Press enter to see results or esc to cancel.

3 essential tips for planning a wedding in Singapore

Singapore is among a handful of locations around the globe that is emerging well from the chaos that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought. The city-state is currently in Phase 3 of its national guidelines for curbing the spread and rate of COVID-19 infections. A robust vaccination program is also being rolled out, which gives hope to the population in Singapore, especially for those wanting to plan their weddings in 2021.

Speaking of weddings, for couples that have had their weddings canceled or postponed owing to COVID-19 and government restrictions, now is the perfect time to get planning again. Recently, on 24th March 2021, Singapore’s COVID-19 task force announced that marriage solemnization and wedding receptions will be able to accommodate up to 250 guests from 24 April onwards. This is remarkable news for couples looking to bring all their close family members, relatives, and friends together.

To learn more about the current situation, Pacific Prime Singapore has put together 3 essential tips to help you plan for a wedding in 2021, as well as give you the latest requirements to follow under Phase 3 national guidelines. Read on to discover what these 3 tips are!

(Take note: We will be updating this blog article as the situation changes. Phase 3 will likely remain so until the end of 2021 unless the situation changes. Get the latest updates on the COVID-19 situation in Singapore here.)

Family insurance banner

Tip 1: Plan to have your wedding during the off-peak season

Generally, most Singaporean couples aim to get married at the beginning or towards the end of the year. For instance, in Chinese culture and tradition, depending on the year, Chinese New Year celebrations typically fall between January and February, and having a wedding during this period is believed to bring good luck and prosperity for married Chinese couples. Whereas the end of the year coincides with Christmas for devoted Christians and also end-of-year celebrations.

But regardless of beliefs or cultures, couples may also want to consider the less busy months in between. We would encourage couples to look at weekdays during the off-peak season as these dates may be cheaper and also available when compared to dates on the weekends. If you don’t plan on having a big celebration and want attendees to come for the wedding reception only, then arranging for an evening event is doable. This would suit those that have work or other commitments during the daytime.

Get in touch with your venue of choice and solemnizer to establish convenient and available dates. You may also be able to negotiate better prices and packages during the off-peak season (more on this discussed in tip 2).

Here are a couple of wedding venues to consider: JW Marriott Singapore South BeachCOVID-19 health and safety updates and Orchard Hotel Singapore.

(Phase 3 wedding guidelines: Couples are allowed to have the solemnization at home, at the Registry of Marriages (ROM) at a place of worship, or at an external venue with permission to open for wedding events. However, wedding receptions cannot take place at the ROM or place of worship. For wedding receptions, couples can opt for hotel ballrooms, restaurants, or other venues with permission to hold a wedding reception.)

Tip 2: Decide on your budget and stick to it, but also leave funds available for the extra wedding expenses

A rule of thumb when planning for a wedding is to be realistic and to set your budget. A budget decided between you and your partner will help carve out a realistic wedding plan without putting you in the red and making life after marriage all about debt management.

Modify your wedding plans and save on costs

Most wedding couples that have had to cancel or delay their wedding from a year ago may have accrued extra savings since. If so, then modifying your wedding plans to suit the current Phase 3 guidelines is encouraged. Even with extra savings, it’s still worth saving where possible. Aim to get the best deal when negotiating with venues, packages, and vendors. Every little bit helps, especially during these topsy turvy times!

Create a realistic budget for a wedding in 2021

In general, creating a realistic budget is the surest way to planning a smooth wedding with all the costs accounted for. Additionally, a small but essential tip here is to set aside some funding in case there are unexpected or additional expenses.

When planning for your wedding, be sure to list all the requirements and expenses. Go over these expenses and note which ones are necessary or not. You can also speak to your venue’s wedding coordinator to negotiate the options and features of the wedding package even further. Do note that swapping out or excluding some of the options and features of a wedding package could help reduce your costs and increase your savings.

(Phase 3 wedding guidelines: One of the biggest costs will be your wedding package and venue of choice. When deciding on which venue to hold your solemnization and/or wedding reception, you are required to go for a venue that has permission to operate, as indicated above in tip 1. Such wedding venues are required to have strict COVID-19 prevention measures in place so that attendees are safe at all times. Attendees should be able to check-in via SafeEntry and activate TraceTogether before entering the venue(s).)

Tip 3: Hire professionals or vendors that know what to expect

Unless you have friends, relatives, or close connections that are experienced and hands-on with wedding planning and other essential roles like photography and make-up, then you will want to hire professionals for your special day. You can definitely count on their experience, skillset, and flexibility to ensure you have a smooth wedding. Many of these professionals like wedding planners, wedding photographers, emcees, and stylists may also offer you some sensible advice if you request it. An additional tip here is to check their portfolios, assess their reviews online and offline, and visit their social media channels. With a clear understanding of what they can offer, you’ll be in a better position to decide who to hire.

(Phase 3 wedding guidelines: Photos can be taken with your guests if the couple abides by prevailing safe distancing measures. A hired photographer can take photos of the solemnization or wedding reception, but the hired photographer has to maintain a 1-meter distance between the wedding partner and guests. Wedding couples and guests can remove their face masks or shields momentarily, but they must put them on immediately after. Stylists and other hired vendors like emcees should wear a mask at all times and/or wear a face shield.) 

Learn more from Pacific Prime Singapore

The 3 tips mentioned in this article along with their Phase 3 considerations will certainly help couples with planning their wedding in Singapore or at least provide an update on how to plan for the year ahead.

It is best to take your time to fully research and understand every aspect of planning a wedding in Singapore. This is so you can create contingency plans and prepare for the worse should your primary plans change. For more on getting married in Singapore, check out our article listing 6 things you need to know about getting married in Singapore.

Planning for a family in Singapore? Secure maternity and/or newborn insurance

If you are planning to have children straight after marriage, you should consider securing a maternity health insurance plan on top of an existing health insurance plan. A maternity health insurance plan will help cover the cost of giving birth in Singapore. These costs can be expensive and add up quickly, such as:

  • Doctor consultations
  • Pre- and post-natal treatments & examinations
  • Medically prescribed Caesarian section
  • Normal delivery
  • Complications of maternity and childbirth
  • Hospital, birthing center, or home delivery costs
  • Care of newborn children
  • Congenital birth defects

Read our maternity insurance guide to get a thorough understanding of maternity insurance including waiting periods.

You may also want to consider newborn health insurance cover to protect you in the event that something unexpected happens to your newborn. Such a plan typically includes a range of general benefits, as well as coverage for some child-related healthcare, such as:

  • Inpatient treatment
  • Private room accommodation for hospital admissions
  • Outpatient (including GP consultations, specialist appointments, drugs)
  • GP consultations
  • Prescribed medication
  • Direct billing

For a better overview, here is an article that discusses newborn insurance, what you should buy, and why.

Get in touch with Pacific Prime Singapore’s insurance experts

For most people, insurance is a confusing concept to understand, especially with all the jargon and legal wording found in a policy. To get a better understanding, you are encouraged to reach out to our insurance experts who can simplify the insurance concepts and give you a no-obligation, free quote.

Contact us today for more on health plans including family insurance, maternity insurance, and newborn insurance.

Get an Insurance quote banner

Content Creator at Pacific Prime Singapore
Jimmy is a content writer who helps simplify insurance for readers interested in international private medical insurance. He is on a mission in Thailand to support locals, expatriates, and businesses by bring the latest news and updates to his Pacific Prime blog articles.

His expert view and wealth of knowledge on insurance can also be found in his blogs for China, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Jimmy
Latest posts by Jimmy (see all)