Portfolio

You’ve envisioned walking down the aisle in the perfect wedding dress ever since you were a little girl. Now that the moment is here and you’re ready to turn your dream into reality, the question is: should you buy or rent your wedding dress?

For a bride, the most exciting part of your wedding planning journey is, undoubtedly, choosing your wedding dress.

(Source: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iwqTvPAI-DitvKtJ-crLIutrC6bywfQs)

Continue reading this article as we break down the pros and cons of buying vs renting a wedding dress, and we hope that by the end of it, you’ll be able to make your decision with peace of mind!

Why You Should Buy Your Wedding Dress:

1 – You have the budget for it!

According to a Seedly article, the cost of buying a wedding dress in Singapore starts from $4,800 onwards. With that figure in mind, your wedding dress will be one of your bigger ticket items in your wedding budget (among the many other expenses to take into account) when you’re deciding between buying and renting.

However, if you do have the budget and this is something you don’t mind spending more on, go get it, girl!

Source:https://www.pexels.com/photo/glad-asian-florist-writing-in-notebook-in-flower-shop-5414045/

2 – No restrictions!

The great thing about buying your own wedding dress is that it will be yours and yours only. And because of that, you’ll get to customize and tailor every little detail to your taste. Many brides prefer to be involved in the whole process – which you can definitely experience since you’ll be working very closely with the designer or the bridal shop to create your perfect wedding dress!

3 – Time is on your side

If you’re customizing and buying your wedding dress, you will have to confirm with the designer at least 6 months in advance. Depending on the style and the designer that you work with, it may take even longer. It’s always best to start looking way ahead of your wedding day if you’re thinking of buying your wedding dress.

4 – A keepsake from your special day – or maybe your future daughter’s!

Your wedding day is the most important day of your life, and you want to be able to keep your dress to remind you of your special day. Many brides also dream that one day, they might be able to pass down their dress to their future children. If you’re the sentimental type and this idea appeals to you, then buying is definitely the right option!

https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-wearing-white-wedding-gown-holding-hands-with-man-while-walking-1043902/

One thing to keep in mind is that storage and maintenance is important since most wedding dresses are thick and bulky. Also, you will need to keep it for a long period of time as you will most likely not wear it again. So make sure you have enough space in your home to keep your beloved wedding dress in pristine condition.

Why You Should Rent Your Wedding Dress:

1 – It’s a lot more budget friendly

Renting a dress will definitely cost a fraction of actually buying one. Also, packages from bridal shops usually include up to 3 dresses (on top of photography, videography and other services), so the actual wedding gown rental cost is very affordable. Rentals usually cover accessories (like tiaras, hair clips, necklaces, bracelets etc) to complement your look, so you don’t have to worry about sourcing and buying matching accessories separately.

With these savings, you can use your budget to splash out for more lavish wedding expenses – or put that extra cash for a more memorable honeymoon!

Source: My Bridal Room

2 – You have a wider selection of designs to choose from

Contrary to what you may think, renting a dress does not mean you’ll have a limited pool of designs to choose from. In fact, you’ll still be spoilt for choice! We recently wrote about different wedding dress styles and how to choose the perfect one for you here.

And don’t worry, even when you’re renting a dress, you can still do fittings and make alterations to ensure that your dress fits your body type and size perfectly.

Source: My Bridal Room Instagram

3 – Storage problems, be gone!

Renting your dress is definitely a more practical option as you don’t have to worry about dry-cleaning, maintaining and storing your wedding dress after your big day. Simply return it to the shop, and that’s it!

Source : My Bridal Room

Not keeping the actual dress doesn’t make it any less sentimental as you will have all the photos and videos of yourself in that stunning dress that were taken on your special day.

4 – The process is a lot quicker

Another advantage of renting your wedding dress is that the process is much quicker. Of course, we’d advise you to make a gown-viewing appointment with your bridal shop as soon as possible, but if you’re not the fussy type, you can confirm your dress of choice just a few weeks in advance of your wedding day.

Source: My Bridal Room

Now that you know the pros and cons of buying vs renting your wedding dress, it’s important to remember that at the end of the day, there is no right or wrong answer to this question. Every bride is different and this is a personal decision that you should base on your budget, timeline, preferences and practicality.

