JOHOR BARU: Business is booming in Johor with Singaporeans crossing the Causeway for their festive shopping, but this has caused prices to spike, leaving locals in the lurch.
A pre-event test site set up by Kingston Medical Clinic for a wedding reception at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Havelock Road on May 8, 2021. - ST
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): From offering refunds to absorbing the costs of pre-event testing, hotels and wedding venues have been working to help couples adapt to the sudden restrictions announced on Tuesday (May 4) and which kicked in this weekend.
For weddings this month, Fairmont Singapore will pay the cost of pre-event testing for Covid-19, if couples want to go ahead with more than 50 people, said Kerry Healy, chief commercial officer of hotel operator Accor for South-east Asia, Japan and South Korea.
Singapore News - For the last two years, Ms Leona Ye has been meticulously planning for her big day on May 29. With the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic looming large, the marketing manager kept her fingers crossed and hopes high, drawing up preparations for 100 guests to witness her wedding. Read more at www.tnp.sg
THE DREAM WEDDING CHECKLIST
PRESENTED BY TEXT
HEAVEN’S GIFT
Even in ‘normal’ times, planning a wedding often proved overwhelming and somewhat of a logistical nightmare. And now, the COVID-19 pandemic which halted events, celebrations and activities in 2020 has thrown another spanner in the works. If you’re one of the couples affected by the current restrictions and are still undecided as to whether to go ahead with your wedding in 2021, here’s advice from the professionals in the industry, who also share how they’ve pivoted to adapt to changing times.
THE VENUES
Couples who’ve had to pare down their guest list, especially on short notice, should focus on planning the list, says Ms June Choong, director of events at Grand Hyatt Singapore. “We advise [couples] to prioritise the people they most want to have physically present,” she adds. The hotel has focused on creating intimate wedding packages that are tailored to local regulations and of