Wedding Venue Hunting at Concorde Hotel's Openhouse

Here's the third showcase my fiance and I went to after our visit to Marina Mandarin's wedding open house and Goodwood Park's wedding open house. Before I begin, let me remind you, this is written to my own PERSONAL opinion. Everyone have different experiences and opinions, so do take what I write with a pinch of salt. 

Concorde Hotel, formerly known as Le Meridien Singapore, is located at the Le Meridien Shopping Center in between Somerset and Douby Ghaut. Here's their wedding package. 

It wasn't even one of our choices as we felt the shopping center located below the hotel is rather dodgy and the exterior looks pretty old. In fact, my fiance was bitching about the shopping center, until my friend who was accompanying us with her husband told us her sister held her wedding there last year and it was a pretty good experience. She told us to go in with an open mind. 

So since we were around the area, why not just pop by and look around? 

My friend said they installed escalators outside the mall that will take us straight to the hotel lobby on the third instead of walking past those dodgy massage parlours to take the lift to the lobby. She did however, mention that despite the dodgy massage parlours, the mall does have shops that are known for giving good manicure and hair services (she swears that her friends do go there for their manicures and stuff despite the dodgy shops) and highlighted that on my wedding day if anything should happen to my nails or hair, I can just go down to the mall and touch up. 

Point taken. 

When we exited the lift to the main lobby. Ok, it wasn't like what we expected. We expected the place to be peeling, a bit dim, and stuff.. but it looks presentable. 

Main Lobby of the Hotel

The one and only Ballroom

Oriental Theme

VIP table decor

Second theme

Main Stage decor for the second theme.

Panoramic view of the ballroom 

Dessert

Croissant 

Tarts

Sandwiches

Smoked Salmon

Open face sandwiches

Wedding Favours

Wedding Favours

My photo doesn't do it justice.

Official photo taken from Concorde's Website

Also taken from Concorde's Website

I came to Concorde in mid-2013 for the SIA walk-in interview (where I flunked the height test section despite being 1.59m.. I blame my short arms), and to be honest, the ballroom didn't make much of an impression to me. Maybe it was because I was coming for an interview and I was more focused on other things as compared to checking out my surrounds at that time.

So when I entered the ballroom, I was awestruck. The ambiance reminded me of the Roaring Twenties ala The Great Gatsby. Ceiling height seemed just right, not too high, not too low. I like how there is only ONE ballroom. This means that guests will not be confused which ballroom is our wedding and lesser competition for parking lots. I also can't help but notice that the reception outside have their very own bathroom opposite the ballroom. Meaning, we won't have random tourists/people walking past our reception area to go to the bathroom and it's close by so our guests won't have to walk too far to find the toilet. I also like how there's a wheelchair ramp to the reception area, for elderly guests who are unable to walk, this will be easier for them to access the place without much hassle.

Food wise, I can't comment much as they served mainly appetizers for us potential newlyweds. But they do have a dessert buffet for people who are holding their wedding dinner there (I'm holding a lunch banquet), so I'm assuming that some of the food served during the openhouse will be served for the dessert buffet. 

 The wedding favours were quite interesting too. Passport holder, luggage tag, portable nailcare set, cards, we quite like the travel pillow as well.

The invitation cards were pretty standard, so we didn't take photos of it. We spoke to one of the staff who informed us that for the solemnisation/tea ceremony room that is held next to the banquet hall, we do not have to worry about decors as they will take two of the aisle decorations (based on your chosen theme) and place it at each ends of the solemnisation table. After everyone is ushered out to the reception area, the staff will discreetly bring the aisle decors back to the banquet hall before the guests are ushered in to be seated.

We quite like that idea. 

The staff also told us that the hotel is able to display our wedding photo on their information screen. Which is fantastic, as they have the screen displayed at the entrance of the shopping mall, the lift lobby and outside the reception area. It means I don't have to allocate brothers and/or sisters to direct my guests to the venue. 

We were taken to the bridal suite. Out of the wedding venues I have visited (openhouses or relatives' weddings), this is by far one of the most spacious bridal suites (of course, to be fair, can't compare with York Hotel, that place's bridal suite takes the cake so far).  

 I particularly like the spacious bathroom with its full length mirrors as this means there is sufficient space for my make up artist, sisters and whoever to move around without bumping into each other. Also the big full length mirror meant that my bridesmaid and I can check our appearances without waiting for each other's turn (that happened to us for my friend's wedding).

My fiance, from someone who was not at all impressed with the exterior of the hotel, he was quite sold after talking to the staff. The staff was quite commendable, whatever he promised us he wrote it down (so, according to him, he can remember what he promised when we call him to confirm), was willing to lend a listening ear and he was quite witty. He also explained to my fiance, when my fiance complained that the exterior was very dodgy that the hotel management do not own the shopping center, they unfortunately, only own the hotel itself, hence they can only renovate the interior. 

