Wedding receptions in Singapore 2023: COVID-19 restrictions and rules
While masks in Singapore are slowly disappearing as we shift into an endemic phase, some COVID-19 restrictions are still in place — although the safe management measures (SMM) have relaxed considerably.
Since 29 August 2022, there are no capacity limits on event size. Adhering to dedicated group sizes and safe distancing is no longer required either. Masks are optional but they’re still generally encouraged when not eating.
For weddings hosting fewer than 500 attendees, Vaccination-Differentiated SMMs (VDS) are not needed unless held at an F&B establishment. For weddings exceeding 500 guests, VDS should be observed too.
Meanwhile, only up to 20 attendees are permitted to marriage solemnisation. VDS does not need to be observed either, but mask-wearing is encouraged nonetheless.
For more SMMs information, please refer to this document.
Overview: Wedding Banquets and Wedding Ang Bao Rates in Singapore 2023
To preface, these wedding ang bao rates 2022 are inclusive of GST. These estimated rates are calculated based on cost per person based on a venue’s cheapest and most expensive package, factoring in the average table seating capacity of 10 guests.
Disclaimer: Figures are adapted from SingaporeBrides.com. Values are arranged in ascending order from cheapest to most expensive rates.
Wedding banquets and wedding ang bao rates for hotels in Singapore 2022
Wedding ang bao rates for hotels in Singapore 2022 | ||
Hotel | Price range (Lunch) | Price range (Dinner) |
Village Hotel Albert Court | Weekday: S$70 Weekend: S$70 |
Weekday: S$70 Weekend: S$70 |
PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road | Weekday: S$90 to S$130 Weekend: S$140 |
Weekday: S$90 to S$140 Weekend: S$150 |
Genting Hotel Jurong | Weekday: S$100 Weekend: S$100 |
Weekday: S$100 to S$130 Weekend: S$110 to S$130 |
Park Hotel Clarke Quay | Weekday: S$106 to S$120 Weekend: S$106 to S$120 |
Weekday: S$133 Weekend: S$133 |
York Hotel | Weekday: S$110 to S$120 Weekend: S$120 to S$130 |
Weekday: S$110 to S$120 Weekend: S$120 to S$130 |
Peninsula Excelsior Hotel | Weekday: S$110 to S$140 Weekend: S$120 to S$140 |
Weekday: S$120 to S$160 Weekend: S$130 to S$160 |
Copthorne King’s Hotel Singapore | Weekday: S$120 to S$130 Weekend: S$130 |
Weekday: S$120 to S$140 Weekend: S$140 |
Mercure Singapore Bugis | Weekday: S$120 Weekend: S$130 |
Weekday: S$120 Weekend: S$130 |
Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium | Weekday: S$120 Weekend: S$120 |
Weekday: S$120 Weekend: S$140 |
Changi Cove Hotel | Weekday: S$120 to S$160 Weekend: S$120 to S$160 |
Weekday: S$120 to S$160 Weekend: S$120 to S$160 |
Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy | Weekday: S$120 to S$160 Weekend: S$120 to S$160 |
Weekday: S$130 to S$170 Weekend: S$130 to S$170 |
The Barracks Hotel Sentosa | Weekday: S$120 Weekend: S$200 |
Weekday: S$180 to S$400 Weekend: S$220 to S$400 |
Village Hotel Bugis | Weekday: S$130 Weekend: S$130 |
Weekday: S$130 Weekend: S$130 |
Grand Park Orchard | Weekday: S$130 to S$140 Weekend: S$140 |
Weekday: S$140 to S$170 Weekend: S$160 to S$170 |
