To Get the Best Deal for your Wedding in Town?

After getting few quotes for the wedding venue, which one I should choose? Before making any decision to sign the contract, you are advised to read the contract in details and make an appointment with the coordinator to view the venue which both of you like (at this time, you probably already screened down to 2-3 options). If it is possible, request to view the venue in the wedding settings. Meeting with the coordinator also is very important because the coordinator is the one will help you with your wedding settings, update you about your wedding planning. You need to know and interact with the coordinator whether you are comfortable with him/her.

A and I have a very nice coordinator, Ms Sandy Lim (from The Oriental Singapore). She kept us inform and remind us on our wedding planning, such as when we couldn't decide the theme, she would inform us when there is wedding on specific theme on which date for us to drop by in order to view the specific settings. She sent us email to remind us to print our insert for our wedding dinner invitation card at 6 months before our wedding.

After deciding the venue which both of you like most, then you can now proceed to negotiating the contract with the service provider. Normally in the wedding dinner contract by hotel/resort, things usually included in the contract at free of charge (FOC) are as below:
- one night stay at Bridal Suite
- VIP carpark for bridal car and helper cars (usually 1-2 only; you can try to get complimentary carpark tickets on the actual day from the front desk)
- Wedding favors (usually decided by the theme)
- Wedding guest book
- Certain percentage of wedding invitation cards and envelopes (not the inserts)
- Deco of the reception and venue
- Champagnes for the toast

You can negotiate with the service provider either at FOC/lower charges on:
1) soft drink/beer
2) wedding cake (usually FOC)
3) white screen and projector (some with extra changes, try to negotiate to be FOC)
4) wine/hard liquor corkage fees (try to get wavier)
5) extra night stay (usually FOC for big banquet)
6) GST (try to get the service provider to absorb)

Hope these give you some idea how to find the best deal for your wedding. Good Luck!

PS: Information provided above is based on Tradisional Chinese Wedding Dinner Package
in Singapore. If service providers in your region offer package which are different from the above, you are welcome to share with us.