Our Wedding Venue Was Love at First Sight!
In my rush to secure a venue ASAP, we almost booked a space we didn’t truly love 🥹 We had even expressed our interest and were about to pay the deposit. But as if our fairy godmother was watching over us, the venue coordinator happened to go on a 3-day leave, giving us just enough time to pause and reconsider.
A few days before our final venue hunt, I came across another venue through IG ads and couldn’t stop thinking about it. So during that unexpected window of time, I told my husband, “Let’s go check out this one last place before we decide” (I can be really indecisive 😩).
And I’m so glad we did! The moment we stepped in, I fell in love. It was exactly like that moment when you know someone is ✨the one✨ — the natural sunlight pouring in, the beautiful welcome area, the flexibility of the space, the location. It ticked every single box on my list ✅
The venue is located within Gillman Barracks, and I really appreciated how it felt like a proper, ‘legit’ wedding venue — unlike others that were tucked away in industrial areas or distriparks. It had that dreamy, romantic vibe I had always envisioned for our big day.
Of course, there were still some pros and cons based on our experience:
🫶🏼 Pros:
• A proper entrance into the main event hall, complete with a beautiful reception and alfresco area — perfect for a wedding imo
• Gorgeous natural lighting
• Tastefully designed interior
• Comes with its own restrooms, with a very pretty vanity area
• Equipped with a solid sound system, projector, and lighting
• Highly customisable setup (various tables and chairs available)
• Pet friendly 🐾 we had friends and family who brought their 🐶 baby with them!
• You can bring in your own buffet line (we used Mannapot Catering, who has a list of partner venues. Our project was their first collaboration with this venue, and they even gave us a discount!)
😔 Cons:
• Large structural beams that blocked some guests’ view of the screen most of the time 🥺
• As the venue is run by a florist, wedding florals must be done in-house (it adds up quickly, and the flowers — while fresh and beautiful — were on the pricier side)
• High corkage fees
• No dedicated bridal room (though there is a private space for makeup and resting)
• High rental charges — and prices have since gone up
We honestly feel incredibly blessed to have found this venue, since they were a rather new establishment — and even more thankful that we locked it in before the price increase, haha! The only small regret was not getting our photographer to capture more photos of the interior. (Photos are taken from their site (https://idas.sg), last picture is us!)
(Edit: I forgot to mention, that this space can only accommodate for around 120 pax! But our total guest list was around 240 pax. Read how we managed to fit 240 and a run-down of our actual day schedule here!)
Working with the venue coordinators was also nothing short of amazing. They were super attentive to our needs and offered plenty of suggestions on where things could be placed. On the actual day itself, everything went smoothly with little to no hiccups!
Despite not having a hotel wedding, this space truly delivered the experience I had always yearned for, and thankful we didn’t went ahead with our first choice 🥹
Hotel or not, this is your sign: follow your heart and create the celebration you want. It’s your once-in-a-lifetime moment — make it count 🤍
If you’re considering Ida’s Bar for your wedding, here are a few tips I learned along the way that might help you plan better: 1. **Capacity Consideration:** Our guest list was about 240, but Ida’s Bar best fits around 120. We managed by scheduling different parts of the celebration accordingly, which is key if you want everyone to enjoy the space comfortably. 2. **Florals & Decor:** Since the venue is run by a florist, they require in-house flowers. Though pricier, their designs are fresh and beautiful. To save, consider mixing their florals with DIY or simple decor elements. 3. **Pricing & Fees:** Be prepared for higher rental and corkage fees. Booking early helped us lock in a better rate before prices rose, so try to plan ahead. 4. **Venue Features:** The natural sunlight and elegant interior create gorgeous photo opportunities—definitely hire a photographer who can capture these features well. 5. **Pet-Friendly Perks:** We loved that friends could bring their pets! It added a lovely personal touch to the atmosphere. 6. **Coordination:** Work closely with the venue coordinators; they were incredibly helpful and suggested layouts that made our event flow smoothly. 7. **Location Perks:** Situated in Gillman Barracks, the venue feels genuine and stylish, unlike other industrial-area options. It offers a unique vibe that’s both romantic and modern. Overall, Ida’s Bar combines charm with practicality, making it a standout choice for couples wanting a memorable wedding experience that’s nothing like the usual hotel ballroom.
Omg haha I was waiting for someone to review this space but couldn’t find any. Your post came at the right time 🫶🏻 do you have any photos of your venue decor?