 100 happy clients that have trusted their planning to a team of experts. Whether you are planning a gala dinner with thousands of guests or an intimate wedding reception, you can seek their help.

Website: www.chere.com.sg/

2. SPELLBOUND

Spellbound has over 18 years of experience. With its years of experience in event management and planning, you can expect that Spellbound has the right set of networks to help you plan for your wedding. You can even ask their team to help you plan for a destination wedding.

Website: www.spellbound.com.sg/

3. TE PLANNER

Te Planner provides an abundance of different packages, allowing the clients to select the best option for them. Couples can choose from an all-inclusive wedding package or a venue décor package. Te Planner will help you to design your wedding, exactly how you envisioned it.

Website: teplanner.com.sg/

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...

Inexpensive Alternatives to Diamond Rings

You are one step closer to the aisle. Congratulations! Tradition dictates that you pop the question with a ring. With the variety of engagement rings in Singapore, how will you find the “perfect” one?

Diamonds are considered a classic choice for engagement rings. You see, diamonds are one of the strongest naturally occurring substances on earth and are capable of withstanding almost anything. It symbolizes the kind of commitment that comes with marriage. However, diamond rings may not be the best choice for everyone. If you are looking for a less expensive or a more unique engagement ring, you may consider a diamond alternative instead. Look at these five beautiful gemstones that can suit your partner’s taste!

#1: RUBY

Classic and bold are words that encapsulate the beauty of rubies. Ruby is the gemstone of love. Its visually pleasing color comes in shades of deep pink to red. It makes a wonderful contrast when paired with yellow or white metals.

Suitable for everyday wear, rubies are certainly durable. When it comes to its price, ruby is not as inexpensive as the other gemstones. Rubies are priced higher per carat than any other colored gems.

#2: MOISSANITE

In the past several years, moissanite has become increasingly popular as a diamond alternative. It not only resembles a diamond, but also sells at a fraction of the price of the diamond. Active brides can benefit from the durability of moissanite gemstones. After all, moissanites are the second hardest gemstone used in jewelry making today.

#3: AQUAMARINE

Looking for your “something blue”? Opt for a serene and elegant choice such as the light blue aquamarine. Part of the beryl family, aquamarine can be a beautiful family heirloom. Just ensure that you keep it separately from other jewels and polish it over the years. With its hardness rating of 7.5-8, aquamarine can be scratched by diamonds and sapphires.

#4: EMERALD

With its glistening green hue, emeralds are a gorgeous choice for an engagement ring. Emeralds are customizable. It comes in a variety of shapes and sizes to easily fit your dream ring.

Like aquamarine, emeralds have a hardness rating of about 7.5. Thus, it will require a little more attention and care when being stored or worn. The most appealing emeralds come in deep green with a highly transparent appearance.

#5: SAPPHIRE

Sapphire is a precious gemstone known for its elegance and durability. Sapphires are one of the hardest diamond alternatives and are ideal for everyday wear. It is made to last a lifetime. Moreover, there is less upkeep with these gemstones.

Sapphires are usually less expensive than diamonds of similar carat weight and shape. Because of this, white sapphires are highly sought after as an alternative to diamonds for engagement rings. Couples who are eager to maximize the size of the center stone while staying within a budget can opt for a sapphire.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

As you start this life-changing journey, remember what the ring symbolizes for you and your partner. As J.W. Lord put into writing:

“A wedding ring is a symbol of commitment; a promise, a pledge, and a vow. The promise is to forsake all others, to stay devoted and true; the pledge is to honor that promise selflessly, to see the whole thing through; and the vow is to keep that pledge unwaveringly, until the days are few. It is a mutual agreement to become one instead of two.”

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...

On-Trend Wedding Themes For Your Intimate Wedding

If you are one of those couples who have been planning for their 2020 wedding, I cannot fathom how much stress you are feeling right now. What should have been the most exciting day of your lives has now been overwhelmed by the uncertainties of the global pandemic. While others have postponed their Big Day, some are willing to make the most out of the situation.

For instance, 240 couples tied the knot on the auspicious Aug 8 despite coronavirus restrictions. A spokesman for the Registry Of Marriages told The Straits Times:

“With the recently announced revised safe management measures, couples who want to solemnize their marriage need not delay their plans. They can still have intimate and meaningful wedding celebrations.”

