By launching Teletales, SGT2 (NS) Ierfan Bin Muhammad Raushan and his wife Aqilah Omar aren’t just offering audio and video guestbooks for weddings — they’re also building a stronger partnership and future together.
While scrolling through TikTok when planning for their wedding in 2023, SGT2 (NS) Ierfan Bin Muhammad Raushan and his then-fiancée Aqilah Omar stumbled upon a charming idea — audio guestbooks in the form of retro telephone handsets, which were picking up popularity overseas.
Guests could pick up the receiver to leave their well-wishes, which are later compiled into a special keepsake for the couple. Unlike traditional written guestbook entries, these spoken messages capture the joy and spontaneity of the moment.
Noticing that this type of guestbook was mainly seen on Australian and Filipino accounts and hadn’t yet caught on in Singapore’s wedding scene, Ierfan and Aqilah saw an opportunity. “We thought, why not give it a shot?” recalls Ierfan, a 26-year-old senior sales consultant. “And even if it didn’t take off, we could still use it for our own wedding.”
The idea resonated with Aqilah, 25, who works full time and already had a flair for entrepreneurship, having previously run side hustles selling candles and baked goods. Inspired by her go-getter spirit, the couple decided to take the plunge together.
The couple, who married in May 2024, decided to name their business Teletales, a nod to the nostalgic telephone format and the idea that every wedding is a story worth telling — one that couples can someday share with their future children.
Starting Teletales was far from plug-and-play. The couple invested in the essential equipment — including the signature audio guestbook phones — as well as tables, decorations and video editing software. As their bookings grew to include birthdays, corporate events and even the recent HomeTeamNS Awards 2025, they upgraded their offerings to include both audio and video options.
Ierfan shares that every set-up is designed to feel personalised and polished. Small details — like custom flower arrangements and instruction boards guiding guests on how to use the guestbook — help Teletales stand out from the crowd. To build brand visibility, the couple poured time and effort into social media marketing and teamed up with other wedding vendors. Their hustle paid off, as word of mouth and online traction led to a growing list of clients.
But it’s not without sacrifice. “Because we both work full-time, we sometimes start our days at 6am to set up for an event, and only finish packing up after midnight if there’s an afterparty,” says Ierfan. “And since most weddings and events happen over weekends, we’ve had to cut down on couple time and travel plans too.”
Even on weeknights, there’s little downtime as post-work hours are often spent editing footage and coordinating upcoming bookings. Their bedroom, Ierfan jokes, “resembles a storeroom more than a place to rest”.
Thankfully, they haven’t had to navigate the hustle alone. “We live with my parents and are grateful that they’ve been very encouraging — even when the house is strewn with gear, especially on hectic weekends,” he says with a laugh.
Running a business as newlyweds has taught Ierfan and Aqilah more than just how to juggle logistics and timelines — it’s also helped them grow as partners, learning to compromise and appreciating each other’s strengths in the process.
Aqilah handles marketing, client communications and planning, while Ierfan oversees set-up and transportation using their family car. “We’ve learnt to communicate more and see things from each other’s perspective,” he shares. “My wife is better with the finer details, and I’m more operations-minded. So usually, I’m the one taking instructions from her and executing them!”
Their first gig in July 2023 was a nerve-wracking mix of excitement and self-doubt, he admits, as they were uncertain if people would actually use the guestbook. Fortunately, it went off without a hitch, which not only boosted their confidence in the idea but also helped shape their guiding principle. “For us, it’s never just about securing the booking,” Ierfan explains. “What matters most is helping the couple collect as many meaningful messages as possible.”
To make that happen, they often suggest that someone be stationed at the guestbook table to gently nudge guests to participate — especially older guests, who might assume the phone is just part of the décor.
Beyond the joy of building something together, Teletales has had tangible rewards. The couple’s side income helped fund their honeymoon in Istanbul and is now contributing to the renovation of their future BTO flat, slated for completion in 2026.
As Teletales continues to expand, Ierfan is grateful for his friends who voluntarily put aside their weekend plans to help with event set-ups, enabling the couple to take on more bookings. “The aim is to continue scaling up in the wedding industry and to take Teletales as far as it can go,” he shares.
That sense of dedication and discipline, he says, stems in part from his National Service experience with the Singapore Police Force’s Public Transport Security Command. “As a team leader on patrol, I had to step up during high-pressure situations, like making drug-related arrests. That experience really shaped me,” he reflects. “It taught me to stay focused, multitask and lead under pressure — all skills I now use in running Teletales.”
Reflecting on their journey, Ierfan encourages others not to overthink starting a side hustle. “One thing I realised is that people often delay their plans because of fear or uncertainty,” he says. “But at the end of the day, you just have to start — because you won’t know how far you can go until you do. I certainly didn’t!”
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