A Modern Edgy Styled Shoot at CÉ LA VI Singapore

Since it first opened its doors, CÉ LA VI has played its part in welcoming couples into the married life. Sitting on the rooftop of Marina Bay Sands, the club has been the chosen place by many newlyweds to continue the drinking and toasting after a jam-packed wedding reception!

Up here, there is no room for disappointment as the remaining hours of a celebration is brought to a new high, and may we add, quite literally.

Yet more than just an After Party venue, CÉ LA VI’s restaurant boasts an equally panoramic view of the city skyline, not to mention the gastronomic experience that the establishment is also known for. It is not a surprise why the management thinks it is high time (pun intended) they cater to wedding couples seeking to celebrate in a more contemporary and luxurious setting.

And we sure second that because when TWM Team visited the space in 2020, we were floored by all that we were able to take in – the view, the service, the interior (and also the burrata)! For just a moment, we indulged ourselves in the thought that “this is THE life”. Unknown to us then, that is in fact what CÉ LA VI stands for.

Indeed, when we first set foot into the space, the interior and decor had lured us in like a bee to a flower. We could already dream of the many ways a wedding can be conceptualised here, and how it would offer a refreshing change for wedding couples and attendees alike. Thus, was born, this styled shoot with the aim to break away from the norms that is expected from weddings.

The sophistication and aesthetics of the space were all sources of inspiration. When we took the idea further with Brendan (of @fellowfolks), he had envisioned something far beyond what we would have imagined –

We were inspired by the modern and sleek interior of CÉ LA VI, the pairing of the black walls with the gold and red furniture creates a beautiful canvas for modern floral arrangement in a dark palette, which are not the usual colour palettes for a hotel setting.

Brendan

We hope to create an effortless and complementing floral decor to the space. Foliage and floral of the colours deep red, brown and magenta were used through the decor to complement the surrounding. We hope to bring in details through the play of texture, which in this case – stones and rock, which was replicated through table setting and wedding cake.

Brendan

The play on the “stones and rock” spoke right through to us as we thought it aptly encapsulates the meaning of starting a marriage strong – on a solid foundation. It was from this solid base that Samantha (of @cupplets) began translating her vision of this concept into cake form.

The stone and rock theme was the captivating factor, and we decided to take nature’s inspiration and emulate it using buttercream. We tried to push the boundaries a little further by incorporating colours and textures with the cake design by embedding a union of two peacocks on one side of the square stone, which also reflects the name of this cake – The Reunion. The bulk of the inspiration was taken from a cake artist from Toronto, who is known by her IG handle as @lima.cakes.

Samantha, Cupplets

The actual cake-making process took 2 days to complete!

We worked with different rice paper to create the texture and aesthetic of the peacock feather. Considering that we are using buttercream to create the stone/rock impression of the cake instead of fondant, we are required to be a little bit more patient with the process. For us to develop a realistic impression of the cake surface, we have to repeat the procedure of scraping, patching and texturing by working in and out of the refrigerator several times. When it comes to playing around with colours and shape, it does take some intuitive sense to allow space for change and novelty. For the flowers and branches, we sculpted and created painterly strokes to mimic the image with buttercream and added real Japanese Sakura flowers to accentuate the colours and essence of nature.

Samantha, Cupplets

We explored the concept of stones and rocks a little deeper which took us to MADLY Gems who specialises in bespoke gemstone jewellery. Their signature style puts a twist to classic gem pieces, and this notion works together with how we strive to break the boundary with this shoot. A few selected pieces were loaned to us for the shoot and they had stood out radiantly and immaculately.

All these sparkly things worked well with carefully selected gowns from The Proposal which include designer pieces from Galia Lahav, Reem Acra and Monique Lhuillier.

Along with delicately made accessories from Gioielli and the capable hands of Juey Huey from The Make Up Room, every visual aspect stood out in its own way.

As with all styled shoot projects, there are always visions that the creative team puts forth hoping for them to be more widely adopted. In this one, there is a consensus that what the team wishes to see in the industry is the courage to be novel and deliberate. Things are not carried out in a standard format or using a general template, but rather items are created and added with careful intent and devotion by the wedding team.

If the look of this (dare we say rather “solid”) styled shoot speak right to you, here are the costings you would expect for each of the following areas:

• Solemnisation decor starts from $725 onwards.
• Floral installation between the upper and lower dining starts from $1250 onwards.
• Wedding cake starts from $1500, the full cake size can feed 40 – 50 pax
• Minimum Spends at CÉ LA VI Singapore Restaurant & SkyBar for Wedding Buyouts
  • Sat/Sun, 12pm – 4pm $20,000++
  • Sat/Sun, 6pm – 10:30pm $30,000++
  • Mon-Fri, 12pm – 4pm $15,000++
  • Mon-Fri, 6pm – 10:30pm $20,000++
• CÉ LA VI Singapore Restaurant & SkyBar Wedding Set Menus (price per head)
  • 4 Course Standard Set S150++
  • 6 Course Premium Set $200++
  • Free Flow Package $88++ (2 hours)
  • Premium Free Flow Package $128++ (2 hours)

At capacity, CÉ LA VI can host 100 pax in 2 zones on the Upper Deck, Lower Deck and Private Dining Room.

The above venue booking price points serve as a guideline as CÉ LA VI look to create bespoke wedding packages for couples. You can have bespoke wedding gowns and suit so why not bespoke packages too right?

After all, this is C’est La Vie.

Professionals involved in the styled shoot:

• Photography: Tinydot Photography | @tinydotphoto
• Hair & Makeup: The Make Up Room | @themakeuproom_sg
• Floral, Décor and Styling: Fellow Folks | @fellowfolks
• Wedding Gowns: The Proposal | @the.proposal.bridal
• Wedding Mask & Hair Accessories: Gioielli | @gioiellisg
• Jewellery: MADLY Gems | @madlygems
• Stationery Design: Papypress | @papypress
• Wedding Cake: Cupplets | @cupplets
• Venue: CÉ LA VI Singapore | @celavisingapore
• Publication & Producer: The Wed Mag |@thewedmagofficial