Stairway to heaven

Once the initial excitement of the proposal settles down, planning for the big day begins. Landmark views and expansive ballrooms make hotels the venue of choice for many couples, and some offer a full wedding-planning service with in-house experts to pull together every detail and turn dreams into reality.

Eva Kwan, director of catering and events at The Mira Hong Kong, says it acts as a one-stop-shop for everything from ideas to execution. 'Everything that happens inside the hotel, we can take care of,' Kwan says, adding that services can include things such as organising RSVPs to helping a bride source the right shoes to pair with her gown.

The hotel's collaboration with Hollywood event planner and designer Colin Cowie gives it a unique edge, according to Kwan, who says the pillar-free ballroom, Cowie's six signature looks and state-of-the-art technology make it stand out in set-up and in style.

The colour-coded themes come with their own accessories, including tableware and centrepieces. A lighting system offers 25,000 variations so that a couple can change the ambience at every stage of their wedding.

Little more than 12 months since it opened, the Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, is already the venue of choice for couples who want to wow. Boasting its position as the highest hotel in the world with panoramic skyline views, it can also lay claim to some serious budget-busting wedding packages. It has hosted several HK$1-million-plus weddings and a celebrity wedding with performances by Hollywood stars.

The hotel has a dedicated wedding showroom comprising a mock-up of a ballroom where a couple can look at options from soft furnishings to flowers and discuss their plans with the catering and event teams.