A wedding to remember: One couple's love letter to Raffles Singapore

Business Times

6 days ago

WHEN DARREN AND ANNE BEGAN planning their wedding, they had a modest vision in mind: An intimate gathering at a Chinese restaurant, filled with laughter, love and food that held deep personal meaning.
'Chinese food is important to us, especially for me because I see food as a reflection of my Taiwanese heritage,' Anne explains. The couple wanted something meaningful and delicious, shared with their closest friends and family.
But as they explored venue after venue, they couldn't quite find the right fit.
'Our list of potential restaurants… weren't designed in a way that matched what we wanted,' says Anne. Then, a serendipitous visit to yi by Jereme Leung at Raffles Singapore offered promise.
Darren and Anne held their wedding in Raffles Singapore. PHOTO: RAFFLES SINGAPORE
'We really liked the menu at yi,' Anne recalls, 'but the space wasn't able to accommodate all our guests.' That's when the Raffles team stepped in, offering to show the couple other potential venues in the property.
'The moment we stepped into Palm Ballroom, we loved how it didn't feel like any other hotel ballrooms because of its elaborate golden upholstery of Chinese paintings on the walls, and the warm glow of its ambient lighting,' says Anne.
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A major plus: The food served would be from yi by Jereme Leung. The deal was sealed.
A Raffles experience, inside and out
Raffles Singapore's reputation for timeless elegance is well-known, but what truly stood out for Darren and Anne were the attention to detail and the flexibility to tailor every aspect of their celebration.
Raffles Singapore has a number of spaces for special occasions, including the Palm Ballroom. PHOTO: RAFFLES SINGAPORE
'We wanted to have long tables as opposed to the usual round tables for our banquet,' says Anne, adding that the Raffles team 'very graciously worked together with us to come up with various iterations of a layout that we eventually liked'.
The couple even requested to remove the stage, replacing it with a makeshift dance floor for a relaxed, after-party vibe.
'Never once did Raffles Singapore make us feel that the ideas we had were too out of the norm,' Anne shares. 'Everyone, from the wedding coordinator to the banquet manager, and even the team at our menu tasting, had a hand in making it the best experience possible.'
It's this blend of heritage setting and bespoke service that sets Raffles weddings apart.
Beyond offering a venue, the hotel also offers a legacy, says director of events Kaylynn Ng. With striking colonial architecture and beautifully furnished ballrooms – the Jubilee Ballroom, East India Room and Palm Ballroom – couples are immersed in history, elegance and personalised service from the moment they arrive.
Raffles Hotel's colonial architecture creates a uniquely elegant atmosphere. PHOTO: RAFFLES SINGAPORE
Personalised to the last detail
Darren and Anne didn't want to focus solely on their own experience – they made sure every guest felt just as seen and celebrated.
'With the help of a talented friend, we prepared personalised cards with illustrations and handwritten messages for each guest,' says Anne. 'We wanted everyone to know that they were invited for a reason – that they had played a meaningful role in our growth, either individually or as a couple.'
Darren and Anne prepared personalised cards for each of their wedding guests. PHOTO: RAFFLES SINGAPORE
Guests responded with warmth and surprise; some told the couple those cards 'made them feel special'.
They were blown away by the service and food quality, too. 'We heard rave reviews about the friendly and thoughtful service… Everyone was well taken care of, even the kids! And needless to say, the food was one of the best that they've had at a wedding.'
Raffles is no stranger to detail; the hotel's wedding specialist team is known for going above and beyond, from setting up Singapore Sling bars onsite to managing wet-weather contingency plans.
'For outdoor lawn ceremonies, unpredictable weather and last-minute changes are always a challenge,' Ng notes. 'To navigate this, our team always prepares a backup plan.' Whether it's a sudden downpour or a last-minute request, the team's priority is to ensure that the experience is seamless and joyful from start to finish.
With a team of wedding specialists on hand, Raffles Singapore is well-equipped to handle all sorts of ceremonies. PHOTO: RAFFLES SINGAPORE
Three unforgettable nights
After the wedding, Darren and Anne stayed at Raffles for three more nights, a decision that turned into 'one of the most memorable stays we've had', says Anne. From personalised service at Tiffin Room to thoughtful poolside touches, every moment was choreographed with quiet care.
'We felt this most keenly in the little details,' Anne adds. 'The pool staff laying out beach towels on our lounge chairs while we were taking a dip so the chairs would be ready to receive us when we were done; the personal greeting when the breakfast servers at Tiffin Room served up our orders: or even the special arrangements to ensure we could fit in a morning at the Raffles Spa before we left.'
One standout experience was a private heritage tour with the hotel's resident historian. The couple learnt about all the illustrious guests who've stayed at Raffles, discovered hidden corners of the hotel, and even got to play the same piano that Michael Jackson once played.
Private heritage tours give a peek into Raffles Singapore's history and hidden corners. PHOTO: RAFFLES SINGAPORE
Then there was their Raffles butler. Anne recalls: 'Our butler, James, surprised us with a chocolate tasting of home-grown brand Mr Bucket's lovely chocolate bonbons. He came to our room and brought out a beautiful chest of chocolates which included Raffles-exclusive flavours for a personal tasting session in our room.'
The next day, James returned with a handwritten card and soy candle as a memento. Rather than a generic message, the card's message referenced things they had chatted about. 'This endearing and thoughtful gesture really delighted us, in ways that we didn't expect at all,' says Anne.
One signature Raffles touch, the hotel shares, is the gifting of a personalised leather suite key, engraved with the couple's initials. 'For subsequent stays, the couple may also bring back these keys and have them re-activated for use,' says Ng. It's a gesture that would make every return visit an anniversary worth remembering.
Looking back, the couple wouldn't change a thing. 'We are glad that, together with the help of the Raffles Singapore team, we were able to have a wedding that was warm and personal for those who came,' Anne says.