We’ve been hunting down extraordinary wedding venues in Singapore that would fit whichever ceremonial theme you choose, may it be something old, something new, something borrowed or something blue.
A former colonial port city, modern Singapore is dotted with venerable vestiges alongside futuristic buildings. Therefore, look no further — venue-wise — as the country comes readied with spacial options where you can not only wear the themes from the romantic traditional English rhyme, but incorporate them into the places where you’ll say “I do” too.
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SOMEWHERE OLD
The White Rabbit
Situated in the quiet greens of Dempsey Hill, The White Rabbit is a popular place for couples to tie the knot. It could be the draw of its name — “white” for purity and “rabbit” for, err, fertility — but we’re betting it’s because the restaurant is housed in a beautifully restored 1930s Ebenezer chapel. Age-old architectural features such as timber structure, mosaic floor tiles and decorative iron window grilles are carefully maintained to this day. To up the charm of the chapel, design firm Takenouchi Webb crafted two stained glass windows from scratch, now flanking the dining hall like whimsical sentinels.
The White Rabbit serves a fresh take on classic European cuisine within its indoor 120-seater fine dining setting. Head Chef Benjamin Tan has created a menu in tribute to timeless recipes and the traditions of yesteryears — to correspond to the theme of “something old”. Highlights include the velvety smooth lobster bisque, served with half a Maine lobster, tarragon and brandy; the decadent Wagyu carpaccio varnished with truffle cream, sprinkled with black truffles and balsamic pearls; and the 36-hour Brandt short ribs served with ruby port glaze, carrot and cardamom purée, and grilled broccolini. The comprehensive wine list can also be paired perfectly with your selected menu.
Sinfonia Ristorante
Weddings have become more or less theatrical performances. And where better to put up a more memorable show than one of Singapore’s oldest performing arts venues? Constructed between 1855 and 1862, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall was originally built as a Town Hall, serving as a space for public meetings, dances and other social functions. Today, it is home to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and a new Italian restaurant aptly christened Sinfonia Ristorante (formerly FOO’D by Davide Oldani).
Step into the 180-seater dining hall and it is immediately clear that the space is primed for a stately occasion. This is all thanks to grand Corinthian columns that stretch to the high ceiling. The roomy and well-lit space is also besieged by vast white walls, elegant cream-coloured panel windows, polished marble floors and dark wooden furnishings. Mingle with guests over canapés and preprandial cocktails specially concocted by the restaurant’s awardwinning mixologist before settling down with a bespoke dégustation menu, suited to any couple’s culinary preferences.
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SOMEWHERE NEW
Monti
Contemporary developments such as Marina Bay Sands and ArtScience Museum are the fresh-faced icons of the Lion City. So imagine building a future with your special someone, surrounded by this emblematic 21st-century cityscape. The glass dome floating on Marina Bay between One Fullerton and The Fullerton Bay grants couples such a privilege. Once occupied by Spanish restaurant Catalunya, it has made way for Italian restaurant Monti, which opened in late 2016. Just last year, it established itself as a wedding destination too. Monti’s roof deck holds up to 300 standing guests or a solemnisation setup that can take up to 80 people. Couples get to exchange their vows with an unobstructed view of Marina Bay Sands.
Monti’s indoor dining area can take up to 170 guests for a sit-down affair of multi-regional Italian dishes, from Iberico pork and fresh seafood to panna cotta for dessert. But if there are guests who prefer non-Italian fare, Head Chef Felix Chong is prepared to concoct a fusion spread specially for matrimonial celebrations. The restaurant’s dedicated wedding planners from 1-Host are also available to cater to the couple’s every whim and wish.
Blackwattle
Taking over from Zott’s True Alps at Amoy Street, Blackwattle opened its doors last October. Step inside and you’ll be greeted by contemporary interiors with futuristic touches. Though decked out in black and brown — colours not traditionally associated with matrimony — its design infuses equal parts chic and elegant, creating a backdrop that won’t clash even with the loudest of wedding decor.
