BAZAAR’s indispensable guide to the people, places and products that will get you in the mood for love.
BAZAAR’s indispensable guide to the people, places and products that will get you in the mood for love.
The WEDDING BRIGADE
HAPPILY EVER AFTER
Leave the stress of organising your wedding to the pros. Look to local wedding planning boutique agency Inside The Knot if you want a cosy, intimate soirée with all details attended to. Or, if a destination wedding is on the cards, Heaven’s Gift has all the right contacts spanning locations from Seychelles to Tokyo. Personal attention is key at Hitched Weddings, which promises to work closely with you to achieve the ceremony of your dreams.
GIRLS ’ DAY OUT
Add flair to your bridesmaids’ ensembles with unexpected touches of lace, embellishments and floral appliqués.
IN BLOOM
The beauty is in the details, so splurge on flowers for your corsages, boutonnieres and centrepieces. At Charlotte Puxley, the philosophy of embracing all things wild and wonderful is brought to life in elegant creations influenced by an English aesthetic and a love for the tropics. For jaw-dropping botanical decor for your wedding, let the family members of Floral Magic work their wizardry to create breathtaking works of art for your big day—from bridal bouquets and car decorations, to arches and table arrangements. Inspired by classic still life paintings is Ask a French,a Parisian florist who creates organic shapes with fresh and dried flowers in her Tiong Bahru atelier.
SAY YES TO THE DRESS
Whether you already have an inkling of what you want, or are still open to what the perfect dress would be, Jessicacindy can provide a sketch of a gown that captures a bride’s personality, preferences and wedding theme. Inspired by nature, Ann Teoh Fashion Studio’s gowns feature exquisite fabrics, floral motifs and Swarovski crystal detailing. For a modern take on the cheongsam, look no further than Lai Chan, whose hand-stitched details include a signature long row of semi-precious stone buttons.
SAVE THE DATE
Get customised paper goods inspired by your Pinterest board and wedding theme at The Paper Bunny. Or bring a smile to your guests’ faces with quirkily illustrated invitations and whimsical handlettering by The Fingersmith Letterpress. Paper Tiger Press’ new range of Ready-to-Write invitations are great for couples who want elegant designs without the lengthy time required for bespoke customisation, but the latter is definitely worth the wait, too.
The RIGHT MOVES
Keep the passion alive with these fun yet intimate activities. Whether it’s the Tango, Samba or Salsa, John & Josephine Dance Creative lets you work up a sweat and reconnect as you dance to the same beat. For a dierent kind of natural high, sign up for Acrovinyasa, a mixture of acroyoga, yoga asanas and inversion training. Led by Jessica Sinclair, co-founder of The Yoga Mandala, prepare to step out of your comfort zone and put your trust and balance to the test with your partner. Or, spice it up with a private cooking class at Cookery Magic. Conducted in the comfort of your home, or in resident chef Ruqxana’s outdoor kitchen, choose from over 500 classic dishes across Indian, Malay, Indonesian, Thai and Singaporean cuisines. If a more sedentary activity is what you are after, reenact your own Ghost moment with a pottery class at Mud Rock Ceramics. With five lessons over five weeks, get fired up and learn essential pottery techniques such as coiling, slab building, throwing and glazing.
The IMAGE MAKERS
PRIMP AND PREP
Look your very best with the help of the glam squad BAZAAR has on speed dial: Marc Teng (@marc_ teng) has a passion for both creativity and perfection, so he’ll definitely accentuate your best features and create a glamorous look. Known for her ability to make celebrities like Zhou Xun and Shu Qi look eortlessly beautiful, Cindy Goh (@cindygohcindy) will work her magic on you for your big day, or night. With more than a decade of experience, Larry Yeo (@larryyeo) believes in enhancing natural beauty by emphasising dewy, radiant skin and having fun with trends by playing with lip colours.
