Planning a wedding ceremony can be daunting. It’s an enormous task, comprised of countless tiny details that each need to be paid special attention to. Combined with the pressure of being a once-in-a-lifetime event, it’s easy to understand why wedding planning can be overwhelming.
For bridal couples preparing for their big day, a little bit of advice can go a long way—and who better to share their expertise than the team at Capella Singapore? As one of the most idyllic hotels in the country, the property is one of the most coveted destinations for a luxury wedding in Singapore. Here, Priscilla Chua, Karen Ong and Janet Wan—three members of the Capella Singapore wedding planning team—share their best advice for putting together a perfect wedding.
Figure out what’s truly important to you
Here’s something Chua, Ong and Wan all agree on: wedding planning begins with a genuine understanding of each couple’s desires. Every wedding is unique—and with so many moving parts involved, it’s vital to be on the same page from the start. Establishing what’s important to both of you early on in the planning process can provide a clearer direction to move towards, and makes the journey less overwhelming.
“I feel that the most effective way to help bridal couples is by seeking to truly understand their likes, dislikes, needs and wants,” shares Ong. “For instance, some bridal couples are concerned about the quality of food, so we ensure that we work closely with our culinary teams to conceive a menu that is truly to their liking. Other couples may like to focus their efforts on visually arresting floral set-up within the venue. We will thus work with our in-house florist to curate a set-up based on their mood board.”
The venue shapes the ceremony
The importance of a wedding venue cannot be understated. Often, it is the venue that acts as a structure for the whole ceremony, shaping the ambience and informing all the little details. “I personally feel that the venue of a wedding is critical,” notes Wan. “Be it an outdoor solemnisation ceremony, an intimate celebration or an extravagant wedding, I seek to understand what each bridal couple is really looking for to suggest suitable venues at Capella Singapore accordingly.”
A destination wedding might be a goal for some, but Singapore, too, has plenty to offer when it comes to beautiful wedding locations. “Some bridal couples envision destination weddings against picturesque settings such as snow-capped mountains, which we are unable to offer. Still, Singapore is a captivating destination in its own right,” shares Chua, “Despite geographical limitations, what makes us stand out at Capella Singapore is our immaculate attention to detail, and our genuine care towards each bridal couple. I like to understand what each bridal couple likes about Capella Singapore, to discover how we can tailor a wedding that resonates with them for one of their life’s most meaningful journeys.”
Create a checklist for the little details
According to the Capella Singapore team, the key to wedding planning is a checklist that ensures nothing gets overlooked. This includes details like wedding invitation design, floral arrangements, venue set-up, floor and seating plans, selection of menus and table cloths, technical rehearsals and the programme on the big day itself. It is when all these align and come together, that a wedding ceremony truly comes to life.
“By tailoring every detail to a couple’s unique vision, we ensure that each element resonates with their love story,” explains Wan. “Our dedicated team—including the wedding consultants, banquet team and chefs—work seamlessly together to understand the preferences and needs of each bridal couple throughout their journey to transform each dream wedding into a tangible reality.”
Look for a wedding planner that you trust
Finding a good wedding planner is half the battle won. Great communication, expertise and organisation are undeniably vital traits to look out for, but don’t underestimate the importance of good rapport either. After all, your wedding planner is one of the most essential figures in your planning process—and likely one of the people you’ll be spending the most time with.
“I find that it is critical to build good rapport with my bridal couples,” shares Chua. “There have been a couple of instances where the bridal couple might have expectations for their wedding to be more than perfect. This is when I will share my experiences to address their concerns, and help them realise that it is not always the end result, but the journey that truly matters.”
Prepare for challenges
It’s understandable to hope for perfection for your big day, but unexpected challenges and unforeseen scenarios are just part and parcel of the journey. What’s important is how you adapt to the situation and take things in stride.
A lesser known piece of advice from Chua that can make all the difference: “Don’t get too caught up in striving for flawless perfection. Instead, embrace the beauty of unexpected moments. They might just become the most memorable parts of your wedding day.”
Discover Capella Singapore’s wedding venues and packages here.