Couples are allowed to have up to 48 guests in venues such as places of worship or hotels. Safe management measures such as wearing face masks and checking in via SafeEntry are to be followed for ceremonies held at external venues.

On the other hand, couples are allowed to have 8 guests for solemnization ceremonies held at home, at the Registries of Civil, at Muslim Marriages building, or at the National Museum of Singapore. These 8 guests may include non-immediate family members such as your videographer or photographer.

Make your intimate wedding celebration meaningful by considering one of these themes:

#1: CLASSICALLY ROMANTIC WEDDING

Influenced by the unwavering appeal of royal and celebrity weddings, sweet garden weddings that are utterly simple yet outright romantic. For this look, guests are typically greeted with gorgeous lush garlands and floral centerpieces. Worry not about the venue as you can either celebrate a classically romantic wedding indoors and outdoors.

For the indoors, decorate your home with floral centerpieces and indoor plants. You can have a subtle color scheme of blush, champagne, and cream. You may also have a church garden-themed wedding with the colors of lavender, silver, and white.

#2: GLAMOROUS WEDDING

For wedding ceremonies at hotels, you may sparkle the night away! This glistening wedding theme starts with a dapper groom in tuxedo and an elegantly glam bride in a long dress. You may exude glamour by adding decor to a ballroom such as glittery linens or huge centerpieces.

Nonetheless, you may experience this theme in your own home by adding gold foil or glitters to your customized gift boxes and invitations. Having glamorous virtual background for your guests can add a thematic surprise. You may also decorate the flat with touches of gold and silver.

#3: CREATIVE WEDDING

With the freedom to decorate your own home with a theme that hits your hearts, use your artistic abilities to channel unforgettable creative weddings. From Star Wars to the Greatest Showman, the creative theme of your intimate wedding has no limits. Simply sprinkle parts of your personalities to the wedding elements to achieve this unique look.

You can even start with your handmade invitations. Comic-book enthusiasts may release virtual “cartoonized” wedding invitations to their guests.

#4: BOHEMIAN CHIC WEDDING

If you are the type of person who is laid back, simple, and free-spirited then a bohemian styled wedding is perfect for you! Inspired by the popular music festivals all over the world, a bohemian chic wedding fuses the layered textures, quirky prints, and rustic elements all together in a uniquely beautiful way. Eye-catching bohemian elements such as ribbons, gold accents, embellishments, and printed blankets will captivate your wild hearts.

Take the comfort up a notch by opting for sandals instead of the traditional heels. Aside from this, the bride can wear blooming flower crowns instead of the veil. Search through Pinterest for inspirations on how to make your own bohemian wedding elements.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

At the end of the day, what matters is that you have each other. Be honest when it comes to what you can afford and what is feasible given the current situation. Communication is essential when it comes to planning a wedding – this year or the next.

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...

Planning to get married? Here’s how much it costs in 5 years time

According to a study conducted by ValueChampion in 2019, the average cost of getting married in Singapore  is consistently increasing over the years. The average cost of a wedding banquet skyrocketed from S$923 in 2011 to S$1,392 in 2019. That’s an increase of 51% in just over 8 years, far outstripping MAS core inflation rate of 14% during the same period. There is little to suggest that this upward price trend will not continue once things stabilize post Covid-19.

Cost of a Dream Wedding in 2025

Based on past wedding inflation rate of 32% over a 5-year period, the estimated total cost to hold a dream wedding in Year 2025 would be $100,000.

While Year 2025 may seem too far away to start planning for your dream wedding, the figures have shown how frightening wedding inflation rates have been and will continue to be. $100,000 is an intimidating amount for any young couple to cough up. Therefore, it is important to start planning and saving up for your dream wedding early. For a start, angbaos from family, friends and guests received will definitely help to reduce the total size of the bill. Here are some ways you can mitigate the costs of your dream wedding.

Negotiate with Wedding Vendors

While this may sound obvious, many customers hardly negotiate as they are afraid of embarrassing themselves for fear of appearing “too cheap”. Sometimes, negotiations need not always come in the form of price reductions. For instance, one can ask for freebies such as flower bouquets or floral lapels from the vendor before committing to a bridal package. Wedding banquet providers may also be willing to sponsor wedding favours and waive corkage charges.

