Weddings by SingaporeBrides Issue 5 by singaporebrides.com

by singaporebrides

issue #5 singaporebrides.com

A Photography

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D e s i g n e r s | P h o t o g r a p h e r s | Ve n u e s & m o re !

Blessings to you and your loved ones on your big day! Tirtha Weddings orchestrates your dream wedding to the ﬁnest details – delivering an unforgettable event, much like a memorable movie. With our professional hospitality, we strive to customize the most suitable theme for your bespoke wedding. Pick from our selection of exclusive brands: ANTEPRIMA The inaugural launch in Singapore

YUMI KATSURA SADONI LUISA SPOSA NICOLE ANDREA COUTURE PRINCIPESSA DOLA DEL GIGLIO

Tirtha Weddings Singapore 1 Fullerton Square, #01-08, The Fullerton Hotel Tel: 65 6557 0820 http://tirthaweddings.com

The Team CEO Ng Chin Leng Editor Michelle Tay editor@singaporebrides.com Sub-Editors Audrie Soh Tansey Tang Senior Sales Manager Christine Kang sales@tian.com.sg Sales Managers Bob Mubarak Janis Heng Layout Design Michelle Tay Webmasters Eileen Aw Andre Ng

The Contributors Brendan Zhang, Calvin Phua, Celestine Sng, Christian Maranion, Ernest Lim, Furqan Saini, Gabe Chen, Grego Oh, Hue Junyang, Josh Es, Jovie Tan, Karis Chiu, Lenne Chai, Marie Soh, Nathanael Yong, Ong Jollin, Osmane Da Cunha, Sahib Faber, Skye Tan, Syaza Syarafina, Teo Sze Lee Cover Image: Lightedpixels Pixies Weddings by singaporebrides is published by Tian Dot Com Pte Ltd. 50 Ubi Crescent #01-08 Ubi TechPark Singapore 408568 Tel: +65 6254 1026 Fax: +65 6404 5478 Reproduction of this magazine in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. Copyright ÂŠ 2013-2014 Tian Dot Com Pte Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

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Shirley li

Flamingo Bridal

31 Duxton Road Singapore 089495

TEL :

6226 2728 www.flamingobridal.com

Model: Lauren R (Upfront Models)

Hair & Make-up: Shirley Li

Stylist: Vik Lim

Photography: Toon Liang (www.lightspade.com)

www.gownsvilla.com | enquiry@gownsvilla.com | +65 67193368 | By Appointment Only

In This Issue 20 Article 8 Conversations To Have Before Getting Married

268 Beauty Editorial The Glamourous 20s 280 Do-It-Yourself Editorial Giant Paper Flowers

32 Article How To Avoid Falling Into A Wedding Debt

290 Article 29 Unique Engagement Rings

42 Article 8 Favourite Looks For 2015 From The Runways

300 Article 5 Skincare Products To Try Before Your Wedding

52 Article 10 Unconventional Gown Alternatives 62 Fashion Editorial The Original Three 92 Fashion Editorial Aubade And Nocturne 124 Fashion Editorial Brooklyn Baby 152 Article Married And Lovin’ It 162 Article How To Suit Up Like A Gentleman

172 Article Get Your Wedding Album Without A Shot List 184 Real Weddings Let Love Rule 196 Real Weddings The Greatest Adventure of John And Sher 208 Real Weddings Yvonne Lim And Alex Tien’s Fairytale Wedding 220 Real Weddings From Best Friends To Lovers

315 Article 15 Desserts To Serve At Your Wedding

232 Real Weddings When Tim Found Sabrina

324 Article 8 Fun Drinks You Can Serve At Your Wedding

244 Real Weddings A Rustic And Whimsical Wedding At The Stables

336 Article 4 Reasons To Get Married And Honeymoon In Vietnam

256 Real Weddings Jesreen And Karan Wed In Tradition And Culture

348 Article Honeymoon In Romantic Paradise With Club Med

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402 Orchard Road #05- 05 Delfi Orchard Singapore 238876 Tel: 63336678 www.amandaleeweddings.com Atelier: 46 Niven Road Singapore 228394 (strictly by appointment)

By appointment only www.divinecouture.com 5 Tank Road #04-03 Nagaratha Building Singapore 238061 | 6235 7951/52 Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel Lobby Malaysia | 03-2161 2886 facebook.com/divinecouturesg

instagram.com/divinebrides

Editor’s Note

I have often been asked if I have a favourite bridal gown designer, or if I could suggest a good photographer to someone who was getting married. It seems like a relatively innocent question to ask the editor of a wedding portal, especially since the website has been in the business for 14 years. It is true that I know a lot of bridal designers, or at least have seen the work of the more popular wedding photographers you can find in SIngapore. This is precisely why I can’t give an absolute answer. There are just too many of them! i would usually first ask the couple about price points, then about photography styles and gown designs that the bride has seen and liked. Unless I know you really well, it is difficult for me to recommend a vendor that you will definitely like.

of them are really active on social networks and post a lot of work up there. This issue of our digital magazine is our biggest, and also our most image-heavy one yet. What better way to feature the vendors’ work than to show them off on the digital magazine, which you can browse anytime, anywhere. You can browse our fashion editorials, where gowns were specifically picked for the theme of the shoot. Our December editorial is called Brooklyn Baby, and it was shot in New York. A wonderful opportunity and experience. Go check it out. We also included the trending articles that were published on our website. If you missed them, read them all in this issue. This year also saw a lot of celebrity weddings, and we’ve re-published a couple of them in our Real Weddings section. If you’re an avid fan of blogshops, you’ll know bloggermodel Andrea Chong. We did a The Great Gatsby-inspired beauty editorial with her. All the photos are up on our website and her blog, but you can have a sneak peak here.

Put together an inspiration board of things you’d like for your wedding from magazine or websites, or just bite the bullet, install the Pinterest app on your mobile, and spend some time on it, if you haven’t already. From your board, you will be able to tell what kind of style you want, and from there, looking for the right vendors will be a breeze. So browse away, and Happy Wedding Planning! Just don’t get caught doing it Also, there are new wedding vendors while at work. popping up every day. Maybe you know of someone I haven’t met yet! I do my homework by stalking Instagram. Some Michelle Tay

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Article

8 CONVERSATIONS TO HAVE BEFORE GETTING MARRIED Are you focusing so much on planning your wedding that you’re neglecting to prepare for your marriage? We interview three marriage specialists for their insight on the eight conversations you should have with your spouse-to-be as you get ready to spend the rest of your lives together. Text by Tansey Tang | Images by EdmundPhoto.com

Instead of only focusing on the perfect wedding day, it’s important to invest time in preparing for your lifetime together by discussing big issues and marital expectations. That’s why many counsellors recommend couples to go for a marriage preparation course to discuss potential issues at different stages in a marriage, and to discover how best to meet each other’s needs.

than be caught off-guard by situations after marriage and then instinctively react based on emotions alone which might cloud good judgment.”

To help couples start the marriage journey well-prepared, the Ministry of Social and Family Development offers a $70 rebate for couples attending an approved course on this list. Religious organisations often offer pre-marital While many couples may think that a courses as well. marriage course is hardly necessary when their love will overcome all, If it’s too late for you to attend a marriage specialist Elvira Tan, from marriage preparation course, or if you Focus on the Family Singapore, says, are simply are too private to open up “Soon-to-be-married couples tend to your relationship to strangers, do take be idealistic. We encourage couples to the time to talk about these 8 issues recognise the importance of anticipating with your partner. For a meaningful and new issues that arise at different open conversation, pick a time when stages in a marriage, and to openly you’re both relaxed, and don’t spring communicate about potential issues so all your questions on your other half at that they can be better prepared, rather once!

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1. In-Laws and Family When you marry someone, you’re also marrying into his or her family. For many newlyweds, adjusting to their new families is difficult. To avoid unnecessary conflict later on, talking about how you will approach your relationships with your in-laws is important. While disagreements may be common, as Ms Tan wisely says, “Each couple needs to recognize that once married, they need to work as a team when dealing with inlaws.” Together, decide on things such as how often you will visit your parents, how you will spend holidays, or whether you will financially support your parents. Ms Tan also advises, “While it is important to honor one’s parents, it is also critical to take into consideration one’s spouse’s well-being as well. As a spouse, it would be highly beneficial to constantly keep one’s own expectations of our in-laws in check at the same time, so as not to put undue pressure on our spouse.” Your respectful consideration of your partner’s thoughts will help keep the discussion fair and fruitful. For some couples, living with their parents is something else to discuss. If you have obligations to look after aged parents, or are temporarily living with them while you wait for your own home,

it’s helpful for you discuss boundaries for yourselves and your in-laws. “The spouse whose parents the couple is living with will have to play a pivotal role in helping to communicate and enforce those boundaries,” advises Ms Tan. Talking about how you can build healthy bonds as well as setting boundaries now will help you understand each other’s expectations of time with and commitment to your families.

2. Children You have probably already talked about whether you want children. While you may have already picked out names for your first daughter, don’t forget to also discuss when you plan to have children, how many children you want and how you would respond to potential issues. Ms Tan suggests that couples explore the reasons behind each other’s preferences during the discussion as well. “The reasons shared might give the couple a deeper understanding of each other’s needs and the expectations they might have of family.” Everyone’s family is different, so talking about what you expect for your new family is crucial. Do you believe in one spouse being the primary homemaker while the other focuses on providing the income? How will you raise your children? You will each have a different

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view on upbringing, and discussing them will help you come up with a parenting style that affirms both your beliefs on your ideal family. Of course, your ideas about parenting will evolve once the children come along, but laying out your general expectations of family will help minimise misguided assumptions later on. Talk about the tough issues as well, such as what you would do if your child were to have special needs, or if you were to be unable to conceive. “Discussing the financial and emotional implications of such decisions will help the couple to assess if the beliefs and values they have for family are aligned with each other,” says Ms Tan. Bringing up potential issues now and having a constructive and meaningful discussion about how you would deal with them helps your partner understand your values and allows you both to attain a mutual understanding, instead of letting the emotional pressure during the actual events cloud your judgement.

3. Communication Good communication is one of the keys to a successful relationship, and now is a great time to fine-tune your communication styles and build a more open and honest relationship.

