Wed& Insider Newsletter #7
What’s happening in weddings around the world | Issue #7 | 19 October 2025
This Week’s Focus: From the regulatory upheaval in Singapore to zero-waste celebrations in Seoul, vendors are navigating major shifts in how weddings get planned and executed.
TRENDS THIS WEEK
Singapore’s Foreign Freelancer Policy: The Disruption Continues
What’s happening: Since our last newsletters covered the initial September announcement, The Star reports that Johor-based wedding photographers and videographers are now cancelling all Singapore bookings through 2026. One photographer noted that Singaporeans make up 80% of his clientele, and the timing coincides with an auspicious period in the lunar calendar when wedding bookings typically surge.
Why this matters: Singapore bridal studios that relied on Malaysian creatives for lower costs and high service quality are scrambling to find alternatives, while couples who already paid for cross-border services face delays and uncertainty. This seems to be slowly escalating into an operational crisis for vendors on both sides of the border.
Zero-Waste Weddings Move from Trend to Template
What’s happening: SBS Star featured Julian Quintart’s Seoul wedding, which replaced traditional elements with sustainable alternatives: full vegan menu instead of steak, potted plants instead of wrapped cut flowers, QR codes instead of printed materials at tables, and digital transfers instead of cash envelopes.
Why this caught our attention: This wasn’t marketed as a “green wedding” theme. Instead, the couple incorporated sustainability into every aspect, from the bride’s eco-friendly gown fabric to the live greenery used for venue decor. The coverage highlighted that these sustainable choices fit naturally into the celebration without sacrificing any experience.
Chinese Wedding Traditions: The Professional Knowledge Gap
What’s happening: ThinkChina wrote about Singapore wedding planners navigating the intricate world of Chinese wedding customs, highlighting how traditions vary significantly by dialect group. The article details how Hokkien, Teochew, and Cantonese families have distinct requirements for betrothal gifts (Guo Da Li), from specific items like sugarcanes for Hokkien families to entire roast pigs for Cantonese ceremonies.
Why this is significant: While Chinese weddings represent a substantial portion of the Asian wedding market, many vendors lack deep cultural knowledge beyond surface-level red and gold aesthetics. The article revealed that families still expect proper execution of ceremonies like An Chuang (matrimonial bed setting) and Shang Tou (hair combing), and missteps signal disrespect rather than simple oversight.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU
Cross-Border Collaboration = Legal Liability Risk
Singapore enforcement impacts not only Malaysian vendors but also those based in Singapore. If you are a planner, photographer, or venue coordinator working in Singapore and have recommended or arranged cross-border vendor services, you are now in a grey area of compliance. Couples are questioning their current contracts, and Singapore vendors who have working partnerships with overseas vendors have to review their offerings.
The opportunity: Position yourself as the compliance-savvy professional who understands the regulatory landscape. Offer contract review services for couples with existing cross-border arrangements, and build relationships with Singapore vendors who can handle the volume that Malaysian creatives previously managed.
Sustainability Packages Need Operational Redesign
Julian Quintart’s wedding demonstrates that zero-waste celebrations require vendors to fundamentally change procurement and logistics, not just swap in a few “eco-friendly options.” Potted plants mean coordinating plant delivery, care, and post-event distribution. Digital-only materials mean robust QR code systems and backup plans for older guests. Vegan catering means entirely different supplier relationships.
The opportunity: Develop genuinely sustainable service offerings that address operational complexity rather than greenwashing existing packages. Couples willing to commit to zero-waste celebrations will pay premium rates for vendors who can execute seamlessly, because the alternative is managing multiple sustainability logistics themselves while planning a wedding.
Cultural Expertise = Premium Positioning
The Chinese wedding planner article revealed that many couples turn to specialty shops and family elders because wedding planners or coordinators may lack detailed cultural knowledge. When a Hokkien family expects sugarcanes and a Cantonese family expects a roast pig for betrothal gifts, surface-level cultural awareness falls short.
The reality check: Can you explain why Hokkien families specifically require sugarcanes in Guo Da Li, or which items in the dowry basket must not be touched by pregnant women to avoid “clashing fortunes”? If couples are bypassing professional planners to consult specialty shops and family members for cultural guidance, vendors are losing both revenue and service integration opportunities.
WHAT TO DO/ASK YOURSELF
This Week’s Action Steps
Check your legal compliance: Review all contracts, marketing materials, and vendor referral lists for any cross-border service arrangements. Singapore authorities are likely monitoring social media platforms where foreign freelancers advertise, and companies face the same penalties as individual freelancers, up to S$20,000 fines and two years imprisonment.
Assess your sustainability knowledge: Beyond offering “eco-friendly options,” can you execute full zero-waste weddings with proper operational systems? This means understanding waste stream management, sustainable procurement chains, digital infrastructure for paperless events, and post-event coordination for items like potted plants.
Test your cultural depth: Choose one cultural tradition your market serves and honestly evaluate your knowledge level. Can you guide families through dialect-specific variations, explain symbolic meanings, and execute ceremonies properly? Or are you directing couples to specialty shops because you lack the expertise to integrate cultural elements professionally?
Questions Worth Asking Yourself
About regulatory compliance:
Have I verified that all vendors I work with have the right to work where they operate?
Do my contracts contain clauses that safeguard both my business and clients if vendor agreements face legal issues?
About sustainability offerings:
Am I genuinely redesigning services for zero-waste execution, or am I adding “sustainable options” to existing packages without changing underlying operations?
Can I effectively communicate to couples the trade-offs and operational differences involved in a truly sustainable wedding, beyond just the increased costs?
About cultural expertise:
Do I see cultural knowledge as a specialised skill deserving of investment in education and community ties, or simply as information I can look up when necessary?
When was the last time I learned something new about the cultural traditions my clients follow, beyond what is needed for basic service?
Skills Worth Developing
Regulatory monitoring: Understanding employment law, cross-border service regulations, and compliance requirements isn’t only essential for corporate vendors. Freelancers and small businesses also need systems to keep up with legal updates that impact their vendor collaborations.
Sustainability operations: Collaborate with zero-waste consultants, sustainable suppliers, and waste management experts to develop authentic operational expertise instead of trusting marketing claims.
Cultural consultation relationships: Build authentic relationships with cultural advisers, specialty shop owners, and community leaders who can offer education directly, instead of merely referring couples elsewhere when cultural questions come up.
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