Ramada by Wyndham Singapore at Zhongshan Park | Weekday: S$130 Weekend: S$130 |
Weekday: S$170 Weekend: S$170 |
Amara Singapore | Weekday: S$130 to S$180 Weekend: S$150 to S$180 |
Weekday: S$130 to S$180 Weekend: S$170 to S$180 |
Furama City Centre Singapore | Weekday: S$140 Weekend: S$140 |
Weekday: S$150 Weekend: S$150 |
Village Hotel Changi | Weekday: S$140 Weekend: S$140 |
Weekday: S$160 Weekend: S$160 |
Concorde Hotel Singapore | Weekday: S$140 Weekend: S$140 |
Weekday: S$140 to S$160 Weekend: S$160 to S$170 |
Voco Orchard Singapore | Weekday: S$140 Weekend: S$140 |
Weekday: S$150 Weekend: S$150 to S$170 |
Furama Riverfront | Weekday: S$140 to S$150 Weekend: S$140 to S$150 |
Weekday: S$150 to S$160 Weekend: S$150 to S$170 |
Furama Riverfront Singapore | Weekday: S$140 to S$150 Weekend: S$140 to S$150 |
Weekday: S$150 to S$160 Weekend: S$150 to S$170 |
M Hotel Singapore City Centre | Weekday: S$140 to S$160 Weekend: S$140 to S$160 |
Weekday: S$140 to S$160 Weekend: S$150 to S$170 |
Village Hotel Katong | Weekday: S$140 to S$160 Weekend: S$140 to S$160 |
Weekday: S$160 to S$180 Weekend: S$160 to S$200 |
Carlton Hotel Singapore | Weekday: S$140 to S$180 Weekend: S$140 to S$180 |
Weekday: S$170 to S$180 Weekend: S$170 to S$180 |
Paradox Singapore Merchant Courte at Clarke Quay | Weekday: S$140 Weekend: S$140 |
Weekday: S$130 to S$170 Weekend: S$170 to S$180 |
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel | Weekday: S$140 to S$170 Weekend: S$140 to S$170 |
Weekday: S$120 to S$200 Weekend: S$150 to S$200 |
Oasia Resort Sentosa | Weekday: S$140 Weekend: S$190 |
Weekday: S$180 Weekend: S$200 |
Oasia Hotel Novena Singapore | Weekday: S$150 Weekend: S$150 |
Weekday: S$170 Weekend: S$170 |
Crowne Plaza Changi Airport | Weekday: S$150 to S$160 Weekend: S$150 to S$160 |
Weekday: S$130 to S$160 Weekend: S$160 to S$170 |
JEN Singapore Tanglin by Shangri-La | Weekday: S$150 to S$180 Weekend: S$150 to S$180 |
Weekday: S$150 to S$180 Weekend: S$170 to S$180 |
One Farrer Hotel | Weekday: S$150 Weekend: S$150 |
Weekday: S$170 Weekend: S$170 to S$190 |
Oneº15 Marina Sentosa Cove | Weekday: S$160 Weekend: S$160 |
Weekday: S$160 Weekend: S$160 |
Royal Plaza on Scotts | Weekday: S$160 Weekend: S$160 |
Weekday: S$160 Weekend: S$160 |
Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre | Weekday: S$160 Weekend: S$160 |
Weekday: S$160 to S$170 Weekend: S$170 |
Rendezvous Hotel Singapore at Bras Basah | Weekday: NIL Weekend: S$160 |
Weekday: S$140 to S$160 Weekend: S$170 |
Novotel Singapore on Stevens | Weekday: S$160 Weekend: S$160 |
Weekday: S$160 Weekend: S$160 to S$180 |
Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel | Weekday: S$160 to S$170 Weekend: S$160 to S$170 |
Weekday: S$160 to S$190 Weekend: S$180 to S$190 |
Grand Park City Hall | Weekday: S$160 to S$170 Weekend: S$160 to S$170 |
Weekday: S$160 to S$170 Weekend: S$160 to S$170 |
Four Points by Sherton Singapore, Riverview | Weekday: S$160 to S$180 Weekend: S$160 to S$180 |
Weekday: S$160 to S$180 Weekend: S$160 to S$180 |
Regent Singapore | Weekday: S$160 Weekend: S$170 to S$180 |
Weekday: S$160 to S$170 Weekend: S$190 to S$210 |
