Wedding Guide Asia

If there’s anything I know about weddings, it’s this…while it may be a beautiful union of the loveliest couples, often it can bring out the worst in families, relatives and friends. Announce a wedding and you can be sure that some green-eyed monsters will be crawling out of the woodwork. Dramatic situations can also arise simply by not having good organizational skills, sleeping too little or allowing your mother to railroad all your ideas.

Whatever the case or whomever the culprit, weddings are an emotional time – whether it’s the event itself or the run up to it. So here’s our list of how to anticipate wedding season silliness while keeping your cool.

Courtesy of Daren Chong

Delegate

We know that you want to organize a simply fabulous wedding but one person cannot do it alone, least of all the bride! Don’t bite off more than you can chew, otherwise you will end up sucked into the vortex of wedding planning stress and become that dreaded bridezilla. Managing vendors, family anxieties and demands, as well as people who just don’t understand the concept of RSVP-ing on top of your emotions will get you overwhelmed and feeling the pressure.

If you’re a DIY bride, try to organize your tasks in advance and pinpoint the people in your life who can help like your graphic designer friend who can help get your wedding cards right. Remember that your husband-to-be also has a huge say in the wedding too. Take the time to do something ‘un-wedding’ together once a week and work your gym routine or pamper sessions as part of your wedding planning process. And if it all gets too much, appoint a wedding planner who can take over from up to a week before or even the day of the wedding to ensure everything runs seamlessly.

Courtesy of The Photoz

Choose your Bridal Party Wisely

You can do a lot of damage to your special day by not paying attention to whom you select as your inner circle on D-Day. Bridesmaids should consist of your sister/s and BFF’s. Think clearly about their character, how they have helped you out in the past and how they react to drama.

If you know that one of your friends usually cracks under pressure, likes being the center of attention or has the tendency to be a drama diva, let her arrange your hen’s party or keep her in one of the ancillary roles like an usherette at the church service or the person minding the guest book. If you have an unmarried sister who will be your maid-of-honour, mind her sensitivities by refraining from self-importance and telling her you will be happy to share her happiness in the future.

Keep your Mother/Mother-In-law in the Loop

Even if you and your husband-to-be are paying for the event, it helps to keep both mothers involved. Your mother is going to feel like she’s losing her baby girl and may have strange ways of showing it, like insisting you stay at the family home the night before the wedding or some other irrational demand. (more…)

It may be the year of the Tiger and things may be looking up, but for quite a few brides out there – budget is an issue! How do you cut costs and put your dollars where they’re best needed? According to bankrate.com here are 10 quick tips!

The Pecking order

As a bride you need to prioritize what is most important to you – the number of guests, venue, decor etc. Once you have them in a list, then you can decide how to allocate your budget accordingly.

Time is of the essence

Just like the weather, so to do weddings have their high and low seasons. Be the contrarian and hold your wedding during the off-peak period to benefit from discounts. Of course, if it’s rainy season… best not to have a beach wedding even if it’s a fraction of the normal price!

One stop shop

Choose a location that can hold both your ceremony and reception, as this will save you the added costs of site fees and transportation to an fro locations.

Use an excel spreadsheet

I’m not joking! Play around with numbers and see where cuts in certain areas can get you to the budget you envision. Try even cutting the number of children attending as it will reduce expenses (and maybe give their parents a welcome break!).

Be creative with your menu (more…)

Fear not brides! Yes, organizing a wedding may be stressful and a tad bit of a headache, but as we all know, there is (usually) a honeymoon holiday just round the corner. Given it’s a brand new year, we looked around for the latest honeymoon trends. And according to The Knot, these are the top trips to embark on:

Adventure Trips

Living in Asia, there’s no shortage of nature or the promise of adventure around us. If you’re a couple who loves activities and exploring the outdoors then this could be a great option for you. Be it learning to surf in Bali, a bout of elephant polo in Sri Lanka or white water river rafting here in Malaysia… there are endless options available to get your romantic adrenaline going.

Tip: For tour operators who are all about adventures try voyagetrek.com

Private Villas

Nothing says solitude and time alone better than your own private villa. Choose from either a villa in the tropical heat of Bali or opt for cooler (cuddly) weather in Cameron Highlands. Though a little bit pricier than a hotel room, your villa gives you your own space and that feeling of a home away from home.

Tip: Search the best villas of Europe and the Caribbean to find one that best suits you with wimco.com. In Asia my personal favorite (for best deals) online is agoda.com

Go green

Unless you’re living in a cave (as the ultimate greenie), you’d realize that mother earth is facing tough times with the advent of global warming. Nowadays, there are eco-resorts as well as hotels that practice environmentally friendly policies. In Fiji, the Turtle Island allows only 14 couples to stay at a time in order to minimize waste. Nearby in Thailand, the Six senses group run the Evason and Soneva resorts which are well-known for their beauty and being eco savvy.

Tip: If you’d like to do your bit of goodwill, then consider helping others on your honeymoon. Plan a volunteer honeymoon using sites such as charityguide.org or i-to-i.com (more…)

Now, now - want a 'hangover' of your own boys?

With the new austere mood, this is no time for the Vegas wallet-exploding buck’s weekend you’d envisaged as a teenager for your bachelor send-off. That doesn’t mean you can’t still have truckloads of fun with your posse. What about…

Going on a fishing and camping weekend? You can drink all the beer your bellies can hold while also indulging in testosterone-fueled activities without anyone looking over your shoulders and tut-tutting in disapproval

Bringing Vegas to you? Get your pad decked out with roulette, blackjack and poker tables (your fiancée will be more than happy to help, once she knows a stripper won’t be involved!), have a few buddies volunteer as croupiers, and load up on chips (the cash kind), bubbly and pizza and your party will be the talk of the town. Amongst the fellers, that is!

(more…)

Fay Khoo's new dining guide to KL is now out. Best Eats has something for every budget, so get your copy today or check out the companion website theQguides.com for online reservations services.

Before you reach for the phone to make reservations for your engagement dinner, wedding rehearsal dinner, or even pre-wedding meals for your out-of-town wedding guests, try making your reservations online at theQguides.com instead. Not only will you not have to deal with incompetent waiters who can’t get the details right, you’ll also get loads of free points for the bookings you make to put you on the fast track towards fantastic free meals! Great bookable restaurants will also ensure your guests leave with full bellies and a smile on their faces. Check it out for yourself at theQguides.com today!