No matter what you decide – simply enjoy the process as you’re going through this once-in-a-lifetime experience with the person that you’ll spend the rest of your life with!

Choosing the right bridal shop would also really help you make your planning easier, fuss-free and more enjoyable! At My Bridal Room, we provide a “one-stop experience” that has in-house designed gowns, photography, and make-up services.

Find out our wedding gown collections at https://mybridalroom.com/collections/gowns/ and our current promotions at https://mybridalroom.com/eventspromo-2/ 

31 Jan 2021

(more…)

Without a doubt, a photographer is an important part of any wedding celebration. It is however, even more important that there’s a connection between a couple and their photographer. That’s why we want you to get to know Sam Lai, lead photographer and founder of My Bridal Room.

Sam’s the one who will break down barriers and create a window of understanding amongst friends and family, as his photos provide a glimpse of the deep connection and love that you and your partner hold for each other.

How long has Sam been doing wedding photography?

From the young age of 18, Sam has been in the photography industry. It might be argued that he started even earlier, having been exposed to the fine art of wedding photography by his father who owned a photo gallery and bridal studio. Quite naturally, he has a keen eye for capturing moments that matter. However, his finely honed skills were developed over years of creating and refining unique techniques that allow him to capture intimate moments with his signature flair of grandeur.

What’s unique about Sam as a wedding photographer?

As a kid, Sam wasn’t a student of books, he would rather experience what the world had in store for him. His mother thought that at such an impressionable young age, some discipline would do him good and insisted he become an apprentice at his father’s bridal studio.

Coming out of school also meant that when Photoshop was first released in 1990, it was not readily taught to him. Instead he took it upon himself to keep up with technology and trends, got a Photoshop 101 manual and learned on the go instead.

It could only be his natural flair, keen eye and dogged determination that eventually set him on the path of success. Not one to shy away from a challenge, Sam also understood the added advantage of having a holistic understanding of the bridal journey, which led him to set up My Bridal Room while staying true to his passion in photography.

What is working with Sam like?

Despite holding his work to the highest standard, it is his down-to-earth personality that allows him to form a trusted connection with his subjects.

On more than one occasion, Sam was met with couples who arrived on set in a foul mood, angry at each other and filled with negative energy. This would have been a challenging situation to handle if not for Sam’s affable and warm nature. He took the time to speak to the couples, dissipating the tension. The result was photos that were able to encapsulate the love that shone through despite their differences, focusing on what really mattered. Everyone was all smiles by the end of the shoot as well!

Perhaps it is Sam’s appreciation for beauty in its most natural form that his photos are able to capture a certain je ne sais quoi while still putting warmth, love and sincerity center-stage.

Check out Sam’s Instagram page for more examples of his amazing work. If you would like to speak to Sam about wedding photography packages, contact us today for a non-obligatory quote. My Bridal Room offers a wide range of services from your ROM day to pre-wedding photography and actual day photography and videography.

With all the different components of a wedding, we know it can be a lot to prepare for. Reach out to our friendly and dedicated team who will be able to guide you through each step. In addition to photography, My Bridal Room also provides all-inclusive packages that include gowns, makeup and other planning services. Our goal is to help make your dream wedding become a reality with ease!

Your wedding reception is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration for you and your better half – and sharing it in the presence of your loved ones is the essence of it all.

However, this can also be a source of stress for the future bride and groom, as most of us don’t have the luxury of having unlimited seats at our wedding. With the current Covid-19 restrictions posed on large gatherings – including wedding parties – you may have to narrow your list down even further.

Fret not! We’ve prepared the ultimate guide to curating your wedding guest list so that you can go through this process with peace of mind. Let’s get started!

1 – Set The Max Number

Credit: My Bridal Room

This should be one of the first things you decide in your wedding planning journey, as the number of guests will impact your wedding venue selection and, ultimately, your budget.

Some couples already know from the get-go that they prefer a smaller and more intimate wedding, which usually means that 30-100 guests is a good number to have in mind. For those eyeing a larger-scale wedding, there are many hotels in Singapore which can take more than 1,000 guests! Click here for a list of large wedding venues in Singapore for 300 people and above or here for a list of wedding venues for 200 people or less.