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“Integrity is the first principle we impart in our marriage preparation course,” says Deputy Director Mr Arthur Ling, trainer at Family Central’s Happiness in Marriage course. The course gets couples to ask themselves whether they fulfil the promises they make to their partners, whether they are completely honest with each other, or if they tell little white lies to avoid potential conflict, such as lying about talking to an ex because they believe they have not done anything wrong. “But there might be more and more of these white lies along the way!” says Mr Ling, advising couples to be completely honest instead. Another important type of communication is sharing your frustrations and asking for what you need from your partner. “Often times, individuals don’t share what they feel when they are frustrated or angry, and hope that their partners can guess what they want or need. Negative emotions and energy get stored up and eventually may erupt,” reveals Mr Ling. Good communication involves setting aside your pride or anger to talk about what you feel and what your partner can do to resolve the issue.

4. Conflict Resolution When two different individuals come

together, it’s inevitable that there will be some friction now and again. While disagreement is part and parcel of a relationship, a strong marriage is built on your ability to work past those differences and resolve conflict. Ms Tan shares what couples can do to fight better: “Open and honest sharing that seeks to understand the other spouse’s needs is the key to resolving differences.” Make it a point to calmly explain your feelings, and try to understand your partner’s as well. As you prepare for your marriage, arm yourself with better and fairer fighting techniques that focus on reaching a mutual compromise instead of giving in to anger. Take the time to think about your fighting styles and how you can work to fight more constructively, and discuss how you will handle disagreements.

5. Expectations of Married Life You might be surprised to find out that your partner’s understanding of married life is different from yours. Because what you grew up with is such a deepseated part of who you are, it often doesn’t occur to couples to discuss their expectations of each other in the marriage. Mr Calvin Ang, Marriage Mentor of

Cornerstone Community Services, shares an example of such a misassumption: “For one of the couples we mentored, the man expected that the natural end result of marriage is having children of their own, but his fiancee later revealed that she never really liked children, and that having her own children was never a priority in her life.” To avoid such a big shock when you’re married, tell each other about your family’s lifestyles and what you expect from married life. What are your views on housework, family leisure time, or careers? What are your expectations of the role of a wife or husband? Your discussions can bring to light assumptions you wouldn’t have questioned otherwise.

6. Finances Money is one of the things couples fight most about. Talking about how you plan to spend it will help you avoid arguments later. “Many couples quarrel because they have different styles in using their money,” explains Mr Ling. “It’s important to talk about your goals and how you can agree on some common expenses and investments before you get married.” Some things to discuss include how much you plan to spend on leisure, what percentage

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of your income to save, what types of investment risks you are willing to take, what level of debt you are comfortable with, and what financial goals you want to set for yourselves. Some couples decide to have joint accounts for specific purposes, and others prefer to keep track of their own money. There is no right or wrong answer to your finances, but as Mr Ang says, “It will always be helpful if couples can talk about and come to a consensus on how they would like to manage their finances before marriage.” Managing your finances with your partner involves a big level of trust, and some couples might take some time to adjust. However, for couples running repeatedly into big arguments about money, Mr Ang’s advice is to check that such fights are not symptoms of deeper issues such as communication breakdown or unresolved hurt and resentment.

7. Life Goals and Dreams You’re getting hitched for the long run, so do talk about your long term goals with your partner. Ask yourselves where you see your career going, and what your life dreams are. Share with them your bucket list, or your dreams of opening a business. Tell them if you’ve always hoped to live and work

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in a particular country. “Couples talking to each other about life goals will definitely help lay out mutual expectations in a marriage,” says Mr Ang. “Intimacy requires that one person allows the other person into his or her heart, mind, soul and body. When couples communicate about their life goals, childhood dreams, passions in life, or how they feel about different things, they are actually undergoing the process of mutual self-revelation.” Don’t be afraid to share your hopes and plans with the person who is your number-one cheerleader! As you discuss your goalss, be supportive and talk about how you can help each other achieve them. Be open about adjusting your timeline expectations to include your partner’s dreams.

8. Friendships and Social Boundaries The marriage relationship will be the most intimate one you have, and your friendships and family relationships will take on a different dynamic. One of you may enjoy hanging out with friends more than the other, but do make sure you are both comfortable with how much time you spend with friends and how much time you spend alone together. “We teach couples the principle of

setting healthy boundaries with their parents and friends so as to protect the marriage,” says Mr Ling. He explains further that couples have to give up certain things as they prepare to go into marriage, such as some aspects of their relationships with friends of the opposite sex. “We may sound conservative but this is an age-old problem! Hence we teach couples that once they are married, the comfort levels of their spouses become the indicator of the boundaries to be set, including who not to go out with and in what kind of social interactions. There is no right or wrong answer; it’s just about being committed to the marriage because you love your spouse.” ■ SB

Ms Elvira Tan is a Marriage Specialist from Focus on the Family Singapore, a local charity dedicated to helping families thrive. Focus on the Family Singapore offers the Connect2 marriage preparation course. Mr Arthur Ling is Deputy Director of Fei Yue Community Services, and is also a trainer at the Happiness in Marriage preparation course by Family Central. Mr Calvin Ang is a Family Life Educator and Marriage Mentor at Cornerstone Community Services, which conducts marriage preparation courses.

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Add: 30, Joo Chiat Place, SIngapore 427754 Tel: +65 6323 2182 Web: www.weddingpresentbride.com/ Email: weddingpresent@hotmail.com FB: www.facebook.com/TheWeddingPresent

Article

HOW TO AVOID FALLING INTO A WEDDING DEBT A recent survey Singaporebrides did last November revealed that most couples spend at least $50,000 on their wedding, with the banquet making up the bulk of the cost, a clear sign that weddings today are no longer the modest affairs of yester-year. Should you consider a loan? Read to the end to find out. Text by Audrie Soh | Images by Lightedpixels Pixies

The increase in spending power and availability of loans have made extravagant weddings possible but a recent report earlier this year of a couple who spent $110,000 to fulfill their dream wedding and remains still in debt nearly 2 years after the day raises the question of how much should one spend on their big day, and exactly how much is too much. Of course, there are no right or wrong answers to those questions. How much you spend on your wedding depends on your budget and financial means. To help you achieve the dream wedding you’ve always wanted without spending beyond your means and landing yourself in debt, we’ve put together 4 essential tips you need to know when it comes to financing your wedding.

1. Set a Budget and Stick to It The first thing you should do is to agree on how much you’re both willing to spending on your wedding and come up with a wedding budget for each item required for your big day. That allows you to be more aware of how much you have for that item and how much you’ve under or overspent it. But before you do that, you need to know how much each component of a wedding costs. Do your research ahead of time and factor in inflation if your wedding is only set for the next year or the year after. Pen these costs down on our wedding planner and go through the to-do list to ensure you’ve covered every item on the list. Once you have a budget in place, try to stick to it instead of overspending to avoid taking a loan to finance the day.

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The act of setting a budget and sticking a date night once every month or two to it will also help you manage your as a reward for sticking to your savings future finances for renovation, furniture plan. buying and household funds. Despite having a savings plan way 2. Plan Ahead and Prioritise Wisely ahead of your big day, you should also understand how deep your pockets are A foolproof way to ensure that you’ll and what you can afford realistically. If remain debt free after your wedding is to adding the amount you’re putting aside plan your finances ahead of time. Most for your wedding fund to your current couples start saving up for their big day financial commitments is stretching a year or more prior to the actual day you thin, then consider cutting down and by doing so, they’ll have an existing the cost of your wedding by prioritising fund of money to work with by the time what is necessary for your big day and they need to pay for their wedding. what you can do without. Don’t insist Work out how much you each have to on a destination wedding or invite every contribute to the wedding fund based one of your relatives and friends when on the budget you’ve agreed upon for a you have to scrimp and save miserably for two years just to afford it. wedding in a year or two’s time. Begin your saving by making some lifestyle changes. Try to dine more at home and bring packed lunches to work instead of eating out, but if you absolutely have to eat out, have your meals at a food court or hawker center rather than at a restaurant to keep your food expenses to the minimum. Limit your monthly grocery and shopping budget to refrain from overspending. These simple lifestyle changes will not only teach you how to save up for your wedding, but will also prove helpful for your future home and life as well. However, it is important to give yourself a treat once in a while and go out for

3. Re-Examine Your Expectations In order to prioritise what is important to your wedding and what isn’t, you need to manage your expectations for the day. Instead of being driven by the desire to throw the most unique and best wedding among your peers, think about how you can customise your big day to reflect your personalities and journey as a couple. Rather than a flower arch, consider decorating the venue with pots of flowers and draping vines over chairs for a garden look. And if you don’t have the budget for fresh flowers, don’t insist on getting them.

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Opt for faux ones or hand make your very own blooms to minimise cost and add a personal touch to your wedding. Browse through popular wedding websites and social media sites such as SingaporeBrides and Pinterest for great sources of wedding inspiration and DIY ideas you can use to cut down on your wedding costs and stay debtfree.

of time. These savings could come up to quite a bit and allow you to splurge in other areas of your wedding without exceeding your budget. However, try not to cut too many corners in a bid to limit your wedding costs. Some savings are just not worth it and may require you to spend more in the end.

When You Should Consider a Loan

4. It’s The Little Things That Count While it’s best to avoid obtaining a loan There are many ways to limit your wedding costs. Start by having a more intimate celebration at a smaller venue with an exclusive guest-list made up of only close family members and friends. For some couples’ families, this means breaking away from the tradition where weddings are symbols of a family’s status and a smaller celebration would consequently mean that their family has a lower social status. It will take some persuading on the couple’s part to explain to their families their decision for a smaller wedding party. Wedding exhibitions and showcases are great places to get more bang for your buck when you’re planning for your wedding. Most wedding exhibitions and showcases offer promotional packages or credit card savings when you sign up with them on the spot or within a stipulated period

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to finance your wedding if you can help it, if you’re determined to obtain one for any reason, turn to your close family members for help first. Taking a loan from your parents or family members will provide you with the sum you need for the wedding while saving you the interest that you will incur with a bank loan. If this is not a viable option, you can then consider your next best option, which is getting a bank loan.

