Bridal parties
Macau’s multi-faceted offerings combine European and Eastern sensibilities and are attracting a growing number of overseas weddings
Macau is a great destination for weddings. Thanks to government incentives attracting overseas couples and wedding guests, resorts and properties hosting wedding fairs and offering so many choices - paired with Macau’s colonial legacy and landmarks perfect for wedding snaps - it’s become more popular as a wedding destination.
To apply for the scheme, the wedding party should have at least 50 non-Macanese guests who stay two consecutive nights in one of Macau’s hotels. A maximum of 300 patacas will be reimbursed per guest for their activities in Macau, based on actual consumption, which can cover meals, local transport, city tours and other services. The scheme has complimentary offers that include free admission to the Wine Museum and Grand Prix Museum, and support wedding-related activities in Macau by offering tourism information kits, welcome gifts and facilitating liaison with relevant government departments.
Here are some venue suggestions if you are planning a wedding.
An old favourite and a picturesque spot for weddings is the historic Pousada de Sao Tiago Hotel and the Chapel of St James. It was built as a fortress by the Portuguese in the early 17th century to defend Macau against pirates and was later transformed into a hotel. Housing 12 suites, the hotel is a popular location for weddings since a blessing ceremony can be arranged inside the chapel with an option of indoor or outdoor banquet venues. The location has great backdrops for wedding photos and a wishing well.
“We are passionate about curating extraordinary experiences and memorable journeys for our wedding guests,” says Paul Kwok, general manager of Grand Hyatt Macau. “We are continuously creating new products and upgrading our services with a focus on details in order to surprise and enhance wedding guests’ experiences to stay at the forefront of the competition.”
The Ritz Carlton, Macau and JW Marriot
Perched on the top floors of the expanded Galaxy Macau, one of the newest properties in town is The Ritz-Carlton, Macau. Directly underneath is its sister property the new JW Marriot Hotel Macau. The two properties have upped the wedding game by offering an exclusive Wedding Atelier, the first of its kind in the city and a stunning Bridal Room. The Wedding Atelier is a one-stop source for wedding providers to help create unforgettable confectionaries and special giveaways for guests, and a place where the bridal couple can select wedding related options, such as cutlery, tablecloths and floral arrangements.
“The Ritz-Carlton’s location-based event professionals take guests through a personalised Wedding Atelier to find the perfect floral designs and venue decorations from trusted local vendor partners, guaranteeing an experience that can be savoured,” says Rainie Chan, assistant manager of public relations. “JW Marriott Hotel Macau and The Ritz-Carlton, Macau features 2,700 square metres and 1,014 square metres of flexible venue space that can be used for creating the perfect locations for an exquisite dinner during a once-in-a-lifetime wedding celebration. Both hotels’ pillar-less Grand Ballrooms feature direct ground-level access to ensure the utmost intimacy and convenience.”
Both properties offer brides complimentary access to the beautifully designed bridal room, next to the ballroom, so that they may prepare in the utmost comfort, convenience and style. The entrance to the bridal room features a wall-length pearlescent and luminescent mosaic featuring a pair of magpies – a symbol of marriage, children and happy households in traditional Chinese culture.
Experienced and passionate wedding professionals will ensure the wedding couple is well looked after. Each couple is assigned a dedicated professional to ensure every detail is perfectly crafted, from venue and decorations to culinary arrangements. The professional serves as a point of contact throughout the planning process to ensure their vision comes to life. A personal butler will be on hand for the whole wedding day.
Creating memorable occasions to suit all budgets, wedding packages at Conrad Macau won’t break the bank, but will exude five-star sophistication. From the hotel’s Junior Ballrooms and banquet rooms that accommodate up to 500 guests, or for more intimate weddings, the hotel’s team is ready to help couples find inspiration and arrange banquet menus, table settings, floral arrangements, lighting and décor. Special features offered include healthier menu options and personalised in-room amenities.
Conrad Macau offers wedding packages from 8,888 patacas for bookings of 20 tables or more and includes many benefits, such as a mock wedding cake for photo shoots, a cake-cutting ceremony, cupcake tower or fruit-cream cake, custom-designed wedding menu, Champagne for toasting, fresh floral centrepieces, mahjong services and a Bodhi Spa package.
As a special offer, Conrad Macau has also partnered with the Bank of China Macau to offer couples 18 months interest-free installments for weddings booked until December 31 for qualified members of BOC’s credit cards. The offer applies to Chinese banquets with a minimum of 15 tables, or 100 guests for Western menus.
