COUPLES are eager to tie the knot now that the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic appears to be over, with the result that wedding planners and photographers are seeing business boom again, albeit with changes in spending patterns.

Wedding dinners have returned but on a smaller scale.

Enya Mareine Wedding Gallery CEO Fion Lew said the company’s calendar is almost full for the year.

But costs have increased 40% for wedding dresses and photo albums as fabrics and accessories are mostly imported.

Lew said her company will not be passing the higher costs to the clients, for now.

“We are not planning to adjust wedding package prices this year and hope to maintain prices we’ve had for the past two years.”

“During the pandemic under loosened movement restrictions, weddings were allowed with no more than 200 guests at banquets.

“That was when couples would spend about 30% of their wedding budget on a simple banquet dinner, and another 70% on their wedding photo shoot.

“Since December last year when restrictions were further eased, couples began spending 70% of their budget on wedding outfits and the banquet, reserving 30% for wedding photography.”

Another trend she has noticed is that many couples are opting to delay their honeymoon.

This likely due to worries that new Covid-19 variants could emerge, leading to lockdowns.

Wedding photographer Chi Wei Ping said he is fully booked for the year.

“Business has been growing since last November,” said Chi, who works at Jae Chia Photography.

He said he has not raised his rates in the last two years.

The wedding business was as badly hit as the tourism sector during the pandemic, he added.

“Many couples paid a deposit but were prevented from going ahead because of the movement control order and we could not refund them. At least business is back to normal now.”

Keeping it simple

Chong Jing Wen, 26, who is planning her wedding at the end of the year, said she will keep the event low-key and affordable.

Her biggest headache so far is uncertainty over the cost of the wedding banquet as the restaurant she prefers has not issued a price list but is certain to raise prices.

“The restaurant has said that prices will definitely increase. Although we still don’t know what the prices are, we paid a deposit nevertheless as there are many other couples who also want to have their weddings this year, and many other restaurants are fully booked,” Chong said.

She will also delay her honeymoon because the Covid-19 pandemic “is not completely over”.

“We (my husband and I) will focus on work first. After all, the wedding will really hurt our wallet. And although Covid-19 infections are less severe now, we still want to avoid it if we can. We can have our honeymoon later once we are more comfortable with the situation.”

Patrick Tai, a soon-to-be groom, has also decided to keep his wedding simple.

Because of the pandemic, plans are likely to keep changing so he has decided to focus on his nuptials step by step.

“We will register our marriage first and then plan for the wedding. We won’t have a large banquet, perhaps just a gathering of very close friends and family,” said Tai, who postpone his wedding last year.

Now that “everyone” also wants to get married this year, restaurants are fullly booked, he said.

“The pandemic has taught me that it is more important to cherish the people you love and to have good health. The material form of our wedding is not so important,” Tai said. – June 8, 2022.