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! 

style:weddings Presents Chinois Elegance at Marina Mandarin

Sunday 12 April was the beginning of a really long day of 3 wedding showcases. 

I do not understand why so many hotels want to throw their showcases on the same day but yeah, someone mentioned it might be because the hotels want to compete with each other and draw the crowd. To me, it makes more sense to hold it on separate days so it's easier for bride-to-be(BTB) like me to look around slowly instead of rushing about like a mad woman. 

Anyway, on the 12 of April, there were four known wedding showcases, Fairmount, Concorde, Marina Mandarin and Goodwood Park. 

As time is a factor, we can only go for three instead of all four, we decided to go for Concorde, Marina Mandarin and Goodwood Park.

I decided to cut the wedding show cases into 3 separate blog posts so I can collect my thoughts and properly review the venue. Before I begin, let me remind you, this is only due to my own PERSONAL opinion. Everyone have different experiences and opinions, so do take what I write with a pinch of salt. 

So here goes, the first location we headed to was Marina Mandarin which was presented by style:weddings. 

We arrived at 11.45am and we understood that the place was open for registration at 12 noon. The main ballrooms at the lobby was not hard to find, just exit from Marina Square Link Mall exit (where the famous Llao Llao is), turn to the right and you will see Marina Mandarin. 

The ballroom is not very hard to find as well, after you enter the main lobby just turn to your left and viola! There it is. 

The entrance to their biggest ballroom

One thing I can't help but notice about this place. It was set to open at 12 noon, but at a little past 12, the registration was not opened yet. When we entered without registering as it still wasn't open (other couples entered too), we were served by a sales coordinator who told us to look around first. We also noticed the food was not ready, staff were sporadically running about still setting up the place.

And it was past 12. I felt a bit concerned because this is their own open house event. If they cannot get things prim, proper and ready by the starting time, then is the same thing going to happen for my wedding?

I decided to give it a benefit of a doubt and my fiance and I decided to take a look around first.

Classic Oriental Theme, we really love this theme.

Classic Oriental, how it will look on stage. 

 We really love the Classic Oriental decor as it gives a very gothic yet surreal theme to the place. And I love blood red roses. Gives a very Alice in Wonderland feel too. We decided this will be our confirmed theme if we were to choose Marina Mandarin.

Dazzling Crystal Theme, second choice for us if somehow Classic Oriental wasn't available.

Backdrop on the stage for Dazzling Crystal. 

Third theme, we didn't quite fancy it and felt it didn't stand out.

A sales manager sat down with us and explained the packages (view the wedding packages here). We opted for lunch banquet in 2016 as we have many relatives who are above 70 years and many children who are from 1 to 10 years. So a dinner banquet will be tiring for the elderly, the adults caring for the children, the children and for us. Lunch will definitely be better for all our sanity.

Anyway, the sales manager took initiative, noticed we haven't registered cause the booth wasn't ready, took a goodie bag for us, offered to handle and coordinate everything for us at the banquet and throw in a few perks. But as my family is quite superstitious, we haven't gotten an auspicious date ready from the fortuneteller/medium yet. He said it's better if he has a date so he can serve us better and told us to call him soon. But I can't help but notice he tends to interrupt me when I try to talk and he seemed very rushed (which I viewed as enthusiastic maybe because it's a busy day). I also noticed whatever perks he promised us, he didn't really jot it down on our form in his file. So how is he going to remember what he promised us if we were to call him back and confirm with him? I was a bit uncomfortable about that.

Otherwise, I felt he was not bad and I liked that he took initiative. However, after visiting all the open houses, when  I went home and checked up a bit on him on Google, I found out this dude was well, not an easy person to work with and many brides like me, felt he was rushed and tend to interrupt. As planning a wedding without a planner's help is already stressful enough, I personally, decided not to go with him if we were to choose this place... after discussing these pointers with my fiance first, of course.

After that, we went to see the wedding favours and the cards. We really really liked the cards. Especially the one that looks like the old school calender. Felt it was a nice and unique touch.

