Who Does What: A Plain-English Guide to Your Wedding Vendor Team

Your wedding vendor team is a group of specialists, each owning one slice of your day. Understanding each role takes about ten minutes and saves you from double-booking, missing someone critical, or paying for overlap. This guide walks through every main role, what they are responsible for, and roughly what they cost in Singapore in 2026, so you can decide who you actually need.

Who are the core vendors every couple needs?

Most Singapore weddings involve four non-negotiable roles.

The venue or caterer provides the space and the food. For a hotel ballroom wedding, the banquet team is built in. For a restaurant or external venue, you may need to hire a separate caterer. Banquet costs run from about S$600 per table (budget) to S$4,700 per table (luxury) for a Saturday dinner, and F&B alone typically makes up 40 to 60 percent of your entire budget. Guest count is the single biggest cost lever you have.

The photographer captures your actual day, usually across eight to ten hours. Actual-day photography in Singapore runs from S$1,500 to S$6,000 and above. If you also want video, a combined photo and videography package (sometimes called PGVG) starts from around S$2,000 and is the most cost-efficient route.

Hair and makeup covers at least two looks for the bride: one for the morning solemnisation or ceremony and one for the reception. Budget S$600 to S$4,000 depending on the artist and number of looks.

The solemniser officiates your legal marriage. To be legally married in Singapore you register with the Registry of Marriage (ROM), which charges S$42 for citizens and Permanent Residents, or S$380 if one party is a non-resident. Always confirm current fees directly on the official ROM website before budgeting.

What does a wedding coordinator actually do?

This is the role couples most often misunderstand, so it is worth separating the two versions.

A full-service wedding planner works with you from the start: setting the budget, sourcing vendors, negotiating contracts, designing the look, and managing everything on the day. This is for couples who want to hand over the project entirely.

A day-of coordinator (also called a wedding coordinator) steps in one to four weeks before the wedding, learns your plans, and executes them on the day so you are not the one chasing the florist or cueing the emcee. Day-of coordination in Singapore costs S$1,500 to S$3,000. If you are managing your own planning but dread the logistics of the actual day, this is the hire that protects your sanity.

Browse planning and coordination vendors on Delegate to compare packages.

Do I need an emcee and a live band?

They are separate roles and you do not always need both.

The emcee (master of ceremonies) hosts your reception: introduces the couple, announces dinner courses, cues games or speeches, and keeps energy up in the room. A bilingual English and Mandarin emcee is standard at Singapore Chinese weddings. Budget S$800 to S$4,000 and above depending on profile and bilingual requirements.

A live band or DJ provides music throughout the event. This is optional but popular. Budget S$800 to S$4,000 and above. Many hotel packages include a sound system; check before adding a band so you are not paying for equipment twice.

Who handles flowers and decorations?

Your florist and decor vendor may be one person or two separate suppliers.

The florist handles your bridal bouquet (S$150 to S$400), bridesmaids' bouquets, buttonholes, and any floral centrepieces. The decor vendor handles backdrops, table styling, lighting, and props. Some studios offer both. Total florals and decor can range from S$800 for a minimal look to S$10,000 and above for full venue transformation.

Check what your venue already provides before committing. Many hotel packages include basic centrepieces, which you can top up rather than replace entirely.

What about attire, rings, and the other details?

A few more roles round out your team.

Bridal attire: A gown rental runs S$500 to S$3,000; a custom gown can reach S$10,000. Suits are typically less. Some couples book a bridal package that bundles the gown, suit, and makeup, ranging from S$2,000 to S$8,000 and above.

Wedding bands: Budget S$1,000 to S$6,000 for a pair, depending on metal and stone.

Invitations and stationery: Physical invitations and ang bao packets run S$300 to S$2,000 and above. Per-guest favours are roughly S$3 to S$10 each.

Transport: Wedding car hire runs S$400 to S$3,000. It is skippable if your venue is accessible and you have other arrangements.

Pre-wedding photoshoot: Separate from actual-day coverage, this ranges from S$600 to S$3,500 and is entirely optional.

How do I know which vendors to book first?

Book in this order: venue and date, photographer and videographer, hair and makeup artist. These three fill up fastest, especially for Saturday slots.

Once those are secured, move to florals and decor, emcee and entertainment, then attire and rings. Invitations, transport, and favours can usually wait until three to four months out.

Always keep a 10 percent contingency in your budget. On a S$78,200 mid-range wedding, that is about S$7,800 set aside for surprises, which are inevitable.

Use Wedding Desk to track every vendor, deadline, and payment in one place instead of a sprawling spreadsheet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a wedding planner and a day-of coordinator? A wedding planner works with you from the beginning, helping set the budget, choose vendors, and design the whole event. A day-of coordinator steps in close to the wedding date, learns the plan you have already built, and manages all logistics on the actual day so you can enjoy it. In Singapore, day-of coordination typically costs S$1,500 to S$3,000, while full-service planning costs more. If you are comfortable planning your own wedding but nervous about managing the day itself, a day-of coordinator is usually the better-value choice.

Do I need to hire a separate emcee if my venue provides one? Venue-provided emcees are sometimes included in hotel banquet packages, but they are often generic and may not be bilingual or match your preferred style. If the tone and language of your reception matter to you, hiring your own emcee (S$800 to S$4,000 and above) gives you full control. Ask the venue exactly who their house emcee is and whether you can meet them before deciding.

Is a pre-wedding photoshoot the same as actual-day photography? No. A pre-wedding photoshoot happens weeks or months before the wedding, in locations of your choice, and is used for your invitation cards, photo displays, or personal keepsakes. It costs S$600 to S$3,500 and is optional. Actual-day photography covers everything on your wedding day itself, from morning preparations through to the reception, and costs S$1,500 to S$6,000 and above.

What does "nett" mean on a Singapore wedding quote, and why does it matter? Many Singapore vendors quote prices with "++" at the end, meaning 9% GST and 10% service charge are added on top. A table quoted at S$1,500++ becomes roughly S$1,785 nett after those charges, which adds up to about S$5,700 extra across 20 tables. Always ask whether a quote is nett (all charges included) or "++", and compare vendors on the same basis.

Can I skip hiring a wedding coordinator entirely? Yes, many couples manage their own planning successfully. The risk is on the wedding day itself, when you will be busy being the couple and cannot also be the one calling vendors, solving last-minute problems, or keeping the timeline on track. If you have a highly organised friend or family member willing to take on that role, that can work. If not, a day-of coordinator at S$1,500 to S$3,000 is often worth every dollar for the peace of mind alone.