Major banks such as OCBC, UOB, DBS, POSB, Citibank and Standard Chartered offer several credit card and personal loans that allows you to loan up to four times your salary with as low an interest rate as 1.5% per month based on a flexible repayment scheme, where you only have to pay a minimum of 2.53% of the sum owing or $50, whichever is higher. Do visit the respective banks for a better understanding on how these loans function.

But before you embark on one, you should ask yourselves these questions: a. Do both of you have healthy incomes sufficient to support a loan in addition to your current expenses and financial commitments? b. Do you intend to take up a second or third loan for your future home? c. Will you be able to pay it back within the stipulated time frame without putting additional strain on your finances? Be honest with yourselves when it

comes to these questions to avoid stressing yourselves out with the debt after the wedding. It is easy to get carried away with the need to host a one-of-kind wedding that trumps everyone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, but it is important to remember that the purpose of a wedding is to celebrate a joyous union between a man and a woman whilst being surrounded by close family and friends. What matters most is having the people who means the most to you present at the wedding, not how much you spend on it. â&#x2013; SB

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Article

8 FAVOURITE LOOKS FOR 2015 FROM THE RUNWAYS The best wedding dresses and trends off the runways of New York Bridal Fashion Week are here! Have a look at these for some inspiration for your wedding look. Text by Michelle Tay

Nothing pleases me more than looking at beautiful things, but lucky for me, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to decide on which look I want to wear for my wedding. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen my share of wedding dresses, but every year, designers both local and overseas never cease to amaze me with their creativity. The New York Bridal Fashion Week we attended in October was amazing; the designers we met were so passionate about their work, each piece in their collection was so much more than just putting fabrics together with a sewing machine. It was a painful task to have to choose, but here are my favourite looks from the designers we met in New York for 2015.

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Image 1: Cream re-embroidered lace dress with silk georgette skirt from Reem Acra

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Image 2: French Chantilly lace fit and flare gown with silk satin faced organza underlay from Yumi Katsura. Image 3: Champagne halter neck beaded embroidery, sequin train and platinum silk lining from Claire Pettibone.

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Image 4: Ivory silk knit jersey draped corset and grecian draped skirt from Della Giovanna. Image 5: Ivory plunging Vneck with sculpted lace motifs on illusion bodice from Watters.

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Image 6: Ivory felted raw wool strapless gown from Theia. Image 7: Gazar trumpet gown with boat neck and long lace sleeves from Sareh Nouri. Image 8: Ivory tulle strapless floral motif beaded gown from Naeem Khan.

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Article

10 UNCONVENTIONAL GOWN ALTERNATIVES If you are looking for a unique wedding outfit for your big day, we’ve gathered 10 alternatives to the traditional white wedding gown you should know about. Text by Audrie Soh

The tradition of the white wedding gown was passed down from the 18th century after Queen Victoria wore one at her wedding to Prince Albert. Although it still remains as the number one wedding tradition most brides uphold today, it is not their only option. Coloured wedding gowns and bridal pant-suits are starting to emerge on the runways and more brides are considering a knee-length or ballerina dress in favour of the classic floor-length ballgown in recent years.

1. Pant-suits Traditionally, the groom wears the pants at the wedding (and at home). But not today. Pant-suits and jumpsuits are perfect for brides who aren’t overly fond of skirts and for showing off those model-like long and slender legs while still being wedding appropriate.

2. Shorts Another alternative for slender and long-legged brides is a top-and-shorts or romper ensemble. These are perfect for a casual afternoon solemnisation or intimate wedding in our sunny island, allowing you to stay cool in our humid weather and move about easily. Opt for one in lace like these for an air of youthful romance and femininity.

3. Ballerina Wedding Gowns Now, if you’re not against skirts for your wedding outfit but are not into floorlength dresses, then consider these ballerina wedding gowns. This fun and flirty

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Right image: Sareh Nouri

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silhouette gets its name from its resemblance to a ballerina’s tutu skirt, and never fails to remind me of Tchaikovsky’s ballet, The Nutcracker. Pair this short dress with a pair of striking Jimmy Choos or Louboutins and you have a winner.

4. Tailored Dresses Who says you can’t look formal without a floor-length ballgown? Channel your inner Audrey Hepburn with these formal and chic knee-length tailored dresses that are oh-so-perfect for an afternoon solemnisation or wedding.

5. Knee-length Dresses Instead of a full length ballgown, why not consider a cute knee-length dress for your solemnisation ceremony or intimate garden wedding? Not only are kneelength dresses both wedding and weather appropriate, it also easier to move (or party) in it without having to worry about tripping on a long hem or train.

6. Tea-Length Wedding Gowns First popularised by Audrey Hepburn, this elegant and feminine silhouette is a

 Images: 1. Lihi Hod 2. Manuel Mota for Provianas 3. The Weding Present 4. Tobi Hannah 5. Watters 6. Charlotte Balbier

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great compromise between a knee and floor length wedding gown. A perfect silhouette for brides seeking that vintage look.

7. Two-piece Wedding Gowns Follow in Olivia Palermo’s footsteps and piece together a unique wedding gown that reflects your personal style.Whether you favour the mid-driff baring crop top with a full length skirt combination like Theia’s Haven, or simply love the ability to pair one top with different skirts like Della Giovanna’s Logan and Devin skirt, you’ll have countless variations of wedding dresses to choose from with twopiece wedding gowns.

8. Floral Printed Wedding Gowns Brighten things up with floral printed wedding gowns and add a splash of colour to an otherwise white or pastel-coloured affair. Or, opt for floral prints in a neutral or monochrome colour palette for an evening affair.

9. Coloured Wedding Gowns Pastel colours such as powder blue, dove grey and blush are popular hues among brides who do not want a white wedding gown for their once-in-a-lifetime, and it’s not difficult to see why they favour these romantic shades over the traditional white. Or, go against tradition and don a black wedding dress, but only if your family and family-in-law are okay with it.

10. Convertible Wedding Gowns Wedding gowns with detachable parts such as a removeable lace bolero or bridal coat, or even a longer tulle skirt, are perfect for brides who can’t decide between a long or short dress, and those who want two different looks without breaking the bank. ■ SB

For more images, check out our website: www.singaporebrides.com.

Images: 7. Lihi Hod 8. Le Grand Wedding 9. Oscar de la Renta 10. Sareh Nouri

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theoriginal Three three The Original

3/4-sleeved lace sheath with high neck, pearl button back and organza skirt by Flamingo Bridal. All accessories by Grannyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Out.

photography by Lenne Chai | assisted by Calvin Chua | styled by Nathanael Yong | make up by Marie Soh | hair by Christian Maranion

Earrings by Grannyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Out. Necklaces by Mandy Wu.

left to right: Sheath with translucent flutter sleeves and drape detail skirt; Cap sleeved sheath with leaf applique lace overlay; Sleeveless sheath with pleat details, jewel embellishment and lace inserts by The Wedding Present.

left to right: Necklace by Mandy Wu, rings and belt by Grannyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Out. Necklace by Grannyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Out, bracelets by Carrie K. Stacked Rings by Bottega Veneta, bracelets by Carrie K.

Headpiece by Heads of State Millinery, earrings by Granny’s Day Out, Headpiece by Designer Vintage Sale, Necklace by Granny’s Day Out, Headpiece by Heads of State Millinery. All Rings by Carrie K.

left to right: Cap-sleeved lace trumpet gown with illusion neckline and lace strap back detail; Sleeveless gown featuring a high lace neckline and lace back with pearl buttons by Silhouette the Atelier.

Rings by Carrie K, earrings by Grannyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Out.

Sweetheart ballgown with lace applique and organza waterfall skirt by Jawn.Happy.Ever.After; 3/4-sleeved lace sheath with high neck, pearl button back and organza skirt by Flamingo Bridal; Lace A-line gown with elbow-length sleeves, sash detail and pearl button back by Flamingo Bridal From left to right: Bracelet by Grannyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Out, Earrings by Designer Vintage Sale, Necklace by Mandy Wu, headpiece by Heads of State Millinery; All Accessories - Grannyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Out; Necklace and Earring by Designer Vintage Sale, Headpiece - Heads of State Millinery.

Sleeveless gown featuring a high lace neckline and lace back with pearl buttons by Silhouette the Atelier. Earrings by Carrie K, Headpiece by Designer Vintage Sale.

left to right: Strapless lace and tulle ballgown with pleated detailing and peach satin underlay by Jawn Happy. Ever.After; Strapless sweetheart ballgown with mesh inserts, floral applique and tiered striped skirt by The Louvre Bridal. left to right: Earrings by Grannyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Out, Necklace by Mandy Wu; Necklace by Mandy Wu.

Strapless sweetheart ballgown with mesh inserts, floral applique and tiered striped skirt by The Louvre Bridal; Strapless lace and tulle ballgown with pleated detailing and peach satin underlay by Jawn. Happy.Ever.After; Strapless sweetheart ballgown with pleated tulle bodice, layered lace skirt and corset fastenings by The Louvre Bridal.

left to right: Strapless sweetheart ballgown with pearl embellished bodice, worn with Tulle capelet with embellished collar; Strapless sweetheart ballgown featuring embellished pleated tulle bodice, worn with Tulle capelet with pearlescent collar; Strapless lace ballgown with floral applique and organza skirt by LaVie Bridal Couture.

Year

Jess Haute Couture

806, North Bridge Rd, S198774 www.jesscouture.com.sg T: 63345218 email : jess@jesscouture.com.sg

r End Promotion : 5% DISCOUNT for wedding packages

10% DISCOUNT for photography packages

e d a b u A turne c o N

Feather detail mermaid gown with pleated tulle fishtail skirt by Dang Bridal. Lace headpiece from Eskapade.

Gold lace trimmed bustier short gown by Jess Haute Couture. Headpiece, stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own.

Boat neck lace sheath with keyhole back and embellished waistline details by My Dream Wedding. Feather fan, stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own.

Mandarin collar embroidered mermaid gown by Jess Haute Couture.

High neck French lace gown with long sleeves, beaded embellishment and button back by My Dream Wedding.

Long sleeved lace column gown with keyhole and oversize bow detail in the back by Graceful Image.

Hand embroidered mermaid gown with tulle fishtail skirt and pearl button back detail by Dang Bridal.

Sweetheart lace bustier trumpet gown with pleated fishtail skirt by Graceful Image.

Sheer lace detail gown by Graceful Image. Headpiece from Eskapade. Tulle veil, stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own.

