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SINGAPORE: Wedding planners, hotels, and other venues expect a boost in business with the recent announcement that COVID-19 restrictions would be eased.
Starting October 3, up to 100 people, including the couple but excluding vendors and service providers, will be able to attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, double the current limit of 50.
The 100 attendees must be separated into several zones of up to 50 people each, or divided by staggered schedules with up to 50 people in each space.
READ: COVID-19 restrictions were further relaxed on worship services, wedding receptions; up to 100 attendees allowed
The wedding planners CNA spoke with said they expect to receive more inquiries in the coming weeks as couples have “a higher level of certainty” in going ahead with their weddings.
“Previously, many couples were in limbo about whether to continue planning their wedding as they were concerned that new restrictions might be imposed on them,” said Pei Weddings founder Chea Pei Yee.
“With the announcement, they seem to have a clearer direction on where the wedding scene is heading and are more relieved to continue with their wedding plans.”
During the “breaker” period, many couples put off proposing plans and are only proposing now, said Michelle Lau, founder of wedding planning company Arches and Co.
Noting that the second half of the year is generally associated with higher engagement rates, Lau added that more couples are likely to book stays in the coming months for their proposals and then start planning their wedding.
As the number of community COVID-19 cases in Singapore remains low, more couples are also hopeful that the restrictions will be further eased in the future, wedding planners said.
While the number of inquiries has increased since the breaker period, it is still not as high as in the same period last year, Ms. Lau said.
“For further inquiries, couples are still looking to the second quarter of 2021 onwards, hoping they can have a bigger party with more guests allowed,” he added.
HOTELS RECEIVE MORE INQUIRIES
Hotels have also seen an increase in inquiries from existing guests looking to increase the number of wedding guests, as well as couples looking to book a new package.
“Since the wedding limit was increased to 100 people, we have received numerous inquiries from couples who have already booked with us and want to increase the number of attendees and couples who had postponed their wedding before and now want to move on.
“We have also received new bookings as a result of this latest ruling,” said Mr. Lee Richards, Vice President of Operations, Southeast Asia, Millennium Hotels and Resorts.
The group owns six hotels in Singapore: Copthorne King’s Hotel, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Orchard Hotel, M Hotel, M Social and Studio M Hotel.
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Adding that the demand for wedding packages is “quite on par” with last year, Richards said: “To address safe distancing and secure management measures, our hotels have created flexible and interesting packages that are tailored to the market. .
“We have launched hybrid weddings whereby guests can attend weddings in the comfort of their home through a virtual service, which allows them to send good wishes to the couple and family.”
The Fullerton Hotels and Resorts Cavaliere general manager Giovanni Viterale said the hotel has received great interest on popular wedding dates such as October 10 and December 12, with a 30 percent increase in the number of wedding inquiries compared to the same period in 2019.
The hotel has also received more than 40 inquiries from couples wanting to increase the number of guests on their guest lists, he added.
“In view of the eased restrictions, we are confident that the demand for wedding events at our hotels will continue to grow,” said Mr. Viterale.
“This is especially due to pent-up demand in recent months where couples have had to postpone or reschedule their weddings, as well as the fact that couples have become more receptive to the idea of holding smaller-scale wedding events. in light of the current situation ”.
The Museum of Asian Civilizations, the Fullerton Hotel and Marina Bay Sands are on display in Singapore on June 11, 2020 (Photo: AFP / Roslan Rahman).
At Grand Hyatt Singapore, there has been a surge in acceptance from couples who have been in conversations with the hotel since the first half of the year, said events director June Choong.
The hotel expects more bookings to emerge “in the next two weeks,” Ms Choong said, adding that it has received an “encouraging” number of inquiries since the announcement of the new restrictions.
The hotel’s four ballrooms can host wedding celebrations for 100 guests, he said.
A Far East Hospitality spokesperson said demand for wedding packages has increased 15-20 percent across all of its properties.
“However, overall reserves are still significantly lower, around 40 percent, compared to the days before COVID,” the spokesperson added.
Far East Hospitality manages the Village, Quincy, Oasia and Rendezvous hotel brands. While the hospitality group does not anticipate an increase in the number of wedding receptions, it expects couples who postponed their weddings to the end of this year to invite more guests to their receptions, the spokesperson said.