PICTURE-PERFECT
Chiara Ferragni in Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore’s June 2016 issue with hair by Marc Teng and makeup by Guests laughing, friends making great speeches and family dancing into the night... You won’t want to miss a single moment from your special day. Let Sayher Heernan (@sayherheernan) capture those special memories with his eye for intimate interactions. With a portfolio including Cate Blanchett, Kate Bosworth and David Beckham, Ashley Mak (@ashleymakphotography) will Cindy Goh definitely shoot your best angles and snap candid moments. For a cinematic experience, Androids in Boots offers not just photography but also pre- and actual day videos. They also offer stop motion animation videos for something out of the ordinary.
The BEST BEATS
The BEAUTY BOX
The HIDEWAYS
Fitted with intimate enclaves, packed with romantic activities, and most importantly, designed for utmost privacy and quiet time for two, these adults-only options are ideal for couples looking to pay each other undivided attention or escape the little ones.
The LUSH BITES
FRISK FEAST
Aphrodisiacs have been used since ancient times, so why not try some on date night? Rich in zinc, key to the production of testosterone, slurp up some oysters at Humpback, which brings them in fresh from the U.S. and New Zealand. Or, book the omakase menu at Ristorante Takada to enjoy the best of Italy and Japan with seasonal ingredients like white asparagus (a great source of vitamin E, which stimulates sex hormones and increases libido) complementing Hokkaido scallops and sea urchin. Then there is ginseng, which helps fight fatigue and boost sexual desire—get your fix via Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant’s Signature Roast Duck with Ginseng Sauce.
DARK ROMANCE
Chocolate contains phenylethylamine— a stimulant widely known as the “love drug”, which elicits excitement and a sense of well-being. Tickle those tastebuds with unique flavours from local chocolatiers. Fossa Chocolate’s cacao beans from Haiti, Indonesia and Guatemala undergo a seven-step process before being transformed into bars, while Demochoco’s chocolate trues will melt in your mouth due to their high cream to chocolate ratio. For the adventurous, star anise bon bons and lemongrass coconut trues are some of the delights handcrafted daily at Anjalichocolat.
The LANGUAGE OF LOVE
WORKS OF ART
Create a wedding favour or mark an anniversary with a meaningful work of art that encapsulates your relationship and reflects your personal style. Nature lovers will love the botanical watercolour creations by artist Lucinda Law (@lucindalaw); Alilustralee’s (@alilustralee) hyper-realist illustrations capture individuals at their finest; and Festive Folks’ (@festivefolks) artworks let you have endless fun dressing your customised characters—delivered to your door in a framed print. For something more tactile, there’s cross-stitched portraits by Teresa Lim (@teeteeheehee), whose unique aesthetic has even caught the eye of Gucci’s Creative Director Alessandro Michele.
THE WRITE STUFF
Personalise your love notes, place cards and thank you messages with beautiful, handwritten calligraphy. Choose between classic pointed-pen or watercolour styles from The Letter J Supply. If you prefer more traditional and romantic styles, look to exquisite Old English Roundhand works by Nichole Tin (@nicnkotori) or nature-infused Victorian designs by Martha Days (@marthadays).
ALL THE FEELS
Whether you’re in the mood for something romantic, sentimental or bittersweet, these delightful reads from Singaporean authors will tug at your heartstrings.
IT’S A MATCH
Today, new connections are mostly made online. Paktor, Singapore’s answer to Tinder, lets singles around the region connect. A new feature, Matchmaker, even allows your friends to swipe on profiles with you. For those who prefer to meet face-to-face, dating agency Gai Gai screens individuals before setting up dates such as outdoor activities or experiential dining. There is also London-based Gray & Farrar, which stands by its claims of being a global matchmaking service “where only the most eligible single people are accepted as clients.
BY DEBBY KWONG. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY DANA KOH AND GERALD TAN. PHOTOGRAPHY: AMAZON; INSTAGRAM; SHOWBIT; COURTESY OF MOSCHINO