Obviously, you need to make sure that your max number of guests does not exceed the venue’s maximum capacity. Once you’ve decided on the max number of guests you can invite, you can move on to the next step.

2 – Create Your A and B-list

Credit: Pexels

Now it’s time for you and your fiance to sit down and start creating your wedding guest list. Our recommendation is that both of you should work on your own lists and then combine them afterwards. The easiest way is to divide your wedding guests equally with half of the allocation for the bride’s side, and the other half going to the groom’s side. (Of course, this will vary from couple to couple depending on their family sizes.)

Start filtering your guest list in order of importance. Your A-list should include the people that you couldn’t imagine NOT having at your wedding, like family members and close friends.

Once that is done, you can then move on to your B-list, which may include people that you would like to have around but their attendance may not be as crucial. Typically, this will include colleagues, distant relatives, neighbors and so on. Remember to prioritise. Once you’ve finalized your A-list and have seats left over, you can then proceed to invite the people on your B-list in the order that you’ve set.

3 – Set Some Rules

Credit: Pexels

There are bound to be grey areas and questions that come along as you’re creating your guest list. For example, are you going to invite plus-ones of your guests? What about their children? What about the people that your parents or family members may want to invite as well?

It’s always good to create a set of rules that you and your fiance both agree upon from the start so as to avoid any confusion or even conflict later on. If you can’t fully agree on something, compromise.

If your relatives would like to extend invitations for their guests and you do still have the capacity and budget for it, you can cap that number and set those rules early.

Once you start inviting your guests, be specific with the names in the invitation. If you’re inviting a guest and their plus-one, write both their names down. If you’re only inviting just that one person, write down his or her name only in the invite.

4 – Set a Deadline

Once you’re done creating your guest list, we recommend sending a “Save The Date” card followed by the actual wedding invitation as early as possible to your A-list so that you can start tracking their RSVPs. This will give you a good idea of who can and can’t make it.

Set an RSVP deadline and stick to it. Spreadsheets are a fantastic tool for tracking responses easily. If some of your A-list guests are unable to attend, you can then extend invitations to your B-list to fill up the available slots. If possible, try to avoid any last-minute additions to your guest list!

Credit: Pexels

Your hotel or caterer will also set a deadline to confirm the final number of guests – and this will be the amount that you’ll be charged for the seats and F&B. So it’s important to give yourself some time to work this out and follow-up with your guests who have not gotten back to you.

5 – Remember, It’s Your Wedding

Credit: My Bridal Room

Ultimately, this is YOUR wedding and you should decide who you wish to be present on your special day. So create boundaries and don’t feel bad about it. Don’t put stress on yourself, and focus on your loved ones who mean a great deal to you and your fiance.

We hope you find this article helpful as you’re creating your wedding guest list! For more articles about wedding planning, be sure to follow My Bridal Room blog as we’ll be posting more helpful resources to help you navigate and plan your wedding smoothly.

If you’re looking for the perfect bridal studio, check out My Bridal Room – as we provide a “one-stop experience” that has in-house designed gowns, photography, and make-up services.

Find out about our current promotions at https://mybridalroom.com/eventspromo-2/ 

Date : 5 Febreary 2021

(more…)

Growing up in Singapore, a melting pot of races and cultures, can be a beautiful thing. It’s also especially beautiful when traditions are kept and honoured during important events and milestones, such as one’s wedding! If you’re a bride-to-be who wishes to ensure that you take care of all the traditional parts of your wedding, we’re highlighting 5 of the most prominent Chinese wedding customs and how you can best prepare for them!

1)Guo Da Li (过大礼)

The Guo Da Li ceremony is meant to signify the ‘betrothal’ of the bride and groom, but has evolved over the years to usually be the first occasion for the bride’s and groom’s families to meet! Hence, some gifting is in order – the groom’s family will usually prepare a whole list of items to give the bride’s family as a sign of sincerity that he will take good care of the bride after marriage.

