ceremony

Wedding on Redang Island: Frank & Demi

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.

Grace Tan In Outdoor Weddings, Weddings

Four Seasons, Langkawi: Wilbur & Helen’s Wedding

Photographers: Grace & Johan
Location: Four Seasons Resort, Langkawi
Wedding Gown: After Twelve
Groom’s attire: Dolce & Gabbana, Italy
Make up & Hair: Grace Wang
Decorations & Flowers: Darling Florist
Stationery: White Satin Wedding Stationery, UK
Cake: Four Seasons Resort
Videography: Wedding Story
Dinner Entertainment: Mix N Match, Azlan Nair

She waited 3107 days for him to propose. And propose he did, on the 18th of September 2010.

3338 days since they started dating, they officially registered their marriage at the Old Chelsea Town Hall in Kings Road, London.

And precisely 3388 days since their first date, Wilbur & Helen were married on the beautiful beach at Four Seasons Resort, Langkawi.

Helen was new to London. She had moved from Coventry to start her new job at KPMG London in 2001. Wilbur was new to KPMG too, and since both needed to look for a place to stay, it was fate that connected them together via a simple email. Wilbur asked Helen, “Are you still looking for a flatmate?” Helen had already sorted her accommodation by then, but they continued communication via email and MSN.

Two months later, she was surprised to discover that Wilbur was in the same department and team as her! Wilbur was kind enough to bring Helen around London, and soon, love developed.

Wilbur & Helen love traveling, especially if the place has a gorgeous scenery. There’s only one other place apart from Venice that they have been back twice, and that is Langkawi. They love this charming town (I love it too!). Because of their love of traveling, they decided to name their reception tables according to the places they’ve visited and had many happy memories – Maldives, Venice, Santorini, Hallstatt, Mauritius and Cornwall.

The other theme at their wedding which was really apparent were the butterflies and cats. Helen sourced all over UK and Malaysia for this particular shade of pink, and also custom made this wedding invite. I love the little kitty stamp too! I was told that the black cat looks pretty much like their beloved cat Milo, who had to be left in London while they came to Malaysia for the wedding. I was amazed when I heard that Wilbur drove 45km away from his home to put their cat Milo in a special cat hotel – the only one that had a webcam and internet connection! So while in Langkawi, I had a peep via the internet at Milo, who was sleeping in his little hotel room.

I found out that Helen is a detailed and meticulous person the moment she met me for the first time months ago. As she opened her folder with cut outs of images that she liked, she shared with me the plans for her wedding. I knew it was going to be a wedding filled with lovely details. On top of that, I found out that there were only 50 guests, which is absolutely small by Malaysian standards! She said that she wanted the wedding to be an intimate affair, attended by the people dearest to them. These guests flew all the way from KL, Hong Kong, Singapore, Austria as well as London to be there for the wedding!

Grace Tan In Chinese Weddings, Church Weddings, Weddings

Kenny & PC’s Purplelicious Wedding Part 2

Photographers: Grace, Benjamin & Weiming
Location: Banker’s Club, KL
Stationery & Wedding Planning: The Peak Xperience
Decorations: Creativelines & La Flaire
Wedding Gown: Federick Lee Boutique, Singapore
Groom’s Attire: CYC Custom Shop, Singapore
Make Up: Remy Ngan
Cake: Isabella Kek
Dinner Entertainment: Rafizah Amran

Kenny:

5 April 2010: On this new day, at the start of my new year in a new age, you will give me the biggest present, if you agree to marry me…You drive and inspire me to achieve greater heights. Love me for who I am, and love me for who I can be, with you and for you…

PC:

You are the bridge that links me back to sanity, everytime I fall. I’m reminded of this comforting fact, everyday when I look at you. These five words still hold true for me after all this time – Thank you for being simply you… and seeing me as perfectly flawed.

View Part one of the photos here.

Grace Tan In Chinese Weddings, Church Weddings, Weddings

Kenny & PC’s Purplelicious Wedding Part 1

Ok, I made that word up – Purplelicious. I just can’t help it. Every single detail in Kenny and PC’s wedding looked amazingly yummy. To top it off, it’s in one of my favourite colours – purple! It reminds me of days when I was younger, chewing and blowing grape flavoured bubble gum which usually just bursts onto my nose. It also reminds me of my lavender bedroom I had as a teenager. And my purple wedding four years ago. And so the moment I stepped into PC’s purple bedroom, I knew we were kindred spirits.

PC has an eye for details. I am sure she took months and months to perfect everything and it definitely showed on the wedding day! Everywhere I turned, there was something different to photograph. I love weddings like these! Firstly, check out her cool wedding shoes!

Grace Tan In Church Weddings, International, Weddings

Singapore Art Museum Wedding: Ben & Jun

Photographers: Grace & Ian Chong
Wedding Gown, Groom’s Attire & Make Up: Blush Blush Singapore
Decorations: Defloral Gallery, Singapore
Church Ceremony: Singapore Art Museum (SAM)
Dinner Reception: Carlton Hotel Singapore

When Jun first contacted me about her wedding shoot in Singapore, I was ecstatic. I had never shot an actual day wedding in Singapore prior to this wedding. And then when she told me that her wedding was to be held at the Singapore Art Museum, I was squealing like a little girl (of course outwardly, I appeared all calm and professional). Anything with the words “artsy and colonial” definitely gained 200 brownie points in my book.

After a little crisis two days before Ben and Jun’s wedding, I was glad to have landed safely on Singaporean soil. Since Ben and Jun live in Perth, I did not have the chance to meet up with them until the day before the wedding. Instantly, I knew I could connect with them. Hearing their funny stories about each other made me laugh too. It’s so good I have to share it here…

Ben’s Story:

We met in a “safe” environment in church. The first impression that I got was: “this girl is bubbly and she can talk.” What attracted me was her outgoing nature and her ability to talk. This was the second time I met her in the company of 10 people. We went into a discussion about food in Malaysia and other random bits. The amazing thing was throughout the conversation, I was attentive to her, and found myself participating in that conversation in spite of having eight others talking in the background.

Growing up in a family that loves food, I come to realise soon enough is that she is a keen lover of food too and many of your dates were based on food tasting which was pretty cool but those dates certainly did not help my waist line.

One thing that never fails to amaze me is her beautiful voice. I can still remember the first time when I heard her sing in church. Words just don’t do justice to the sweet voice I heard that day. Mesmerise might be a good enough word to use and since, I have never allowed an opportunity to slip by to listen to her singing.

After knowing Jun for almost three years, I am still amazed at how thoughtful and caring she can be. The way she treats her family, her friends, “wow” is the word I use to describe it. Of course that caring nature does flow on into our relationship. Those times when I needed assistance, tender loving care, she has always been there for me. I am truly thankful to have found someone to spend my rest of my life with.

If there was an analogy that I could use to describe Jun, It would be a piece of onion with many layers. She has showed me different aspects from the sweet loving “Everything is fine” to the “This is not going to work”, Gung-ho attitude. All I can conclude is the more I get to know her, the more loveable she becomes.