Spanning two storeys, Blackwattle offersa versatile and fun space for an enjoyable celebration. The first level holds up to 60 guests, while the al fresco bar upstairs is suited for more intimate affairs, accommodating up to 35 standing. The restaurant serves up delectably modern Australian cuisine, crafted by award-winning chef Clayton Wells, so good food to whet your guests’ appetites is guaranteed. And because there are no set menus, the crew will be able to curate a menu that is in line with the couple’s preferences.
SOMEWHERE BORROWED
Kombi Rocks
This quaint diner, specialising in Thai-Chinese cuisine, is set in a traditional shophouse on Yio Chu Kang Road, and seats 60 guests. But what truly sets Kombi Rocks apart is that it has a working garage, which salvages old vehicles, giving them a new lease of life and ultimately, preserving Singapore’s motoring heritage. Iconic Volkswagen microbuses line the porch of the cafe. And couples can even take advantage of an instant photo booth in a Kombi or loan a vehicle or two for a classic joyride.
As a Kombi also makes a perfect prop for a picture-perfect wedding, choose from a wide range of colours and models to match your wedding theme — from Ang Bao, a fiery 1961 23-window VW station wagon with a sunroof, to a rare champagne-coloured 1972 double-door Kombi dubbed Goldie Locks. Kombi Rocks also offers other vintage rides for rent, including a 1962 Chevy Impala and a Ferrari QV Mondial.
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SPRMRKT Kitchen & Bar
Homegrown cafe and restaurant brand SPRMRKT first opened in 2012 along McCallum Street in Singapore’s CBD. What caught the public’s attention was how it redefined the local supermarket experience with its retail, food and art offerings. Fast-forward five years and SPRMRKT has since expanded its reach with SPRMRKT Daily and SPRMRKT Kitchen & Bar at STPI — Creative Workshop & Gallery.
Located above Daily on the second floor of STPI, Kitchen & Bar overlooks the historic Singapore River for a splendid view, making it a charming and memorable atmosphere suited for a wedding. Inside, the elegant bar seats up to 46 guests and houses multiple concepts that share the same space. For one, the building’s architecture and arches are classically romantic, yet the area also boasts a gallery-like atmosphere with large painting-like images created in collaboration with photographers Studio Oooze.
SPRMRKT Kitchen & Bar has been designed by chef-owner Joseph Yeo to serve European bistro-style menu, with highlights such as monkfish liver, twice-cooked chicken roulade, smoked lobster tail and Malbec oxtail pasta. Couples and their guests will be left satiated. And of course, what’s a celebration without a good tipple? The bar has a line-up of delightful cocktails and wines to keep the merriment going on and on.
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SOMEWHERE BLUE
Ocean Restaurant by Cat Cora
Want to marry underwater and still breathe, eat and make, ahem, merry? At Singapore’s only underwater restaurant, Ocean Restaurant by Cat Cora, you can. With a backdrop like this — envision 100,000 fish, sharks and manta rays dancing around you — cake-cutting and champagne-pouring is an out-of-this-world experience. Instagrammers can expect a field day, but the novelty of it all extends beyond its epic blue surroundings. It also involves the food.
Get ready to savour — and snap pictures of — the beautifully plated Mediterranean-Californian dishes from the recipes of America’s celebrity iron chef Cat Cora. Couples can create their own memorable gourmet experience to their palates’ desires (and/or dietary needs). The restaurant has a capacity of 60.
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Majestic Bay Seafood Restaurant
This 160-seater Chinese restaurant at Gardens by the Bay is a treasure trove for every seafood-loving bride, groom and their guests. Majestic Bay whips up local favourites such as chilli crab, double-boiled fish maw soup, steamed fish and slow-cooked whole abalone. Other innovative signatures by Chef Yong Bing Ngen include stewed bee hoon with Boston lobster, and coffee crab that’s cooked with a special sauce blended with three different varieties of coffee beans.
The marine-centric menu and waterfront locale are not lost on the restaurant’s interiors. Majestic Bay’s setting is reminiscent of a ship, featuring a wall of round mirrors that call to mind portholes. A corporate colour of aquamarine further accentuates the nautical theme and will complement a wedding that seeks to honour the blue bridal token said to symbolise purity, love, and fidelity.
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