 The list of items to prepare depends on the dialect group of the bride. There are, however, some typical items such as oranges, double happiness stickers, traditional cakes or pastries, and of course, a betrothal ang-pow! For Hokkien brides for example, there would be some additional items such as rice candy, while Teochew brides would have peanut candy.

To prepare well for your Guo Da Li and ensure you have all the items you need, this list by SingaporeBrides will come in handy!

2) Hui Li (回礼)

This follows right after the Guo Da Li ceremony and involves the bride’s family returning a portion of the Guo Da Li gifts to the groom’s family, symbolizing the sharing of good fortune.

During Hui Li, the bride’s family will also present the bride’s dowry to the groom’s family, which includes items such as new bedsheets for the bridal bed, a ‘descendant pail set’ consisting of a baby bathtub and gold jewellery. Hui Li is almost, if not as important as Guo Da Li, so don’t forget! Here’s another checklist to ensure you don’t miss a detail.

3) An Chuang (安床)

This ritual directly translates to ‘bed setting’, where the marital bed will be blessed by having a little boy rolling on it. This signifies that the couple will go on to be blessed with harmony and, of course, offspring! Typically, an auspicious date will be selected for a couple’s An Chuang ceremony, but these days, most couples take a more modern approach and schedule it between 3 days to a week before the wedding.

4) Groom fetches the bride

On the couple’s wedding day, the groom will travel to the bride’s home to fetch her to his home. The journey into the bride’s home is where the fun starts, as this is where the bride’s bridesmaids form a ‘barricade’ and the groom and his groomsmen have to complete certain challenges or tasks to get to the bride. This tradition is known as ‘gatecrashing’ and consists of lots of difficult challenges for the groomsmen to conquer – some of the games include forfeits like silly dances, eating strange food combinations and love declarations in the form of signed contracts from the groom to his bride!

After the bridesmaids are satisfied, this is usually where the groomsmen and groom have to dispense some red packets to officially ‘gain entry’ past the girls, for the groom to finally see his bride face to face. This usually makes for a sweet moment as the photographer and videographer capture the groom entering the bride’s room where she’s veiled, presenting her a bouquet of flowers and lifting the veil to kiss her.

5) Tea ceremony

This is probably the tradition of all traditions at Chinese weddings! The tea ceremony symbolizes the acceptance of the bride and groom to each others’ families. Traditionally, it is done at the groom’s home after the groom has fetched the bride, but increasingly, hotel wedding venues are also providing tea ceremony assistance and logistics for an easy transition to the hotel banquet.

The bride (and groom, if he is willing) will usually change into a traditional Chinese wedding dress, also known as the “kua”, and they will serve tea in this attire. Tea is served in order of seniority, and parents of the couple are first to be served. During the actual ceremony, the bride and groom will stand in front of their elders and serve them tea while addressing them by their formal titles. In return, the elders will gift the couple red packets or gifts to show their blessing.

Planning a wedding with so many traditions to keep to may be stressful, but don’t fret, it will all pay off in a big way on your special day when you see your loved ones enjoying themselves! Though the journey to getting there may feel long, enjoy the process and you can always seek the help from the friendly team at My Bridal Room for any queries on tea ceremony outfits, photography or videography. Contact us here at any time for a non-obligatory quote and happy planning!

(more…)

Looking forward to traveling to your dream destination for your pre-wedding shoot, but find yourself stuck in Singapore because of the Covid-19 pandemic? You’re not the only one! Lucky for you, our little red dot has amazing and unique locations to serve as the perfect backdrop for your pre-wedding photos!

If you’re ready to be inspired, keep reading as we have 10 amazing venue ideas for your pre-wedding shoot – all found in sunny Singapore! Whether you’re looking for an iconic outdoor venue, somewhere indoors with beautiful architecture, or even that unique spot to showcase your personality – we have them all!

1 – Gardens by The Bay

One of our favorite (hidden) spots in Gardens by The Bay is NOT what you’re probably thinking of right now – no, we’re not talking about the Supertrees – but the Cloud Forest! Snap some wonderful and breathtaking photos with its indoor waterfall, surrounded by lush gardens with orchids, ferns, begonias and other amazing plants. Ascend to the treetop walk for more amazing shots – this magical sight will serve as the perfect backdrop for your pre-wedding photos.

