Participating in a traditional Chinese wedding entails the customary act of presenting a wedding ang bao (red packet) containing monetary gifts. This custom is intended to bestow blessings upon the newlyweds and assist in defraying wedding expenditures. It is imperative to approach this practice with a balanced perspective.
Understanding the Purpose of Ang Bao
Weddings are very personal occasions. Guests should not feel obligated to match the exact cost of their attendance. The true meaning of giving a monetary gift (ang bao) lies in your sincere blessings and your desire to support the couple within your financial means. It's a gesture of kindness, not a requirement to meet specific monetary expectations.
If you are unable to match the "market rate," it is polite to inform the couple before you RSVP. In many cases, the couple may still want you to attend regardless of the ang bao amount. Genuine friendships and family bonds are not determined by financial contributions, but by genuine support and love shared.
Wedding Ang Bao Rates for 2024 & 2025
Key Points to Consider for Wedding Banquets:
1. Venue and Day: Saturday nights are often the most sought-after and expensive for hosting wedding banquets.
2. Customization: The total cost of a wedding banquet can vary significantly based on the level of customization, menu choices, and additional services such as decorations and photo booths. These additional services are often not included in standard hotel packages, contributing to the overall cost.
3. Service Charges and GST: The cost per table includes a 10% service charge and a 9% Goods and Services Tax (GST). Typically, a banquet table accommodates ten guests, and the per-person rate can be estimated by dividing the total cost by ten.
4. Package Variations: Hotels offer a range of wedding packages, leading to considerable price differences. It's advisable to inquire about the specific package selected by the couple. If this information is not available, provide the best estimate based on the available information.
How Much Should You Give?
The following table provides a rough guide for wedding ang bao rates at different hotel tiers:
Hotel: Amara Singapore (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 238
Sat Dinner: 268
Sun Dinner: 258
Hotel: Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 228
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 258
Hotel: Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa (2025)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 238
Sat Dinner: 288
Sun Dinner: 268
Hotel: Andaz Singapore (2024/2025): The Glasshouse/Garden Studio
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 278
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 288
Hotel: Capella Singapore (Sentosa Room)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 368
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 368
Hotel: Capella Singapore (Grand Ballroom)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 458
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 468
Hotel: Carlton Hotel (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 188
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 188
Hotel: Carlton Hotel (2025)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 208
Sat. Sun Dinner: 208
Hotel: Changi Cove Hotel (Till 31 Dec 2025)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 168
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 188
Hotel: Chijmes Hall (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 248
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 288
Hotel: Concorde Hotel (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 168
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 188
Hotel: Conrad Centennial Singapore 2024 (The Ballroom)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 218
Sat Dinner: 268
Sun Dinner: 228
Hotel: Conrad Centennial Singapore 2024 (The Pavillion)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 228
Sat Dinner: 268
Sun Dinner: 248
Hotel: Copthorne King's Hotel (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 168
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 188
Hotel: Crowne Plaza Changi Airport (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 208
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 198
Hotel: Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford 2024 (SKAI Suites)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 228
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 288
Hotel: Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford 2025 (SKAI Suites)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 248
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 288
Hotel: Four Points By Sheraton Singapore, Riverview (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 198
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 198
Hotel: Four Seasons Hotel Singapore (2025)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 268
Sat Dinner: 288
Sun Dinner: 268
Hotel: Furama City Centre (2024 & 2025)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 168
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 188
Hotel: Furama Riverfront Singapore (2024 & 2025)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 168
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 188
Hotel: Genting Hotel Jurong (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 148
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 148
Hotel: Goodwood Park Hotel Oct 2023 - Sep 2024 (Tudor/Windsor)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 198
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 218
Hotel: Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel (2024)
Sat Lunch: 228
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 268
Sun Lunch: 258
Hotel: Grand Hyatt Singapore (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 208
Sat Dinner: 258
Sun Dinner: 248
Hotel: Grand Hyatt Singapore (2025)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 228
Sat Dinner: 258
Sun Dinner: 248
Hotel: Grand Park City Hall (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 208
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 208
Hotel: Hilton Singapore Orchard (The Ballroom Packages)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 248
Sat Dinner: 278
Sun Dinner: 248
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 408
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 408
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 188
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 208
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 188
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 208
Hotel: JEN Singapore Tanglin (Till 30 Jun 2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 198
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 198
