Showing posts with label M Hotel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label M Hotel. Show all posts
Hi all, back to my blogging habits. I have been blogging on my ROM recently. Though my status has changed to Mrs, but things largely remains the same. I am still calling his parents "aunty" and "uncle" as we had not gone through the traditional wedding. At home, he calls my dad "uncle" too. Besides submitting my marriage cert to company and owning the house together, I am still me.

In case you are wondering why we had decided to change from a banquet wedding dinner to Solmnisation dinner and what did M Hotel had done to accommodate our request, you read more details here. 

Checking -in



We held our Solemnization on 16 September 2016, Friday. As September is a 'hot' month for wedding dinner, we were informed by our then coordinator, Fiona, that weekends were fully-booked and had to look into the weekday. We decided 16 September because not only was it within my mum's 100th day, the date and year were both 1616 (Kinda easy to remember?). 

On that day, we went to Bedok Central to collect my hand bouquet, bought some flowers for my reception and had a simple lunch. After all was done, we drove to M Hotel since it was about 20 minutes to 2pm. At 2pm, we reached the hotel, carrying our luggage, gowns, hand bouquet and flowers to the reception. Once we reached the lobby, I called our new Coordinator, Anna (Fiona quit her job just weeks before our ROM and that was when we knew that she is no longer with M Hotel). to inform her so that she can help us with the express check in. As she didn't pick up the phone, we thought that she was be busy and she would get back to us later, However, after waiting for about 5-10 minutes, there was still no calls or reply from her, Xiong decided that we try to check in ourselves since we were holding our event there.   

At the reception counter

With the hand bouquet on my hand, we walked over to the counter and asked for a room. We knew that we were entitled to a room as it was written on the contract. The counter staff looked at us with a blur face and ask: Room? My hubby was very kind to inform that we were having our Solemnisation that night and there should be a room for us. Apparently, the counter girl was unaware of it and she went into the control room to check with someone. 

After sometime, a man came out and ask:  Mr Lim? My love is a Lim so of course he said yes. So the guy came, helped us with our stuffs and said: Mr Lim, please follow me. I though that we were able to settle down after waiting for so long. The guy brought us to level 28 for express check in and another 2 staffs usher us to the room. When the staffs opened the door, me and Xiong were like raising our eyebrows: Are you sure that you had given us the correct room? For a while, I thought we had a free upgrade to bridal suite.

We lay our things down as we were getting tired from those load. The guy gave Love a A4 size paper and said: Mr Lim, please sign here. 

The paper turned out to be some other Lim and not Lim Wei Xiong. 

"Er, this is not my name". 

The guy's face was like a million shock. "You are Mr Lim right?" 

"Yes, I am Mr Lim but not this Lim, we are only entitled to a Premier room actually." 

My 'Mr Lim' is an honest guy and so, we carried all the things (with the help of the staff of cause) down to level 28 again and waited. The guy was so sorry and he felt embarrassed about the whole incident. Finally, we had our room and it was almost 3pm. Anna had finally responded to me by then and I was so upset with all the hiccups. What made the matter worst was that our room was not decorated as promised upon check in. We should be given a champagne, fruit basket, pralines and bridal room decoration (i am guessing some rose petal scattered on the bed and perhaps bathtub filled with water and rose petals, etc) but all were not seen at all. I requested Anna to come down to our room and discussed on all these issues. After a while, a staff, strolled in with the fruit basket, champagne, pralines and placed them on the table in the midst of our discussion (but the bridal room decoration was not done and i suppose it's too late to be done).

Aren't these items supposed to be prepared beforehand?  

After our complaint was made, the duty manager, Andy, accompany by 1 of the staff who brought us to the wrong room, came to our room to offer their apologies and also offer us 1 bottle of red and white wine each. Though Love and I didn't have the time to enjoy those alcohol, we acknowledged that they had made an effort to do fast customer recovery action. At 3.30pm, my MUA came. She had mistaken the time and came in 1 hour earlier. For once, I thought what was truly happening on that day.

I had a quick bath, dried and hair and began with the make up.  After about 2 hours, I am finally done with the makeup and hair-do. Now I really felt like a bride.

Credits to Wei Teck

All these were not over until love was completed with his hair-do. My friend, aka the photographer and his assistance (aka our friend too) took those decoration down to level 2 to assist us in laying out the stuffs. We were given the Anson Room at level 2 instead of the Sheraton room at B1 since there was no event going on at night.