Intercontinental Singapore | Weekday: S$160 Weekend: S$200 to S$410 |
Weekday: S$160 to S$410 Weekend: S$200 to S$410 |
Grand Hyatt Singapore | Weekday: S$170 Weekend: S$170 |
Weekday: S$180 to S$200 Weekend: S$200 to S$210 |
PARKROYAL Collection Marina Bay, Singapore | Weekday: S$170 Weekend: S$180 |
Weekday: S$170 Weekend: S$220 |
Fairmont Singapore and Swissotel the Stamford | Weekday: S$170 to S$180 Weekend: S$170 to S$180 |
Weekday: S$190 to S$200 Weekend: S$190 to S$200 |
Orchard Hotel Singapore | Weekday: S$170 Weekend: S$180 |
Weekday: S$200 to S$230 Weekend: S$200 to S$230 |
Conrad Centennial Singapore | Weekday: S$170 to S$190 Weekend: S$170 to S$190 |
Weekday: S$170 to S$220 Weekend: S$180 to S$220 |
PARKROYAL on Beach Road | Weekday: S$170 to S$200 Weekend: S$180 to S$200 |
Weekday: S$170 to S$230 Weekend: S$200 to S$230 |
Sheraton Towers Singapore | Weekday: S$170 to S$220 Weekend: S$170 to S$220 |
Weekday: S$190 to S$220 Weekend: S$190 to S$220 |
Marina Bay Sands | Weekday: S$170 to S$230 Weekend: S$170 to S$230 |
Weekday: S$200 to S$230 Weekend: S$200 to S$230 |
PARKROYAL Collection Pickering | Weekday: S$170 to S$240 Weekend: S$170 to S$240 |
Weekday: S$140 to S$240 Weekend: S$200 to S$240 |
Goodwood Park Hotel | Weekday: S$180 Weekend: S$180 |
Weekday: S$180 to S$200 Weekend: S$200 |
Oasia Hotel Downtown | Weekday: S$180 Weekend: S$180 |
Weekday: S$200 Weekend: S$200 |
Hotel Fort Canning (Extra S$5,500 for Grand Marquee) |
Weekday: S$180 Weekend: S$180 |
Weekday: S$200 Weekend: S$200 |
The Westin Singapore | Weekday: S$180 Weekend: S$180 |
Weekday: S$180 to S$200 Weekend: S$200 |
Sofitel Singapore City Centre | Weekday: S$180 Weekend: S$180 to S$200 |
Weekday: S$190 Weekend: S$190 to S$210 |
Pan Pacific Singapore | Weekday: NIL Weekend: S$180 to S$200 |
Weekday: S$160 to S$200 Weekend: S$210 to S$230 |
The Outpost Hotel Sentosa | Weekday: S$120 to S$200 Weekend: S$200 |
Weekday: S$180 Weekend: S$220 |
Hilton Singapore Orchard | Weekday: S$180 Weekend: S$180 |
Weekday: S$180 to S$200 Weekend: S$200 to S$230 |
Village Hotel Sentosa | Weekday: S$120 to S$200 Weekend: S$200 |
Weekday: S$180 Weekend: S$220 |
Four Seasons Hotel Singapore | Weekday: S$180 to S$360 Weekend: S$180 to S$360 |
Weekday: S$240 to S$310 Weekend: S$240 to S$310 |
Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa | Weekday: S$190 to S$240 Weekend: S$200 to S$240 |
Weekday: S$190 to S$240 Weekend: S$230 to S$250 |
Shangri-La Hotel | Weekday: S$200 to S$310 Weekend: S$200 to S$310 |
Weekday: S$240 to S$310 Weekend: S$240 to S$310 |
Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore | Weekday: S$200 to S$250 Weekend: S$200 to S$250 |
Weekday: S$200 to S$250 Weekend: S$200 to S$250 |
Andaz Singapore | Weekday: S$210 Weekend: S$210 |
Weekday: S$240 to S$250 Weekend: S$240 to S$250 |
Mandarin Oriental Singapore | Weekday: S$210 Weekend: S$220 |
Weekday: S$240 Weekend: S$250 |
W Singapore – Sentosa Cove | Weekday: S$210 to S$250 Weekend: S$210 to S$250 |
Weekday: S$240 to S$250 Weekend: S$240 to S$270 |
Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa | Weekday: S$210 to S$260 Weekend: S$210 to S$260 |
