WELCOME TO SINGAPORE!
The Singapore Merlion
A BIT ABOUT THE CELEBRATION
The event in Singapore will be in the form of a Tea Ceremony. This is a Chinese ceremony that honours each of our families and, more importantly, celebrates their union. It is where each of the couple is formally welcomed into the other's family. We are choosing to have this ceremony in Singapore to pay due respect to the most senior surviving member of both our families - Vivienne's maternal grandmother.
While this ceremony is important to both of us, we do not intend for it to be formal. We are going to keep it simple; it is meant to be an opportunity for the families to get to know each other, given that the physical distance between them is massive. As such, we have decided that this event will be family only.
WHAT TO WEAR
The dress code for the Ceremony itself is garden party; the weather will be hot, we want people to be comfortable! However, the dinner venue after the Ceremony does enforce a strict dress code (it IS Singapore after all), as follows:
- Shirts with collars for the boys.
- No thongs or slippers.
- No denim or shorts.
WHERE TO STAY
We recommend looking for accommodation near the Orchard or Somerset MRT (Singapore's subway) stations as these are very accessible.
More affordable options can be found further out from these districts. If you want to stay closer to the venue or aren't sure where to start looking, let us know and we'll be happy to assist!
GETTING AROUND SINGAPORE
Singapore is a very densely populated city, which may sound off-putting to some but actually translates into having a reliable, affordable, and efficient public transportation system. This consists predominantly of the Mass Railway Transit (MRT, or the subway, or now called SMRT which I think is an ironic name) and the bus, both of which will get you pretty much wherever you need to go with minimal walking required.
The easiest way to use public transport is to get yourself an EZ-Link card, which you can buy at most MRT stations and 7-Eleven convenience stores. These tap-and-go cards will get you on the bus or MRT easily and you also won't have to worry about figuring out the fare!
All MRT stations and bus stops are sign-posted with times and route maps, but we will of course be giving you a little guide for how to get from your accommodation to the venue.
Sometimes, you just need to get where you're going as fast as possible - no fuss, no muss. In these cases, taxis are the way to go. While more expensive than public transport, Singapore taxis are still cheaper and far easier to find than their equivalents in Australia.
WHAT TO DO AND SEE IN SINGAPORE
While you are certainly welcome to spend time with us throughout your stay in Singapore, we definitely encourage taking the opportunity to check out the city's many internationally-renown tourist destinations. Viv's personal recommendations, even for repeat visits, are:
- The Singapore Zoological Gardens
- Gardens By the Bay
- Singapore Botanic Gardens
- Waterfront Promenade (night time)
- Sentosa Island
- Clarke Quay
If you're up for seeing any or all of these, please let us know - we can help you figure out how to get there cheaply and quickly!
There is, of course, also Singapore's shopping district on Orchard Road - always worth a visit!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE CEREMONY?
Check out Viv's journal post about the tea ceremony. We welcome any questions you might have about the Ceremony. For those attending, please rest assured that everything will be clarified and explained to you prior to the day.
