A ‘pawfect' union: Poodles charm the internet with S$5k garden wedding
Standing on a bright pink aisle was not your usual couple - but standard poodles Cupid and Tofu, both nearly four years old.
The furry pair tied the knot in a picturesque garden cafe in Tanglin in front of 30 guests and 16 fellow canines on the afternoon of June 14, a date picked by a fengshui master.
By 4pm, guests had taken their seats on the lawn, where they watched a video montage chronicling the dogs' first encounter and the playdates that followed.
The bride - Tofu - made her way down the aisle to the tune of Bruno Mars' Just The Way You Are, alongside her beaming pawrent.
As she arrived at the 'altar' where Cupid stood waiting, their owners gave speeches and exchanged heartfelt vows on their behalf.
They then cut a custom cake for dogs and took photos with guests, before the garden rang out with three resounding toasts of 'yam seng' in honour of the couple's fur-ever love.
The heartwarming ceremony was captured in a TikTok video, which has since racked up almost 500,000 views and 54,000 likes after it was posted on June 15.
Pet weddings like Cupid and Tofu's are part of a growing trend in Asia, where falling birth and marriage rates have been met with a surge in pet ownership and a growing willingness to spend on these furry companions.
From dog birthday parties to private jet holidays, Singaporean pet owners are going the extra mile to celebrate their pets' lives and milestones.
Speaking to The Straits Times, Cupid and Tofu's owners said they spent under S$5,000 for the wedding held at pet-friendly cafe Venusology. The ceremony also celebrated the birth of the dogs' eight puppies in mid-May.
'When the poodles exchanged their vows, I was tearing up,' said Tofu's owner Christine Fan, 38, who works in the healthcare industry.
'My husband read the vows on behalf of the dogs, where they promised to share treats and toys forever, and to always be by each other's side.'
Cupid's owner, Sara Lam, said that she was willing to splurge on the wedding as Cupid has been a steadfast companion, protecting not only her late dog but also her newborn baby.
'I told Cupid, 'You're now a father. Your job is to protect Tofu and your eight puppies.' I can see how anxiously he waits by the puppies, lying next to them and touching paws with Tofu,' said Lam, a 38-year-old veterinarian.
They shared that Tofu first met Cupid at his first birthday party at the same cafe in 2023.
At the time, Tofu was being chased playfully by several male poodles — including Cupid himself, who could not keep up.
Despite her initial disinterest in Cupid, sparks flew during their subsequent playdates and Friday night strolls around Marina Bay Sands. Their friendship blossomed quickly and their pawrents decided to breed them.
'Tofu is like one of my children. She's my daughter's best friend and my son's protector. I felt reluctant to 'give her away' but was also happy for her,' said Fan, who has two children aged two and four.
Cafe owner Venus Wang said that since starting her business in 2023, she has hosted 20 to 30 dog birthday parties annually, but this was her first time planning a pet wedding.
Cupid's owner, Sara Lam and Tofu's owner Christine Fan (right). - LUVPAWMOMENTS
'I had less than two weeks to prepare for the dogs' big day and we wanted everything to be perfect. I took inspiration from pet weddings I had seen on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, where pet weddings are a big trend,' the 44-year-old said.
In 2023, pet-related spending in China rose by 3.2 per cent to reach 279.3 billion yuan (S$52 billion), according to industry reports.
A lavish wedding ceremony for two Alaskan Malamutes in Indonesia even sparked online controversy after it was revealed the event cost 200 million rupiah (S$17,700).
Singapore, too, has seen its share of furry nuptials.
In 2018, Chijmes hosted A Valentine's Fairytail, an event that offered themed wedding packages for pets. It included mock marriage certificates, bridal outfits, and professional photoshoots. A double ceremony involving four pets was priced at around S$180.
At Cupid and Tofu's wedding, some guests presented hongbaos and gifts to the couple.
Student Kedra Lee, 22, attended the party with her standard poodle Bacon, who is a childhood friend of Cupid.
'Bacon was jumping around Cupid like he was congratulating the groom,' she recalled.
'There were goodie bags, an elaborate ceremony and a beautiful venue decked out with decorations,' she said.
'You could really feel the love and patience the owners have for their dogs. Love was truly in the air.'
The big celebration may be over but Fan and Lam said that some post-wedding activities for the newlyweds are in store.
Cupid, Tofu and their eight puppies are slated for a family portrait session in two weeks, with plans for a staycation to follow. - The Straits Times/ANN
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