14 places in Singapore for pre-wedding portraits filled with local flavour

These places around our little red dot make for pre-wedding photos evoking an aesthetic that's uniquely Singapore.

By Michelle Lee & Shazrina Shamsudin - 24 Mar 2023

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You’ve chosen your dress and you’ve sorted out your venue for your big day. But what about the photos that you’re going to show on your wedding day itself? For many, pre-wedding shoots have become popular amongst young couples before the big day. It’s often referred to as an engagement shoot, and it usually takes place three to six months prior to the wedding day.

While many couples prefer to have them done overseas, you can, however, take your pre-wedding photos here in sunny Singapore. Besides having them taken at the place where you and your partner first laid eyes on each other, some couples are ditching traditional wedding portraits for something a little more local. For instance, it could be as simple as having one in your new flat, or you can even take it up a notch and have it at the acclaimed red/yellow Tampines HDB Lobby that has got everyone on the internet buzzing about.

For some unique locations that are worth considering, keep on scrolling.

At a restaurant like Kota88

Credit: TLGraphy

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Certain places like restaurants hold a special significance in our hearts. It may be the first place you had your first dinner date together or it might even be where you got proposed to. A great example would be this couple's pre-wedding shoot at Kota88 restaurant. Not only does the place offer great lighting, but it also boasts a stunning backdrop for your photos too.

By the corridor

Credit: TLGraphy

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By now, you would've already heard about the controversial red/yellow Tampines HDB Lobby that everyone online has been talking about. And while it does seem like an odd place to have your pre-wedding photos taken, TLGraphy has proven that the spot also makes for a great photo op for young couples thanks to the block's unique Singaporean features.

Chinatown

Credit: KIMNSHIN

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From a durian stall to a photo op right in front of Old Chang Kee, Chinatown proved to be a picture-worthy backdrop for Damian and Vivien!

Keong Saik

Credit: Androidsinboots

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Just a skip and a hop away from Chinatown is the red-light-district-turned-hip-enclave-and-foodie-haven Keong Saik estate. With its rows of conserved shophouses, it evokes a nostalgic charm.

See their photos, here.

Your HDB or BTO flat

Credit: The Beautiful Moment Photography

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It doesn't get more Singaporean than our public housing estates. Plus, taking your photos in your soon-to-be home adds an intimate and personalised feel to your portraits that's uniquely yours. Just check out real couple Wu Jie Zhen and Jared Kong's wedding photo series, which they took in their pre-renovated home.

Your HDB or BTO flat

Credit: Androidsinboots

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Or even if your home's already done up, having your bridal portraits taken in your crib gives it that keeping-it-real vibe too.

Wedding photos of Anthea and Vincent.

Your neighbourhood kopitiam or coffee shop

Credit: Instagram/@intricked

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Even better when you include one of our (many) must-eat Singaporean breakfasts, fragrant kaya and butter toast, and mugs of steaming kopi.

Little India

Credit: Androidsinboots

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For Dasreena Kaur and Ishvinder Singh, they knew they wanted their shoot to capture the beauty and vibrancy of Singapore and decided on Little India - even before they found their photographer.

"We felt [Little India] to be a place bustling with colours, activity and culture. Moreover, we wanted to do something different from the norm and Little India seemed to be a rather unconventional choice for a wedding shoot", says Dasreena. See their photos here.

Joo Chiat

Credit: Instagram/@lightedpixelspixies

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This iconic spot along Koon Seng Road features pastel-hued shophouses with ceramic Peranakan tiles, and makes for the prettiest backdrop if you're looking to give your wedding portraits a heritage-inspired feel. Keep from going beyond the gates - we've heard of how Instagrammers often trespass into residents' homes just for a photo.

National Gallery

Credit: Instagram/@calinengphoto

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Formerly the Supreme Court and City Hall buildings, this national monument is steeped in history and a reflection of our colonial roots. Plus, you have to admit that its classical architecture and towering columns make for a stately backdrop.

MRT stations

Credit: Digio Bridal

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To commemorate their time spent on the MRT trains during their courtship, Jun Min Toh and Xiang Hao Pang took pre-wedding portraits at Joo Koon station!

On an SBS or SMRT bus

Credit: Andri Tei

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And speaking of public transport, take your cue from this Singapore couple who arrived at their wedding in an SMRT bus - just be sure you pick a non-peak period, make it snappy and aren't inconveniencing anyone!

Changi Airport

Credit: Instagram/@bridelopeproductions

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What with all the hype surrounding the swanky Jewel Changi Airport (where, by the way, you can soon shoot your wedding photos), it's the iconic Changi Control Tower that still tugs on our heartstrings.

Tiong Bahru

Credit: Brian Ho/The Galeria

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And of course, there's no leaving out Singapore's oldest housing estate, Tiong Bahru. If you need more convincing, just look to Sheila Sim's uber-cool noctural shoot at Tiong Bahru with hubby Deon Woo.