Caroline Yakop-Lim is someone who knows how to work the magic on events. As the founder of The Wedding Entourage, the planner extraordinaire has been at the helm of numerous fantasy celebrations, playing the role of fairy godmother to dozens of couples and fulfilling their visions of a dream wedding.
From Roman grottos and giant cascading water features in banquet rooms, to ivy-twined pavilions and luxurious candlelit outdoor soirées, Yakop-Lim and her team have seen and accomplished it all. Here, she tells us more about her business.
How has The Wedding Entourage set itself apart from the rest?
We started in 2003. Back then, there were only a few good wedding planners available, so we weren't faced with much competition to begin with. Over the years, we've distinguished ourselves as specialists in creating celebrations that are not just beautiful but also meaningful, reflecting both the couple's love as well as their personalities.
Why are wedding planners so essential?
With many couples working, it is often that both parties involved have little time for and knowledge of what needs to be done for their wedding. Part of our specialities is how well we get to know the clients we work with. Knowing their personalities and tastes in-depth enables us to brief vendors such as florists, hotel chefs and emcees better, so we all work cohesively towards a common vision.
Most hotels offer in-house wedding planning services. Where do you come in?
Most hotel planners are mainly involved with handling the catering and venue-related aspects of a wedding. Our wedding services are more comprehensive. From the moment a couple engages us, we assist them in all areas of their wedding, including the conceptualisation of the theme, vendor and decoration recommendations. We also liaise, on their behalf, with various hotels for food tastings, presentation and decoration logistics. While we don't work exclusively with any hotels presently, most of our weddings are held at Capella Singapore, Four Seasons Hotel, Shangri-La Hotel and Marina Bay Sands.
What are your rates like?
Our team comprises three full-time planners, an events arm and artiste management company. Our fees begin at $10,000 and services included are wedding planning, conceptualisation and coordination. Charges for third-party items and services such as decorations, emcees, AV equipment, photography and videography are paid directly to the suppliers.
Who are your clients?
Our clients are mostly local or Indonesian, and we are also seeing an increasing number of Indian couples. We have an initial meeting with potential clients to get to know them and their wedding plans better. It is important to see if we have the right working "chemistry", so everyone enjoys the planning process and wedding day. At most of the weddings we organise, you can literally feel the love between the couple in the air!
THE WEDDING ENTOURAGE
20A Tanjong Pagar Road
TEL: 6337-0868
E-MAIL: enquiries@theflyingdutchman.com.sg
www.theweddingentourage.com.sg
