A Fairy‑tale Affair
Whether it is an intimate outdoor wedding or a lavish indoor one, realising one’s dream nuptials, as this writer pleasantly discovers, is no sweat with W Singapore – Sentosa Cove as partner
From ditching the white dress to doing away with the traditional wedding cake, almost every aspect of a wedding is optional save for one: the venue. After all, you will need a place for family and loved ones to gather for the actual ceremony—as small or large as it may be.
With so many options to choose from, finding the right one can be tough. While I do not have a clear vision for my wedding, I do know I want to have it outdoors—and where better to begin my venue hunt than at W Singapore – Sentosa Cove? After all, the luxurious hotel is the perfect escape away from the city and comes complete with a lavish green lawn that overlooks the sea.
So I connect with Ho Mun Hoong, the hotel’s director of events, who explains how couples are linked with event specialists to help with the wedding preparations. “Tell us as much as you can and we’ll tell you all we can do,” he says during our consultation. After I share a few thoughts on my ideal outdoor wedding, he quickly gets to work and shows me some of the hotel’s options.
“You can enter via a yacht,” he says, immediately catching my attention, as this is not something many hotels and resorts in Singapore are able to offer. He explains that the boat will be berthed and lead me directly to the Great Deck, where he proposes the ceremony be held. For the wedding dinner, the W Lawn (spanning 5,791 square feet) is able to host up to 200 guests, depending on the type of seating arrangement one chooses. To maximise the area, Ho recommends having 20 round tables that seats a total of 200 guests. For a unique layout, he suggests arranging the seating around the stunning golden bonbon sculpture by French artist Laurence Jenkell that sits at the centre of the massive lawn.
When it comes to food and drinks, there are options aplenty. For starters, Ho suggests his‑and‑hers cocktails that can be personalised by the bride and groom for a drink that is uniquely theirs, adding that the initials of the couple will also be stamped on the ice cubes. He then goes down the extensive menu of dishes that I can pick from, spanning from classic staples to elevated local and
international fare—think scallop laksa, lobster risotto and a live bao station. While external caterers are not allowed due to hygiene risks, Ho says that one to two specially curated dishes can be included in the final menu upon special request.
With the hotel’s uplifting and energetic vibe, it is only apt that it offers an exciting line‑up of entertainment for wedding guests. Ho shares, for example, how the ceremony can feature a live band or live music spun by a resident DJ. The hotel also engages with multiple wedding and event partners that have the capacity to engage personalities to host the celebrations.
With Singapore’s unpredictable weather, a backup plan needs to be in place for any scheduled outdoor event. To that end, when the lawn is booked, the hotel’s main ballroom, the Great Room, will be reserved as the backup venue. The roughly 720‑square‑metre space is grand, to say the least, with a stunning blue carpet, an impressive LED screen measuring 14 metres by 5 metres, and elegant chandeliers. Tall windows complete the pillarless space, bringing in natural light and stunning views of the hotel’s tropical surroundings. Ho, however, tells me that should we wish to hold the wedding indoors instead of outdoors, the decision has to be made four hours before the event itself to give the staff ample time to bring the decor in.
What’s a wedding without an after party? Woobar, Ho shares, is the perfect location to party the night away with my guests. Newly extended to offer more seating and space, the bar can be closed off for a private after party, at a minimum of 150 guests. Along with a DJ and a curated music list, Ho explains how the bar can offer late night snacks such as sliders, noodles and pastries that will pair well with drinks as the perfect post‑wedding fare. Once the celebrations are over, my partner and I can retire to the hotel’s Marvellous Suite, an 80‑square‑metre space with floor‑to‑ceiling windows overlooking views of the water, a marble‑clad bathroom, a separate living room and more. We would also be pampered with in‑room breakfast the next morning.
By the end of the consultation, I have a better idea of what I want for my wedding, thanks to Ho. He was able to cover multiple bases on how W Singapore – Sentosa Cove can help bring my wedding to life. The hotel’s ability to customise each wedding to suit the wants and preferences of different couples also adds to the allure of picking it as the ideal wedding destination.