Sequinned lace detail convertible gown with tiered satin skirt by My Dream Wedding. Vintage Lanvin hat, stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own.

Mandarin collar lace detail short gown with ruching by Jess Haute Couture. Vintage Lanvin hats, stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own.

Ruched silk taffeta high-low gown with embellishments and contrast lining from Jess Haute Couture. Fascinator, stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own.

High-low lace bustier gown with Chantilly lace trim and corset fastenings by My Dream Wedding.

Sheer embroidered lace bustier gown with beaded embellishment by My Dream Wedding. Headpiece from Eskapade

Lace and tulle V-neck gown with pearl button back by Graceful Image.

Hand embroidered floral pailette gown with lace details by Dang Bridal.

French lace boat neck tulle gown with lace insert and pearl button back details by Dang Bridal.

Lace boat neck gown with laced edge tulle skirt and pearl button back details by Graceful Image.

Pleated bustier gown with floral embroidery details by Dang Bridal.

Silk satin tiered bustier gown with contrast lace and embellishments by Jess Haute Couture.

photography by Brendan Zhang | assisted by Gabe Chen, Hue Junyang | styled by Furqan Saini | assisted by Syaza Syarafina, Ong Jollin | make up by Celestine Sng using Shu Uemura, Ernest Lim using Burberry Beauty | hair by Grego Lim using Toni & Guy Hair Meet Wardrobe

39A keong Saik Road SIngapore 089145 +65 6223-8829 enquiry@dangbridal.com.sg (by appointment only) www.dangbridal.com.sg

styling assisted by: Iroda Daminova hair and make up: Dollei Seah using Chanel Makeup and Redken hair and make up assisted by: Lydia Thong model: Rui Yang / AVE

White high-collared silk satin ballgown with oriental inspired embroidery on bodice from Le Grand Wedding

White embroidered ballgown with layered tulle skirt from The Wedding Present. Earrings by SWAROVSKI.

(Left) White lace embroidered ballgown with an illusion sweetheart neckline and tulle pleated layered skirt. Earrings by SWAROVSKI; (Right) Illusion neckline mermaid gown with long tulle sleeves and pleated layered skirt, embroidered with red lace. Both from Divine Couture.

(Left) Peach fit-and-flare gown with a sweetheart peplum tweed bodice and a tulle skirt with ombre pleats from Le Grand Wedding. (Right) Deep green one shoulder A-line taffeta gown with a pleated sweetheart neckline by Jawn Happy.Ever.After. .

White satin mermaid gown with an illusion neckline and tulle skirt embellished with hand embroidery and sequins from The Wedding Present.

(Left) Knee-length tweed dress with a Peranakan kebaya inspired jacket embellished with organza flower petals and flower patterned lace by Amanda Lee Weddings. (Right) White ballgown with a sweetheart neckline, lace embroidered bodice and pleated layered skirt from Divine Couture.

(Left) Turquoise sweetheart peplum A-line gown with grey tulle skirt from Le Grand Wedding. Shoes by GUISEPPE ZANOTTI. (Right) Lilac and gold sheath with a lace bodice and sequined skirt. Both from Amanda Lee Weddings. Bracelet by GUISEPPE ZANOTTI.

Pink ballgown with white tulle overlay, sweetheart neckline and a ruched bodice from Jawn Happy.Ever.After. White sash styled as ribbon stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own. Earrings by SWAROVSKI.

Article

MARRIED AND LOVIN’ IT Can a married man truly be a happy one? Fu Jinming attempts to douse your cynicism with his musings about being happily unavailable. Text by Fu Jinming | Images by EdmundPhoto.com

Chinese-American comedian Joe Wong summed it best when he recalled how scared he once was of being married, because “… Wow, 50% of all marriages end up lasting forever!” That always drew laughs from the guys. Funnily, the ladies too. And who could blame them? Popular culture has reduced the married man to a bumbling, long-suffering loser, always under the thumb of the overbearing wife, and pining for his single and carefree days. He’s the guy who’s out of the hunt and worse for it. A comedy of errors who’ve just made the biggest mistake of his life. Because which sane guy would voluntarily commit himself to a lifetime of domesticity, subservience, and (gasp), monogamy? Well, I would. And I did.

a plane in the Bermuda Triangle. They seemed shackled to an invisible force, unable to live the life they want, the way they want. Then I went and got myself married. Bad move, you say. A year on though, I feel it’s the best one I’ve ever made. Because it’s true what they say: marriage isn’t just the coming together of two people. It’s the coming together of two lives. And as clichéd as it sounds, two really is better than one. To give you a fuller picture, I’ve compiled a list of seven things I’ve enjoyed about marriage. I’ve sidestepped the obvious ones – like regular sex – and honed in on the less apparent ones – like time off from your parents – to show you the little things that made me a happier, better, and very married man.

To be sure, I didn’t always feel this way. I was one of the boys, convinced that a 1. The Dual Income ring on my finger was a noose around my neck. I’ve seen friends who got First, there’s the practical stuff. When hitched and promptly went off-grid, like it comes to money, two streams of

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income are infinitely better than one. Being married means there is now someone to share the bills and major expenses with. Particularly useful when time comes to renovate your home, or to purchase your furnishings, or to pay the mortgage.

likely to die accidentally. Some went as far as to suggest that marriage is even better than giving up smoking.

You’re probably thinking: but aren’t women expensive with their handbags and shoes and endless shopping? Trust me, these will quickly be eclipsed by the prospect of having an extra wallet for a better home, a better vacation, and possibly a better car.

3. To Extreme Comfort

I’m not saying financial woes will be a thing of the past, I’m saying you won’t be facing them alone. And that you’ll be a lot happier looking at your bank account.

So there you have it: your wife will hardly be the death of you. She’s the reason you’re still breathing!

The great thing about being married is that you get to be in the same room with someone you’re comfortable with. Very comfortable. So comfortable, you can rant and rave to her about your work or your co-workers and have her (mostly) on your side. Or wearing whatever you like for bed without her even batting an eyelid. Or passing the occasional, ahem, wind right in front of her, and not feel embarrassed at all.

2. A Longer Life

All in all, marriage puts you both in the same comfort zone, where you get to A healthy, married life could mean be the person you really are – warts, a longer one as well. There’s been flaws, farts and all. recent research in the US that claims married men are less prone to heart 4. So Long, Folks disease, depression and strokes than single ones. Science, apparently, has If you’re an Asian man who’s had to discovered lower levels of C-reactive share a home with his parents for pretty protein (CRP) – a biological marker of much his whole life, this will probably inflammation and other nasty things – in come as happy news to you. For getting married men. Other studies have shown married gives you the cultural license to that single men are five times likelier to move out. Not just out of your parents’ die of infectious diseases, and twice as roof, but out of their incessant (albeit

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well-intentioned) naggings, constant disregard for your privacy and general lack of personal space. It’s a chance for you to leave the nest and grow into your own man. Because as long as you’re under their roof, you’ll always be their little boy. That’s not to say they’ll magically treat you like the adult you think you are once you’re out of the house. But at least you’ll gain some space. Besides, moving out usually does wonders for your relationship with your folks. It could be that absence makes the parental heart fonder. Or that they wanted you out in the first place!

5. A Convenient Excuse Remember when you were at a party you wish you weren’t? Well, being married is a great excuse to skip a social event you don’t feel up for. Received an email invite for after-work drinks with colleagues you don’t like? Sorry, got to rush for dinner with the wife and her folks. Buddies asking to watch a late-night show you know you’ll hate? Dang, it’s date night with the missus. Sure, it’ll make you look like an emasculated loser. But it’ll emancipate you from small talk, fake smiles, and all kinds of social boredom.

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6. Gifts & Surprises For a guy who grew up in a frugal household, presents were a rare and precious thing. Which is why marriage rocks if you have the fortune of marrying a woman who believes in buying gifts for the man she loves, just to show she does. Like mine did when she felt I was getting too stressed out from work (I wasn’t), and that a spa massage was just what I needed (it was). And then there’s the birthday gift, anniversary surprise, Christmas present, and ‘just because-s’. Talk about a rewarding marriage.

7. Marriage Makes You A Better Man And the thing I love most about being hitched? It makes me the man I want to be. Marrying a strong, opinionated and funny girl brought out the best in me. Every laughter we’ve shared, every argument we’ve had, and every compromise we’ve had to make forced me to grow as a man and as a human being. Patience, wisdom and maturity come a little easier now. As does a clearer perspective on the things that matter, and the ones that don’t. I’ve gone from being a man-child, to a manchild with a clearer head, and a surer heart. ■ SB

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Article

SUIT UP LIKE A GENTLEMAN We’ve got plenty of guides on how to shop for the perfect wedding gown and what makes up a dream gown, but little is said about a groom’s suit. And let’s admit it, the wedding day is the groom’s big day as much as it is the bride’s, and you have every right to want to look good for your special day too. We share some tips on how to pick out a well-fitted suit so you’ll look dashing on your wedding day. Text by Audrie Soh | Images by AndroidsinBoots (Still + Motion)

The most important detail of a suit isn’t its price-tag or where it is bought from but how well the suit is cut. A well-fitted suit makes all the difference, instantly accentuating a man’s figure regardless of his body type and height. There are three components that make up a suit – the jacket, shirt and pants – and all three of these components must fit you properly for your suit to look good.