SOME COUPLES PLAN TO KEEP THE NUMBERS LOW
While couples are generally happy with the relaxation of the rules, not all are planning to extend their weddings.
For Ms. Brenda Tan and her fiancé, Mr. Matthew Chong, the COVID-19 restrictions announced in July meant they had to reduce their original guest list from roughly 180 friends and family to roughly 50 people.
Although they can now invite up to 100 people in two separate rooms or sessions, the couple decided to stay with about 50 guests because their place is a restaurant that only has one main room.
The engaged couple, Mr. Matthew Chong and Ms. Brenda Tan, plan to invite about 50 guests to their wedding in December. (Photo: Ang Hwee Min)
“Also, when you want people to come see your solemnization, you want everyone to come together. You can’t tell them ‘I have my first round of solemnization at 7pm and the second round at 8pm,’ “added Ms. Tan.
The couple said they are unlikely to expand their guest list unless they can host everyone at the venue in a session for their December wedding.
“I don’t want a case of planning for 50, then it becomes 75 and then 100, then I have to keep changing and keep thinking about who to add and how to invite them,” Ms. Tan said.
“As much as we are trying to give our suppliers and the people we are inviting a deadline, I think the many changes and the uncertainty also make it very difficult to plan things. The less I have to change, the better. “
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Rather than postpone the wedding after the pandemic, the couple moved it forward from May 2021 to December this year in an “impromptu” decision, in part because their home renovations were completed, Chong told CNA.
A smaller wedding is also a “good opportunity” to keep costs down, Tan said.
“Everything is so uncertain. Even if the wedding goes back to next year, it cannot be said if in May 2021 I can have 180 or 200 (guests) without restrictions.
“For example, if they said that I will need a safe spacing, then my place has no way of accommodating 180 or even 150 with a safe spacing,” he added.
“So even if I make the decision to have it, there is no guarantee that I can have the capacity I want. I’m just making an advance deposit to say that I hope everything goes well and that I can have it then. So honestly, because of that, I felt like ‘Why wait?’ “
Ms. Lau from Arches and Co told CNA that about 90 percent of the couples she is working with are happy the restrictions have been eased.
“However, I have some couples who are choosing to stick with the old 50-person limit for smaller, more intimate weddings,” he said.
“Some couples are secretly happy that they don’t have to invite everyone on their parents’ guest list (like) distant relatives, friends who are not close to the couple, etc.”
Staggered schedule and zoning requirements can also discourage couples from expanding their guest lists if the venue of their choice cannot accommodate the numbers.
For example, couples planning to host their weddings in restaurants may face greater challenges accommodating 100 guests in separate areas in one sitting, said Ms. Chea of Pei Weddings.
“Planners / coordinators will need to invest time and effort to consider new requirements, such as zoning plans and / or different guest lots in light of the latest government regulations.”
Heaven’s Gift began incorporating acrylic shields on the reception tables after couples requested other possible safe handling measures. (Photo: The gift from heaven)
Still, with some receptions growing in size, wedding planners said couples should work with their guests to ensure compliance with new regulations and inform their guests in advance on what to expect.
“Because now, honestly, a lot of challenges (have to) deal with more crowds, the idea that you don’t want to encourage too much mixing or interaction between guests,” said Maxine Teo, Heaven’s Gift’s wedding director.
His team began incorporating acrylic shields into wedding decorations on dinner tables, after receiving requests from couples during the breaker period for more ways to prevent the risk of spreading COVID-19, especially among guests who They may not be from the same household but they may be seated at the same table.
“Often times, it’s not that a couple doesn’t like these regulations, sometimes it’s the guests who don’t understand why they have to be in effect. And that is why participation before the event helps. At least they know what to expect, ”Ms. Teo said, adding that most of the guests are unfamiliar with the restrictions as they are not involved in wedding planning.
“And so, during the event, we have to remind them, so at least for them it is not a surprise. It’s more of a kind reminder, that we understand that celebrations should be held together, and the wedding is an opportunity for everyone to catch up, ”he said.
“But at the same time, because we have to be safe, we only ask for your cooperation to reduce the amount of mixing and very gently, and they tend to be quite understanding about it. If anything, actually, COVID-19 has allowed us all to be a little more understanding. “
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