Being born and raised in Singa-Bloody-Pore, I’m exposed to many cheena ways of getting married which since young, I could never understand why the couple should do this or that just because the others also do the same.
For example, most wedding couples would go for a studio or outdoor shoot in their rented gowns or tuxes prior to their wedding. Some even have many other costumes (I mean like traditional chinese costumes, not medieval costumes alrite…) which they include in their photoshoot.
I find it a waste of money.
Firstly, weddings in Singapore are so commercialised that the studios take advantage of this and they make sure they overcharge couples by alot. Therefore, a simple photoshoot could set a couple back by a few thousands of dollars.
This money can help me in my studies. Why should I spend so much on something which doesn’t mean much since it’s not on the actual day itself? It’s just a simple photoshoot!
Secondly, do you think alot of people are interested in looking at your wedding studio photos of you and your spouse?
I find myself liking wedding photos taken on the day itself, with radiant smiles and happy relatives, or family portraits with pets etc, rather than boring 20 pages of the bride and the groom alone, posing in silly poses, pretending to be dining when their backdrop is a posh restaurant, pretending to run on the beach IN THEIR WEDDING GOWN, pretending to ARGHHHHHH!!!!! IT’S SO FAKE! STOP IT! MY EYES!!! MY EYES!!!!!!!!!!!
And I’ve seen a few of these albums lately at bridal studios with Janice. Both of us having gone through media school, think that many photographers actually do not make the mark.
Most photos have no focus. Some have silly props that are huge and colorful and take the attention off the couple. Some have tree branches ‘sticking’ out from the couples’ heads (mergers). Some are just plain idiotic. We cringed at almost every page we turn.
And this, you want to charge $1 to $2k? Puh-Lease! *Rolls eyes*
If Nad wants, we will do a family portrait WITH my dogs and cat some other time. It doesn’t have to be BEFORE the wedding since it means NOTHING. It’s not on the actual day itself anyway. And I can handmake my own album and print my own photos, thank you very much. In fact, I just need someone to use MY Nikon D70 to shoot pictures of us. Nad can do the set design since he was my lecturer for that module. Duh. Stop trying to cheat me of my money.
Oh, and another thing on studio photos;
Why would I want a HUGE framed picture of me and Nad hanging over our bed? I may be narcissistic at times but I’m not fond of looking at myself before I sleep every night. I may end up having nightmares.
Another thing which I do not like about weddings in Singapore is that in the morning, the groom is supposed to go to the bride’s house and her ‘sisters’ (when I say ‘sisters’, I mean ‘girl-friends’) will PREVENT him from entering the house by making him do stupid things.
Such as:
- Push ups on the (dirty) floor outside the gate
- Eating wasabi or red hot chilli padis
- Wear women underwear on the outside
- Bunny hop
You get the idea.
I am wondering, what if, one day, the groom happens to be a non-obliging, stern and serious man? Would he walk away in a huff, saying that he’s not interested in marrying the girl?
Nad will never get to do all these. Because I do not appreciate mindless games like these. I know this is all in the name of good fun. But sorry, I do not get kicks out of torturing my husband-to-be. He has done more than enough to prove that he is the one I want to marry. And no, it does not lie with eating wasabi or dirtying his perfect suit or tux to do push-ups on the dirty floor. I rather he save the energy to do housework or something.
FYI, I cringe whenever I see this happening. I don’t find it funny at all.
Every girl day-dreams of their wedding at some point in their lives.
I always dreamt that my wedding would be in church. That when I walk down the aisle with my dad, it will be the first time that my groom sees me in my wedding dress. We say our vows. We sing some hymns.
Well, I guess it’s gonna be quite different from my dream.
Firstly, we are not yet members of the church. So our wedding would be held at a hotel instead.
Secondly, there is this chinese tea ceremony that has to take place in the morning before the wedding. Therefore, it will not be the first time that Nad will see me walking down the aisle in my wedding dress. 
But as it says in the Bible, Honour Thy Parents. I shall. My mom wants the tea ceremony to be held in the morning. Although I am crying inside, I will oblige.
Just count my blessings that I do not have to inherit spittons and wash basins from my parents. I won’t know where to put them!
I would really like to receive gifts or non at all from my guests. Because that’s how it is in western countries. The new couple receives gifts instead of angpows.
However, take into consideration that weddings are relatively much much much more affordable in western countries, and weddings in Singapore is so commercialised that every one from the hotel to the bridal salons to the florists to the make up artists to the photographers etc etc etc, charge such exhorbidant prices that I would like to receive angpows instead.
I’m not being hypocritical alrite. I do not expect 100% returns because afterall, it’s OUR wedding.
I had a chance to hold the wedding Down Under instead. But I chose not to because my family and friends are here.
And not to mention, dogs are not welcomed in most places here. So my wedding excludes Benji and Chiyo.
To be very frank, I’m not exactly happy. Just get it over and done with then. I’m happy to be with Nad. That’s more important if I look at the bigger picture. 5 more months and I leave the country that I love but resent at the same time (more resentment than love, actually.) To a country towards which I have no feelings for, yet.
I’m not running away. I’m merely running towards a bountiful supply of opportunities which the mother country failed to provide in the first place.