Weekday: S$220 to S$290 Weekend: S$220 to S$310 |
Resorts World Sentosa, Equarius Hotel | Weekday: S$220 to S$230 Weekend: S$220 to S$230 |
Weekday: S$230 to S$240 Weekend: S$230 to S$240 |
The St. Regis Singapore | Weekday: S$220 to S$240 Weekend: S$220 to S$240 |
Weekday: S$220 to S$290 Weekend: S$250 to S$290 |
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore | Weekday: S$230 Weekend: S$230 |
Weekday: S$250 Weekend: S$250 |
The Ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore | Weekday: S$230 to S$250 Weekend: S$230 to S$250 |
Weekday: S$270 to S$340 Weekend: S$270 to S$340 |
Capella Singapore | Weekday: S$230 to S$370 Weekend: S$230 to S$370 |
Weekday: S$250 to S$370 Weekend: S$250 to S$370 |
Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, Singapore | Weekday: S$240 to S$270 Weekend: S$240 to S$270 |
Weekday: S$240 to S$270 Weekend: S$240 to S$270 |
The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore | Weekday: S$240 to S$250 Weekend: S$240 to S$250 |
Weekday: S$260 to S$270 Weekend: S$260 to S$270 |
JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach | Weekday: S$240 Weekend: S$250 |
Weekday: S$260 to S$270 Weekend: S$270 to S$290 |
Raffles Hotel | Weekday: S$260 to S$270 Weekend: S$260 to S$270 |
Weekday: S$270 to S$310 Weekend: S$270 to S$320 |
The Clifford Pier @ The Fullerton Bay Hotel | Weekday: S$330 to S$360 Weekend: S$330 to S$360 |
Weekday: S$330 Weekend: S$330 |
Resorts World Sentosa, S.E.A Aquarium | Weekday: NIL Weekend: NIL |
Weekday: S$320 to $360 Weekend: S$320 to S$360 |
Among the hotel venues, Village Hotel Albert Court is the cheapest wedding ang bao rate coming in at S$70 for both lunch and dinner banquets.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, S.E.A Aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa has the most expensive wedding ang bao rates ranging between S$320 to S$360. Moreover, they don’t serve any lunch banquets, only dinner banquets.
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Wedding banquet and wedding ang bao rates for restaurant and other miscellaneous venues in Singapore 2023
Wedding ang bao rates for restaurant venues in Singapore 2022 | ||
Hotel | Price range (Lunch) | Price range (Dinner) |
Lingzhi Vegetarian (Liat Towers) | Weekday: S$60 to S$90 Weekend: S$60 to S$90 |
Weekday: S$60 to S$90 Weekend: S$60 to S$90 |
Ban Heng @ Orchard Central | Weekday: S$70 to S$130 Weekend: S$80 to S$130 |
Weekday: S$70 to S$130 Weekend: S$80 to S$130 |
Ban Heng @ Orchid Country Club | Weekday: S$70 to S$160 Weekend: S$100 to S$160 |
Weekday: S$70 to S$160 Weekend: S$100 to S$160 |
Fu Lin Men (Orchid Country Club) | Weekday: S$80 to S$160 Weekend: S$80 to S$160 |
Weekday: S$80 to S$160 Weekend: S$80 to S$160 |
Ah Yat Seafood Restaurant | Weekday: S$90 to S$130 Weekend: S$90 to S$130 |
Weekday: S$90 to S$130 Weekend: S$90 to S$130 |
Tung Lok Seafood (Upper Jurong) | Weekday: S$90 to S$170 Weekend: S$90 to S$170 |
Weekday: S$90 to S$170 Weekend: S$90 to S$170 |
The Great Ballroom | Weekday: S$100 to S$140 Weekend: S$120 to S$140 |
Weekday: S$100 to S$140 Weekend: S$120 to S$140 |
Fu Lin Men (National Service Resort & Country Cub) | Weekday: S$100 to S$160 Weekend: S$110 to S$170 |
