No Wedding Planner | Our $4000 wedding
Weddings in Singapore are expensive, package prices with venue and food alone can be $8000 and prices just skyrocket from there. Plus I feel some vendors hear “wedding” and suddenly the pricing becomes so different!
So this is how we planned our small wedding (45pax), no wedding package, no wedding planner just me and hubs and a couple of extra hands! 🙌🏻
We started with finding a venue, I looked through TagVenue and was finding it hard to find a venue that wasn’t a meeting room or a cafe with a set wedding package since those were about $3K+ and we already decided to do buffet catering for budget reasons. Finally stumbled across this space - Enclosed. Event Space , we went down to look at the venue and really liked the modern concrete vibe + the big windows with the natural light plus the venue was $850 for 4 hours! Bonus: since our wedding was in the morning the event space organisers let us use the venue as early as we needed at no extra charge! They were very accommodating and easy to work with even helping with some arrangements the night before!
With the venue settled we then started researching into caterers, we looked through menus, prices, pictures, reviews and were quite disappointed with the catering out there, lots of local choices but lacking in the fusion choices that we wanted at our budget of about $30/person. Until we stumbled on Four Seasons Catering with options of local bites and western dishes we went with the summer menu, the satay was a hit and was absolutely cleared as well as the fish, the portion was big, the catering was set up swiftly and all on time as well as cleared seamlessly! Feedback from our guests was that the food was really good and that it was one of the better buffet catering they had!
Cake wise, beware that “wedding” cakes cost a pretty penny, we were quoted $800+ for any type of wedding cake even if we didn’t have a say in the design when what really mattered to us was that all our guests would be able to have a slice and that it taste good. So I turned to finding a nice big cake that could feed 50 people and found Fieldnotes I’ve had slices of their cakes before at cafes and didn’t know they sold such big cakes and honestly the cake that we got was right up my alley for that casual whimsy and fresh feel that our wedding was taking on. On the website it says feeds 21-38 pax but all my guests were able to have a slice no problem, the cake in picture is the “Strawberry Chamomile Naked Cake” and it was so good, not a scrape was left, the fruit and cream was so fresh and the sponge was light and airy! It was about $300 with delivery and totally worth the price! 🎂🫶🏻
Other than these bigger spends, I found a makeup artist on carousell ARTZ ISLS STUDIO who came at 6:30am to my house and was so professional, I wasn’t about to mess my own face up and her price was really good! The price included an extra charge for her to come before 8am and she spent about 1.5 hours on my face, it was really natural like I wanted and she does amazing covering up acne, you can see her work online!
I also found my photographer on carousell @Jason Sng who is incredibly talented, he’s detail oriented and captured beautiful pictures of the ceremony and the event itself as well as taking the initiative to take us (the couple) out to do some couple shots that turned out really really nice! You can find his portfolio on google maps “Jason Sng Photography and Videography” or find him on Instagram/Carousell, his rate is really worth it for the quality that you get! He also goes above and beyond and has the greatest vibes! 🤩🤩🤩
Other than that our decor was from shoppee and we DIYed and we made sure we had plenty of alcohol to keep the drinks flowing and the mood right in the spirit of celebration! 🎉
Honestly, it was alot of fun with the small group of friends and family and it was the kind of wedding that was relatively stress and worry free day of, which me and my partner was really proud of!
PS: wedding dress was from taobao
Planning a wedding in Singapore without a wedding planner might seem daunting, especially when most venues and services are expensive. Our experience taught me that with patience and research, it is possible to organize a beautiful and intimate wedding on a modest budget. One of the biggest challenges was finding a venue that didn't charge exorbitant fees. Using platforms like TagVenue helped narrow down options beyond the typical banquet halls or hotels that come with steep wedding packages. Choosing a venue like Enclosed. Event Space gave us the modern, airy ambiance we wanted without the premium rates. The fact that the organizers allowed us early access at no extra charge was a huge bonus and eased many logistical stresses. For catering, it’s crucial to look beyond price and check reviews and menu variety. We wanted a fusion spread but had a tight budget of about $30 per person. Four Seasons Catering provided a balanced menu mixing local favorites like satay with Western options, which impressed our guests and fit our budget perfectly. Always ask caterers about setup and cleanup services because smooth coordination on the day is key. When it came to cake, we discovered that traditional wedding cakes could easily stretch over $800, often with design choices we didn't need. Opting for a large cake from a local bakery like Fieldnotes, known for fresh flavors like the Strawberry Chamomile Naked Cake, turned out to be more affordable and satisfying. It fed all our guests comfortably and matched the casual vibe we envisioned. Finding reliable vendors on platforms like Carousell allowed us to budget more efficiently. Our makeup artist was professional, delivered natural looks, and accommodated early timing without drama. Similarly, our photographer not only captured beautiful moments but went the extra mile with couple shots, adding value well beyond the cost. DIY decorations sourced from affordable online shops and a well-stocked bar helped create a warm, celebratory atmosphere without extra charges from hired decorators. Most importantly, we kept the guest list small and prioritized enjoyment over extravagance, which made the day relaxing and memorable. I recommend other couples considering a no-planner wedding to be organized, delegate tasks to trusted friends and family, and keep communication open with all vendors. This experience showed me that while wedding costs can quickly add up, thoughtful choices, local vendor discovery, and a personalized approach create a joyous celebration that doesn’t break the bank.