Wedding Invitation Cards samples (inserts not included with wedding package)

Wedding favours samples

 We liked the portable fork, spoon and chopsticks. Felt it made a really good favour as people can carry the portable utensils to work or when they travel. They allow you to choose two favours to alternate.

Sample of their five tier cake, but at an added cost outside of the package.

Vanda Ballroom on level 5 for smaller weddings with a special theme that comes at an additional cost on top of the wedding package. 

Decorations from an external agent that costs additional if you want to make your reception area more photogenic.

WE LOVE THEIR WEDDING ANG BAO BOXES. So cute!

The grand ballroom in panoramic view. TBH. I am not very comfortable with the low ceiling.

But nice chandelier though.

The goodie bag given to us also included external agents with old school wedding favours.

Interior of the hotel. Can be seen clearly on level 4.

One thing fantastic about this open house was, they gave us a tour of the hotel, showing us the indoor and outdoor solemnisation venues and the bridal suite.

Aquamarine buffet and Ruth Chris Steakhouse are located here too.

Outdoors. I spy a potential outdoor solemnisation location.

Buffet reception near their swimming pool.

Outdoor wedding solemnisation. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with the decors. The decors comes at an additional cost. And if you didn't book with them on the open house date, the venue also comes at an additional cost. 

Indoor solemnisation room.

 As my parents and fiance are not heat resistant and they melt easily, an outdoor wedding solemnisation is out of the question. So we were brought to the indoor solemnisation room held in one of the meeting rooms on level 6. The good thing is, level 1-6 are available to public. Levels 7 onwards, need the card key. So there is no need to worry about allocating one card key to a sister or brother to guide and bring people up and down in the lifts to the rooms. And I liked that the meeting rooms have a small reception desk outside, so we can put decors and plant a sister and brother to sit outside to usher people in.

Bridal Suite

Bridal Suite living room, sadly this sofa is not a fold out double bed in disguise. 

Sisters' and brothers' washroom

 The bridal suite, well to me was somewhat disappointing. It is actually two hotel rooms converted into a bridal suite. So you will have three doors in the room. One door each to the hotel corridor for the bedroom and the living room and a connecting room door in the center.

I like the bed but I find that the dressing table area was somewhat small and cramped for me. The 'living room' didn't look like it has much space too. The sales coordinator told me that if I wanted my sisters'  to sleep there, then they can convert the sofa to a bed, but at an extra cost. She said that I might as well book an extra room at a special cost. I was a bit disappointed as I was a bridesmaid for a friend last year and it was at York Hotel. The suite was HUGE. So huge that she held her solemnisation there, and two of us slept on a sofa bed, and the other two sisters slept on another portable bed provided by the hotel in the suite living room. We even did the gate crashing in the York Hotel suite with plenty of space to spare. Basically, the bridal suite at Marina Mandarin was not up to my expectations because I was already expecting something.

View from the bridal suite floor.

We were ushered down to the main floor. And we noticed the food was still not ready. It was almost 1pm at that time. As we have another open house to head to, we decided to grab a drink, look at the changing room the sales person mentioned next to the main ballroom before we leave.

Special mocktail for the openhouse

Vetta quartet for hire for your wedding if you are into classical music for your wedding!

This is the changing room that the bride can use for her second march in if she wants to change. It's quite spacious and cosy. This was another added point for us as after we saw how cramped the bridal suite was, this changing room will be good.

Aries changing room

Dressing table in the Aries room.

Overall verdict? We might consider Marina Mandarin because we like that the ballroom, solemnisation/tea ceremony room and changing room can all be on the same level so it's convenient for the guests to move around and that it's a private area. WEDDING PACKAGE PRICES ARE IN NETT. Meaning no GST, the price you see on the package list is what you get which is good. It is also convenient, near Esplanade MRT.

Food wise, we didn't get to sample at the openhouse as they were not ready. This was actually a major factor as to why I was not 100% keen on the place because I was worried they might delay on the day of the banquet too. To be fair, it could be one of those days where things just went wrong for them. I was also not comfortable with the low ceiling in the ballroom and the bridal suite. Otherwise, this place is one of our short listed venue for our wedding banquet next year.

Next up, will be Goodwood Park.