02 February 2019 – One fine July afternoon I met up with Rita at the coffeehouse for a consultation for her wedding. As her fiancé David was based in Sydney, she had wanted to seek partial planning assistance and actual day coordination. Her bubbly personality made her really easy and fun to talk to, and ideas just flowed out incessantly. A supposed business discussion soon evolved into a cosy conversation with a friend.
Fast forward into the planning stage, in the bid to know both Rita and David better, I got them to fill up a Couple Report for me. It was a fun process where each of them has to answer the questionnaire separately before I actually collate them together. Till date, their responses are my favourite amongst all my couples. They were so open to sharing their experiences and their answers were so genuine – I totally felt like a third wheel in their love story just reading it. What is noteworthy was, at this point, I have still yet to meet David in person, but I guess this Couple Report really helped to build up the couple-planner rapport.
Rita was a Teochew bride, so according to custom, she had to get out of her maiden home before sunrise. As a majority of the groomsmen were made up of their foreigner friends, David and Rita wanted them to experience a Singapore wedding gate crash. Despite the early start, the groomsmen were very enthusiastic and sporting and no yoga poses or Lego/Nano blocks were too difficult for them.
Being gracious hosts and appreciative friends, David and Rita treated their bridal party to breakfast at Kith Café before heading to Equarius Hotel at Resorts World Sentosa for a photoshoot. If time permits, a photoshoot session is always recommended during the wedding day because the photographer can not only capture beautiful portraits of the couple on this special day, but also the precious moments with your bridal party – your favourite people who have been with you through thick and thin, and are here for you on your big day. If friendship is the wine of life, then David and Rita surely are master winemakers.
Rita wanted an outdoor solemnization but at the same time she was also wary of the weather because her sister’s was ruined by a heavy downpour years ago. Keeping that in mind, we searched for a venue that could allow for a contingency plan and the glasshouse at the lawn of Equarius Hotel was a perfect setting. We almost had to move the solemnization indoors as it started to drizzle during setup. But thankfully, the skies cleared, and we were able to proceed with the original plan. It was such a blessing! As the solemnization began, little nieces and nephews of David and Rita marched down the aisle as flower girls and page boys, throwing flower petals and blowing bubbles. It was indeed a dreamy scene that melted the hearts of the guests. As David and Rita had already done their paperwork previously, they had a dear friend to be their celebrant while they exchanged their vows. It is especially meaningful to be married off by your close friend, someone special who witnessed the growth of the couple, and who knows them inside out. The personal touch for the wedding cannot get any more intimate than this.
The dinner reception took place in the ballroom and because guests’ experience was of great importance to David and Rita, we planned for many activities to keep the guests entertained throughout the night. There was the photo display table beautifully put together by Pedestalworks; a booth where guests shared marriage advices; a photo booth by Live Moments; and a tea bar by Kindred Teas. As the bride and groom marched into the ballroom and took the stage, they replaced the usual cake-cutting session with a meaningful tying the knot ceremony – their wedding hashtag was #taiyingtheknot, which was made up of David’s surname and Rita’s Chinese name, how apt was that!
Another memorable moment of the wedding was the dance the couple had put together. They had painstakingly practiced it and it was especially gratifying to present their first dance as man and wife in front of people who loved them. Though it is a time-honoured tradition in the West, having first dances are only increasingly popular in Singapore weddings. Dance is an expression of love via body language, and it shows the love and unity between the couple. I do hope this tradition can be cherished more in local weddings, and it is surely a precious memory for both the couple and the guests.
I couldn’t thank David and Rita more for letting us be a part of this wedding planning and coordination journey. I wished them all the best as they start their new lives in Sydney, and am grateful for this new friendship forged.
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Venue: Equarius Hotel, Resorts World Sentosa
Photography: Chrisppics
Videography: Forest Productions
Make-up Artist: Tang Yong Make Up
Florist: O’hara Weddings (Bride’s bouquet, Groom’s Boutonniere, Car Décor) & Sing See Soon (Floral arch and venue flowers)
Photo Display Decorator: Pedestalworks
Photo Booth: Live Moments
Tea Bar: Kindred Teas
Balloons: Jovial Jovii
Wedding Planner and Coordinator: Beautiful Gatherings