When it comes to hills in Singapore, people often associate them with the sun and sweat. Be it the hills of Bukit Timah, Fort Canning or Mount Faber, most head to these places for the thrill of climbing up inclined paths or take comfort in all that nature has to offer. However, not all hills in Singapore are associated with physical activity. Here, we have a modern and leading-edge hill of humble abode to many boutique retail stores and food emporiums – The well-loved Dempsey Hill.
Built on former grounds of British army barracks, its strategic location away from the hustle and bustle of the city allows all to feel relaxed and free, as if on vacation (without the hassle of packing and time spent travelling, of course). With a unique and upscaled outlook maintained through the years, Dempsey Hill has enthralled the hearts of countless locals as well as those coming from afar, all of whom looking to bask themselves in its surroundings.
COMO Group settled themselves on Dempsey hill in 2016 and established an all-around harbour providing roofs over a diversity of eateries with different cuisines and set themes catering to all varying preferences as well as a medley of occasions celebrated in this tiny island.
With hopes of shining a brighter spotlight on unconventional and intimate wedding spaces, COMO Group gave life to this styled shoot held at three of their notable restaurants – Candlenut, COMO Cuisine and The Dempsey Cookhouse and Bar.
Candlenut
Contemporary Peranakan restaurant, Candlenut, was designed with great éclat and flair by remarkable Italian architect Paola Navone. Rattan elements and eye-catching notes of turquoise was eminent in the space, indeed a symbolization of authentic Peranakan culture.
Exquisite oriental lanterns hung atop its ceilings were matched with Chinese ceramics jazzing up its walls, we could see how this venue would be an ideal spot for cultural-fusion weddings.
Iconic geometrical shapes paired with loud but at the same time, modern and conventional colours – We couldn’t deny the existence of an accentuated Peranakan theme at Candlenut. No doubt, this is a gleaming union brought to life by Inside the Knot.
With it being a Peranakan restaurant, we played with the Peranakan motifs in the menu and place cards. Using deep colours also enhanced the space even more.
Inside the Knot
A time-honoured bridal look by Aesta Make Up was complemented by a pair of tiered gold and pearl earrings cascading down the bride’s neck from State Property – a soft and prevailing combination.
COMO Cuisine
Moving on is COMO Cuisine, a restaurant situated at the entrance of this glorious hill serving signature favourites from COMO’s line of hotels and resorts along with selects from their very own Shambhala Cuisine.
In this shoot, the styling team decked COMO Cuisine to evoke the tranquillity of Bali and its exotic nature with florals of pastel and neutral tones called into play, coupled with a pair of stunning peacock chairs shining in the limelight.
COMO cuisine is known for its beautiful space. To complement it, we worked with the best pastel shades of preserved and silk flowers, along with our peacock chairs.
Inside the Knot
As the pandemic hit our shores came increased restrictions set on the wedding scene, creating new demands for intimate weddings. A shift away from traditional norms and conventionality creates opportunities for couples to create weddings of unique nature, one they can truly call their own.
Couples are more likely to customize the venue to represent their characters and personalities, activities are also less structured (missing out on video sharing, or a traditional cake cutting ceremony, etc.) This adds more intimate sharing such as personalized cards for guests, table games, and others.
Inside the Knot
The Dempsey Cookhouse and Bar
Last but not least is The Dempsey Cookhouse and Bar, a European-fusion restaurant topped with an Asian flair. With its existing open kitchen, guests would have a birds-eye view of the magic behind their plate, bringing the aspect of connection to another level.
Colonial-inspired furniture enhanced the monochromatic theme of this restaurant, along with its two-toned symmetrical flooring of black and white.
We love the marriage of blush colours with the overall black-and-white aesthetics of this space – a simple and opulent look.
An elegant space which requires colours that compliments itself. So, a blush white theme is perfect as it doesn’t take away the beauty of the space with loud colours.
Inside the Know
Along with the theme, menus designed with monochromatic tones were accompanied by clean and sharp typography, perfectly aligned by pristine white borders.
Humble spaces like these allow couples to be of closer proximity to their guests as they walk down the aisle, enhancing the overall intimacy of this triumph-filled day.
The irresistible charm of Dempsey Hill is perhaps what had drawn Aileen and her fiance to host their wedding here AND also agreeing heartily to participate in this styled shoot.
Advice from couples who took part in the shoot
To plan a wedding is already tough on its own, let alone planning it amid this pandemic. Here in this shoot, Aileen and her fiancé are a couple who have chosen to take the unconventional path of holding their wedding in the cosy and laid back space of Como Dempsey, and here are some of their advice to those who are looking at doing so too –
Q: What made you decide to hold your wedding at Candlenut/Dempsey Cookhouse etc.?
A: The interior/look of the venue and its food are perfect for the occasion! They are able to cater a little something for everyone!
Q: What are some of your concerns when it comes to wedding planning, and if you have any helpful resources to share with other couples?
A: Budgeting efficiently as we would like to fulfil our dream wedding without burning a hole in our pocket.
Through this styled shoot, we hoped to have given you a glimpse into what an endemic wedding would be like in the time to come. We believe that with an alluring venue in place, the perfect wedding of your dreams could still come to life!
For 2022 wedding packages, kindly email event@comodempsey.sg for more information.