Wedding invitation

[bub]

Hi all,

My husband is going to a wedding of a work collegue (chinese), and we have two questions we were hoping you can help us with-

1. The present- should he be bringing money or something else, and how much?

2. Dress code is Formal- what does that mean exactly here in Singapore?

also- if you have any other tips we will be happy to learn!
Thank you!

[vintlay]

I suppose your husband is attending the wedding dinner.

1. Just the red packet with money will do. The amount is up to you. The market rate is S$80 depending on where the dinner is held, your relationship with the person.

2. Smart causal dress code is acceptable.

Normally the wedding dinner will not start very early.

[zjules]

Just been to one last week. There will likely be a post box kind of thing to deposit your red packet when you arrive and get assigned a table. The rest of the time will mostly revolve round eating. prob about 8 courses but most smallthings. The bride and groom may well come round to each table later on for 'cheers' and do lots of shouting... just follow the others its good fun... enjoy

[aussiemeg]

The amount of money should be an even number preferably containing 8


oh and expect heaps of kids up past their bed time

[yoongf]

Attending a wedding dinner is not exactly a formal affair.

At the reception lobby, the hosts will be standing around to greet guests and take photos. Then proceed to the reception table, where guests will be told their assigned table. This is also where the "ang pow box" is placed where guests can drop off the red packets.

Then.. it's about getting drinks and linger aroundd admiring the nice wedding photos taken during the photo shoots. Once bored, proceed to the assigned table.

Try to get a seat that faces the stage. There will surely be kids running around screaming and plucking petals. Typically, there will be a group of relatives who will get real drunk and behave as cheerleaders. If it's on a weekday, chances are.. ppl will turn up in work clothes.

Meal will probably be an 8 course meal, with tons of leftovers, as ppl rather induldge in small talk. 3/4 through, the hosts will be go ard taking photos at each table, and getting teased by the guests with silly games.

Normally, families with kids will leave early due to kid's sleeping time. At the end, the hosts + immediate family members will form a line to shake hands with all the guests who do stay to the end. May end ard 1030-11pm.

[Saint]

And make sure they are crisp brand new notes.

[local lad]

smart casuals would be the order of the day. As for the red-packet thing, I would personally hand it over to the person who invited me. Guess its my way of showing appreciation and congratulating him/her on this auspicious day. Amount is subjective but usually it starts from 80 for a restaurant and 4-star hotel would start off at 100.

[road.not.taken]

Bub, the amount of the red packet should be in new bills, a denomination of 8 and a reflection of the cost of the meal. A dinner reception at the Four Seasons would warrant a larger gift than a bbq on someone's void deck.

If they say formal, I can't see how smart casual qualifies. Singapore is notoriously casual, but formal usually means formal. Smart casual can mean a pair of clean khakis and a collared shirt. Not appropriate for a wedding that asks guests to dress formally. Also depends what time of day it is, evening affairs are generally more formal.

[bub]

Thanks everybody for all the replies!

New- questions- the new bills- I just go up to the bank teller and ask for new bills?

And an even amount+the figure 8: so he should bring 108 and not 100?

Do you add a personnal note to the red envelope? They seem rather small...

Thanks again!

[andy21]

2. Dress code is Formal- what does that mean exactly here in Singapore?

As RNT has said, formal is formal although most people simply disregard that. Depends on how well you understand the social circle of the couple.

If they're hot-shots in the finance or medical industry, or come from one of Singapore's wealthiest families for example, rest assured everyone will really be dressed formally. If not, large numbers of people are going to arrive in their own version of formal.

If unsure, just go actually formal. No harm in that at all. Perhaps one day people here will actually understand that formal means formal!

Have fun though, wedding dinners are really quite a fun affair.

Although even if you disapprove, you might want to simply avoid consuming the often mandatory sharks-fin dish rather than to go on about how wrong it is. Could make for an awkward evening!

[andy21]

New- questions- the new bills- I just go up to the bank teller and ask for new bills?

And an even amount+the figure 8: so he should bring 108 and not 100?

Do you add a personnal note to the red envelope? They seem rather small...

the notes don't really actually need to be fresh out of the oven, although that would be nice. So long as it's not something that smells funny or is all crumpled up.

You don't really need to end the amount in a figure of 8 either, most people now really just give amounts in round figures, maybe $80, $100 or $120. Just not $104 or something like that.

Not sure about everyone, but I'd think most people do add a little note on their envelope, if nothing else, their name. Some people do not, especially if they are giving an amount substantially below the 'market rate'.

But rest assured that the army of helpers at the reception table will be secretly marking whose packet it is!

[ScoobyDoes]

Not sure how its done here exactly but some people will either put their name of the back of the envolope or a small note inside.

In addition to this there can be greeters at the reception entrance that will take your name and get you to sign the wedding scroll. Some will take the envelope from you right there......this is so they can match the envelope with who arrived and mark it down in a book so even if you don't sign the packet or leave a note generally the bride and groom will know who gave what.

It's very easy to get fresh notes from a bank for such events.

Avoid the number 4 or variable of (14 etc.) at all costs.

[durain]

But rest assured that the army of helpers at the reception table will be secretly marking whose packet it is!

oh yeah, so they know who the tight git is.

[ffsgrelier]

Hi
My husband has just been to a wedding this week end , formal type in a fancy hotel and he was told to give $200 per head as deamed amount expected. Probably bettr to check with one of your hubby's colleagues to be on the safe side of things. Enjoy !

[astrogirl]

Hi all

I've just received an invitation that says Formal (Black tie).

I'm reluctant to buy a new gown. Will a nice 'Cheong Sam'/'Qi Pao' do? I have a few formal ones; sequins, gold/silver threads etc but they are knee length, not ankle length.