Hotel: JEN Singapore Tanglin (Jul 2024 - Jun 2025)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 208
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 208
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 268
Sat Dinner: 288
Sun Dinner: 258
Sat/Sun Lunch: 268
Sat Dinner: 288
Sun Dinner: 268
Hotel: JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach (2024)
Sat/Sun Lunch: 278
Sat Dinner: 318
Sun Dinner: 298
Hotel: M Hotel (2024 & 2025)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 198
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 208
Hotel: Marina Bay Sands (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 298
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 358
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 148
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 158
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 178
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 198
Hotel: Oasia Hotel Novena Singapore
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 258
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 258
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 248
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 248
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 258
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 258
Hotel: One Farrer Hotel (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 188
Sat Dinner: 228
Sun Dinner: 198
Hotel: One Farrer Hotel (2025)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 208
Sat Dinner: 238
Sun Dinner: 208
Hotel: Orchard Hotel Singapore (2024)
Sat Lunch: 198
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 278
Sun Lunch: 188
Hotel: Orchard Hotel Singapore (2025)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 208
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 288
Hotel: PARKROYAL on Beach Road (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 208
Sat Dinner: 248
Sun Dinner: 218
Hotel: PARKROYAL on Beach Road (2025)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 218
Sat Dinner: 248
Sun Dinner: 218
Hotel: PARKROYAL Collection Pickering (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 288
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 288
Hotel: PARKROYAL @ Marina Bay (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 218
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 248
Hotel: PARKROYAL @ Marina Bay (2025)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 248
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 278
Hotel: Pan Pacific Singapore Raffles Boulevard (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 228
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 258
Hotel: Pan Pacific Singapore Raffles Boulevard (2025)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 248
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 278
Hotel: Pan Pacific Orchard (2024/ 2025)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 368
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 368
Hotel: Raffles City Convention Centre (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 208
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 228
Hotel: Raffles City Convention Centre (2025)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 228
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 238
Hotel: Resorts World Sentosa Convention Centre (Ballroom/L1 Function room) (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 228
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 238
Hotel: Resorts World Sentosa (Equarius Hotel) (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 238
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 258
Hotel: Resorts World Sentosa (S.E.A. Aquarium) (2024)
Sat Dinner: 368
Sun Dinner: 368
Hotel: Shangri-La Hotel (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 238
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 318
Hotel: Shangri-La Hotel (2025)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 258
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 328
Hotel: Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 278
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 318
Hotel: Sheraton Towers Singapore (2024 & 2025)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 218
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 248
Hotel: Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 198
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 248
Hotel: Sofitel Singapore City Centre (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 228
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 248
Hotel: Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 278
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 298
Hotel: The Capitol Kempinski Hotel (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 268
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 318
Hotel: The Clifford Pier @ The Fullerton Bay Hotel 2024 & 2025
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 448
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 448
Hotel: The Fullerton Hotel 2024 & 2025
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 328
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 358
Hotel: The Ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore (2024 & 2025)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 328
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 438
Hotel: The St. Regis Singapore (John Jacob)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 258
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 288
Hotel: The St. Regis Singapore (Caroline's Mansion)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 268
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 318
Hotel: The Westin Singapore (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 218
Sat Dinner: 258
Hotel: Village Hotel Sentosa (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 258
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 258
Hotel: Village Hotel Changi / Katong (2024) York Hotel (2024)
Sat/ Sun Lunch: 178
Sat/ Sun Dinner: 198
Conclusion
When deciding on your wedding gift, it's important to consider your relationship with the couple and your financial means. Remember, the value of your presence and well-wishes is so much more important than any monetary contribution. A heartfelt gift is always appreciated more than one given out of obligation. Weddings are about celebrating love, so your participation should reflect joy and support rather than financial strain.
By keeping these considerations in mind, you can graciously navigate the tradition of giving wedding gifts, ensuring a truly memorable and meaningful experience for both you and the newlyweds.
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