The trend of destination weddings is not new. Destination wedding venues like Bali, Langkawi and Phuket are extremely popular among couples. As we strive to seek out unique wedding venues for you, we discovered one that will allow you to enjoy banquet luxuries at a fraction of the cost!

In 2015, Malaysian newspaper New Straits Times reported that half of 900 hotel wedding banquets in Johor Bahru were hosted by Singaporeans or Singapore permanent residents. We are certain that number has skyrocketed since then. An innovative couple Gideon Tan and Rebecca Goh saved $20,000 from hosting their wedding in Johor Bahru, despite catering several buses to bring their guests to the venue! Upon hearing that, we were inspired to check out classy hotel banquet wedding venues in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

This issue features Renaissance Johor Bahru, a 5-star hotel under the Marriott hotel group. It presents you a grand ballroom, delicious food, dazzling decorations, ethnic wedding themes, luxury accommodation, personalized service and best of all, a prime location just 15-20 minutes away from Singapore. For innovative and practical couples looking to cross the border for greater savings and splurging opportunities, read on to find out what’s in store for you.

7 Reasons to have your wedding at Renaissance Johor Bahru

1. Host your celebration in one of the largest banquet hall in Johor Bahru 

When it comes to the biggest celebration of our life, we wish to have all our loved ones present to share the joy! But due to capacity limitations in some venues, we find ourselves often having to cut the guest list. For traditional couples with big families who are fretting over finding a venue big enough to accommodate all your guests, fret no more. Malay couples are also in luck, for this venue will be able to fit your grand celebration.

Just 15-20 minutes away from Singapore, Renaissance Johor Bahru houses one of the largest banquet ballrooms you will come across. Able to seat 1,200 guests, you will have no trouble finding a space large enough for your big day. A floor on level 2 is dedicated to weddings, meetings, and celebrations so you will enjoy the privacy of this area.

2. Enjoy a picturesque sunset poolside solemnization

Exchanging your vows is one of the most significant and meaningful moments of your marriage. For your solemnization, Renaissance Johor Bahru has an outdoor poolside venue and set up that will exude romantic vibes for your walk down the aisle! Say “I Do” against a backdrop of blue skies and a gorgeous sunset.

3. Beautiful floral decorations & grand centerpieces

Renaissance Johor Bahru is known for hosting stylish weddings. Enter the banquet hall and be greeted with luxurious carpeting, chandeliers and the fresh scent of florals. Our visit to Renaissance Johor Bahru coincided with their wedding show and we got to see first-hand for ourselves the complete set up for a wedding day! We were so impressed by the beautiful floral centerpieces that their decor team crafted. The VIP table setting was a grand setup.

4. Savor authentic yet innovative Chinese cuisine at Wan Li Chinese Restaurant

We had the pleasure of visiting the Wan Li Chinese Restaurant at Renaissance Johor Bahru for a tasting session. Well known for their halal tim sum buffet, you can select scrumptious Cantonese dishes from their ala-carte menu, and relax in the posh, comfortable setting of the restaurant. Be sure to try their Baked BBQ Chicken Puff, which packed a delicious flavor, and was served piping hot!

For couples who are looking for a Chinese restaurant to host their wedding celebration, we strongly recommend Wan Li, for their food is delicious and the modern ambience exudes an understated elegance. Their dishes do not use pork or lard, making Wan Li a go-to option for Muslim celebrations too!

Classic Three Combination Platter (Crispy Scallop, Marinated Jelly Fish, Roasted Duck Roll)

Oven Baked Cod Fish Fillet in Honey Sauce

Mango Puree with Pomelo served with Golden Custard Bun

Extremely innovative with his culinary creations, Chef Lee Nam Sing manages to tastefully blend exotic ingredients in one dish. He constantly reinvents classic inspirations and is not afraid to borrow ingredients from other cuisines to give it a lift beyond the usual renditions. Despite doing so, he manages to preserve the authentic taste of each dish.