Weekday: S$100 to S$160 Weekend: S$110 to S$170 |
Serangoon Gardens Country Club | Weekday: S$100 to S$160 Weekend: S$100 to S$170 |
Weekday: S$100 to S$160 Weekend: S$100 to S$170 |
Qian Xi Paya Lebar Qian Xi Farrer Park Qian Xi Bountiful Garden |
Weekday: S$100 to S$170 Weekend: S$100 to S$170 |
Weekday: S$100 to S$170 Weekend: S$100 to S$170 |
Tung Lok Signatures (The Central) | Weekday: S$100 to S$110 Weekend: S$100 to S$110 |
Weekday: S$100 to S$110 Weekend: S$100 to S$110 |
Seletar Country Club | Weekday: S$110 Weekend: S$110 |
Weekday: S$110 Weekend: S$110 |
Peach Garden @ The Metropolis | Weekday: S$110 to S$130 Weekend: S$110 to S$130 |
Weekday: S$110 to S$130 Weekend: S$110 to S$130 |
Peach Garden @ Hotel Miramar | Weekday: S$110 to S$140 Weekend: S$110 to S$140 |
Weekday: S$110 to S$140Weekend: S$120 to S$140 |
Peach Garden @ Thomson Plaza | Weekday: S$110 to S$140 Weekend: S$130 to S$140 |
Weekday: S$110 to $140 Weekend: S$130 to S$140 |
Peach Garden @ OCBC Centre | Weekday: S$110 to S$160 Weekend: S$140 to S$160 |
Weekday: S$110 to S$160 Weekend: S$140 to S$160 |
Chui Huay Lim Teochew Cuisine | Weekday: S$110 to S$200 Weekend: S$110 to S$200 |
Weekday: S$110 to S$200 Weekend: S$110 to S$200 |
The Chevrons @ Jurong East | Weekday: S$110 to S$150 Weekend: S$110 to S$150 |
Weekday: S$110 to S$150 Weekend: S$110 to S$150 |
Qian Xi Pearl Garden Qian Xi Hilltop Garden Qian Xi Eternal Garden Qian Xi Summer Garden Qian Xi Jubilee Garden |
Weekday: S$110 to S$170 Weekend: S$110 to S$170 |
Weekday: S$110 to S$170 Weekend: S$110 to S$170 |
Fu Lin Men (Singapore Recreation Club) Fu Lin Men (Chinese Swimming Club) |
Weekday: S$110 to S$170 Weekend: S$110 to S$170 |
Weekday: S$110 to S$170 Weekend: S$110 to S$170 |
Orchid Country Club | Weekday: S$120 Weekend: S$120 |
Weekday: S$130 to S$140 Weekend: S$130 to S$140 |
Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium | Weekday: S$120 Weekend: S$120 |
Weekday: S$120 Weekend: S$140 |
Fu Lin Men (Singapore Recreation Club) | Weekday: S$110 to S$170 Weekend: S$110 to S$170 |
Weekday: S$110 to S$170 Weekend: S$110 to S$170 |
Tung Lok Signatures, Antica Ballroom @ Orchard Rendezvous Hotel | Weekday: S$120 to S$140 Weekend: S$120 to S$140 |
Weekday: S$120 to S$140 Weekend: S$120 to S$140 |
Sinfonia Ristorante | Weekday: S$120 to S$260 Weekend: S$120 to S$260 |
Weekday: S$140 to S$320 Weekend: S$140 to S$320 |
The Joyden Hall | Weekday: S$130 to S$170 Weekend: S$150 to S$170 |
Weekday: S130 to S$170 Weekend: S$170 |
Sentosa Golf Club | Weekday: S$130 to S$140 Weekend: S$130 to S$140 |
Weekday: S$170 to S$190 Weekend: S$170 to S$190 |
Furama City Centre Singapore | Weekday: S$140 Weekend: S$140 |
Weekday: S$150 Weekend: S$150 |
Raffles Marina | Weekday: S$140 to S$160 Weekend: S$140 to S$160 |
Weekday: S$140 to S$160 Weekend: S$140 to S$160 |
The Villa at Singapore Botanic Gardens | Weekday: S$160 to S$200 Weekend: S$160 to S$200 |
Weekday: S$160 to S$200 Weekend: S$160 to S$200 |
Red House Seafood | Weekday: S$160 to S$200 Weekend: S$160 to S$200 |
Weekday: S$160 to S$200 Weekend: S$160 to S$200 |
