Wedding

Langkawi Beach Wedding: Tom & Amy

Amy is from the UK and Tom is from Australia, but they chose Langkawi as the destination for their wedding because it is a great half way destination for all their guests. Plus, they love the sand, beach and sun! They have a cute 1 year old baby, Imogen who we totally adore! Their ceremony was held at the Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa, Langkawi. We were blown away at the lovely semi-circle chair set up that the venue did for them. The day was beautiful and we had a gorgeous sunset that evening to end the ceremony and set the tone for the dinner reception. Congratulations to the both of you, and thank you for choosing Stories!

Grace Tan In Outdoor Weddings, Wedding Films & Videos, Weddings

Beach wedding at The Andaman, Langkawi: Ese & Enjee

It is a beautiful story of how God brought two very different people together. One is from Nigeria. The other is from Malaysia. They met in London, and this is how their story began…

Enjee:

I met Ese through Ndiana (his sister) when she invited a group of us from church (all of us volunteer together on Sunday) to their yearly BBQ event in the summer of 2013. We’ve all heard about Ndiana’s mischievous younger brother. The BBQ was at their parents’ massive garden and Ese came over to say hello to all of us (he wasn’t attending the same church as us at that time). I have always had a thing for darker skinned guys so my first impression of him was – not a bad looking guy, very smiley and friendly. He ticked the boxes, black guy and from a good Christian family. I mean Ndiana is so lovely so surely her brother be that bad right?

We quickly became friends and as a group we welcomed Ese in. He started volunteering in church and eventually hanging out with us. It was in a conversation in a gathering that he said he’ll take me out for dinner because we both love food and the restaurant scene in London. Our friends caught on and I think from then on they thought that Ese and I will be a couple. I was very flattered but he took about 2 years before he actually took me out!!!

He did it with a bang though, took me to Oblix at The Shard (tallest building in London). I tried my best to not take it any other way other than we are just friends enjoying good food. This “friend” dinner thing went on a few more times and each time I felt we were getting closer but nothing is actually happening! I was of course frustrated- over 6 months of “friends” dinner. So finally, it came to a stage where I said to myself, this is my last chance. I’m going to make my feelings obvious and if he still say or do nothing then I’m not going out with him anymore. We went to Ikea on a rainy Saturday, came home with all my purchases, had takeaways, watched a movie and then he kissed me after. I said to him “finally!” It was 14th November 2015.

Apparently Ese was battling with his feelings for me because I’m not his type. He was also very aware that as we have mutual friends, if we didn’t work out, it would have been very awkward for our friends. However, as he spends time with me, he likes me more and more. He realised that he would just have to go for it. He would deny it publicly but he fell in love with me pretty immediately, declared he loves me after the first month! He blurted it out and was worried that he ruined it. I didn’t reciprocate until Valentine’s Day 2016.

We prayed about each other and found the peace that we are meant to be together. Ese and I promised that in everything God is our foundation and centre of everything and we strongly believe that Jesus is the reason why we are so good together.

is Continue Reading

Grace Tan In Chinese Weddings, Church Weddings, Wedding Films & Videos, Weddings

Church wedding at The Collective: Frankie & Shiyou

Shiyou

In November 2016, I was with two of my girlfriends in KL, Denise Tan and Jane Seb. Like any other girly conversations, we ended up talking about the kind of husband I was looking for. It was a very casual conversation, full of jokes and laughters. I gave Jane my list. She glanced at it and said… “You’ve got to meet Frankie!! This list is Frankie!” Who is Frankie? I was not interested and I did not want to pursue it further.

Frankie

Jane told me about this Singaporean girl I had to meet. All I said was… “another finance person? I’m not interested.” I don’t want to be with another accounting person.

Shiyou

In January 2017, at the Kingdomcity Team Advance in KL, we met for the first time and were coerced into saying hi to each other. It was a very awkward situation as Andre Dique (our spiritual father/mentor/boss/friend) tried to get us to talk. There was nothing more than a awkward hi. I found out he was going to be the Kingdomcity KL Business Manager, so perhaps we would need to have some form of communication throughout the year. After all, I was taking care of Kingdomcity Singapore’s finances then.

In May 2017, I went to KL for a KPMG audit conference. Derwin decided to organise dinner with me, together with Sean Chang and Frankie. I said sure, cause I mean, what else was there to do at night? Frankie and I had our first real “hang out” then. I thought he was arrogant and he thought I was snobbish. I was thinking “how can Andre think that I would ever want to date a man like this?” So that was it. We never spoke again. Continue Reading

Grace Tan In Church Weddings, Weddings

Wedding at St Joseph’s Church Sentul: Nicolas & Cassandra

We make each other laugh even during the hardest moments.

Nicolas and Cassandra’s motto is something that every married couple needs to adopt. Laughter is definitely a key ingredient to a happy relationship. On the wedding day, it is easy to laugh, enjoy every moment but the key to marriage longevity is to keep on laughing through the years. I have seen so many couples who allow the hardship and challenges of life rob them of their joy. Parenting is one major area where many couples focus so much on their children that they forget each other.

It is a good reminder to myself too to relax, loosen up and enjoy my 12 year marriage to Alex. Thank you, Nic and Cassandra for your laughter, friendship and wisdom.

If you haven’t read their story, you can do so here.

Grace Tan In Outdoor Weddings, Weddings

Beach Wedding Tips

Getting married by the beach is such a dreamy idea.

The beautiful bride in her long, flowy dress. The groom looking dashing in his three-piece suit. The waves lapping behind the floral arch where the couple says “I do”. Flowers line the path leading the bride to her groom. Guests with wind-blown hair sitting around, thinking it couldn’t be any more perfect than it already is… except, are they really thinking of that? More likely your guests are wishing that their makeup isn’t melting into mush, or that those pesky sandflies attack someone else for a change, and maybe everyone is a little concerned about their sweat-soaked suits and dresses!

We’re not saying one shouldn’t consider a beach wedding because let’s face it, it really is dreamy. So here’s what you should look into prior to planning your destination beach wedding so it doesn’t just look beautiful, but feels comfortable for everyone too.

1. A practical dress code

Think light, thin material. Suits should be a no-no (the groom and groomsmen will thank you!). Well, if you really want to, keep it to a minimum. Allow your guests to come in more casual and practical attire. Of course, it’s ok to set some rules too as you don’t want everyone coming in t-shirts and beach shorts to your wedding! Continue Reading