That really explains a lot of things. 

One of the strongest selling point he told us was "And also, because there is only one ballroom, it means our staff are completely dedicated to serving only you." 

Overall verdict, exterior is dodgy yes, but they did make it up by renovating the interiors. In fact, two people I know who are very, very fussy and always complain about services, held functions (one a wedding, another a birthday party) at Concorde, both swore that the service there is fantastic. That, my fiance and I can't help but agree based on the fact that the coordinator we met at the openhouse was very, very good. So good that my friend and her husband advised us to work with him as they told us "A wedding venue can be beautiful, have good food, but if the service sucks, you won't get to enjoy any of it. Take our advice, work with someone who can work if not your wedding day will be very stressful." 

Even my fiance reluctantly agreed that out of all the venues we have visited, he actually felt most at ease with this coordinator. 

After deliberating for a few days, we decided to settle for Concorde Hotel as we decided a good coordinator is the most important for our big day. Thus, effectively ending our wedding venue hunt. 

Wedding Venue Hunting at Goodwood Park's Openhouse

Here's the second showcase my fiance and I went to after our visit to Marina Mandarin's wedding open house. Before I begin, let me remind you, this is written to my own PERSONAL opinion. Everyone have different experiences and opinions, so do take what I write with a pinch of salt. Now let's see....

Ta-da! The prestigious and beautifully classy Goodwood Park. (Check out their wedding packages here)

It costed SGD $38 per couple to go for their wedding openhouse but that is alright.. because it consists of their LEGENDARY HIGH TEA BUFFET.

But first, let us take a look at their biggest, grandest and probably the only octogonal banquet hall in Singapore, the Windsor Ballroom.  

Windsor Ballroom

Love the old world colonial charm this ballroom has. The ballroom is big enough to fit a maximum of 38 tables. I love the mirrors and I love that there are four projector screens, two at the center of each side of the stage. I stood right at the back and looked at the nearest screen and can see the picture on it with perfect clarity. This means that if I'm a wedding guest, no matter where I sit I am able to see the bride and groom either on the projector screen, in the mirrors or on the stage itself. Lovely.

I am very anal about this fact because I went for a friend's wedding at Ritz before and I was seated somewhere at the back.. I cannot see ANYTHING. Not even the projector. I didn't get to see how the bridal couple looked until they came to our table for a photograph.

Anyway, we were famished. So we zeroed in onto the food first like a pack of hyenas onto a carcass.

Turkey with sundried tomatoes and peach sandwiches and others. 

Chicken wrap, some kinda cheesy tart (which was fabulously delicious) and salmon with caviar

Confession of a glutton, I had 5 of these.

Mushroom Quiche. After the cheesy tart thingy, this one was like meh,

Shrimp patties

Assortment of desserts

Some kinda pear tart with meringue 

Chocolate with some fruity jelly thing in the center.

Chocolate cake.

My favourite, Min Jiang's legendary Roast Chicken!

I apologise for not remember the names of what I ate. I just took the food, snap photo, took food, snap photo, eat, go back to buffet table, snap photo, took photo, repeat.

But I can guarantee one thing. The food is fantabulous!

A clearer view of Windsor Ballroom

After we were satiated, we decided to get down to business. We asked for a tour of the premises with the staff. We were led to their smaller ballroom, the Tudor Ballroom.

Tudor Ballroom

Now, I have heard that the Tudor Ballroom have pillars (at the side), and the ceiling is low... but I like the ambiance. Pity we will be having more than 30 tables, so the Tudor Ballroom is out. Otherwise, I would have considered it as it gives me a very Disney Princess vibe.

Poolside Solemnisation Venue A

We were led past the Coffee Lounge to the high tea buffet side. Behind the crowd and the mouthwatering food, we entered the first outdoor solemnisation venue. Yes, it faces the pool, yes it is sheltered. But behind you, you will have the buffet customers staring at you as they eat and also random tourists entering the lobby which is in front of the buffet area.. who may also be staring at you. To us, if we were to choose this place for solemnisation, this is out.

Poolside Solemnisation Venue B

This place was below the Windsor Ballroom. It gives us a bit more privacy and the view is better than the first venue. However, as my fiance pointed out, the last thing he wants is for us to be saying our vows and to have random hotel guests in the background sunbathing in the photo. Out.

We were led to the Deluxe room for the sisters on the second floor. Interestingly enough, the suites and the deluxe rooms were located right next to the Windsor ballroom. So I guess this means that it's easier for the bride to go back and change her outfit.

