The Venue

I wish my wedding could be an intimate outdoor affair - at the beach preferably or a garden surrounded by big trees so I could have fairy lights in them.

But let's be real. Our unpredictable and mostly all year long monsoon season kind of climate. And whenever I attend an outdoor wedding I would usually cringe because I'd either get the stupid mist fan blowing my face making my hair frizzy, or the super hot weather is melting my makeup on my less than perfect skin. And all that as a wedding guest, not yet as a bride who'd need to wear heavier dress and heavier makeup. Not for me.

So as soon as we got our dates (see previous post), I started scouting for venues which are available on the dates agreed. That's easy. Sime Darby Convention Centre had been on my mind as a practical wedding venue - good location and since it's not a hotel, their prices are in the OK range. So I called them up and exchanged emails on their packages and available dates (they're booked 14 months in advance and that's when I realize how kiasu Malaysian brides are). So I got my date and was prepared to put down the RM5,000 deposit. Until.....

I was told that they're planning to renovate the hall. Yup. I had a panic attack. And spent the entire day at work (and the next few days) googling for other alternatives. And found these:

Venues

1. Concorde Shah Alam RM1,200++/table, min. 45 tables (heard the service and food got crappy recently)

2. Grand Dorsett Subang RM1,188 or RM1,288++/table, min. 40 tables (their sales manager took forever to get back to me and he never did. I had to even go there myself to speak to him only to find him not in that day although I had called earlier and was told he would! That turned me off)

3. Holiday Villa Subang RM1,010-1,210++/table (attended 2 weddings here and food was great!)

4. The Saujana Hotel Subang RM1,188 (dome style) or RM1,388 (buffet style) ++/table, min. 35 tables? (the ballroom is quite small and can fit maybe 350-400 pax comfortably. But they're renovating right now and could change after completion)

5. Tropicana Golf & Country Resort (not so sure about the details but it's an option although I wouldn't recommend it - bad service during reception)

6. Mandarin Oriental KL from RM1,988++/table 

7. Dewan Perdana Felda from RM750 nett/table, min. 60 tables (this is 2011 price, it should be +20% now)

8. Felda Villa from RM32nett/person buffet style, min. 400 pax (only valid for weekends 12-4pm. Add RM3/pax for dinner reception)

9. Royale Chulan KL from RM1,550++/table, min. 35 tables-indoor courtyard/60 tables-grand ballroom (heard the food isn't great. The decors are by Pak Abu)

10. JW Marriott KL from RM1,500++/table, min. 45 tables (the winner - excellent and very efficient service from the start)

11. Grand Hyatt KL from RM2,388++/table 

12. Hilton KL from RM2,488++/table

13. Cyberview Lodge & Spa Cyberjaya from RM1,288++/table (small ballroom, max. 35 tables?)

14. Zebra Square, Kg. Pandan max. 35-40 tables in the Great Hall

15. Ciao Ristorante, Kg. Pandan RM128++/pax, max. 250 pax

16. Passion Road from RM130/pax, max. 300 pax

17. Duchess Place KL from RM90++/pax, max. 400 pax

As my parents were looking for a venue which could cater for about 15 tables for akad nikah and 50 tables for the dinner reception, considering the constraints at most of the venues listed above (including their level of service, response time, min and max capacity), we agreed #4 for my akad nikah (solemnisation) and #10 for our dinner reception. Dad definitely isn't keen on having both ceremonies at home at all because of all the horrifying stories they've heard about losing things, collapsing from exhaustion, no one to clean up, etc. Lol! 

Oh, and forget about Bora Asmara/Ombak. Family member had a horrifying wedding experience - they served stale food and didn't let the wedding planner set up the night before. Pfft. Too much drama.

Please note that the above prices are as at time of writing and subject to changes. 

++ indicates 16% government and service taxes to be included.

Till the next post, xx.