Photographers: Grace & Alex
Hair & Make Up: Grace Wang
Location: Laguna Redang Island Resort
Redang is an island paradise. It promises turquoise seas that meet deep blue skies, soft sand under your feet, and lots of friendly fishes that eat from your hand. It’s also a diver’s den, because there are loads of beautiful dive sites around Redang Island and Perhentian Island. I have fond memories of Redang because it was there that I did my first ever snorkeling trip – almost 8 years ago now. I was just amazed at the beauty under the sea… I couldn’t help but feel in awe at God’s creation! Though I came home sunburnt (my butt was more burnt actually… it was quite buoyant haha), I told myself that I must visit those islands again some day. That experience drove me to get my diving licence a few years later.
In August, I received an email from Frank who said he was going to have a beach wedding in Laguna Redang Island Resort. Though my calendar was already quite packed, I couldn’t resist shooting another beach wedding. Frank & Demi are from Chengdu, China. I was a little concerned about the language barrier since my Mandarin is worse than kindergarten standards. But after a few conversations with Frank on the phone, I said yes, packed my bags, and went to Redang with Alex. When I reached there, I found out that Demi doesn’t speak much English but somehow with loads of body language, a smattering of English and my kindergarten Mandarin, we managed to communicate. (actually I just said piao liang most of the time!)
During our first meeting, I asked Frank how many guests would be at the wedding. And he said, “Just the 2 of us.”
I was surprised. He must have seen that look on my face for he then started to explain about how Demi had always dreamed of having a beach wedding. This wedding ceremony at Redang was just for them. Their family and friends would celebrate a month later in a grand banquet in China, attended by 700 guests.
Frank must really love Demi because he made her dream a reality.
And so to date, Frank & Demi’s private wedding is the smallest wedding I’ve ever photographed in terms of number of people.
Videographer & Editor: Weiming
A week ago, I posted some photos from Aaron & Chrystin’s pre-wedding shoot. It was such an elaborate set up that I knew we had to document it with a video. What you don’t really see in this image below is the many piles of cow dung that we had to avoid stepping on in that field. The shoot was done at UPM, where cows graze freely at certain times of the day. Thankfully, I managed to find a cow-dung-less spot to set up our little picnic mat. So hope you enjoy the video and do leave a comment behind!
Photographers: Grace & Mark
Hair & Make Up: Sharon from Wedding Isle
Wedding Gown: Veralyne
Groom’s Attire: Lord’s Tailor
Location: Ciao Ristorante
I distinctly remember my first encounter with Andrew & Cze Mien months ago. They came to the office to have a chat with me and to assess whether we were suitable photographers for their wedding. As with most couples, they took one look at me and said I was much smaller than they anticipated (I am rather petite at 5 feet). At the end of our consultation, Andrew asked me, “How do I photograph grooms like him?” You see, he towers over me with his 6 feet frame.
“Will I get low angles of myself in every wedding photo?”
“Do I need to provide you with a step ladder?”
I promptly told him I’ll bring my own ladder to the wedding. :) And said that at my height, I’ll give him a ‘unique’ perspective most photographers can’t give.
Andrew and Cze Mien, from that day on, I knew we would have a good time together.
Just as my first encounter with Andrew & Cze Mien was completely memorable, so were their encounters with each other. They met each other for the first time through a dating agency. They were both each other’s 3rd date and they had both complained previously to the agency about its services!
Photographers: Grace & Alex
Dinner Reception: Hotel Equatorial, Malacca
Cake: Choffles
Wedding Invite: Tinggi Press
Night hand bouquet & flowers: Excellent Sense
“Congratulations, you are married to the force now. We will watch out for your family as one of our own.”
I overheard the Malacca Chief of Police saying to Elaine during the wedding reception. It’s a huge promise, but I am sure one that Kim Chuan (also known as KC) and Elaine appreciate. It’s not everyday that I get to photograph men in uniform (their guests were excited too!). During the dinner walk in, these sword bearers were there to welcome KC & Elaine into the ballroom.
I’ve known KC since I was still running around Malacca in my light blue school uniform (not such a cool uniform compared to what he’s wearing now). We went to tuition together, and it was nice that there were some of my old school friends who were there during the wedding as well. Elaine is from Malacca too, but I only got to know her much later. Since Elaine works at PJ Hilton, her standards of what is good is really high! It was great that she had a few hotelier friends to help in the wedding coordination.
So both KC & Elaine grew up in Malacca, got married in Malacca, and hired a wedding photographer who was originally from Malacca.
And the best thing about it?
Both KC, Elaine and I come from Peranakan families! A typical Peranakan/Baba Nyonya family would have lots of laughter, talking (really loudly at times!), singing and drama all in the same pot. Proud parents from both sides of the family.
I always have good intentions to do more behind the scenes videos of our shoots, but as with all good intentions, it sometimes remain as intentions when not followed through with action. On a day to day basis, we have so much work to do in terms of photo touch ups and album design that editing videos like these take a back seat. In fact, I have a number of videos that we’ve shot but not had time to edit. :(
So I am glad that we managed to complete this edit, thanks to the ever hardworking Weiming. He shot and edited this video entirely on his own. Amazing work! Thanks Weiming for making me look good in video (though I cringe when I hear my own laughter).
To view the photos from Alvin & Melissa’s shoot at Carcosa, click on this link!
Do let me know what you think of our little video!