Our ROM table

Reception area

Canapes but Xiong and I didn't have any of it.

Vows and ring pillow - Credit to Ah Teck

It wouldn't take long to decorate since we had friends to help out. We completed our decorations just in time as our guests made their way to the reception. 

Since it was a Friday night, many of them came from work while some of our relatives took a day off. Our Justice of Peace, Mr Alex Tan, came early at around 7.15pm though there was a heavy traffic from his location to M Hotel. We waited till 7.30pm as a few of my relatives were late due to bad traffic. Mr Tan is very patient who wouldn't mind waiting a while for my relatives and also, he is punctual. *Thumbs up! He is one of the popular JP and we were glad that he was available on that day. His speech is serious yet funny at times. He would ask if we have preference to hold our ROM in English or Mandarin. But we requested for both and he was able to accommodate with it. 

It was both a significant and genuine moment for both of us, like literally, I am 'upgraded' to be someone's wife. That moment of upgrade felt like a new beginning and marked the end of single-hood. 



Big room with not much decorations. Credits to my relative

The banquet manager was Ken. He is a great guy! He was able to give us free flow of beer, wine and even to throw in a champagne for us! The food portion was huge and delicious. My relatives commented that our ROM was done up nicely and they were impressed. They got us 4 servers, with each of them portioning the food individually to guests though we did not specifically request for it. All of us enjoyed a lot.

Our JP, Alex Tan Yan Boon. Glad that he was able to oversee our Solemnization.

My Family- Credits to Wei Teck

His family- Credits to Wei Teck

The dinner ended at around 11pm, leaving us tired and worn out. Though the morning was unfortunate, but everything ended well at night.

Solemnization at M Hotel

by on 11:07 PM
Hi all, back to my blogging habits. I have been blogging on my ROM recently. Though my status has changed to Mrs, but things largely remains...
By now, I believe everyone would know that Love and I are calling off the wedding next year. It's not because of any third party or we had any disagreement, it is because of my family situation.

There are lots of complications going on like settling my mum burial matters, finding a suitable date within the 100 days of my mum's death, searching for a suitable JP who is available for our ROM, informing M Hotel that we are not able to proceed our wedding next year, informing our bridal studio to call off the gown trying session etc.

Calling off our wedding ... ... 


It definitely doesn't feel right to go through the traditional wedding as we all know in Chinese custom, it would not be good for new couples. However, we still have to go through the Solemnization as our house would be ready next month. After settling my mum's funeral and other miscellaneous stuffs, we finally had the time to contact our coordinator, Fiona, to inform her of our situation. 

Previously, we paid the deposit of $5,000 to secure the date and banquet for next year but now, we won't be holding our wedding anymore. We called to check with Fiona if anything could be done to help us as $5,000 is not a small sum. Initially, we were hoping that M Hotel would be able to do a full refund so that we can use the money to hold a small family event somewhere else in another restaurant. But hotels are not charity, they run a business based on profit and returns. Since we redraw the wedding 6 months before our big day, M Hotel is only able to refund half the amount, which is a mere $2,500. All these were written in the contract before we signed. therefore there is no way we can argue and win this case even if we take this to court. Love and I were left with 2 choices:

1) To take back our $2,500 and  hold our solemnization somewhere else or
2) To hold our ROM in M Hotel and maximizes our deposit.

Logically, we seems rightful to go for the second choice.  After we informed Fiona of our decision, she sent a list of ROM package for our reference. For the solemnization, we can choose buffet or seat-down style, with minimum number of people or tables. We do have a 1 night stay at a deluxe room (not bridal room), free flow of tea and soft drinks and the whole of reception area. Wine and beer are charged separately but there is a waiver of corkage fee. All these are decent enough as at the end of the day, we do not hold much bargaining power. 

Fiona gave us a function room at B1, which can easily hold 4-5 tables. 1 table is estimated to be $950 ++. We are able to almost maximize our deposit, perhaps adding a few bottles of wine and canapes would hit $5.000. Carpark coupons were given based on the number of guests attending. Not sure if there would be door gift but we might be asking for it.

To us, to hold a ROM with $5,000 is way too expensive. Not at least to the people whom i know unless left with no choice. 

Alright, signing off here, will provide more update on our solemnization soon. 
Hi guys, I think I had abandoned my blog almost entirely :X These days I have been busy with looking for wedding locations and visiting Interior Design for our new home. 