Mount Faber Peak | Weekday: S$130 to S$160 Weekend: S$130 to S$160 |
Weekday: S$170 to S$200 Weekend: S$170 to S$200 |
YÀN 宴 | Weekday: S$170 to S$200 Weekend: S$170 to S$200 |
Weekday: S$170 to S$200 Weekend: S$170 to S$200 |
Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant at top of UOB Plaza | Weekday: S$160 to S$240 Weekend: S$160 to S$240 |
Weekday: S$160 to S$240 Weekend: S$160 to S$240 |
Grand Shanghai | Weekday: S$190 to S$200 Weekend: S$190 to S$200 |
Weekday: S$190 to S$200 Weekend: S$190 to S$200 |
Tung Lok Heen | Weekday: S$160 to S$230 Weekend: S$180 to S$230 |
Weekday: S$160 to S$230 Weekend: S$180 to S$230 |
1-Atico | Weekday: S$170 Weekend: S$250 to S$280 |
Weekday: S$170 Weekend: S$250 to S$280 |
For non-hotel venues, Ling Zhi Vegeterian at Liat Towers offers comparable ang bao rates between S$60 to S$90 for their lunch and dinner banquets.
Meanwhile, Tung Lok Heen is the priciest on the list, starting from S$170 onwards for their weekday banquets and between S$250 to S$280 for their weekend banquets.
In general, Saturday is the most popular day for wedding banquets. So based on that…
What are the average wedding ang bao rates for a typical Saturday wedding banquet?
Saturday wedding | |||
Most expensive hotel for wedding lunch | Most expensive hotel for wedding dinner | Cheapest hotel for wedding lunch | Cheapest hotel for wedding dinner |
The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore: S$240 to S$250 | The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore: S$240 to S$270 | Village Hotel Albert Court: S$70 | Village Hotel Albert Court: S$70 |
Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, Singapore: S$240 to S$270 | Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, Singapore: S$240 to S$270 | Genting Hotel Jurong: S$100 | Genting Hotel Jurong: S$110 to S$130 |
Raffles Hotel: S$260 to S$270 | Raffles Hotel: S$270 to S$320 | Park Hotel Clarke Quay: S$106 to S$120 | Park Hotel Clarke Quay: S$133 |
The Clifford Pier @ The Fullerton Bay Hotel: S$330 to S$360 | The Clifford Pier @ The Fullerton Bay Hotel: S$330 | York Hotel: S$120 to S$130 | York Hotel: S$120 to S$130 |
Resorts World Sentosa, S.E.A. Aquarium: S$320 to S$360 | Peninsula Excelsior Hotel: S$120 to S$140 | Peninsula Excelsior Hotel: S$130 to S$160 |
But don’t let the pressure of typical wedding conventions get to you. Just because the majority of weddings are held on Saturdays (or Fridays) doesn’t mean that you have to follow. It all boils down to what you and your future spouse prefer, and also how big or how intimate you’d want your wedding banquet to be.
More often than not, several couples skip the wedding banquets altogether because they’d much rather apportion that money for more important purchases and investments like your BTO downpayment (and future mortgage) or buying a car.
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How much are wedding ang baos at Chinese wedding?
Depending on the scale of the wedding festivities, the value of your ang bao will differ accordingly. In general, hotel wedding banquets at around S$1,000 per table will warrant ang bao rates between S$100 to S$120.
