Kebaya and beaded slippers: the attire couples choose
Peranakan (Baba-Nyonya) wedding attire is one of the more visually rich choices available to Singapore couples today, and some who are not necessarily Peranakan by heritage still borrow elements of it for a tea ceremony or portrait session. The nyonya kebaya, a fitted, embroidered blouse traditionally worn with a sarong, comes in a range of colours and embroidery patterns, and beaded slippers known as kasut manek are often paired with it as a finishing detail that takes considerable handwork to make.
Because the embroidery and beadwork are often the most striking part of the outfit, it helps to tell your photographer in advance if the kebaya or slippers are an heirloom piece, a commissioned piece, or borrowed, since this can shape how much attention goes into close-up detail shots versus wider portraits.
- The kebaya's embroidery pattern and colour often carry meaning to the family and are worth photographing up close.
- Beaded slippers are typically handmade and take time to produce, which is part of why families like a clear shot of them.
- Some couples pair Peranakan attire with a more contemporary gown or suit for other parts of the day, rather than wearing it throughout.
The twelve-day wedding as history, not a checklist
Traditional Peranakan weddings are often described historically as a lengthy affair, sometimes referred to as a twelve-day wedding, involving a sequence of rituals spread across many days. This full sequence is largely a historical reference point today rather than something couples plan to replicate in full, and modern couples typically select a handful of elements from it, such as a tea ceremony or a particular exchange, rather than observing the entire original sequence.
Because the historical version is so much longer than what families now plan for, it is worth asking early which specific customs a family wants to include, rather than assuming a couple wants the complete traditional sequence. Families vary considerably in how much of the older custom they choose to revive, and some blend Peranakan elements into an otherwise standard Chinese wedding day.
Lap chai and chiu thau: customs before the big day
In some Peranakan families, an exchange of betrothal gifts between the two families, known as lap chai, takes place in the lead-up to the wedding as a gesture of goodwill, and on the eve of the wedding some families hold the chiu thau, a hair-combing ritual in which a parent or elder combs the bride's or groom's hair as a coming-of-age blessing. The specific items exchanged, the terminology used, and the timing relative to the wedding day itself vary between families and are not standardised, so it is worth confirming directly with the couple or their parents rather than assuming a fixed format.
Where this exchange happens on or around the wedding day itself and a family wants it documented, it helps to ask in advance where it will take place and roughly how long it takes, since it is often a quieter, more private moment than the later celebration and can be easy to miss if the crew is not told beforehand.
Where the tea ceremony overlaps with Chinese custom
The tea ceremony in a Peranakan wedding generally follows a broad structure similar to a Chinese wedding tea ceremony, with parents and elders served in order of seniority and red packets or jewellery exchanged after each round, since Peranakan custom in Singapore developed alongside, and shares much with, Chinese custom. See our guide on tea ceremony photography for more on serving order, seating and how a crew typically works the room.
Where a Peranakan family layers in additional customs specific to their household, such as particular phrases, specific dishes served alongside the tea, or a distinct seating arrangement, it is worth mentioning this in advance so the crew is not caught off guard by an element they did not expect.
Colours, beadwork and décor
Peranakan visual style is often associated with particular colour combinations and intricate patterns, seen in beadwork, embroidery, tiles and porcelain that some families use as part of their wedding décor. Where a family has heirloom porcelain, a tingkat (tiered food carrier) or other decorative pieces they want included in photographs, it helps to flag these in advance so time can be set aside for a considered shot rather than a rushed one.
Lighting can matter more than usual with beadwork and fine embroidery, since these details often catch and reflect light differently depending on the angle, and a rushed shot under flat lighting may not do the detail justice.
Katong and Joo Chiat: shophouse settings couples choose
Katong and Joo Chiat are commonly chosen by couples for pre-wedding or portrait photography that draws on Peranakan heritage, largely because of the area's shophouses with their coloured facades and detailed tilework. As with any shoot on a public street, access to specific buildings is never guaranteed, and some shophouses are private residences or operating businesses, so photography generally stays to the public five-foot way and street frontage rather than entering any particular property.
Weather, foot and vehicle traffic, and the time of day all affect how a shoot in this area goes, so it is worth discussing timing with your photographer in advance, particularly if a specific stretch of shophouses matters to the couple.
Photographing heirloom pieces with care
Peranakan families often have pieces passed down through generations, such as jewellery, a kebaya, porcelain, or wedding bed linens, that carry more significance than their monetary value alone. Where these pieces are present on the wedding day, it is worth letting your photographer know which items are heirlooms so they can be treated with appropriate care during handling and photographed with the attention the family wants.
Because heirloom pieces are often irreplaceable, some families prefer that a photographer or videographer avoid physically handling them at all, asking instead that a family member position the item for the shot. Confirming this preference in advance avoids any awkwardness on the day.
Two families, one blended tradition
As with other Singapore wedding traditions, it is common for the two families involved in a Peranakan wedding to have slightly different expectations, particularly where only one side identifies as Peranakan and the other follows a different set of customs. Couples in this position often blend elements from both sides rather than choosing one tradition over the other.
Talking through both families' expectations before the day, and sharing that with your photography and videography crew, helps avoid a situation where a custom important to one side is missed because it was not on the crew's radar.
Peranakan customs vary from family to family, and the details above are general starting points rather than a fixed programme to expect. If you would like to talk through which elements your family plans to include, check your date with us, or read more about our actual-day wedding photography.