People around us might that that we are kiasu as we had not received our house keys and booking wedding dinner in 1 year advance etc. But who knows, there are many hotels which were already fully booked on auspicious date on 7th Jan 2017.

Anyway, Xiong and I are planning our wedding on 5th Jan 2017. This date has been confirmed and we had already paid a $5,000 deposit with the hotel. We had viewed a few hotels and which some of it were Amara Hotel at Tanjong Pagar, Orchard Hotel and Marina Bay Sands.

We went to the wedding fair at M Hotel and we thought that we loved it a lot.

M Hotel Banquet Suite

The ballroom

It is a paid wedding fair ($38) but love and I got to go in for free as we are the 1st 50 couples to register (Yeah!!). The ballroom is really pretty: there is no blockage of pillar, romantic decor and the food was really delicious. It is a cosy ballroom as it can hold a minimum 25 to 32 tables. This is the Banquet suite at level 10. 

The ceiling height is about 4m and I am sure the photos will look good.

The stage is in the center with 2 projectors at the side and L shape march in. Gotta note that the LOVE at the stage was from IM Perfections. You have to pay for it.

Menu at the VIP table.

What's more special was that there is a menu placed at each of the table of my guest on the VIP table. Like most hotel does, the waiter will serve the potion individually to my guests on the VIP table. 

They have other vendors at the ballroom as well: Event stylist from IM-Perfections, Coolgurt, vendors for wedding shoes and hand bouquet etc. 

Coolgurt

Why we like M Hotel:
  • I get the whole level 10 for my guest, be at at the reception, or solemnization ceremony or our wedding dinner. It all at level 10. I bet my guests wouldn't be lost.
  • The changing room is just next to the banquet. During our 2nd march in, we need not go up to our hotel to change. The changing room is spacious and there are seats for us to rest. 
  • The ballroom ceiling height is about 4m and it will look good in photos.
  • Their ballroom is able to cater from 25 to 32 tables, and it would be the right size for us. 
  • The food was delicious and they do serve shark fin.
Our coordinator is Fiona and she is really nice. Someone who we are able to talk to and able to accommodate to our request. A very nice and friendly lady.

But what's more important, at the wedding fair, their perks are practical that we felt that it should be adequate.
  • 1 night stay at the bridal suite
  • 1 night stay for helper (Very seldom do you get a night stay for helper)
  • Free flow wine, beer soft drinks and Chinese tea
  • Free corkage (Feel free to bring in anything you like)
  • Standard complimentary printing of invitation 
  • Free use of solemnization room.
  • 1 complimentary table when there is 25 tables booked.
Of course like all couples do, we will try to squeeze more of what we will be paying for. Some couples might ask for 2nd night stay, discount, more parking complimentary etc, whatever you think you can fight for.

Price for weekday in 
  • 2016 Banquet Suite Weekday: $1,068++
  • 2016 Banquet Suite Saturday:  $1,208 ++
  • 2016 Banquet Suite weekend:  $1,188++
  • 2017 Banquet Suite Weekday: $1,088++
  • 2017 Banquet Suite Saturday:  $1,228++
  • 2017 Banquet Suite Weekend:  $1,208++ 
 In case you were thinking how the Anson Room look like.. you may view the below. 

Located at level 2, Anson Room is smaller, cosy and poised. The ceiling height is lower but the decor is decent enough. As compared to Banquet Suite, 

Anson Room  

Sorry for the poor quality but this is the best I could take.


You can choose 3 decors in case you didn't like the one which is displayed in the picture. Though the ceiling is lower, it doesn't stop us from liking the ballroom. It is a small intimate event afterall. 

The price for Anson Room is also cheaper:
  • 2016 Anson Room Weekday: $838++
  • 2016 Anson Room  Saturday: $988+
  • 2016 Anson Room Weekend: $988++
  • 2017 Anson Room Weekday : $858++
  • 2017 Anson Room Saturday : $1,008++
  • 2017 Anson Room Weekend: $1,008++
If you had noticed, the price increase per table from 2016 to 2017 is a mere $20. Compared to other hotels, M Hotel offers a more competitive prices for couples.

 Also, they are able to accommodate us in terms of payment. Other hotels require couple to pay 50% of the total amount 3 months before the banquet and the balance when the wedding ended. Every hotel differs. M Hotel allows couple to make an upfront full payment after the wedding banquet or during check out. 

Afterall, love and I felt comfortable with M Hotel which therefore, love and I decided to hold our wedding banquet there :)

Shall blog on other hotels too. Stay tune!