Credit: My Bridal Room

2 – Jewel Changi Airport

You can’t go far wrong with pre-wedding photos shot against Jewel’s iconic rain vortex and jewelled glass roof. It gets even better if you choose a day with fewer people out and about as the whole place will feel like it’s yours. Your photos will definitely look grand and majestic!

Credit: My Bridal Room

3 – Henderson Waves

One of the most popular spots in Singapore for pre-wedding photos, Henderson Waves has a certain charm that appeals to many couples. This iconic bridge has a unique architecture that seems to stretch beyond what your eye can see – it’s simply too magnificent to ignore. And if you turn your lens around, it will feel like you’ve been teleported to a completely different location thanks to the lush greenery and Singapore’s lovely skyline. Who doesn’t like a good 2-in-1 deal? 

Source: Visit Singapore

4 – East Coast Park

Do you and your significant other love the outdoors and want pre-wedding pictures which showcase that? East Coast Park could be a great option for you! 

Whether you’re looking for a fun, casual shoot with the sea in the backdrop or going for something more dynamic and sporty by incorporating cycling, rollerblading or even tandem-biking into your shoot (like the couple below) – this is the place where you can truly be creative and express your personality! Now that’s definitely an East Coast plan anyone can get behind.

Credit: My Bridal Room

5 – Punggol Beach

Who says Singapore doesn’t have nice beaches? With picturesque boulders set against the beautiful and unique backdrop of Punggol Beach, we guarantee that your guests – and even yourselves – will feel as if you managed to sneak out of the country for a secret getaway.

Credit: My Bridal Room

6 – National Gallery

With its high ceiling, eye-popping architecture and gorgeous pillars, the National Gallery is an amazing spot for pre-wedding photos, especially if you’re going for a classic or vintage look. With this much grandness crammed into your backdrop, you’ll feel like a princess – as you truly deserve!

Credit: My Bridal Room

Credit: My Bridal Room

7 – ArtScience Museum

We’re massive fans of the art installations at the ArtScience Museum – they’re not only breathtaking, but simply out of this world! You can have a vast variety of photos in the museum’s different exhibits, playing with different themes. Futuristic, modern, vintage, colorful – you have them all. Up the romance and sophistication here and your photos will undoubtedly turn out gorgeous. 

Credit: TimeOut

8 – One15 Marina Club

Nothing says “A new adventure awaits!” like a snazzy photoshoot with the luxury yachts and beautiful sea at the prestigious One15 Marina yacht club in Sentosa Cove. Want to take things up a notch? Charter a yacht for a sunset cruise and get some gorgeous snaps with the Singapore skyline as your backdrop.

Credit: One15 Marina Club

9 – IKEA

It may not be a typical choice, but hear us out! IKEA makes a great setting for pre-wedding photos – especially for the creative and quirky types! With a wide range of sets filled with colourful furniture and accessories, you can pose against different backgrounds and truly create one-of-a-kind photos that will surely bring smiles to your (and your guests’) faces! You can even start shopping around for items for your future home!

Credits: IKEA

10 – School (If you used to be classmates!)

Everyone loves a story of highschool sweethearts, so why not showcase yours if you and your fiance came from the same school! 

Your alma mater can be a great choice symbolising something personal and meaningful to the two of you while telling everyone where you met and how your relationship started!

If you used to be in the same class, you can also take amazing and fun photos at that very same classroom and relive your beautiful memories together. 

Even if you didn’t share the same school – you can choose another venue that means something to you; for example, the cafe where you had your first date, the park where you had your first kiss, the restaurant where you celebrated your first anniversary, and more! 

Now that you have more ideas and inspiration to choose from for your pre-wedding photos, the next step is to make the arrangements with your photographer, make-up artists and other parties involved! Read our article on the ultimate pre-wedding photoshoot guide here to help you plan your shoot seamlessly!

My Bridal Room offers a range of pre-wedding services, such as photography, videography, hair and makeup services, and gown rental! Contact us for a non-obligatory quote and we’re happy to assist you with your planning.