The Jacket The perfect suit jacket fits your body at all the right places. It should hug your shoulders instead of slouching off them and there should be no gap between the collar of your jacket and that of your shirt. The sleeves of the jacket shouldn’t be too baggy on your arms and its length should be about a quarter to half and inch shorter than your shirt sleeve to show off a little of your shirt cuff. The jacket should also be slightly nipped in at the sides to create a V-shaped

contour and to accentuate the width of your shoulders. The perfect suit jacket should also have just the right amount of room to fit your fist comfortably between your chest and the jacket, and long enough to cover your pants zipper and rear end. Any more or less than that, you might be facing the wrong fit. Now that we’ve taken care of the front of your jacket, let’s pay the back some attention. Notice the slit at the back of the jacket? That’s called a back vent. Most suits come with the more universal single center vent as it is unobtrusive and keeps the lines of the suit clean and simple. The more modern and fashionable double side vents make a slightly more rakish statement and flatter men with larger figures better. Regardless which type of back vent you choose, remember to cut the thread that keeps it closed on the underside. Most suits will have threads keeping the vents closed to keep the shape of the

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jacket as people try it on. If you neglect The Pants to cut it, the back of your jacket will hang weirdly when you walk. Not cool The sign of a well-fitting pants is one that rests comfortably on your waist with a at all. finger’s space between the waistband and your waistline, and sits just above The Shirt the top of your shoes with one fold in Use the one-finger rule to determine if the fabric instead of bunching up. Slimyour shirt is too big for you. If you can cut flat-front pants are perfect for a long fit more than one finger between your and clean look, while pants which are shirt’s collar and your neck, then it’s tailored a little on the short side adds a too big for you. Opt for a slim-cut shirt sense of refinement and distinctiveness, to slim down your silhouette. Ideally, great for grooms who are adventurous your shirt sleeve should end just at and wants to look taller and thinner. your wrist. Any longer or shorter just signifies a poor-fitting shirt. Your shirt The Details cuffs should be narrow enough to sit just above the start of your thumb. If Even if you’ve gotten the three major you can fit your hand through the cuff components of a suit right, make a mistake with any of its accompanying when its fastened, then it’s too wide.

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details, such as buttons and collars, and all your previous effort would be for naught.

The Buttons When it comes to a suit’s buttons, you should never fasten the bottom button. This applies to all two or threebutton suits, single or double-breasted. Every suit is tailored to have only the top or middle button closed, while the bottom button is there just for design. If you have to sit down, do remember to unbutton your jacket, as you’ll look awkward buttoned up as your sit and you may risk ruining the shape of your jacket, shortening the lifespan of your suit. But, when it comes to your shirt, every button on it is meant to be fastened, even the highest one that rests just at the neck. If you don’t, the lines of the shirt collar wouldn’t match up, not even if you tried to fake it by covering it with a tie.

The Lapel When it comes to your jacket’s lapel, there are three areas you should take note of: the width, type and fold of a lapel. The width of your lapel determines your suit’s style. Slimmer lapels are more modern looking while wider lapels tend to be more oldschool. Whether you should get a suit

that sports a notch, peak or shawl lapel depends on the occasion, the type of you suit you’re wearing and your body type. The most common of the three, a notch lapel is defined by a “notch” – an opening – where the bottom of the collar meets the top of the lapel, usually at a 75-90 degree angle. It is extremely versatile, perfect for every-day business or for-interview suits, complements all body types and an ideal lapel for singlebreasted suits. Peak lapels are the most formal of the three and were originally found in formal wear garments such as tailcoats and morning coats. It is characterised by its upward pointing edges towards your shoulders. It is great for formal dinners such as weddings and black-tie events and often seen on double-breasted suits. The points of a peak lapel can create an elongating effect by drawing the eye upwards towards the shoulders, thereby great for men who are looking to lengthen their silhouette. Shawl lapels are most common on dinner jackets or tuxedos. It is characterised by a rounded edge and a continuous curve without breaks or points like the other two types of lapels. This style of lapel is extremely formal meant for black-tie events and red carpet galas. It will suit most body types, but if you have an extremely round found or body,

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you should consider a suit with a peak or notch lapels as shawl lapels may accentuate those rounded features.

The Tie Ideally, your tie should just reach your waistband or slightly shorter than that. While it would be difficult to estimate where exactly to tie the knot to achieve that length every morning, the time you spent will be worth it. Always opt for the classic Windsor Knot for your tie, but the size of the knot should complement the size of your head. Full knots are better for men with bigger heads while half knots complement men with smaller heads better. Alternatively, you can opt for Pratt knots if you find it difficult to master the Windsor knot. They end up in roughly the same shape but are much easier to tie!

The Material

The Vest

The colour of your belt and shoes should always be the same without any exceptions. So, if you’re feeling like switching up your usual black suit look with a brown belt, then slip on a similar coloured pair of shoes. And if you’re one of the rare ones to still wear a watch, then pick a matching one to complement the colour of your belt and shoes. I know this sounds like an OCD

Adding a vest to the usual suit is a great way to change up the look, add warmth during cold months and adds a formal touch to your suit, which is great news for those living in a warm climate country like Singapore. Make sure your vest is a slim-fit cut that’s slightly pinched in at your waist and ends just at

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or below your belt. Here’s an additional tip: leave the bottom button unfastened and if you’re wearing a tie, check to see if its sticking out from under it. If it is, tuck it under!

Suits come in a variety of material depending on your personal preference and in most parts of the world, depending on seasons. Corduroy,velvet, flannel and tweed suits tend to appear more modern and trendier, and are more suitable for winter time. On the other hand, lightweight materials such as cotton and linen are more commonly seen, and are more appropriate for hot Summer climates like the one we’re used to.

The Belt and Shoes

behaviour, but trust us when we say that your suit will look much smarter if you matched these items than if they don’t. Not only does the colour of your shoes need to match your belt and watch, it also has to complement the colour of your suit. Black, navy, grey, brown and charcoal are five of the most common suit colours and these generally work well with a pair of black shoes with the exception of a brown suit. You should never pair a brown suit with black shoes, or a black suit with brown shoes. Brown suits are best matched with a pair of burgundy-brown or deep maple brown shoes, as do navy, grey and charcoal

coloured suits. Of course, these shoe matching rules aren’t absolute, but if you are not very confident with your colour matching skills, then its safer to stick to this guide.

The Socks Wearing socks long enough to cover up your ankles and the area above it when dressed in a suit is mandatory. Nothing could be more unsavory than to see a suavely-dressed man flash his hairy legs and ankles as he sits down. So, go ahead and pull on your favourite pair of multi-coloured or argyle-patterned socks to jazz up the usual black or navy suit. ■ SB

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FB: www.facebook.com/volansscouture Email: volans2046@gmail.com Add: 33 Liang Seah Street, #02-01, S189054 Tel: 6327 7767

Article

GET YOUR WEDDING ALBUM WITHOUT A SHOT LIST Getting the best shots of your wedding day doesn’t mean handing your photographer a shot list of 80 must-have photos to check off. We speak to veteran wedding photographers to find out how to capture the best wedding day photos. Text by Tansey Tang | Images by Oiffel Photography

Your wedding photographs capture the love and joy of your special day, of your family and friends celebrating with you while you marry your favourite person in the world. You want to be able to look back on your treasured memory of that tearful mother-daughter hug and laugh fondly at your adorable niece as flower girl with cake on her nose. Of course you want your wedding photographs to capture every meaningful moment. But it’s not necessary to list down every particular shot you want in order to get gorgeous mementos of your special day. In fact, keeping your photographer glued to a list might make him or her miss the most beautiful moments of your day. Instead of handing your photographer a five-page print out describing 200 shots to take with instructions like ‘Candid moment with bride and bridesmaids in the mirror, laughing and applying

lipstick,’ get wedding photos you’ll treasure for a lifetime simply by talking to your photographer about these three key things.

Discuss your expectations Before your wedding day, meet your photographer to discuss what kind of photographs you hope to get. Every photographer has a certain signature style of shooting, so you have to be comfortable with his or her artistry before selecting your photographer. Even though you love your photographer’s style of work, it’s important to discuss your expectations and desires for your wedding. Tell him or her what kind of feeling or type of photos you like. Do you love photos with everyone laughing and having a good time? Do you want to capture the sacred atmosphere of your matrimonal ceremony? Let your photographer get to know you and your

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personalities to understand the style of photos you’re after. Wedding photographers Oiffel Photography asks couples to start a Pinterest board of wedding photos they like to better understand whether a couple prefers candid or formal photos, crazy and silly shots, or photojournalistic images. “A Pinterest board of favourite images is great to see what a couple has in mind, about the wedding photography approach they’re interested in,” says the Oiffel team. It’s not necessary to print out a list of every single shot you want taken at your wedding. An experienced wedding photographer knows the shot of your first kiss is a must-have; you don’t need to list it down! But you should let your photographer know if you expect lots of formal family or group portraits, or if you much prefer to remember your crazy bridal party in silly poses. Your photographer won’t know that you only find photos of your favourite nephews adorable—other kids, not so much. If you have pet peeves, now is the time to voice them. Don’t throw off your photographer’s creativity by suddenly telling him or her on your wedding day that you hate it when you aren’t giving full, megawatt smiles in every photo.

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Don’t want lots of photos of the guests that you hardly know? Tell your photographer you want the focus to be on certain people. Let your photographer know which photos in his or her portfolio that you particularly like, and why. By communicating your expectations and helping your photographer understand what you want, you’ll be much more likely to end up with wedding photographs you’ll love. In the end, though, you have to trust your photographer. You chose your photographer because of his or her particular style, so let the creative professionals do their thing. Don’t stress them out with checking off a lengthy list the whole day, so that they miss creative shots of beautiful moments. Rather than trying to imitate a shot you found online, let your photographer use his or her skill to frame the shot to best suit your unique wedding. Every wedding is different, and you want to capture the special moments that only happen in yours.

What’s important to you? Every wedding is different. Your wedding day celebrates all that is important to you and your spouse-to-be. Know that what’s meaningful to one bride might

not matter so much to another, so don’t assume your photographer will know what details or people you treasure. Let your photographer know what’s close to your heart. Oiffel Photography makes it a point to ask couples about significant details on their wedding day. “We have to know so that we don’t miss any detail that’s special to the couple when they already went above and beyond just to make sure that one tiny detail is there on their wedding day,” says the team. Is it really meaningful to you to get shots of the people you love having a good time?

Did you spend months handcrafting the table centrepieces and want lots of detail shots of them? Is the five-tiered wedding cake lovingly baked by your sister? Or perhaps you’re wearing an heirloom necklace that belonged to your grandmother who couldn’t be there with you. Make sure you point out what’s important. Also, let your photographer which details don’t matter as much to you. If your photographer knows you don’t really care about your programs, he or she can spend more time getting good shots of the floral centrepieces you

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designed yourself instead. Weddings are very fast-paced days, so informing your photographer beforehand of what matters most to you will help them focus their energies on the things you love, making your wedding photographs a beautiful record of all that’s meaningful to you on your wedding day.

