Part 1: Aspects of a garden wedding

Last friday evening, the night out with Himself did not end too well. He was not his usual patient, loving and magnanimous self and he got a little snappy at me when we talked about the Hort Park and the possible issues we might face. It turned out that he was falling sick and that caused him to be very cranky. Although he could not help it, it hurt me and I went home feeling very sad.

I was very fortunate that just hours ago, I had a walk and dinner with Merv and managed to put certain things in perspective. Although there were no conclusive outcomes on the venue, I ended the night feeling much better and learning a thing or two about loving my other half.

While we took an evening walk at Bishan Park, Merv and I talked about the possible issues that may crop up during an outdoor wedding. As a seasoned photographer, a married man and a very wise friend, he gave me his two cents' worth:

Weather:
Since we are only inviting family members and very close friends as our guests, they will brave any weather just to be there to witness and celebrate the union of their loved ones. Period.

Of course, I would love to make my guests as comfortable as possible. The warm weather could be easily countered by installing ceiling fans in the tents.

As for myself, I had already told Himself that in the worse case scenario where it rains (unless there are thunder and lightning), I will be more than delighted and gleeful to hold his hand and run down the aisle with an umbrella. It will be so much fun and so spontaneous. I just have to make sure that my eyeliner and mascara are waterproof.

Anyway, Merv also pointed out that it should not be too warm in the morning because the ground/lawn will be cold from the night before.

Photography:
From a photographer's point of view, a function room with glass panes that make up most of its walls is not a good place for good photos, because vantage points for taking photographs will be limited, due to the reflection of light and people from the glass panes.

Merv loves the idea of having the solemnisation in the morning too, because morning light can make for very beautiful photographs. I think that it will be even more so in garden settings, where colours are vibrant and bright.

Sound/Acoustics:
Merv shared that the sound in a function room might not necessary be better, because the sound may bounce off the walls and low ceiling. So taking that into consideration, outdoor might not do any worse. With strategically placed sound systems, good acoustics can still be achieved outdoors.

The only issues left now are perhaps the tentage costs and the possibility of a bad weather on the wedding day. I am trying to be creative and thinking of ways to work around the tentage issue. As for the weather, it is an issue of little concern to me because rain or shine, I know that I will still want to marry this silly man.

Dreaming of a Garden Wedding - Hort Park

After talking about it so much, we finally went to visit the prospective site yesterday, where we would like to have our wedding. Himself wanted a garden wedding, because he thinks that it is so "me". He wanted the place to be a reflection of me. How sweet is that?

It was a warm and humid afternoon at Hort Park. It is a very beautiful place indeed and I could see why Himself liked it. A spiral staircase led us down to the function rooms and the lawn. I love the green lawn, the serenity and the degree of privacy it offers for a private function. Despite the uncomfortable afternoon, the park itself was surprisingly cool and breezy.

Near the entrance of Hort Park, which leads downstairs to the lawn.

The spiral staircase that leads down to the function rooms and lawn, as well as the black steel bars that provides certain degree of privacy for private events.

A view of the tiered lawn, from the main function room.

Himself talked about simplifying the whole wedding and booking the function room for the event and having a buffet reception outside the function room, facing the lawn. However, I was more in favour of having the wedding on lawn itself. It will be so beautiful and I can totally picture it in my mind.

This was where one of our heated arguments started. Himself was very concerned about the costs of tentage, the acoustic quality in the open air, as well as the humid weather that might make the guests uncomfortable. Also, he did not like the feeling of being subjected to the weather on that day.

I could sort of see his point but in the midst of me throwing a princess tantrum and wanting things my way, we both decided to leave the issues hanging in the air till we do our homework on the highlighted concerns.

Germs and I will be going to to a wedding fair next week and I will be meeting up with Merv soon. I shall try to see if I can find ways to address the concerns. I still maintain that it will be an absolute waste not to make good use of the lawn.

No doubt it will be more costly and troublesome to have a wedding solemnisation on the lawn but I wished so hard that Himself would empathise and understand that this is the only wedding that I am ever going to have. If I planned on having it in the function room, I could very well do it in any function room anywhere.

In this case, I don't mean to be mean but it is just lame to have it in a function room in Hort Park. It is as good as going to Maldives and swimming in the pool when the pristine sea is just right next to it. I think I made my point.

If only we have cooler weather in some months instead of the tropical weather all year round, an outdoor wedding would have been perfect, well without the need for tentage.

Despite having all the disagreements, we both really like that place and agree that it is a beautiful place to say "I do".