Sentosa Island, Singapore holds fond memories for me as a kid. I remember those magical fountains that dance in the light together with music, ever so gracefully. I was about 8 then, and everything looked beautiful to me. Years later, I find myself on Sentosa Island again, but this time I was amazed by something else. I had never been to the Capella on Sentosa before, and neither have I photographed an ROM as elaborate as Colin & Yee Xing’s ROM. My mind was not prepared for the view I was to witness that evening.
I think I panicked and gasped at the same time for a whole 1 minute.
Actually, Yee Xing’s sister Yee Ming had contacted me a few weeks before the ROM and asked if I was available to shoot the event and also some family portraits on that day. I was mentally prepared for a family shoot but wasn’t prepared for such an elaborate event. What made matters interesting was that there were 2 other videographers hired on that day, plus one other photographer from Singapore. Can you imagine all of us trying to squeeze on that tiny platform in the middle of the pool, including the bride, groom & wedding officiant? I had to do a lot of creative framing on that day . :)
In the end, everything turned out well and I am pleased with the outcome of the images.
Colin & Yee Xing, I hope you like these images and I look forward to your wedding banquet!
Happy Chinese New Year to all my friends and clients who have become like family! I am truly sorry for the lack of blog updates the past few weeks. Every time I think of starting a blog post, 5 million other things call out my name. Not to mention I am now a few months late in terms of blogging some weddings. I am rather tempted to just start afresh and share from the last wedding I shot… which I might do in the next few weeks. So don’t be surprised if the weddings are not in sequence.
I hope you are having a great time with your family members this Chinese New Year, and for those who are not celebrating, hope you are having a good holiday. I want to kick off the dragon year by sharing the wedding of Saw Wen & De Way.
Now, Saw Wen & De Way had come to enquire about our services more than a year before their wedding. At that time, my business was just starting to bloom, and I was stoked that someone wanted to book us that far ahead.
Saw Wen & De Way’s story started 11 years ago while they were still in school, meeting at the sweet ripe age of 16.
That girl in the Calvin & Hobbes t-shirt
De Way: I remember, 3 girls. That was in a tuition class for Bahasa Melayu when I was in Form 4. 3 fine looking girls from SMK Seafield, 1 tall, 1 pretty and 1 nerdy. Fast forward to SPM year, I noticed her. She was generally louder than other students during class, gave opinions when not asked for, irritatingly completed the teacher’s sentences every now and then etc. Oh yes, she wore a Calvin & Hobbes t-shirt to class, just like me.
Saw Wen: De Way was a perpetual sleepy head and seemed like the quiet type. At the beginning, we hardly spoke to each other until form 5. We got to know each other better during our after BM tuition yum cha sessions, went cycling and hung out in a nearby park together with a bunch of friends. As the months went by, I found De Way to be charming and had such “beautiful eyes”. He made me laugh (he still does) and I found myself to be falling for this guy.
De Way: She used to tell her stories when we met at a mamak for drinks after tuition. This went on for a while and it felt normal spending time with a girl, no special feelings I dare say. Then, one fateful rainy evening, I had to send her home with my bicycle, with her holding the umbrella. That was when something felt odd…good but odd. Since that day, I made it a point to accompany her home after our mamak session.
Happy New Year to all our blog readers! I do apologize for the lack of updates lately. One week without a post feels like an eternity of silence! Truth is, we’re really swamped with year-end shoots and edits. It’s been really tough juggling so much work, but we’re moving along! Every year, I try to make and keep my new year resolutions, but at the moment, my new year resolutions look a little like this:
* What the Duck is one of my favourite comic strips!
So yeah… part of my new year resolution is to not be overly nerdy, keep a good work life balance, and to be more up to date with my blogging! There are many weddings which are still sitting patiently in my hard drive, waiting to be blogged.
Here’s one that I absolutely have to share with you. Top 3 reasons why I love this wedding:
1. It’s a fun fun fun wedding! It all started when I read their wedding invitation card…
Seven years ago, in the faraway land of Cyberjaya, Ian met Joanne at a Christian Fellowship gathering and was smitten ever since. Thankfully, Mr & Mrs Lee Kah Meng and Mr & Mrs Chow Cheng Hock approved of their relationship and they didn’t have to elope. So come and witness the union of these two souls on 5 November 2011. They will profess their love and commitment to each other at Good Shepherd Church at 11am, and share the rest of their story with you over food and drinks at The Bankers Club from 6pm onwards.
2. The groom uh, looks a little unconventional.
3. The bridal party were dressed in our Stories’ theme colour! (light blue & brown!) Hip hip hurray!
Photographers: Grace & Mark
Wedding Gown: Divine Couture
Groom’s Attire: Granoff
Shoes: Stefano & Mario limited, Christian Louboutin
Make Up: Wedding Isle
Decorations: DIY
Stationery: Yong Foo Anne
Cake: Just Heavenly
Flowers: Weng Hoa Florist
Videography: Keng’s Cinematography
Wedding Planner: The Peak Xperience
Dinner Entertainment: Allan G. Trio
Dinner Reception: Ciao Ristorante, KL
What a totally memorable wedding this was for us and for Alvin & Melissa. It was at this wedding that I am reminded, at the end of the day, what matters is the marriage, not the wedding event itself. It is at weddings like these where I confirm my conviction… that being a photographer is one of the best jobs one could have. Capturing love between two individuals, helping them remember the day, how they felt… it makes me truly happy. I am overjoyed.
You see, this wedding day started very differently than most other weddings I have shot.
It started with Alvin being sick, and landing at the hospital…
But the good thing for them is that the day ended very differently…
Photographers: Grace & Ian
Wedding Gown: Ted Collection
Groom’s attire: Dickson Menswear, Ted Collection
Make up: Dana Chang Makeover Studio
Decorations: Impact Creative
Flowers: Fleurlicious
Dinner Reception: M Hotel, Singapore
I experienced a few new things while covering this wedding. Firstly, I traveled about 100+km around Singapore. For real. Ian checked the odometer in his car, and it was a long drive! We literally rounded Singapore… traveled from Bishan to Jurong West to Bishan to Punggol back to Jurong West, then to M Hotel in the city. Phew…
The other thing I experienced was photographing the bridal pick up games in the narrow HDB corridors.
Finally, it was the first time I saw a pink London cab – the one and only in Singapore!
