PETALING JAYA: The desire to have an auspicious “Dragon baby” next year is driving up wedding hall bookings in the Chinese community, according to wedding planners.
Loon Sing Group managing director Sia Boon Kong says it is customary for many Chinese couples to marry before the Year of the Dragon to have a Dragon child the following year.
“From September to the end of the year, Chinese restaurants are almost fully booked,” he said.
“Many couples have to plan ahead for six months or even a year,” he added.
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The Chinese see the Dragon as the most fortunate sign in the 12-year zodiac cycle, and Dragon newborns are said to be “more imaginative, creative, confident and persistent”.
Malaysian Association of Hotels president Datin Christina Toh also believes that the rush to have children next year is pushing up weddings this year.
“According to the Chinese zodiac, next year is the Year of the Dragon, so many people will marry and hold wedding ceremonies.
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“There is an increase in wedding reception bookings at the hotel,” she noted, adding that most wedding receptions at hotels take place on weekends.
“During the pandemic, you couldn’t have a wedding reception so many people started having wedding receptions last year and this year,” she said.
Reservations for wedding banquet halls have risen by 75%, said Wong Teu Hoon, president of the Koo Soo Restaurants and Chefs Association.
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While Toh noted the popularity of weekend weddings, Wong said days with the number nine in their dates are highly sought after because the pronunciation of the number sounds the same as the words “long-lasting”.
“That’s why some people prefer to have their weddings on the 9th, 19th or 29th in hopes of an enduring marriage.
“Some popular Chinese wedding dinner locations require reservations more than a year in advance; some auspicious days have to be booked six months or even a year in advance,” he said.
As with Malay weddings, higher prices are having an effect on Chinese ceremonies, too.
Sia, who is also a Ku Su Shin Choong Hung Chinese Restaurants Association member, said that many couples’ wedding receptions have minimised the size of wedding dinners following the pandemic.
“Before, there might have been banquets for 100 tables; now, there are 40 to 50 tables,” he said.
Another trend is that young people prefer to have their wedding photos taken early, so that part of the business is also brisk this year, said Fion Lew, chief executive officer of Enya Mareine Wedding Gallery.
“Couples who have their wedding photos taken might or might not have their wedding reception in the same year.
“After the pandemic, young people have altered their ideas about marriage.
“Sixty per cent of couples will have their wedding reception after the wedding shoot, and 40% will just come for the wedding photos,” she noted.
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