💍 2026 Graduated Bride: Full AD Expenses Breakdown & Review!
I am now a graduated bride. After planning for almost 2 years, and locking in prices early. Here’s who I’ve engaged for my big day for other brides’ consideration!
🏩 Hotel Venue: Raffles Hotel Singapore
Upgrading our ballroom due to exceeded capacity was initially a huge stress but looking back now it’s no regrets cause it’s everything I wanted, and more! From the chandeliers to the space, little decor is needed really!
🎤 James Yang
This is probably the biggest sum that we have spent on a single person and let me tell you— NO REGRETS! We’ve been to numerous weddings and sat through so many emcees and James’s professionalism and craft is really a different level compared to the rest in the market. When my friend recommended and told me James is probably the top 3 emcees in Singapore— I had no doubt about it now. After our wedding, he’s the single person that received more praises and asking for referrals than anything from my wedding! So many of our guests texted us after to sing praises for him.
💐 ArtCammy
We engaged ArtCammy mainly due to her expertise in styling Raffles Hotel! With this, she will be much more knowledgeable as to what time is required for teardown, what are the do’s and don’t’s. Camilia has been a joy working out the ideas turning it to reality. She proposed cost effective options, keeping in mind of our budget! We also handed our bridal bouquets and car florals installation to her team for convenience. She also managed to save my bridal bouquet by sending me a fresh new one as the original one wilted due to groom’s hotel’s mishandling, and I can never thank her enough for that!
👗 The Proposal
They’re one of the first few bridal shop that I went and I immediately settled with them. Wati who has been attending to me throughout is meticulous and proposed dresses that suits my preference. Even though I locked in the dress super early (almost a year in advance), she always kept me up to date with new collections and designs! Plus point the seamstress is really friendly as well and made good minor adjustments and recommendations.
🤵🏻 Man of Honour
Initially we wanted to do a bespoke one but honestly he doesn’t wear a suit AT ALL, so we decided to opt for a more affordable option. Chanced upon this while doom scrolling and they’re definitely bang for buck! They provide tailored suits as well as rentals. As my partner is on the larger size, they can only tailor for him. We also got our father’s and brother’s rental suits here! A tip to note is to check that you’ve all your accessories included (tie/whatever) before you leave as they forgotten to include the groom’s tie, luckily father’s tie were available so we were able to make do with it. 😅 Nonetheless, no regrets because we have gotten so many praises over how premium the suits were looking!
💃🏻 V for Vogue
Located right where Man of Honour is, they do bridal gowns as well as mothers and sisters gowns! Cass was warm and friendly, fitting session is 1-hour and there’s unlimited dresses to try from. Rental includes accessories as well as dry cleaning fee so it’s all-in!
📸 Iluminen Singapore
They’re the second vendor that I have locked in for my wedding, almost 2 years in advance! I remember they were having their first bridal fair in Singapore and I had to squeeze time to go and sign them. They definitely know their craft and if you’re looking for editorial style, they’re the ones to go to! Their vibes just hit different. They were also flexible to my requests, from having VG to no VG and back to having VG, and full-day half-day changes. Lwin and CL are also friendly, arrived on time early in the wee hours of our Sunday morning. Pictures turnaround was fast, within 7 working days and we can’t stop looking at it 😆
💄 ByPatticia / Stella Ang’s Team (Tracy and Afflin)
I always knew I wanted Patricia because she’s professional and passionate about her craft. I signed her early despite not having a trial and no regrets! She came on time, was super cute and totally a different vibe from what I see online 😂
Tracy and Afflin also reached on time and gave the mothers a great look that lasts through the afternoon. Though I had some unhappiness from the booking process with Kaelyn, but both of them delivered!
🎂 Blush Artisans
Efa was super helpful and friendly to help nail down our wedding cake. They were open for couples to come down for a tasting before deciding and offered design options that fits our budget! They were also super accommodating toward delivery and presentation which helped relieved a lot of stress on us! They’re also SFA licensed so worry-free on any hotel imposed indemnity/hygiene. Guests all loved the idea and its taste, and were all surprised to actually eat the wedding cake the couple cut on stage 😆
🍾 We bought Dom Perignon to celebrate our special day, as well as 20 bottles of extra Terrazas Reserv Malbec. They were bought at a discount from the AD, hence saving us more than 50%! We have also received praises and even asking for links to purchase over the alcohol which was honestly surprising!
Of course— these do not include the wedding jewelries, shoes and whatnot that we have spent as it’s definitely not a priority!
What a whirlwind year it has been, but we are finally married! I’m grateful for my now-husband, for fulfilling everything and anything I wanted. It wasn’t easy for us the past 2 years, but we made it! Time to plan for reno 🤪
Planning a wedding at Raffles Hotel Singapore offers a majestic setting but requires thoughtful budgeting and vendor selection. From personal experience assisting friends with similar events, securing your key vendors early is crucial — this bride locked in her major suppliers almost two years ahead, which helped manage costs despite market fluctuations. One standout investment mentioned is the professional emcee, James Yang, whose skilled hosting elevated the entire atmosphere. Investing in quality entertainment can truly enhance guest engagement and leave lasting positive impressions. For styling and floral arrangements, engaging an expert like ArtCammy who understands the venue's specifics proves invaluable. Experienced stylists handle logistics such as teardown and adhere to hotel policies while offering creative ideas that align with your theme and budget. This bride's story highlights the importance of choosing reliable vendors who can adapt to unexpected situations, like a last-minute bouquet replacement. Choosing bridal gowns and suits well in advance ensures availability of preferred styles and timely adjustments. Bridal shops with attentive staff and seamless rental services, like The Proposal and Man of Honour, offer practical solutions especially when custom tailoring is challenging. Photography services booked early can deliver editorial-quality photos, with quick turnaround times as this wedding experienced. Being clear on requirements such as full-day or half-day coverage and videography preferences helps maintain flexibility. Attention to smaller but meaningful details such as wedding cake tasting sessions, sourcing discounted premium alcoholic beverages, and coordinating makeup artists contributes to a smooth, stress-free celebration. Overall, this comprehensive expense review coupled with vendor recommendations provides an insightful roadmap for couples aiming to host an elegant and personalized wedding at a luxury hotel in Singapore. It underscores that thoughtful planning, prioritizing quality over cost-cutting, and making early bookings are keys to a joyous and memorable big day.
Babe thanks for sharing! How was your aisle runner so cheap? Did your bridesmaid do DIY? :)