DIY For a Personal Touch

Not all of the items need to be procured from wedding vendors. Couples can borrow certain items from friends or simply just do-it-yourselves (‘DIY’). For instance, there is no need to hire a professional company to dress up the reception table. There are plenty of images on Pinterest and Instagram that serve as easy references for couples to do-it-themselves. Furthermore, DIY adds an element of personal touch that will leave a lasting memory for your guests.

Choose the Right Financing Option

The most significant part in mitigating the cost of your wedding is choosing the right financing option. A Personal Loan should definitely be considered if a one-off borrowing is required. A personal loan is a more financially prudent option compared to credit card debt. For example, OCBC is levying 0% interest rate and only a one-time processing fee of 4.5% (Effective Interest Rate 5.20%) for its Balance Transfer Loan. This is significantly lower than a typical credit card interest charge of 25% for roll over amounts. For a $50,000 loan, the savings in interest payments is easily over 5-figures over a 12-month period! Hence, a personal loan can be more a financially prudent alternative to a credit card debt.

To access Balance Transfer Loan, simply borrow from your unused credit limit from other banks to enjoy 0% interest rate. Alternatively, one may turn any unused OCBC credit card limit into cash via the OCBC Cash-On-Instalments with no need for additional income documents. Repay with fixed instalments over 12 to 60 months and pay effective interest rates as low as 9.06%. Such smart cash flow management would net you tremendous savings since interest on credit card debt is easily a staggering 25%!

Finally, even if one does not have any existing unused credit card limit, do not worry as one can still tap the OCBC ExtraCash Loan or EasiCredit. The loan amount disbursed will be dependent on your annual income. Inclusive of the one-time processing fee, the effective interest rate for ExtraCash Loan could be as low as 10.96% with fixed repayments over 12 to 60 months. On the other hand, EasiCredit offers greater flexibility as you withdraw what you need at 1.74% interest rate per month.

Application for personal loans from OCBC Bank can be performed conveniently via MyInfo. This minimises the waiting required which can help to lessen any wedding jitters! A host of convenient repayment options exists to ensure that you never miss your monthly bill!

Conclusion

Holding a dream wedding in front of your loved ones is the aspiration of many lovebirds. When planning for your dream wedding, consider the suite of Personal Loans from OCBC since this is a superior financing option over credit card debt. Proper financial planning ahead can go a long way to ease the financial burden of holding a dream wedding in Singapore.

Visit OCBC for a comprehensive suite of personal loans that grant you easy access to cash without having to wait for an eternity:

Read More...

How To Plan A Wedding Without Getting Fired

For many people, planning a wedding can be a time-exhausting task. It can feel like you are taking another full-time job on top of your current one. Do not fret just yet!

Proper organization, delegation, and time segregation can keep you sane throughout the planning process. Not to mention, you will still be able to keep your beloved job!

ORGANIZATION

To keep the boat afloat, organization is the key! You can either organize your wedding tasks traditionally (i.e., using paper and pen) or digitally (i.e., using computer software and apps). Traditionally, you must keep your wedding tasks and calendar in one notebook. Do not forget to give your partner a copy! Fortunately for you, you can easily update your partner or your wedding squad by creating a digital file.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Go digital to enjoy the ease of accessing your wedding tasks while you are at work or while you are on the go! Google Drive, its computer software and its phone app, is a good option to seamlessly keep everyone on the wedding planning loop. Remember to use your personal email when getting back and forth with the suppliers and other people. You do not want to use the company’s email to complain about your supplier!

DELEGATION

Whether you like it or not, your career should remain your top priority during the wedding planning process. As such, you must turn to your friends and relatives for help. Treat wedding planning similarly as a big project in the office. Delegate wedding tasks to your wedding squad and provide everyone with a clear description of what they are responsible for. Pass the tasks that you know they will be great! Then, keep the communication lines open to review their works.

It is more efficient to split the delegation with your partner by creating a wedding checklist that includes proposed deadlines. These deadlines will help you to accomplish everything on time.

TIME SEGREGATION

Time management begins by scheduling your couple calendar according to your wedding tasks. This way, you will know you set aside the necessary time to tackle important matters. Moreover, you will be able to set your phone’s alarm to keep track of everything.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Now, let us go to your downtime. Maximize the time you spent on commuting or relaxing by setting appointments with your wedding suppliers or by finalizing some details. It is better to search Facebook or Instagram with a goal in mind!

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...