BANQUET DINNER

I'm beginning to short-list the venues for wedding banquet. Personally, I don't like to those conventional looking ballroom. Here's a few I've found:

1) Fullerton - The Straits Room

This is love at first sight. How can I resist this European style room? But the major concern is...this room can only take up to 10 - 12 tables. 

Recently, we went for the viewing and managed to catch the decorated Straits Room. We had a good experience with the coordinator. Firstly, she replied emails promptly which was to our liking. Also, we were late for the appointment by 45 min, she waited for us patiently and welcomed us warmly. The first impression I had of their services was remarkable. The Straits Room was located on the 4th floor and the moment you stepped out of the lift, you could see the reception area. Indeed, it was a lovely place! The interior really caught our hearts. The coordinator offered us some perks further to the listed package. She also advised us on how to maximise the no. of guests invited. The stage could be removed  in order to include 2 more tables. As they were using 6 ft table, each table could contain up to 11 guests. We thought it was a good idea. Afterall, the absence of the stage wouldn't be an issue as the small room wouldn't look empty without it. As for the theme, there would be several themes for us to choose which included the colours of chair cover and ribbons around the chairs.  

Staffs at work

Food will be individually served to the guests. 1 staff would be allocated to 1 table each. 

2) CHIJMES Hall

A dream place for me but I heard the food isn't good. Their preferred partner for caterer is Tung Lok. 

3) Rasa Sentosa Resort - Horizon Pavillion

The view will be fantastic in this ballroom. 

4) Crowne Plaza Changi Airport

I was having this random idea that we could just fly away for honeymoon straight after the banquet.

After searching around, we decided to look for a restaurant with Oriental theme. Peony Jade at Keppel Club was the first on our list as Keppel Club would add some prestige to the restaurant. We dropped by on a friday night to check out the place as it was really near my office. The place would be inaccessible without car. At least the package would provide 2-way bus transport for our guests from Habourfront MRT. That was my first time going to Keppel Club. The clubhouse was more run-down than expected. I had the impression that it would be as nice as Keppel Bay. Well, something similar was the parking fee i.e. 1st hour $6. You would have to make sure that the restaurant provides sufficient complimentary parking for your guests. I like the red carpeted spiral staircase that led straight to the restaurant. 

The reception area would be quite cramp; totally no space for guests to mingle around before the commencement of banquet. As for the restaurant, I like the decorations with pitched roof and red lanterns. However, I didn't really like their wooden chairs, flooring and the toilet which was very small and rather dirty. The toilet was situated beside the stage and I didn't like the flow of passing the stage to the toilet. Well, I've heard that the food was good and hence, I wouldn't eliminate this place our list. 

Another restaurant on our list was Grand Shanghai in Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel. The location would be much better. Gonna set an appointment with the hotel for the viewing. 

Here's the update for Grand Shanghai. The restaurant is decorated with several chandeliers and grand columns. It's very glam for restaurant and the live band makes the package very attractive. However, the minimum no. of tables is 20 and we can't meet it. 

Table for cake 

VIP table in beige colour cover and nicely decorated table flowers. 

Favors for guests.

I've also request for quotations for Regent Hotel, Mandarin Oriental, Mandarin Orchard, Hotel Intercontinental and Parkroyal at Pickering. After another round of listing with our families, we are probably having 12 to 15 tables.

Hotel Intercontinental

Malacca Room (max 10 tables)

Bugis Vault (max 12 tables)

Regent Hotel

 Nassim Room

Mandarin Oriental

 Garden Suite (min 10 max 13 tables)

My future in-laws suggested Jade Restaurant in Fullerton as they heard praises about the food. We checked out the place and to our surprise, the place was impressive. High ceiling, full height glass window, banquet chairs with cover to be arranged. The only I didn't like about the place was the narrow aisle. By now, we narrowed down to either Jade or Straits Room (both in Fullerton). Jade was handled by Sharon from the Events Department while Straits Room was handled by Violette from the Catering Department. Which one should we take????

 On a side note, I really love this stairs. Well, I heard people saying inauspicious stuff about it though. I rather see it as an union between two people as they walk down the path.

1 Mar 14 is really a hot date. Several hotels and banquets have received booking for the date!