The wedding planner for the rich says couples are spending big on tradition

• Lelian Chew is the founder of The Atelier & Co, a luxury wedding planning company based in Singapore.
• She has handled lavish destination weddings and million dollar gowns.
• Chew said more young Asian couples are spending on traditions to honor their cultural roots.

This essay, as stated, is based on a conversation with Lelian Chew, a luxury wedding planner in Asia. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I launched my event planning business, The Atelier & Co, in 2013, planning luxury events and weddings for some of the biggest families in Asia.

As our weddings have grown in scale, they have become more than just about the bride and groom, but also about the whole family and their social circles.

It’s almost like marrying two conglomerates. We only get one chance to perfect it, and the stakes are incredibly high.

Transformation of spaces

Many people think that when planning million dollar weddings, the expenses are related to luxury items like dresses or extravagant decorations, although we do get them occasionally.

For example, I once planned a wedding where a bride wore a dress that cost over a million dollars. The dress was encrusted with jewels, making it look like a jewel.

However, the decorations that help elevate the space and experience take up a large part of the budget.

Harper’s Bazaar once described our weddings as ‘cinematic’ which I think is an apt description because when our guests walk into the venue we want to make sure they feel like they’ve stepped into another world.

This requires meticulous attention to detail, from floral arrangements to the color of decorations that match the couple’s vision.

The logistical challenges and costs can add up quickly for remote island destination weddings. We once planned a wedding in the Maldives and had to fly or ship all our logistics, from furniture to cranes.

We also had a Coachella-style party at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Yunnan, China, where we had to transport all our guests and set up tents in the middle of a snow-capped mountain peak.

Entertainment is another key expense. It is not uncommon for clients to request a performance from world-renowned artists, as in the recent Ambani wedding. Whether it’s a singer, a band or even a magician, these acts can cost a significant amount for just a few hours of entertainment.

Satisfy personal tastes

Then there are the food and beverage costs, which can vary greatly depending on the customer. Not every rich family wants to serve the most expensive wines in the world. For some, it’s about sentimental value.

I’ve had clients who preferred to fly in chefs from their favorite restaurant or home country to prepare a familiar meal rather than go all out.

We also helped a client – ​​a wine enthusiast – find and buy a vineyard so that he could serve wine with his own label at the wedding.

When we receive unusual requests like this, it’s important not to flinch and help our customers however we can.

Focusing on the younger generation

There are also multiple generations involved, each with their own expectations for the wedding day. For the older generation, upholding traditions is essential.

For example, some traditional Chinese weddings have six different tea ceremonies to honor family elders.

On the other hand, the younger generation is more focused on creating intimate, personalized experiences.

Many of my clients opt for multiple events – a massive celebration at home to honor family traditions, followed by a smaller, more intimate wedding for their close friends and loved ones.

In recent years, we have noticed a shift in Asian weddings where younger generations are emphasizing keeping traditions in their weddings.

It’s not just about the Western-style white dress and exchanging vows anymore. Couples incorporate traditional touches, unique to their own cultural roots, into the big event.

For example, it is common for the bride to have several wardrobe changes besides the standard white dress. For different events, she may wear other dresses that reflect her culture.

It was inspiring to see this as it sets the weddings we do here in Asia apart from those around the world.

We have had the opportunity to incorporate cultural aspects into weddings, from traditional Indian ceremonies to Moroccan and Bangladeshi elements, making these events stand out and celebrating the rich traditions of Asia.

Many would flock to Lake Como or France for destination weddings, but I’ve always believed that choosing a location tied to one’s culture makes the experience even more special.

For example, the wedding we planned on top of the Snow Jade Dragon Mountain in China was for a bride with deep cultural ties to the region. We involved local villagers in preparing a traditional celebration, creating handmade furniture and performing local songs, making the event beautiful, deeply meaningful and authentic to the bride’s heritage.

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