Keep them informed Finally, make sure your photographer knows what’s going on. Give him or her a schedule as soon as it’s finalised, so that they know exactly when and where the teary moments are happening on your wedding day. Veteran wedding photographer Yeow Ming of Blessed-i Photography always asks couples about the wedding day’s programme to be well prepared. “I have to understand what is going on on the day so that I will not miss any moments or surprises,” he says. With a timeline in hand, your photographer will know when to get shots of the dessert table before the beautiful display is gobbled up by arriving guests. He or she will make sure to be around for the toasts and speeches, and be primed and at the ready for the singing performance you’re surprising your spouse with. Fleeting special effects such as light shows and smoke screens, or flying things like confetti and bubbles should be made known to your photographer beforehand. You don’t want your photographer caught unawares with the wrong lens or camera settings and unable to catch those few minutes of your sparkler exit. Capture the most beautiful moments of your wedding day to remember for a lifetime by communicating with your wedding photographer. Make the time to get to know each other, so that your photographer really gets you and what type of memories you’re hoping to preserve in your wedding album. Keep your photographer up to date with all that’s happening at your wedding. Then let the creative professional do what he or she does best. ■ SB

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Real Weddings

LET LOVE RULE He held her water bottle ransom till she agreed to a date, created a romantic proposal out of a scene in Twilight, and braved a series of gatecrashing challenges to get the girl. Meet Nigel and Sharon, a sweet couple who celebrated love surrounded by family and friends from around the world. Text by Tansey Tang | Images by La-Vie Photography Japan

The Couple

Sharon: At the end of the engagement, I had to bring back all my files and belongings to my office, and the next day, I realised I left my water bottle in his company. I contacted the finance Date of Wedding manager and she said Nigel would pass 16 March 2014 it back to me. I sensed something little bit fishy, haha! I contacted him and we How did the two of you meet? arranged to meet up for dinner at a cozy Sharon: I came to know him while I was restaurant at Bugis. auditing his company. It was almost the end of my two-week-long audit Nigel: Coincidentally, she had some engagement in his company when he time for dinner that Friday and so I seized the opportunity. We met and had started talking to me. an enjoyable dinner and conversation. Nigel: I first noticed Sharon when But I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t return her water bottle. I told she borrowed a notebook from the IT her, that was for the date. department. She caught my eye but I decided to wait for an opportune time to What was the proposal like? make conversation with her â&#x20AC;&#x201C; when she was feeling a little more relaxed later in Nigel: She told me she liked the wedding the evening. We had pizza together with scene in the movie Twilight very much the rest of her team and that was where and so that got me thinking how could I do something like that for her. She it all began. Sharon, 29, Accountant & Nigel, 32, IT Manager

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had also been watching many amazing proposal videos on youtube and that really upped the ante. I didn’t want to be outdone by the videos.

the ones who did our pre-wedding photoshoot, and we would like to recommend them without reservation. We had the honour of being their first Singaporean customer. Their service And so one of the days when I was exceeded our expectations, thus the exercising, the whole idea just zapped recommendation. deep within me. I felt like God had answered my prayers on an idea to The typical concerns and issues that wow her with. It was going to be like could be expected when dealing with a scene from Twilight – she would a service provider, let alone a foreign walk into the scene with countless tea service provider, was just not an issue candles before her eyes and rose petals when it came to La-Vie Photography and in the dim romantic candlelight she Japan. For example, we didn’t have any would find a bouquet of roses and the language barrier. Our bridal coordinator ring that would symbolise my promise Ms Yukako was fluent in English and to love her. And all these would have to most importantly friendly and patient. be done by me in Japan while on our There were no hidden costs nor holiday. That would have outdone the surprise charges. We have only paid other proposals that needed the help of for what was brought up to us. Their many friends. pre-trip preparation help was good too. They were very responsive in replying It took me a couple of shopping trips to our emails and Skype messages.They art supply stores to get what I needed. were very patient with all our questions I put the ideas onto paper after several as well as demands. rounds of conceptualisation and practised setting up the whole scene Sharon: In the delivery of their services, several times. And each time I learnt they demonstrated a very high level something new that would help me of professionalism. They were patient better succeed with my plan later on with us. For example, when it came to my trip. posing, you could still feel that they were feeling very positive despite needing to Tell us about your overseas photoshoot remind Nigel on how to achieve a similar experience. pose. Best of all, they did their best to make us comfortable as well as to fulfill Nigel: La-Vie Photography Japan were what photographs we wanted to take.

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This made their photographer and team very enjoyable to work with, and our experience ended with a positive note with their timely and uncompromising after sales follow up. How did you prepare for your weddings in Singapore and Hong Kong? Sharon: Our main wedding was in Singapore. We held it at Ramada Singapore at Zhong Shan Park. Because I am from Hong Kong and some of my parent’s relatives and friends are there, we decided to hold another wedding banquet in Hong Kong as well. But the one in Hong Kong was more like a cosy occasion with only nine tables, and most of the wedding preparations were taken care of by my mother. She specially flew back to Hong Kong to source for wedding venue, gown rentals and distributed the wedding invitations to relatives and friends. We were very grateful for her help. The wedding preparations in Singapore were done by us with a lot of help from our friends. We also used SingaporeBrides’ banquet selection aid as well as the wedding preparation tips. For us, the most tedious part was finalising the guest list as some of our guests were flying in from Hong Kong, Australia, and Japan.

I wanted a garden wedding in Singapore. However, knowing the hot and humid weather in Singapore, an outdoor wedding was not our priority. After all, we wanted our guests to be comfortable. So after much effort, we managed to find Ramada Singapore at Zhongshan Park. They had just newly renovated their lawn which was perfect for outdoor solemnisations, by the poolside. Also, they had a nice pillarless banquet hall which allowed for an unobstructed view of the stage. Well, the theme was nature and garden. The hotel provided us with the arches to decorate the aisle. My jie mei helped out with the DIY handicrafts and balloons decoration. How did your garden themed wedding turn out? Sharon: The actual day was really hectic. I didn’t manage to get much sleep and woke up at 6am for my makeup. Jie Mei came around 7am to prepare the gate crashing games and props. They were experimenting in the kitchen to achieve the different tastes of life, i.e. sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, to tease the brothers. I heard lots of laughter from the kitchen while I was getting my make up done. Around 8am, they started to move all the props to the playground below my

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block and get ready for the groom and were large and was generally tasty. It brothers to arrive. gave them a good impression of the hotel. Nigel: It actually pretty pleasant and I am thankful to the bridesmaids for Nigel: My friends and colleagues felt that. There was quite a bit of rain that that they enjoyed the wedding. They day but that didn’t dampen the mood. got to see a different side of me from The mothers and fathers were all fired the photos as well as from the candid up and getting emotional at times and speeches given by my bosses and there was laughter and many happy aunt. They felt that the company was photos. good and the food was generally tasty with more than enough alcohol to go The bridesmaids, groomsmen, friends around despite the initial hiccup at the as well as the banquet supervisor were beginning. busy coordinating each and every part of the wedding beginning before the What about you? What did you love gate-crashing games began all the about your wedding? way till the end of the dinner when we had to gather our belongings and leave Nigel: I enjoyed the speeches a lot. It the banquet hall. I couldn’t have done was an opportunity to hear from my without everyone’s help. The scale of bosses how they felt about me. It was the logistics and coordination effort was especially memorable at the end of the huge. Everyone was a great help and banquet when I had an extra round of things turned out better than I expected wine with my colleagues before they despite the fickle-minded weather and left and when my Japanese bosses and delays. colleagues gathered together to throw me up in the air as a send off. Did your family and friends have anything to say about the wedding? Sharon: Even though what could go wrong went wrong, everything unfolded Sharon: Though the wedding was smoothly and in such a way that left me hectic, my parents thoroughly enjoyed with a feeling of joy and a smile. After all, it. They were glad that their relatives a wedding is not about perfection but and friends were there to celebrate it was the many special little moments their daughter’s wedding with them. My with my husband, family and friends colleagues liked that the food portions that made my day. ■ SB

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Gown: My Dream Wedding Singapore | Suit: My Dream Wedding Singapore | Venue: Ramada Singapore at Zhongshan Park | Makeup and hair: Gina of My Dream Wedding Singapore For more images, visit our website at www.singaporebrides.com.

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Real Weddings

THE GREATEST ADVENTURE OF JOHN AND SHER This incredibly heartwarming and personable couple went on a series of adventures all over the world together, culminating in their wedding celebrations in four different countries that were close to their hearts. Let the charming John and Sher take you on their greatest adventure in these utterly breathtaking shots. Text by Tansey Tang | Images by Jonathan Ong // Visual Storytelling

The Couple

Sher Quek, Doctor & John Lee, Doctor

Date of Wedding

very attracted to this humble and charismatic Singaporean and little did I know it was mutual. John then returned every day to chat with me and we soon changed our stranger status to lovers!

