Getting hitched in style

Table settings meet the personalized requirements of the wedding. provided to China Daily

The younger generation wants a wedding that is unforgettable, romantic and personal. Park Hyatt Beijing has a new wedding consultation service to ensure it is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. Chen Nan reports

It's a day to remember for the bride and groom. But preparing for a wedding day is almost inevitably filled with tension.

Couples who are determined to go it alone and prepare for the big day might end up stressing themselves out with an endless to-do list, ranging from booking the venue to arranging food, and many other chores.

To help the wedding party escape the anxiety and look their best when the big day arrives, Park Hyatt Beijing has introduced a wedding consultation service.

"We set up this service after realizing that there are so many Chinese, especially young people, looking for a personalized wedding," says Ronald Kang, Park Hyatt's general manager.

"You can decide on everything you want for your wedding and our wedding specialists will listen to your requirements and give you suggestions," he adds.

As a veteran wedding planner and banquet organizer who began his hotel career in the early 1980s in Singapore, Kang says the wedding craze that has been sweeping China over the past few years is a boon for the country's retailers.

"Hotels and restaurants are booked up months in advance, while wedding gown designers and pastry chefs are busier than they have ever been, all because Chinese people, especially the younger generation, want to have a great wedding that is unforgettable, romantic and personal," says Kang. "Every detail of our service is flexible so that we can best meet each individual client's needs. After all, a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event."

According to Chinese tradition, weddings are large, extravagant affairs, with people saving for many years to make theirs as impressive as possible.

From wedding bells, invitations and guest giveaways to the table settings, Park Hyatt Beijing's wedding service team can tailor each couple's wedding ceremony specifically to their wishes, according to Kang.

Chinese couples usually hold their wedding ceremony in a restaurant, where hundreds of guests are treated to a many-course banquet, drinks and a slice of wedding cake.

However, having a wedding ceremony at a hotel is much more convenient and comfortable for the bride, the groom and their guests.

"The hotel offers the happy couple all the services they need to host a wedding, from accommodation and transportation to pre-bridal beauty and spa treatments, such as facials, massages, exfoliations, manicures, pedicures, haircuts, waxing and make-up trials before the wedding. Guests can also stay at the hotel the day before the wedding rather than battling bad traffic on the day," Kang says.

The older generation considers a wedding ceremony serious, traditional and formal, while the younger generation always wants something new and exciting. Kang says that the hotel's wedding team will offer young couples some advice to help bridge the generation gap.

"For example, after the wedding ceremony, the parents can leave or go to a hotel room to take a break, while the younger people can enjoy a party in our bars," he says. "The members of our wedding team come from all over the world and have organized many events in many countries. We are, therefore, confident about our experience and professionalism."

Kang says that the goal of the hotel's new wedding service is to "reduce tension and worry, allowing the couple to take their first steps on the journey to their new life relaxed, confident and happy."

"I believe that this is because a wedding day is memorable and the couple wants to make the day everlasting, just like their vows."