Singapore couples are saying ‘I do’ to smaller weddings — and ‘no thanks’ to S$100,000 price tags

SINGAPORE, June 25 — Singapore couples are increasingly saying “I do” to intimate celebrations — and “no thanks” to six-figure wedding bills — as rising living costs prompt many newlyweds to prioritise homes, holidays and starting a family over lavish banquets.

One couple even managed to slash the cost of their dream Disney-themed wedding from a potential S$100,000 (RM320,000) to just S$10,000 by trimming their guest list, choosing a more affordable venue and cutting out middlemen, according to CNA.

For newlyweds Seraphiliz Peng and Lewis Tan, the decision was about investing in their marriage rather than a single day of celebration.

“We wanted to walk into this marriage being financially strong,” Peng told CNA.

Instead of spending heavily on one event, the couple chose to channel their savings towards buying a home, building a family and travelling.

Tan said watching friends struggle financially after extravagant weddings reinforced their decision.

He told CNA that some had postponed honeymoons, housing plans and even having children after spending beyond their means to host large celebrations, with some still repaying wedding loans.

Their experience reflects a broader shift reshaping Singapore’s wedding industry.

Wedding planners told CNA that the average number of guests at Chinese weddings has dropped from around 300 before the Covid-19 pandemic to about 100 today.

Budgets have also fallen sharply, with spending on larger weddings declining from roughly S$80,000 to around S$40,000.

Some couples are also taking their celebrations overseas, with destinations such as Bali, Batam and Bintan proving attractive thanks to lower venue costs.

Affordable overseas pre-wedding photography packages are also growing in popularity, with some all-inclusive deals in China costing under S$2,000, according to wedding industry players interviewed by CNA.

Rather than mourning the decline of lavish banquets, businesses are adapting.

Wedding venues and planners are increasingly offering flexible packages that allow couples to mix and match vendors instead of purchasing fixed bundles.

Lagun Sari director Trina Ng told CNA that younger couples are placing greater emphasis on experiences that matter to them personally, such as housing, honeymoons and family life.

She added that smaller weddings do not necessarily mean less memorable celebrations.

Hotels are also adjusting to changing tastes by offering more personalised experiences and customised event spaces, while partnering with wedding planners to create one-stop wedding solutions.

Although guest lists may be shrinking, industry players say couples are still willing to spend on elements that create lasting memories, including photography, videography, live food stations and social media-ready content.

“They are leaning towards a more aesthetic, meaningful and financially sensible kind of wedding,” Ng told CNA.

The trend, industry insiders say, reflects a new generation of couples who have done their homework, carefully compare vendors and are increasingly focused on getting value for money — proving that for many Singapore newlyweds, a strong financial start now matters more than a spectacular one-night celebration.