8 February 2014

John: We went everywhere on Jamie, Tell us about yourselves. How did your my vintage Vespa. We would ride around Johor Bahru and dated in adventures begin? various places at Singapore. Our first Sher: I am from a little town called movie date was the cartoon “Up!”. We Klang whereas John hails from sunny both loved travelling as well, and we Singapore. We both studied medicine in soon found ourselves trekking the globe Johor Bahru and after we graduated, we for both holidays and medical mission relocated to Melbourne for work. Like work. And that’s how The Adventures of all nerdy medical people, we met in the John and Sher began. library. I was literally hiding at the back of the library and John rocked up from How did the leading man bring off his nowhere and struck up a conversation. greatest exploit, the proposal? I had heard of John before from mutual friends but always thought he was an arrogant Singaporean. After speaking to him for the first time, I found myself

Sher: Unbeknownst to me, John returned to my little town to ask my parents for my hand in marriage. He secretly bought the engagement ring

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in Singapore and planned for a threestaged surprise proposal. The proposal took place in a quaint little town called Trafalgar where I was working for a short stint. John had specially picked 23 November 2012 as the proposal date because it would have marked 3 years since we started dating. I was away for a day course and when I was about to return to Trafalgar, I was shocked to see a whole bunch of balloons hanging on my car with a little card that stated “Come back to Trafalgar for a bigger surprise!” Of course, I then drove back to my cottage only to be surprised further with a diamond ring and the biggest question which would change my life. The best part of the surprise was, John had never been to my little cottage at Trafalgar, so he actually went to my neighbour’s house to propose! My neighbours thought he was on his first date with me because he looked so nervous! The second part of the surprise was a celebratory dinner and stay at Balgownie Estate where we were greatly defeated by the delicious food! When I had thought my proposal adventure was over, John then surprised me with

a sunrise on a hot air balloon over the Yarra Valley. Aww, that sounds like a scene from a novel. How did you decide to continue the adventures in a destination wedding in Phuket? Sher: Since I am from Malaysia and John is from Singapore, and we both work in Melbourne, we figured all of our family and friends would have to fly to a country. So we thought, why not have a destination wedding? After all, it would be another adventure for us! We decided on the beautiful island of Phuket simply because we fell in love with the Miracle Lawn at Paresa Resort. I stumbled across a photo on Google of the gorgeous lawn overlooking the Andaman Sea and never looked back since. I then shot out multiple emails to various planners in Phuket and we decided on the amazing Marry Me Thailand. That wasn’t the only wedding you had? John: We actually had four wedding ceremonies – the ROM in Melbourne, a wedding ceremony in Phuket, a

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wedding reception in Malaysia and a wedding reception in Singapore. Your destination wedding was definitely beautiful and romantic. What are some of your favourite moments? Sher: The wedding reception was so magical! We had an open-air dinner, overlooking the Andaman Sea with fairy lights streaming above us. Our wedding emcees, Rayner Tan and Ong Weide were John’s best mates and they sure made the night lively and fun with their Singaporean style. We played ‘The Shoe Game’ and the very fun kissing game where we would kiss as long as our guests picked up the challenge in doing a dare such as kissing John’s father, dancing with the Maid of Honor and dirty dancing! We ended the night with our first dance with the ‘Ellie Badge’ soundtrack, singing ‘You and I’ with John playing the ukulele, followed by the grand finale of fireworks! You must have some stories to tell about the wedding planning that required! Sher: Shocking to most people, I loved every part of the wedding planning! We have been most blessed to have

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help from family members, friends and Marry Me Thailand and it had made our wedding planning easier! The beauty of destination weddings at Phuket is that the wedding comes in a package – all you have to do is choose what you like and take out the others that are not suitable. We enjoyed venue hunting, the stress of choosing flowers we have never seen, trusting our planners with their extensive knowledge about the island, booking the flights and accommodation. The most difficult thing was planning the transportation and logistics of the wedding. I took charge of this and was planning this till the very morning of the wedding! I was then acknowledged as the ‘Queen of Whatsapp Groups’ and have the record of the most number of groups until I was blocked from creating more. The easiest thing was that I was planning this wedding with John. He was the world’s calmest groom and nothing stressed him out. John kept a very big picture of the wedding whereas I focused on the details. He handled finance and payments, our guests’ flights and accommodation and our itinerary. He constantly reminded me that our love can pull us through everything!

The end result was a beautiful wedding in which we both thoroughly enjoyed and we wouldn’t have had it any other way! The Greatest Adventure ended in Singapore with your final celebrations, didn’t it? John: On one of our first dates in Singapore, we had wanted to go to Food For Thought in Bugis. But to our great dismay, the cafe was closed as it was close to midnight. We returned the next day again on our Vespa and to our surprise, the waiter actually remembered us from the night before and offered us a drink on the house! We fell in love with the place immediately and loved the concept of having great food while supporting a great cause. We couldn’t think of a better place to celebrate our Singapore reception

other than Food For Thought and chose the new branch at the National Museum of Singapore. Sher: The girls from In Merry Motion created a space for us where we could walk down memory lane, from when we first met, dated in Malaysia and Singapore on a Vespa to our engagement and marriage. The whole setup was based on “Adventure is out there” and for our guests to celebrate our old and newfound adventures together. We called it “Our Grand Finale”. I almost cried because I was so sad there wouldn’t be anymore wedding celebrations! As our entrance, we rode in on Jamie, the Vespa we dated on and started the night with a piñata containing little pom poms of the infamous Ellie Badge from the cartoon Up. Up was our first date movie and had a lot of significance in our lives. ■ SB

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Real Weddings

YVONNE LIM AND ALEX TIEN’S FAIRYTALE WEDDING Yvonne and Alex danced to Etta James’ “At Last” and tied the knot in star-studded fashion this September. While there is no lack of articles online about the celebrity couple, we’re happy that they have shared their thoughts and wedding with SingaporeBrides. This was, after all, a wedding more than 10 years in the making. Text by Michelle Tay | Images by Reddot Studio

The Couple

Yvonne Lim, MediaCorp Artiste & Alex Tien, Businessman

Date of Wedding

a very clean-cut image. I guess there must have been some attraction, but we didn’t take our friendship further as I was not ready for a long-distance relationship.

6 & 7 September 2014

With 10 years of friendship, and You and Alex met 10 years ago. Do you after both of you have had your own still remember what happened that day relationships, what made you consider and who asked for whose number first? each other as a possible couple? Yvonne: Alex was in a Taiwanese boy band B.A.D back then, and they were in Singapore to promote their album, taking part in a MediaCorp variety show. I was one of the artistes involved in the show. I can’t really remember but I think it was Alex who asked for my number first.

Yvonne: It just happened at the right time, and the right place. We are both in the right mindset now to make it work as a couple. We are both ready. We know Alex proposed to you in the middle of a magazine shoot in March. Tell us more about what happened. We want the details!

Was there any mutual attraction then?

Yvonne: Alex was in town then and I Yvonne: My first impression of him was figured he could come along for my that he was a good looking guy with magazine cover shoot since he already

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knew most of the friends who were Did you turn into a Bridezilla? going to be there. He had already bought the ring and was just looking Yvonne: I guess I managed to hold on for the right opportunity. pretty well. I was a little nervous and worried but not a Bridezilla, certainly! I was really clueless about the proposal as I was preoccupied with getting my What was it like during your hair and makeup done, while the rest solemnisation on the 6th of September? were secretly informed of his pending proposal. Then when shoot ended, he Yvonne: The solemnisation ceremony came up to me and knelt down on one went really well. It was simple and knee. I was totally caught off-guard and intimate. As Alex’s birthday is on the I was so surprised and touched I wept! 12th, I decided to give him a birthday surprise that evening, since most of his It was very special as we were friends had flown in specially for our surrounded by close friends. wedding. I booked a City Tour double decker bus and had all his friends on With your busy schedules, did you have board with party poppers and drinks. help planning your wedding? He didn’t expect that and was really happy. Yvonne: Most of the planning was done by me as I had time off after Tell us more about the gowns you wore completing filming to concentrate on on your wedding. planning the wedding. I am more of a logistics person, while Alex is the Yvonne: The gown for my solemnisation creative one. We knew we wanted a was from local designer Zenchi, and the whimsical and fairy-tale theme. From veil was from a Taiwanese bridal store, the beautiful projection mapping done CH wedding. I knew I wanted a long veil by my husband Alex and his partner from day one so a simple, elegant dress Adrian, our beautiful decor and music would complement the veil very well. selection, it was all done with the Zenchi is so easy and great to work theme in mind. And of course our with. colour theme was pink because that is my favorite colour. I’d like to thank the For my wedding banquet, my gowns team from The Ritz Carlton Singapore, were from CH Wedding Taiwan, and who helped in many ways to make our the jewellery was from Bulgari. As the wedding a special one. theme is whimsical, the first gown with

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its sequins would look very nice under the lights and projection, and I wanted a long gown. I actually wore something similar for my bridal shoot in Taiwan for the second gown and I really like it. CH Wedding was very nice to make one in pink for me. Bulgari was also very sweet to loan me the jewellery which made me feel like royalty that evening. I actually didn’t have a hard time choosing my gowns as I already knew what I wanted so it was done within an hour. What was Alex’s reaction when he saw them, since you kept them a secret from him? Yvonne: He was pleasantly surprised! He knew he could trust my taste and not go too extreme. He told me his worries are all gone when he saw me marching in down the aisle. That was really sweet. So I guess to keep an element of surprise and mystery is a good idea for all brides-to-be! What did your family and friends have to say about your wedding? Yvonne: We heard really good comments and received all kinds of

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well wishes from our family and friends. They felt every single detail was taken care of, from the décor, to the service, to the food. They said it was the most touching, sincere and romantic wedding they have ever been to and we are really glad our guests had a good time and enjoyed themselves. Were there any particular moments on your big day that were especially memorable or special to you? Yvonne: For me, that will be when Alex started singing Jam Hsiao’s “Marry Me”. He was a little bit under the weather that night but he held on fine and rose up to the occasion. Although he used to be from a boy band, he had never sung to me before. I was really touched! Alex: Mine was when Yvonne marched in during the solemnisation. I was very nervous before that, still trying hard to memorise my vows. But the moment she walked in looking so beautiful in her gown and veil, which I had been forbidden to see before that day, all my nerves and worries were gone at that very instant. I felt comforted to know that she will be by my side forever. ■ SB

Gowns: CH Wedding Taiwan | Suit: Vera Wang | Venue: The Ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore | Make-up: Jyue Huey from The Makeup Room | Hair: Ryan from Passion | Projection Mapping: Hexogon Solution Pte Ltd For more images, visit our website at www.singaporebrides.com.

