Now that our lives have resumed to pre-Covid times, many couples (especially those who have their wedding plans stalled during the pandemic) are getting on their next stage of lives with physical weddings.
Destination weddings, where a couple hold their ceremony in a foreign or unique location, is not an unfamiliar concept these days. Besides getting to travel to a new place, there may also be a financial advantage to hosting a destination wedding.
It was reported that in 2014, 50% of the weddings in 16 hotels in Johor Bahru were thrown by Singaporeans. With the rising of Singapore Dollar against Malaysian Ringgit specifically at a ratio of S$1 to RM3.47, many might want to take advantage of the currency difference and hold their wedding ceremonies in Malaysia.
We explore the process of arranging your pre-wedding shoot, banquet and honeymoon in Johor.
Booking A Pre-Wedding Shoot
In Chinese weddings, it’s pretty customary to have pre-wedding shoots done. Most bridal studios offer photography services and gown rentals which can be for separate occasions throughout the entire wedding such as tea ceremony and the banquet itself.
Bridal studio My Dream Wedding in Johor Bahru offers customers overseas wedding photography services as well covering locations in Malaysia such as Sabah, Penang and Kuala Lumpur as well as international destinations such as South Korea, Prague and Venice.
SG Bridal House in Johor Bahru features a comprehensive package that includes makeup services, videography and even anniversary shoots.
Choosing A Wedding Location
Hotel
If you have a huge wedding guest list, you may want to consider a hotel that is usually equipped with spacious conference halls to fit all your loved ones. The DoubleTree Hilton in Johor Bahru has a Grand Ballroom that can serve up to 360 guests.
Aside from this, the wedding services also come with in-house wedding specialists who are ready to assist and multilingual staff.
The Chinese Wedding Package by the hotel is priced at RM2,888 (S$829.20) for a table of 10 persons with a minimum of 15 tables booked. It comes with myriad perks including complimentary food tasting for 10 people and special guest room rates if you book 10 rooms and above, which can come in handy for travelling guests.
As the wedding couple, you will also receive a one-night stay in the Bridal Suite, which you can extend for your honeymoon.
The Renaissance Johor Bahru by Marriott is also another popular wedding venue with a Grand Ballroom that fits up to 1,000 guests. Newlyweds can also access the professional services of Certified Wedding Planners here and even take pre-wedding shoots within the hotel.
Resorts And Villas
For those who prefer an outdoor event on a beach or with a natural scenery, a resort wedding would be the ideal choice. Johor’s coastline of 400 kilometres is surrounded by the beautiful waters of the South China Sea and the Straits of Malacca, so it’s perhaps one of the best locations for holding a beach wedding in Malaysia.
Among the many resorts in Johor Bahru is the Anantara Resort and Villas on the white sand Desaru Coast. The resort faces the sea and has rooms that give you direct access to the beach.
You can choose to hold your wedding indoor at the Johor Ballroom that fits 100 guests or say your vows on the beach facing the ocean in front of 80 guests. There is also the option to host your guests in a garden-like outdoor environment for 50 guests.
Restaurants
If your wedding is all about the food, you may want to consider holding your ceremony in a restaurant. There are many seafood restaurants in Johor one of which is the Pekin Restaurant.
The Pekin Restaurant has a total of five branches for you to choose from in Daiman 18 Golf Course, Johor Jaya, Taman Sentosa, Taman Desa Cemerlang and Tanah Sutera in Johor Bahru. Each of the Pekin Restaurant has a luxurious vibe to it with a hint of traditional Chinese décor element.
The highlight of the restaurant is the menu with a broad selection of premium ingredients including lobster, cod fish, abalone, fish maw, duck, oyster and sea cucumber cooked in Chinese methods of braising and stewing.
Exclusive Private Villas
It has become more common to conduct more intimate wedding parties these days, which can be less stressful and pocket friendly. After all, a wedding is to commemorate the special union of two individuals.
You can book private villas to hold your wedding party. As it is a private property, you get to have more flexibility and freedom in determining the time of your ceremony and in setting up decorations that are to your liking.
For example, the Desvan Villa in Johor Bahru is available for booking for RM1,250 (S$358.90) per night at the time of writing. The 7,000 square feet property serves around 21 guests and has a cosy beautiful garden backyard, karaoke set, barbeque pit and kitchen. There are five bedrooms fitted with Queen-size beds and air-conditioning which your guests can rest in.
It is also located near attractions such as Danga Bay which you can visit after your wedding ceremony.
Arranging The Transportation
When hosting a destination wedding, logistics could be one of the most important elements of the plan. As the hosts, you will have the option to arrange transportation for your guests. After all, they’re coming to a place that may be unfamiliar to them.
Johor Bahru, the capital of Johor, is around an hour’s drive from the Woodlands Checkpoint via the Causeway. There are many ways of getting to your wedding location.
For example, the luxurious Anantara Resort and Villas on the Desaru Coast is viable through car or ferry from Singapore. The nearest airport from the resort, Senai International Airport, is one hour drive away. Alternatively, you can also charter buses for private transfers between Singapore and Johor Bahru.
Singapore-based JNB Travel Private Limited offers coach services to several locations in Malaysia including Johor. They have a selection of vehicles from a 13-seater minibus to a 49-seater bus. On the official website, it is stated that the pricing for premium bus service is S$5 per person.
Private Villas Most Affordable Venue To Host Wedding In Johor
Everyone’s idea of a wedding differs from their needs of whether they want a bigger or more intimate gathering or one that is more focused on the setting or the food selection. There are also other factors to be considered such as financial affordability. After all, you don’t want to start the next stage of your life with strained pockets.
If you’re thinking of hosting a more intimate wedding party, you have the option to choose to rent out a private bungalow or book a delicious dinner at a restaurant. For instance, a smaller guest list may comprise 20 to 50 persons. The costs of holding the party may include booking of restaurant or private property and bus transfers.
For a guest list of 20 persons, you can book a private villa for the price of RM1,250 (S$358.90) per night. You can also arrange for private bus transfer for S$5 per person. Plus, you may require catering services as well and Chef Chef Café in Johor offers a wedding menu for 30 pax at the total price of RM1,380 (S$396.23) to RM1,580 (S$453.65). This sums up to S$855.13.
Catering services + Venue rental + Bus transfer = Total cost
S$396.23 + S$358.90 + (S$5.00 x 20)
S$386.23 + S$358.90 + S$100.00
= S$855.13
Meanwhile, if you need a bigger space for let’s say 150, you could choose to host your wedding at a hotel or resort such as the Double Tree Hilton in Johor Bahru. A table of 10 for a Chinese wedding costs RM2,888 (S$829.20) with a minimum of 15 tables booked. Assuming that you arrange bus transfers, the total cost can run up to S$13,188.
Wedding banquet + Bus transfer = Total cost
(S$829.20 x 15) + (S$5.00 X 150)
S$12,438 + S$750
= S$13,188
Featured Image Credit: Anantara Desaru Coast