Slightly up the price ladder, hotel wedding banquets at around S$1,500 per table will bump up your ang bao rates to around S$150 to S$180.
The truly extravagant hotel wedding banquets at around S$2,000 per table will set you back further by S$200 to S$250 per wedding ang bao. And anything above S$2,000 per table will cost a hefty S$250 to S$280 per wedding ang bao.
Meanwhile, wedding ang bao rates for restaurant and miscellaneous venues would average between S$60 and S$100. Needless to say, restaurant wedding banquets are definitely easier on the pocket.
Auspicious figures to gift in your ang bao would be denomination values consisting of 8 like S$68, S$88, S$128. Alternatively, whole numbers like S$100, S$110, and S$120 and others are perfectly fine too.
Just avoid giving any monetary value containing the number 4 because, in Mandarin and Cantonese, it sounds like the word for ‘death’.
How much are wedding ang baos at Malay or Indian weddings?
Although traditional Malay weddings are typically held at HDB void decks, don’t underestimate them. Their wedding banquets and ceremony can be just as extravagant as a luxury hotel’s package! Malay weddings are estimated to cost anywhere from S$30,000 onwards depending on the newlyweds’ budget.
For weekday lunches, the average banquet table costs around S$1,180 while weekend dinner tables would cost around S$1,340. For example, notable halal restaurants like 21 on Rajah open wedding packages starting from S$68++ per person. So for a guest list of around 200 pax, that’ll average out to S$13,600 in total.
Similarly, red packets and monetary tokens are also acceptable gifts for Indian weddings. Knowing the right rates can be estimated based on the location of their wedding reception. A typical Indian wedding takes place at a temple, with a reception to follow (also at a temple). In other cases, the wedding reception might also be hosted at hotels.
Whatever it is, your ang bao money should reflect the prestige of the venue and cost of meal per head accordingly.
For example, the Raffles Marina offers Indian cuisine wedding banquets at S$75++ per person (S$750 per table). So for a guest list of 200 pax, that’ll total up to roughly S$15,000.
If your budget allows, the Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre features two extravagant ballrooms and the Maharajah Suite for a lavish wedding reception and banquet, capable of accommodating up to 270 guests. Their set lunch and dinners start from S$88++ and S$99++ per person (for 2022 weddings) and S$93++ and S$103++ per person (for 2023 weddings) respectively. Such higher-end weddings would cost from S$17,600 and upwards.
Based on these rates, you can expect your contribution as a guest to hover between S$50 to S$100 at least. But in general, denominations ending in 1 such as S$21, S$51, S$101, S$201 are considered auspicious.
How to decide the right amount of ang bao money to give?
Coming to this conclusion will depend on a number of factors:
- How close are you to the bride and/or groom? If you’re not as close, you can probably get away with giving the bare minimum amount. However, if you’re considerably close, you’ll definitely need to give more.
- How are your personal finances like at that point in time? Is it better for that month? Or are you running low on cash?
- Are you concerned about ‘face’ or ‘reputation’? Don’t feel obligated to outcompete or feel embarrassed by giving lesser than another wedding guest. The amount you give is up to your own discretion and it’s between you and the newlyweds.
Weddings aren’t cheap, but they shouldn’t cost you a fortune
If you’re a soon-to-be newlywed reading this, we understand: weddings are by no means a cheap endeavour. They can burn a hole in your pocket just to achieve that one perfect day that you’ll remember for years to come.
For some, it seems like a waste of money to spend on lavish wedding setups whereas, for others, the ceremony, reception and banquet are worth the expenditure because of the sentimentality attached to them.
Whatever the case may be, don’t let your wedding planning unnecessarily inhibit or detriment your savings for future big-ticket expenses. Opting for a wedding loan or utilising a handy unlimited cashback card or mileage card to foot all these pricey bills would help ease the financial burden a little.
Last updated on14 September 2022. Prices listed here are estimates and subject to change without prior notice.
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