SINGAPORE - If you're attending a Saturday night wedding dinner at top-tier hotels such as Capella Singapore and Ritz-Carlton Millenia, be prepared to fork out in excess of $200 for that red packet - just to cover the cost of the meal.
The Sunday Times found out recently that wedding banquet prices at some of Singapore's top hotels are close to hitting the unprecedented $2,000-mark for each table of 10.
And that's not even factoring in additions like menu upgrades and alcohol, let alone the seven per cent Goods and Services Tax and 10 per cent service charge.
With all the extra costs thrown in, it was calculated that attending a wedding dinner at five hotels could turn out to be a rather expensive affair for guests.
Capella Singapore and St Regis lead the pack with a red packet price of $234, while a wedding at Ritz-Carlton Millenia would set a guest back $220.
Dining at Grand Hyatt and W Singapore Sentosa Cove would require red packets containing $210 and $205 respectively.
Red packet prices for hotels such as Shangri-La, InterContinental and The Fullerton also hover close to the $200 figure.
Inflation, escalating food costs and a tightening labour market have been steadily pushing prices of wedding dinners up by about 5 to 10 per cent annually, with industry watchers saying there has yet to be a dip in recent years.
The average hotel table price went past $1,000 in 2008, before taxes.
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Price of wedding tables hits new high
