Aiido: Booking weddings at a click

There are plenty of things a couple about to get married fret about - everything from the most minute of details such as the bride's nails to the wedding venue.

A website in Singapore, known as Aiido, is trying to make things easier for such couples.

The online platform acts as a booking website, with more than 120 vendors on its list.

Brides-to-be can check prices at a glance and then immediately book vendors from the comforts of their own house.

The term Aiido comes from a combination of the Mandarin word 爱（'Ai', which means love), and the wedding vow 'I do'.

The website went live on Dec 12 last year.

Aiido's website allows the unique opportunity for viewers to access different vendors for a plethora of different categories. Photo: AIIDO

Ms Amelia Chia, a co-founder of Aiido, said the idea for the website came from the negative experience her business partner, Ms Lavin Ong, dealt with when planning her own wedding.

Ms Chia, 26, said the wedding planning process is "still very manual, traditional and tedious".

"Most wedding sites are structured like a directory and do not have a booking system in place. Aiido provides users with package information, prices are stated clearly, as well as optional add-ons for those who want something extra," she said.

Many wedding businesses don't have websites still, Ms Chia said.

"They lack an online presence. You can't expect a florist to be an expert in digital marketing. Aiido actually helps them get an online marketing presence."

Ms Ong dealt with many issues during the planning of her own wedding.

"For example, the lack of transparency during the search for vendors, or securing wedding packages - there were hidden fees that were not mentioned. Friends around us were facing similar problems," said Ms Chia

Ms Chia has high hopes for the business - she wants to revolutionise the wedding industry here. 

"Lavin and I met through our previous job. We both came from a sales and marketing background, we were colleagues for two years. That was when we realised that we had the same passion for weddings and for this industry, which is why we came together to set up this company."

Ms Lavin Ong (fourth from left) and Ms Amelia Chia (third from left) both pose with their team at the pre-wedding photoshoot of Andrea and Duncan. Photo: AIIDO

One of Aiido's clients, Ms Ng Lina, used the website to help book vendors for her wedding in January this year. 

"It's very good. I actually got the price that I want. I didn't have to call every vendor and check the prices, which is a big hassle," she said. Ms Lina used Aiido to book her wedding photographer and make-up artist.

She was able to contact each individual vendor through the website, and "the vendors all responded pretty quickly within less than 12 hours."