Getting married with help from social enterprises

Couples turn to social enterprises for wedding party favours, catering

Ms Sue-Ann Phay, in her early 30s, and Mr Boaz Chan, 30, giving out cookies at their wedding reception last Saturday. The counter had a write-up and photos explaining that the cookies were baked by clients from the Movement for the Intellectually Dis
Ms Sue-Ann Phay, in her early 30s, and Mr Boaz Chan, 30, giving out cookies at their wedding reception last Saturday. The counter had a write-up and photos explaining that the cookies were baked by clients from the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

When lawyer Sue-Ann Phay was planning her wedding a few months ago, she imagined having cupcakes, macarons and other sweet treats at a decorated booth at her reception.

After all, dessert bars are quite the rage among her newly married friends. But when she got hitched at the St Regis Hotel last Saturday, she had a cookie counter instead. Next to the mounds of oatmeal and chocolate cookies were a write-up and photos indicating they were baked by clients from the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (Minds).

Like Ms Phay, who is in her early 30s, more young couples are opting for "socially conscious" weddings where food and drinks are provided by charities or social enterprises. As weddings become increasingly lavish and costly, couples say they would rather see the money going to social causes.

In response, a small number of charities are seizing the chance to start or expand their catering business to provide jobs for the disadvantaged. At least two started doing so this year and one more may do so next year. Minds, for instance, set up a baking social enterprise two years ago but started taking orders for weddings only this year after word got around and people asked about them.

One of them was Ms Shamini Thilarajah, who ordered 1,000 cookies for her guests in August.

"It was my big day but I told myself that it's okay if the packaging doesn't look good or if the cookies don't taste so good because it is for a good cause but they turned out fantastic," said the 32-year-old designer. "My guests were curious why I chose the charity to do it, so it got us talking and that got them many referrals and orders afterwards."

Social enterprise Bliss Restaurant and Catering, which hires about 20 of the intellectually disabled, those with hearing difficulties, and former offenders, has seen a 12 per cent growth in wedding orders for buffets in the last year. "The younger generation are spending more and veering towards more gourmet food choices, yet they are also more aware and supportive of the social mission behind social enterprises," said its founder, Ms Christine Low, 42.

The charities say their catering prices are comparable to those of regular vendors. Food packages at Bliss, for example, can range from $10 to $100 per person.

Said Ms Joanna Cheng, 26, who had her wedding luncheon catered by Bliss in May: "We find that weddings nowadays are pretty self-centred affairs where all the focus is on the couple, so we wanted to use it as a means to bless others."

Ms Cheng, a lawyer, added: "It is not only about supporting them monetarily, but when their service and food are accepted by people, their confidence grows."

Ms Low said the catering business suits special needs persons as the advance bookings give them time to prepare, versus working in restaurants where last-minute orders can stress them out.

Ms Ng Rei Na, senior manager of Minds Social Enterprises, said some customers are going the extra mile to bake the cookies with the intellectually disabled. "These sessions can help boost our clients' self-confidence as they can practise communicating with other people instead of just with their peers, training officers or family members," she said.

Ms Phay, who baked with Minds clients, said it was humbling: "You see the amount of effort they put in and how proud they are of their work.

"By interacting with them, couples can understand the meaning behind getting the cookies - it is about raising awareness and supporting these special people in our midst."

jantai@sph.com.sg


Catering options

  • Bizlink Centre

Bizlink, which already runs two cafes, started offering catering services for corporate events and seminars a few months ago. It now receives about three orders every day to cater food, varying from local fare to fusion or French cuisine.

  • Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (Minds)

Minds recently started accepting requests to do wedding "favours", or small gifts, after orders for its cookies and brownies doubled over the last two years.

  • Bliss Restaurant and Catering

The catering business of this social enterprise was "bleeding money" for two years but turned things around and saw a 20 per cent rise in food catering orders over the past year. It has had "more premium requests" lately for things like artisanal European fare, said founder Christine Low.

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