Let's be honest, the banquet is usually the biggest slice of the wedding budget. It's also where the maths gets confusing fast, thanks to those mysterious little plus signs hotels love to tack on. So let's break down what a table really costs, and what that ++ actually does to your wallet.
As of October 2026, a Singapore wedding banquet costs about S$1,120 to S$2,980 per table of 10. That's before service charge and GST, which hotels write as ++. Every figure here comes from Singapore hotels' and Chinese restaurants' own published 2026 price lists, which we checked in October 2026.
Watching the pennies? The cheapest menu at each venue costs about S$1,120 to S$1,460 a table for a weekday lunch. If your heart's set on a Saturday dinner, it's about S$1,370 to S$1,690.
How venues price a banquet
Every venue prices a table of 10 guests and each room also has a minimum number of tables.
A Chinese banquet usually runs to eight courses, with a first and second march-in, which are the couple's two entrances into the hall. Between courses comes the yam seng, the raucously loud group toast that we all know and love.
The menu sets most of the price, and a venue usually lists three to five menus. At one restaurant, the top menu costs more than twice the cheapest.
After the menu, the session and the day will dictate the price. A weekday dinner on the cheapest menu is about S$1,120 to S$1,690 a table.
Some venues keep their cheapest menu for lunch only, or for Monday to Friday only. Others print one price for the whole week, public holidays included.
Then comes the room. Small function rooms ask for a minimum of 5 to 10 tables, while ballrooms ask for 15 to 35.
The 2027 price lists are already out, and we have found that some add nothing to the 2026 price, but others add about S$100 a table.
- Weekday lunch, cheapest menuS$1,120S$1,460
- Weekday dinner, cheapest menuS$1,120S$1,690
- Saturday dinner, cheapest menuS$1,370S$1,690
- All menus and sessionsS$1,120S$2,980
| Item | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday lunch, cheapest menu | S$1,120 | S$1,460 |
| Weekday dinner, cheapest menu | S$1,120 | S$1,690 |
| Saturday dinner, cheapest menu | S$1,370 | S$1,690 |
| All menus and sessions | S$1,120 | S$2,980 |
What ++ adds
The two plus signs stand for a 10% service charge, followed by 9% GST, or Goods and Services Tax, charged on the food price plus that service charge.
So a table priced at S$1,398 with the two plus signs becomes about S$1,540 after the service charge, and about S$1,680 nett, meaning with GST included as well.
Every price comes out about a fifth above the printed one once both are added, so budget on that final figure.
What is usually included and what is usually extra
Here is what venue price lists most often include and what they add on top.
| Usually included | Usually extra |
|---|---|
| An eight-course Chinese menu | A higher-priced menu |
| Chinese tea and soft drinks | Juices |
| One bottle of house wine per table | Free-flow wine on cheaper packages |
| One barrel of beer or free-flow beer | More beer once the barrel is empty |
| A food tasting for one table on a weekday | Corkage at some venues |
| One night in a bridal suite at hotels | Printing for the invitation cards |
| Invitation cards for 70% of guests | Parking for the remaining guests |
| Parking coupons for some guests | Public holiday and auspicious date fees |
| Stage flowers and a dummy cake | A stage and projector at some restaurants |
The catch
Here's the big one. The guarantee is the bill. You pay for every table you guarantee, even if one ends up half empty because Uncle's whole family suddenly "got something on".
Some venues also charge more on certain dates. Hotels that do this add S$50 to S$100 a table before service charge and GST. Each one has its own mix of public holidays, their eves and auspicious dates (the lucky dates in the Chinese calendar, which the hotel picks itself).
One hotel does things a little differently and adds S$12 a guest on a public holiday or its eve instead.
And deposits? Every price list that mentions one says that there's a fee you won't get it back, which is typically S$3,000 to S$10,000 per ballroom. Ouch.
Bringing your own wine or spirits? Check the corkage, which is the fee for opening bottles you supply. Most venues waive it, but one hotel charges S$20 a bottle before service charge and GST.
Drinks add up fast, especially once the yam seng rounds get going. Where beer isn't free flow, one hotel charges S$780 before service charge and GST for an extra 30-litre barrel.
Finally, the little extras. Most venues give you invitation cards for 70% of guests, and printing costs extra. Parking coupons only cover 15% to 30% of guests, so the rest of the gang might want to take the MRT.
Top of each printed range for the cheapest menu at each venue. The draft gives no Saturday lunch figure.
Five questions to ask before you pay a deposit
- What is the price per table with service charge and GST included?
- How many tables is the minimum for this room on my date?
- Is there a surcharge for a public holiday, its eve or an auspicious date?
- Is any part of the deposit refundable?
- Is corkage waived for wine and spirits brought in?
When to book
Venues have already published their price lists for 2027 and 2028. A few venue planning pages advise booking 8 to 12 months ahead for a popular date.
Book the banquet first. Its date and start time decide the hours you need from a photographer and a makeup artist.
Can you hold a hotel banquet with fewer than 10 tables?
Yes, in a small function room. Most venues have a room that can accommodate 5 to 10 tables, while ballrooms start at 15.
What does ++ mean on a banquet quote?
It means a 10% service charge and a 9% GST charge go on top of the printed price. A table printed at S$1,118 before both costs about S$1,340 after them.
How much does a 100-guest banquet cost?
Ten tables on the cheapest menus cost about S$13,410 to S$20,350 with service charge and GST included, from a weekday restaurant lunch to a hotel dinner. Ask whether your room accepts 10 tables, because many ballrooms only take bookings for a minimum of 15 tables.
Your next step
While you shortlist banquet venues, compare photographer rates per hour, side by side at today's rates.
