Hence we shortlisted a few venues which we thought best fit our criteria.
1) Grand Copthorne Waterfront
I'm not a fan of the location of GWC. It's not near any MRTs and quite inaccessible for people without cars. But I've heard wonderful things about the site and decide to give it the look-see it deserves. Beautiful promenade I must admit, affordable prices but beautiful setting overlooking a big fat drain?
I want a poolside wedding, not a 'long gang' side wedding. So probably not.
2) Swissotel Merchant Court
As we stepped out of the lift sharing the poolside garden with the spa of the hotel, we breathed in the amazing aromatherapy and instantly love the place (without even looking at it). The elevated pathway leading up to the poolside is beige pebbled and opens up to the beautiful site like a revelation. I said to baby,"Wow this is absolutely gorgeous!" The little downside to this place is that the pool will not be sectioned off for the wedding so we MAY have screaming kids canon-balling into the pool during our solemnization. The venue is in the midst of a romantic canopy of trees but overlooking hotel windows doesn't necessarily give us the privacy we need. But the buffet lunch that follows is popular, supposedly delicious and once a year. So we gave this place a thought.
Eugene had a friend who held his wedding there and raved about the place. The place is idyllic, with the poolside that we wanted, a cozy setting and a great big lawn for the guests to hang out. But I worry about the grass and how it's not women shoes friendly. I'm not absolutely thrilled about having to decorate the place myself. We are fuss free people! The glasshouse fits 40 pax with most of the guests standing while dining which is not too nice. Nonetheless it was beautiful and deserves a place on our KIV list.
4) Amara Hotel
We had high hopes for Amara hotel. Excellent reviews and convenient location, we had to check it out. The location was beautiful, with a nice walkway of seated guests along the aisle I'll be walking down to the curtained canopy where the solemnization will be held. I can just visualize it... saying my vows, looking to my right at my groom and seeing an auntie attempting to sun her undies on a bamboo pole just across from the rooftop? Yes that's right. This magnificent location is right opposite HDB blocks where sticks of laundry protrudes from peoples' window sills. What a nice wedding backdrop. Sighs... maybe not.
5) Changi Village Hotel
The set up was gorgeous! With the sitting area for guests and the aisle housed between the solemnization table and the entrance of one of my fave restaurants La Cantina in Venezia. The downside to this location is the distance from the general Singapore population and once again being inconvenient for car-less people. We were nicely alerted by the planner that we may have potential sound effects coming from the planes taking off at the nearby Changi Airport. So as much as the location is beautiful, I prefer not starting our lives together by screaming our vows at each other. On the other hand, it may be amusing to the crowd. :)
The beautiful, stunning and aromatic...
Swissotel Merchant Court for our ceremony on 20 Nov 2011
Loves it! xoxo
