Wedding Guide Asia

Here at WGA, it’s an ongoing effort to always come up with something new. So you can imagine our delight when one of our vendors The Peak Xperience sent us an intriguing description of a recent event. Not a wedding this time – a wedding anniversary! We regret that we don’t have too many pictures to share as the clients requested their photos be kept private. However, they were kind enough to include this video for general viewing. Enjoy…

Tell me!
How sweet! Organised and hosted by the children of the couple, the idea was to give their parents the wedding they never had – back in the day, it was not a trend to host wedding dinners.

How many of you remember this movie?

Theme
What the team came up with was “I Have A Date With Spring” – a theme reminiscent of 1950′s nostalgia but interpreted in modern times. Smart call, as the majority of the guests are friends of the couple (well into their late 60s – 70s) and even though the theme was ‘old’, they didn’t want the guests to feel old!

Pink and Gold Fine Art Print by Nadine Rippelmeyer. Courtesy of www.fineartamerica.com

Colours
Salmon pink, baby pink, and gold made up the kaleidoscope of the day, moving away from the expected red, gold, and emerald combo. While the 55th anniversary is referred to as the Emerald Celebration, they kept emerald only for the finishing details, such as the bridal bouquet’s finishing. (more…)

Picture courtesy of FIFOTO Photography

Let’s face it: Quite a number of people go to weddings for the food. And even if they didn’t, many will still walk away thinking of what they ate. And nobody wants a disastrous feast – just think of Rosaura’s ruined reception in Like Water For Chocolate, where everyone threw up after eating the chabela wedding cake her sister Tita made.

If you’re worried now (and you should be), read on to learn how you can plan a wedding banquet to remember…

Picture courtesy of Vanity Mansion

Location is key

If you’re not having your reception at a hotel, do make sure your caterer is familiar with your chosen venue. They need to know how and where to set up, and they have to check what they need to provide. It’s also a smart idea to ask your caterer if they can recommend any good locations based on previous experience.

Picture courtesy of Vanity Mansion

Who’s the boss?

Always talk to the head chef and not just the sales representatives (and don’t even think about taking your wedding planner’s word for it). The head chef is your safest bet when it comes to tricky issues like the pairing of dishes, plus he or she can work with you on incorporating their specialities into your menu.

Go on, taste it

Make full use of taste tests – even if they’re not free. It’s the only way to determine exactly how the food will go down on your big day. Take your time and be sure to try a variety of gastronomic options. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to take the opportunity to learn more about the dishes, in terms of ingredients and preparation.

Say it like you eat it

Don’t be afraid to comment on the food at tastings. Most services value constructive feedback for obvious reasons, and you will also benefit from the improved addition to your menu. (more…)

Who doesn’t love a good soirée? For the ultimate party bride, a perfect spot just might be Vanity Mansion in Asian Heritage Row, Kuala Lumpur. Hidden within one of the busiest spots of the city, Asian Heritage Row boasts some of the finest refurbished buildings (née shophouses) of beautiful days past.

The rich history of the setting coupled with its old school charm is undeniably arresting. At least, that’s how one couple saw it at Vanity Mansion…

Less is more, they say. If the setting is luxe, you could downplay the decorations. Here, the table setting was kept simple with a pretty stream of rose petals.

And check out what goes on those tables… Doesn’t the food look simply divine?

Vanity Mansion offers great packages. You could have a buffet dinner with a spread of French/Italian and local delights complete with free flowing beverages for two hours at RM108++ per pax (RM80 more if the drinks are alcoholic). (more…)

‘And the award for the most underrated edible artifact present at any part of a wedding goes to…canapés!’

*Rapturous applause ensues*

If you’re unsure exactly what a canapé is (which would be somewhat helpful in undergirding the awful introductory-throw-away-joke), they are those tiny, pre-prepared (often decorative) bits of food that do their rounds typically on the tray of a well-dressed waiter/waitress at a wedding reception.

So often overlooked, but not by us at WGA who have taken into account their steadfast and quiet contribution to a happy wedding. Here is our top 5 picks for those delicious morsels of food that line our stomachs so that we don’t get too tipsy on the free flow of champagne and cocktails also making their rounds at the reception..

Smoked salmon and cream cheese/crème fraiche provide the basis of a no nonsense, universally loved, popular snack. Using either a biscuit  or bread base (or cucumber/lettuce for the health freaks) and horseradish or lemon for the added flavour, it’s hard to see how you could go wrong. A touch of green on top (chives) and they’re ready for the munching. (more…)

The reception is usually where everyone mingles!

There are several things that require long and hard thinking when one is planning a wedding. The theme, the guests, the dress and the location. Here at WGA, we’ve come up with our top 5 picks for wedding reception locations in Malaysia. The list only consists of hotels as they are currently the popular choice of location as Malaysians have an affinity for throwing huge (and I mean huge!) weddings. For your ceremony, chances are it will be held either in a mosque, a church, a temple or even your home. and unless you have a small number of guests, which is highly unlikely, the reception is usually held in a hotel.

Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Penang

We’ve got readers from all over the country here at WGA and for those living up north, then the E & O should definitely be high up on your list. This colonial style hotel overlooks the sea yet maintains a great location in the center of hustling and bustling Georgetown. Prices start from RM788++ for a table of 10 with a minimum number of guests of 300. The grand ballroom has two stories, the ground floor seats 400 while the second floor seats 200. Cocktails are served on the balcony of the ground floor that faces the sea. Their packages usually include basic decorations and a one night stay at the hotel.

Private beach at the resort

Pangkor Island Beach Resort

Having personally attended a wedding held at this resort, I would definitely recommend it for those intending on going for a something a little different. Getting there is easy, you can choose to fly, or drive to the Lumut jetty and take a ferry to the resort. The hotel has it’s own pristine beach and the sea is a lovely emerald colour. Imagine this, cocktails on the sandy beach, dinner at the poolside restaurants followed by dancing in the ballroom, tempted yet? If you’re on a higher budget, then Pangkor Laut Resort may appeal to you as well, it’s more expensive but it’s also much more exclusive.

(more…)