Corridor to the bridal suites and Deluxe rooms

Deluxe Room

Deluxe Room bathroom

Bridal Suite Bedroom

Bridal Suite Living Room

The Bridal Suite room was gorgeous. I loved that it faced the pool with its beautiful scenary but I'm not liking the fact that it's only on the second floor. This meant that if some tourists' kids decided to have a screaming match in the pool, we will hear it loud and clear. And I can't help but feel that the suite is nice for a staycation, but not for a stay before or after the wedding. It just didn't feel right to me. But that is my personal opinion. 

We were led back to the Windsor Ballroom. 

Theme 1

Theme 2

Stage

Wedding Favours Samples

Goodwood Park Guestbook

Frankly speaking, the fiance and I found Goodwood Park's themes and favours very traditional and normal. We spoke to the coordinator about the package and found that there is minimal room for negotiations. The most we were offered longan tea and a teapot for our tea ceremony. Solemnisation venue was pricy at about $1000k+. Definitely out of our budget. If we were to splurge on this place it will probably be for the fabulous food and ballroom. Otherwise, we decided, this is not for us. 

While leaving we saw their fabulous durian rainbow cake.

Overall verdict, only choose this place if you can afford it and if food is a priority for you. Otherwise, onward to venue number 3, Concorde Hotel! Stay tuned! 

Killing time in between Yoga and Pole classes

Every weekend, I'll usually spend my time doing about two hours of yoga in town. As I have recently signed up for an Amateur Night pole dance competition, I also spend my weekends practicing my dance routine. 

With about three hours to kill before our allocated Amateur Night practice time begins, I decided to do the most important thing on my to-do list.

Lunch. 

I mean seriously, after two hours of Hot Stretch and Iyengar yoga classes.. ANYONE will be famished. As you all know, yoga classes are for clearing the mind of negative thoughts and stay focused on the self? Throughout class, my motivational thoughts were "FOOD. FOOD. FOOD." 

No wonder the fiance said I will never lose any weight. 

My stomach craved for chicken rice today and chicken rice I shall have. 

Went to The Food Inn, located at the Park Mall exit at Douby Ghaut XChange. 

What caught my eye was the price. $3 for chicken rice?! In Orchard Road?  

NOW THAT IS A STEAL. 

$3 for a plate of chicken rice and $5 for a set. NICE.

Roast Chicken Rice

Ordered my usual, roast chicken, breast meat and less rice. Health conscious lah.

Now before you ask me how was the chicken rice? I can safely say this, my bias is still Wee Nam Kee. But hey, I am not complaining? What you pay for is what you get and for $3, I'll say this is a fair amount for a plate of chicken rice in an air conditioned place. Some air conditioned food courts whom I shall not name, I pay like $3.50-$5 for their chicken rice and they don't even serve this much.

The Food Inn also have affordable nasi lemak at $2.30. Definitely a good place to eat at if you are on a tight budget and you are in Orchard Road.

After satisfying my craving, I still had time to kill. Decided to walk to the National Library and spend what's left of my time with books.

On the way, I had to walk past the art museum and I chanced upon this art piece.

Utama's Cat description

Apparently, in history, Singapore always had tigers but never lions.We can't blame Prince Utama for his mistake though because according to the folklore, when he landed and saw the creature, he apparently asked his chief minister if he knew what was that creature called. And I'm guessing that dude doesn't have the option to say "I have no idea, Sire." because he was in a cushy position as chief minister which I'm sure in the 1200s that definitely had better benefits than a foot soldier or a farmer... he decided to wing it and told Prince Utama "That's a lion." And because Princes tend to trust people around them, he believed the dude and decided to rename Temasek as Singapore aka Lion City. 

Good job, chief minister. 

And here's Utama's Cat. Well, lions are under the cat classification anyway.

 Eventually, I made my way down to the basement of the National Library and I saw this!

Holy mother of library's children's sections!

 What the heck?! When did the children's section became so cool!?

Ignoring the stares of other people, I decided to walk in and take a look at this bookworms' wonderland.

IS THAT A TREEHOUSE?!

 Now I wish I'm a kid again.

After reading a few mangas, it was time for me to make my way to class.

I was attracted to the exhibitions at the lobby and outside the library's lobby.

The first exhibition was pretty somber. Mr Lee Kuan Yew passed away two weeks back and they left a memorial wall covering his works at the lobby.

RIP Mr Lee Kuan Yew, you will be missed by us.

 After which, there was the SG 50 exhibitions.

Memories of the past

Nostalgic decors

Someone's garden in Singapore

Do you remember your first home?
You can take a piece of paper and pin it on the map of Singapore to identify your first home.

Interactive exhibitions for adults and children.

SG 50 is coming in August, it won't be the same without Mr LKY, and I rarely say this, but this exhibition is one of the rare times where I feel like I'm home and makes me feel proud to be Singaporean.

Today has been a really meaningful day.