Overview

As wedding planning continues to evolve post-pandemic, couples are increasingly turning to online platforms to sell their banquet packages, seeking to avoid crushing cancellation fees. One post reads, 'Looking to let go of a lunch banquet at Caroline Mansion (at The St Regis Singapore) on March 1, 2025. SGD 10K will be absorbed on my end. Only serious couples, thank you.' Such posts have transformed forums like Singapore Brides into vibrant marketplaces for couples burdened with expensive wedding commitments.

Discounted Packages

Many sellers are advertising substantial discounts on their packages, with one post offering a staggering 20% off on a $44,200 banquet for 250 guests at The Westin Singapore's Grand Ballroom. The surge of these discussions stems from disheartened couples facing cancellation fees that can balloon into tens of thousands of dollars when their wedding plans are derailed.

Cancellation Fees

According to wedding agreements reviewed, cancellation fees can fluctuate drastically, ranging from 30% of the total banquet cost to the entire amount, depending on how close the cancellation date is. For example, The Westin Singapore enforces a 100% fee if the event is canceled six months prior, while InterContinental Singapore applies a similar penalty three months before the event, and Jen Singapore Tanglin charges the full amount immediately upon signing.

Real-life Experiences

These fees can be staggering, often between $20,000 and $50,000, leading many couples like 'Andy' (a pseudonym), who faced a $25,000 penalty despite notifying more than a year in advance, to seek out buyers for their packages. Unfortunately, he ultimately had to negotiate his cancellation fee to just over $10,000 after failing to transfer his booking.

A similar case involved another man who attempted to resell a $60,000 banquet at a luxurious InterContinental hotel just three months ahead of the wedding date but received offers that fell considerably short of his expectations. He resorted to negotiating a change of event type with the hotel, turning his wedding into a corporate networking event, managing to halve his costs.

Legal Perspectives

Legal experts assert that many of these steep penalty clauses could face challenges under Singapore law, especially with the Unfair Contract Terms Act. 'These cancellation fees can serve more as a deterrent against contract cancellations rather than a fair compensation to the hotel,' warned Mr. Tang Jin Sheng, a lawyer who emphasizes the power imbalance in these scenarios.

Consumer Advocacy

Consumer watchdogs, notably the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case), have long scrutinized excessive cancellation fees. In previous years, they targeted several hotels for their policies, aiming to motivate a reassessment of these steep charges. Recent data shows that from January 2021 to December 2024, Case received 49 complaints related to wedding banquet cancellations—typically from couples burdened by significant fees during personal crises or due to disruptions from COVID-19.

'Clients are often caught off guard by these fees, especially when they try to postpone or cancel last-minute due to unforeseen circumstances,' said Case's president Melvin Yong.

Industry Response

Despite ongoing discussions aiming at creating fairer industry standards, the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) tends to stand by its members’ established commercial policies. SHA's executive director, Margaret Heng, noted that the association maintains a stance respecting individual hotel’s terms and conditions, leaving couples vulnerable in negotiation scenarios.

Conclusion

As wedding costs escalate, the increase in online transactions for banquet packages suggests that many couples are desperate to recoup costs and mitigate losses—while hotels grapple with balancing their profits against the potential disenchantment of prospective clients. This growing trend could signal significant shifts in how wedding services are booked and managed in the future.