5. Elegant banquet wedding menus, at only a fraction of the price! 

One of the biggest pull factors to have your wedding in Renaissance Johor Bahru would be the price point. Their Chinese menus start from RM1388 (S$448), Western sets start from RM188 (S$60) per pax and Malay and Indian weddings start from RM1,200 (S$387). With prices like these, the packages are no doubt value for money.

Before you start thinking there is a trade off for such a great price, stop there! The modern ambience of Renaissance Johor Bahu gives you a classy dining atmosphere. The poolside set up gives you the perfect set up for a romantic and dreamy solemnization. Best of all, you get to select from a variety of delicious dishes for your wedding menu. Check out Renaissance Johor Bahru wedding menus here.

Getting to Renaissance Johor Bahru is easy. Once across the border, simply hail a cab, Uber or Grab for a small fee and you will get there in 10-20 minutes (we got there in less than 10 minutes, but do accommodate for heavier traffic at certain times). For their wedding, couple Gideon Tan and Rebecca Goh chartered several buses to bring their guests over the causeway and it was very easy. It would be like a weekend getaway for your loved ones. How exciting!

6. Classy wedding cakes and delightful pastries

At Renaissance Johor Bahru’s wedding show, we were introduced to a selection of grand wedding cakes that you can choose from for your cake cutting and champagne popping ceremony. These fancy wedding cakes no doubt will make a statement on your wedding day. It will also bring an impact to your ceremony photos.

As we all know, no meal is complete without dessert and no celebration is complete without delightful drinks. The pastry team at Renaissance Johor Bahru are skilled in creating fanciful and delicate desserts that are appetizing to both your eyes and stomach! After relishing in the main courses, reward yourself with these delightful treats that will add extra sweetness on your wedding day. Their refreshing cocktails are also a great way to end off the evening and a beautiful start to a new chapter of your lives! 

7. Have an early start to your honeymoon luxuries

Your wedding day is a once in a lifetime celebration and you deserve to feel special. On your wedding day, feel pampered with the spacious and comfortable amenities in the Junior Suite. After the celebration and party, retreat back into a comfort zone where you can have a well-rested night. The beds in Renaissance Johor Bahru are incredible and you need to experience it to know for yourself. I had one of my most well-rested nights here. The bathroom is also very spacious and comes with a full-sized tub for you to relax in. Upgrade to the Presidential Suite and enjoy even more luxury furnishing and impeccable design.

The next morning, wake up to a delicious spread at the Cafe BLD’s buffet breakfast. Known for serving up scrumptious local cuisines, I was blown away by the number of live stations that were operating for breakfast! It is no wonder why many Singaporeans flock over for weekend stays. There was a live station for teppanyaki, a noodle bar, a waffle and pancake station, a roti chennai and teh tarik station, live juice station and much more. Their roti chennai and teh tarik is a must-try!

Cafe BLD also has rooms for private dining and small-scale celebrations.

Sip afternoon tea or have a glass of wine at the club lounge that is reserved only for suite guests. Enjoy your day soaking in the pool or get a light workout at the gym. You can also get an early start to your honeymoon adventures by exploring nearby attractions like Legoland and Hello Kitty land! There are an incredible number of exciting things to do and eat at Johor Bahru – check out our Johor Bahru travel guide here!

Do not think for a moment that comfort is not only limited to suites. The deluxe rooms are also luxuriously carpeted and will make a cozy stay for your loved ones! Enjoy special rates when you book guestrooms for your wedding.

Our stay at Renaissance Johor Bahru was made very pleasant thanks to the friendly staff at the hotel. The service staff is a big part of your wedding day and their sincere service will go toward making your dream wedding come true! Contact their wedding experts at +60-7-3813333 or submit your event inquiry here.

Click here to book your wedding at Renaissance Johor Bahru today

www.jbrenaissance.com
No. 2, Jalan Permas 11, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya
Johor Bahru 81750 Malaysia
rhi.jhbbr.marcom.mgr@renaissancehotels.com
+60 7-381 3333

Read our wedding guide here and our honeymoon guide here. If you need any help/services, email us at contact@theweddingvowsg.com. We’d be happy to help!

This post was brought to you by Renaissance Johor Bahru.

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