Cityscape Hand

Cityscape Hand

Weddings in Singapore – The Contemporary Wedding Capital

Your wedding is one of the epoch-marking events in your life, in which you would want to leave an indelible impression on your guests and loved ones. For many, a wedding is the ultimate fantasy in magical moments. Choosing the perfect wedding venue is one of the key aspects in creating the wedding of your dreams; one that provides just the right ambience and romantic setting that serves as a memorable backdrop to your life-changing "I dos".

In today's high-powered times of travel, where friends and loved ones may be scattered across the globe, choosing the most accessible destination is also a consideration. Luckily, in terms of the modern wedding, the world is now your oyster. Several countries offer luxurious, tailor-made wedding packages guaranteed to make your nuptials that much more exciting and exotic.

Singapore is one of the top contenders among contemporary wedding destinations. This centralized hub of international transit offers a myriad of innovative and traditional wedding venues with packages tailor-made for all kinds of budgets, from affordable to the high end of luxury. With its unique East-meets-West ambience, cutting-edge venues and global reputation as a retail giant, Singapore is uniquely poised to reign over the international scope of the wedding market.

The futuristic cityscape of the stylish and fashionable destination features some of the most sophisticated and elegant event venues in the world. Peppered with luxury brands for both brides and grooms, from Vera Wang to Christian Dior and everything in between, a wedding in Singapore offers you the chance to be crowned in the fashion of a pampered prince and princess. From beautiful rooftop arenas where guests can marvel at the glittering skyline and stunning fireworks, to elegant poolside cocktails and sprawling gardens in full bloom, the city has something to suit every taste.

Contemporary style weddings are a standout speciality in Singapore wedding venues, with their enchanting water features and al fresco dining options. Seasoned wedding planners and other bridal professionals clamour to create a stress-free environment for you where you can watch as your dream wedding unfolds.

Some of the particular favourites for outdoor venues are the Botanic Gardens, the Bottle Tree Park or the Mandai Orchid Garden, featuring alluring sprawls of greenery and exotic blooms. Rasa Sentosa is yet another option, especially if you have a hip and happening beach wedding in Singapore in mind.

However, with regards to both outdoor and indoor weddings, Marina Bay Sands Singapore is indubitably one of the most avant-garde and luxurious choices. The recently completed recreational oasis is counted among the city's most iconic structures, whose hospitality has already won rave reviews. A veritable one-stop destination for world-class accommodation, celebrity dining restaurants, professional event planners and luxury retail brands, Marina Bay Sands epitomizes the wedding dream of the international sophisticate.

Although its myriad of venues can be tailored to cater to any number of guests, from intimate to gala, the Sands SkyPark, Event Plaza and Crystal Pavilions emerge as the clear favourites. Sands SkyPark offers the unprecedented experience of hosting your special day at the top of the world, elevated 200 metres above the rest of the stunning cityscape. The flexible arrangements of the Event Plaza accompanied by views of Marina Bay are also much-coveted and there are few settings as breathtaking as the spectacular crystal edifice of the Crystal Pavilions in which to exchange your wedding vows. All this and a personal Wedding Concierge provided by Marina Bay Sands, ever at hand to smooth over any and all operations round-the-clock, are the icing on its hotel deals.

Whichever hotel in Singapore you choose, the Lion City is certainly one of the best destinations to create the most romantic event that will endure life-long in your memories.

About the Author

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

Second hand digital SLR Camera for a beginner?

What would be a few good second hand digital SLR cameras that would be suitable for a beginner. I am mainly interested in food photography for my blog but also cityscape's. What should I look for in a camera & what kind of flash do I need?

Any advice for a newbie would be appreciated.

A lot depends upon how much money you want to spend. A lot depends upon how much money you want to spend. Used digital SLRs sell for around $250 to $400 at the entry-level, while brand-new digital SLRs start at around $500 with a lens.

Since you want cityscapes and food photography as your main interests, get an SLR that has at least 6mp of resolution. There are older SLRs with resolution well under 6mp, and these aren't so good for cityscapes.

Next, you should get a used SLR that doesn't have too many shutter actuations (that is, the shutter shouldn't have been activated a lot), because a worn shutter will mean that it will have to be replaced sooner. Make sure the body isn't worn or showing obvious damage, because that means the camera has been used a lot or used very hard.

Some good used SLRs to consider:

Nikon D50. 6mp. Take Nikon autofocus lenses, all of them. Great color out of the camera. Can be shot in jpg or can be shot in RAW file format for higher quality.

Fujifilm S2 Pro. 6mp with option for 12mp. Takes all Nikon autofocus lenses. Best out of camera color in jpeg and can also be shot in its RAW format, called RAF. Has a connector to hook up to studio lights (called a PC connector, where PC stands for Prontor-Compur, not personal computer)

Canon D60 to 20D. Canon made a lot of entry-level SLRs, like the D30, D60 and 10D and 20D. The weakness they have is poor focusing in lower light until the 20D was introduced. But they are great values and easily found on eBay.

Now, I would also suggest looking at the Nikon D40, which is a great entry-level SLR at around $500 and you'd get a warranty and lens with that too.

As for flashes...to do food work, you need studio lighting, but initially get a hot shoe flash that is the same brand and compatible with whatever camera you choose (i.e. for the Nikons or Fujifilm, try an SB-600 or SB-800; for the Canons, try a 430EXII).

Message me if you need more help.