A wedding like no other unfolded at a garden café in Tanglin on June 14, where two standard poodles, Cupid and Tofu, tied the knot in front of 30 human guests and 16 fellow dogs.
The nearly four-year-old poodles stood at the end of a pink aisle, surrounded by floral arrangements, a two-tiered dog-friendly cake, and dressed for the occasion – Tofu in a laced gown and veil, and Cupid wearing a sleek black collar. The ceremony was planned down to the last detail, with the date chosen by a fengshui master.
By 4 p.m., guests were seated on the lawn, where a video montage played, showing the dogs’ first meeting and their playdates. Tofu walked down the aisle to Bruno Mars’ Just The Way You Are, accompanied by her owner. At the “altar,” their owners gave speeches and read vows on behalf of the dogs. The couple then cut a custom cake and posed for photos before three loud toasts of “yam seng” were called in celebration of their union.
The event, held at the pet-friendly café Venusology, was captured in a TikTok video that has since gone viral, gathering nearly 500,000 views and 54,000 likes. The celebration also marked the birth of the pair’s eight puppies, born in May.
Cupid’s owner, Sara Lam, 38, a veterinarian, and Tofu’s owner, Christine Fan, also 38, who works in healthcare, said they spent under $5,000 on the event. Ms Fan shared that her husband delivered the vows during the ceremony, promising on the dogs’ behalf to share toys, treats, and always be there for each other. “I teared up when they exchanged vows,” she said.
Ms Lam said she saw the event as a way to honor Cupid’s role in her life. “He’s protected my newborn and was always loyal to my late dog. Now he’s a father, and he stays close to the puppies, touching paws with Tofu. It’s heartwarming,” she said.
The couple’s story began in 2023, when they first met at Cupid’s birthday party. Though Tofu initially showed little interest, their bond grew during regular walks at Marina Bay Sands, and their owners eventually decided to breed them. “Tofu is like one of my kids,” said Ms Fan. “I was hesitant to ‘give her away,’ but I’m also happy for her.”
The wedding was the first pet marriage hosted at Venusology. Café owner Venus Wang said she had less than two weeks to prepare but wanted it to be perfect. Inspired by pet weddings on Chinese social media, she brought the celebration to life. Since opening her café in 2023, she has hosted up to 30 pet birthday parties a year.
Weddings for pets are becoming more common across Asia. In China, pet-related spending reached 279.3 billion yuan (S$52 billion) in 2023. Extravagant events, such as a S$17,700 Alaskan Malamute wedding in Indonesia, have sparked both admiration and debate online. Singapore has followed suit, with earlier events like the 2018 Chijmes “Valentine’s Fairytail,” offering wedding packages for pets.
At Cupid and Tofu’s wedding, some guests gave red packets and presents. Among them was student Kedra Lee, 22, who attended with her dog Bacon, a childhood friend of Cupid. “Bacon was so excited,” she said. “The decorations, the ceremony, everything showed how much the owners love their dogs. It was beautiful.”
Though the wedding is over, the celebrations are not. The poodle couple and their puppies are scheduled for a family portrait session in two weeks, followed by a staycation.