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Real Weddings

FROM BEST FRIENDS TO LOVERS Before Stephanie and Edwin, I’ve never met a couple whose destinies were so intertwined that there was no other way for them to be, except, together. During their university days, the chummy pair was told that they were compatible but the timing was never right for anything to happen, not even when they interned at the same place and worked in the same industry. Then, one special afternoon, Edwin had an epiphany and took a leap, and here they are. Scroll on to see the beautiful images from their cosy and intimate wedding at Skyve Wine Bistro. Text by Audrie Soh | Images by Lightedpixels Pixies

The Couple

and was promptly told that I was crazy. Stephanie Wong, 32, Personal Assistant & 3 rejections later, I was just about to give up when Stephanie decided to Edwin Poh, 34, Pilot risk our friendship to try for something better. See, Steph? I told you so. Date of Wedding 22 March 2014 So, tell us, how did the pilot propose? I have to say, your love story reminds me of Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat’s Stephanie: In the air, of course! Haha! song, Lucky! Tell us more details of that He went through an arduous process and overcame many difficulties to fateful afternoon! propose during an elaborate getaway Stephanie: It was one of those rare to Perth together with his best friends. I meetings where you didn’t want it to was completely clueless about his plan end. He had a family dinner to attend and thought it was a usual holiday with and a date with another girl to go to, friends. On our second day in Perth, but suddenly he said he didn’t feel like Edwin took me to the skies and it was there he proposed with a custom made going anymore. engagement ring from JannPaul and Edwin: Yeah, it dawned on me that I a Grey’s Anatomy (a television series was there with this amazing girl whom I am a huge fan of!) inspired speech. I’ve known for years and I remember Truthfully, I was so enraptured by the wondering, “Why haven’t we actually proximity of the clouds that I didn’t tried dating before?”. And so I asked, realise what was going on until he

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showed me the ring! Edwin: Prior to our trip, I secretly flew to Perth to obtain my Special Pilot License and after battling with various issues governing the issuing of the licence, I finally received it a day before our departure! Talk about a close call! I wanted to give her something special to remember the day by, hence the secrecy. We even joked that if she had said “No”, I would put the plane into a dive until she reconsidered!

by the manager, Maggie’s, patience, helpfulness and service during our dinner at the restaurant. Once we secured our date and venue, everything else was rather simple. We took things one step at a time, and allowed ourselves sufficient time to learn about our vendors and give them a chance to get to know us a little better. Along the way, there were differing opinions and upsetting moments, but I pushed through by keeping my focus on the big picture (marriage) rather than the process (wedding). So girls, choose your battles well.

Walk us through your planning process. Was it stressful to plan your own wedding? Edwin: Planning our own wedding also taught me several things. I learnt that Stephanie: We planned everything both parties have to be on board for ourselves and were extremely lucky to and excited about the planning process have found really amazing vendors by for the experience to be fun and special. randomly surfing the Internet. We had The disagreements that were part and no wedding theme in mind and didn’t parcel of the planning also gave me know who to go to for which aspects of insight into my wife-to-be and taught our wedding in the beginning. But we me how to deal with conflicts in the knew for sure that we wanted a cosy and future. intimate celebration that showcased us – fun, quirky and different, with good Did your actual day turn out the way food and surrounded by our family and you envision it to? dearest friends. Fortunately, both our parents gave us the freedom to hold a It was cosy and intimate, full of laughter, not-so-typical-hotel-ballroom wedding, great food, alcohol and dancing – which we were grateful for. exactly what we wanted! Everyone said it accurately reflected both our We chose Skyve Wine Bistro as our personalities, and we especially venue because we were so impressed loved it when our family and friends

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spontaneously went on stage to sing with the band and danced! That day was filled with so, so, so much love and we wished we had more time to spend with each of our guests. Our talented friends also chipped in by baking awesome desserts and providing some musical entertainment for the guests! We also created a hashtag for our wedding, so we could trace and view all the photographs our friends posted. As you could probably tell from our photographs, we smiled and laughed so much that you could hardly see our eyes. Looking back, were there any moments during your wedding that were especially memorable or special to you? Stephanie: I guess it was when the solemniser called me a man? Hahah! Aside from that, I would say the moment we exchanged our vows and our first dance as man and wife were especially special. Joanna Dong sang for us that day, and it felt like no one else was in the world but us. â&#x2013; SB

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Gown: La Mariee Wedding House | Suit: Oxford Tailor | Venue: Skyve Wine Bistro | Wedding Decorators: Lily & Abigail from Wedding Diary | Wedding Band: Simon & Kalliope from Band on the Run | Make up: Cherry Au from Autelier Makeup For more images, visit our website at www.singaporebrides.com.

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Real Weddings

WHEN TIM FOUND SABRINA Sabrina and Tim met at a training session, where she spotted him looking lost. She rescued him and pointed him in the right direction and eventually, towards her. The rest, they say, is history. Read about their Santorini proposal, two days of wedding and three receptions and count how many news and radio personalities you can spot at their wedding.

Text by Audrie Soh | Images by Chris Ling International Photographers

The Couple

Sabrina Chua, 30+, Editor & Tim Oh, 30+ Radio Personality

Date of Wedding 14 & 15 June 2014

with time to spare until the sun sets, Tim suddenly asked if he needed my parents’ permission to marry me. After I said no, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him, even though he had already asked my parents for my hand in marriage!

How did Tim pop the question? Sabrina: He proposed during our holiday in Santorini, Greece. It wasn’t the first question he asked that day though, but it was the one he got on one knee while doing so. We had just touched down on the island and was exploring the place in our rented car close to sunset when we had to make our way back as we wanted to watch our first sunset in Santorini on the balcony of our little room. I noticed that he was in a rush and breathing heavily, but he insisted that he was just concerned about getting back in time. Back at our room,

But the sweetest thing he did was to ask our closest friends to send congratulatory videos and compiled it for my viewing after I accepted his proposal. However, that also meant two things: he knew I was going to say yes, and all our friends knew beforehand that he was going to propose while I was left in the dark! Two days of wedding and three separate receptions. That’s one extremely happening wedding if I may say so! Sabrina: We initially wanted an intimate

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gathering of family and close friends to celebrate our union, but the invite list continued growing as everyone wanted to share in our joy. So, we decided to split the events up so we could accommodate more people. We picked the Armenian Church for our solemnisation as its cosy setting, beautiful architecture and long-standing history provided the perfect backdrop for an intimate church service with our immediate family and closest friends. The day was made even more special as we were married by Tim’s childhood pastor, who shared little anecdotes of Tim growing up. We gave out purple hand-held fans as we knew it would be hot as the church is not air-conditioned. Sabrina: That same evening, we threw a small dinner for our closest friends at Brazil Churrasco. It was the perfect venue to celebrate our love for meat, have fun and enjoy each other’s company. The incredibly creative Kim Tan and a group of friends decorated the place with reused flowers from the morning church service, switching in pennants for chairs and suggested naming the tables something personal, such as “Former Air-heads” for former DJs, “The Noose meets Gossip Girl” for my colleagues from Channel NewsAsia and “Very Important Parents”. Everyone was extremely comfortable that night,

catching up with one another, mingling, making new friends and of course, feasting! They also walked away with super yummy macarons made by our friend, Cindy! To wrap up the celebrations, we held a banquet dinner at Singapore Island Country Club, as a more formal celebration for our extended families, family friends and colleages. Even though this was a more traditional celebration and setting, we personalised the event by having Yasminne Cheng from Class 95FM as our emcee and our close friends Wayne Sandz and Kelvin Wong and Arron Jardin from Tabula to play our march-in song and the musical entertainment that night. And for our last wedding favour, we gave our guests Bonne Maman Honey in bottles with witty labels like “Spread the Love” and “Meant to Bee” that were customised with our logo by Do Me A Favor. Sounds like a fun-packed wedding you had there! Everyone must have had only good things to say about the celebrations. Tim: It was really important that everyone had a good time, and they did! Each and every one of our guest means a lot to us, so we wanted to celebrate their support of our union as much as they were there to celebrate

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us. Plus, get TV news people and Radio folks together in the same room and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re guaranteed a blast! Looking back, were there any moments during your wedding that were especially memorable or special to you? Sabrina: For me, it was the moment Pastor Freddie pronounced us husband and wife. It was a surreal moment, the one we were prepping months for and it finally happened. And, I got to kiss my man. But equally memorable were these moments: when Tim whipped out his camera for a selfie in the middle of the church ceremony, to my grandmother tearing at the sight of me walking down the aisle to the touching speeches from Yasminne and my bridesmaid and best friend, Olivia. Tim: Seeing Sabrina in her gown took my breath away. She insisted that her gown be kept a secret from me until she walked down the aisle, so I made an effort not to look at the wedding car and lowered my eyes as I passed by the car. And it was all worth it. She looked stunning. To date, she has taken my breath away three times: when I met her, when she said yes to my proposal and when she walked down that aisle towards me. â&#x2013; SB

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Gown: Love, Yu | Suit: Raffles Tailor | Venues: Armenian Church & Singapore Island Country Club | Florist: The Bloom Room & Stefiiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Blooms | Make up: Dily Wang from Face Bistro | Hair: Eileen Koh For more images, visit our website at www.singaporebrides.com.

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Are your memories ill photos? We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ink so. We want your memories of e mo impo ant events in your life to hold e mo on, vitality and uniqueness at ey had on e day. ~ BeyondPictures Cinematography FacebÂ?k: BeyondPictures Singapore

Real Weddings

A RUSTIC AND WHIMSICAL WEDDING AT THE STABLES Michelle and Collin’s wedding motto was to #keepkamandlimah! And with such beautiful handmade details, coffee on wheels, a fun photobooth and a gorgeous wedding venue, it wasn’t hard for them and their loved ones to let loose and have a ton of fun celebrating their love at The Marmalade Pantry at The Stables. Text by Tansey Tang | Images by Mindy Tan Photography

The Couple

Michelle Lim, 24 & Collin Kan, 29, Writer

Date of Wedding 31 May 2014

How did the two of you meet? Michelle: Collin and I have attended the same church since we were in primary school, but never got to know each other until our university days! We had a long distance relationship for 3 years before I graduated in late 2011. Tell us about the proposal. Was it a surprise? Michelle: We went out for brunch and he surprised me with flowers because he was “late” for our date by an hour.

Later that evening, he took me out to dinner and instead of sending me home, he brought me to the place where we first got together and it was there that he proposed! Your wedding celebrations look really pretty, and like a lot of fun! What was your theme? Michelle: Rustic and whimsical with a good dose of fun and spritz. We had the lovely team from In Merry Motion to help us with styling our event. We presented a moodboard of rustic and whimsical items and looks that we wanted to achieve. They took it one step further by adding really personal, fun and cool elements (i.e.: Batman coasters, illustrations of us, our childhood pictures, and geometric patterns) to the space.

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The rustic and whimsical theme translated really well into your wedding dinner at The Stables! Do tell us all about your night. Collin: We had a cosy intimate dinner for about 140 guests in the evening at Marmalade Panty at The Stables. The dinner was particularly special because everyone had so much fun. Our wedding guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves at the photobooth by Hello Forever. Michelle: Collin, my cousin, and my family’s helper took turns to perform with the live band, drawing applause from our guests. On Monday (2 June), our friends texted us to say they were still feeling the good vibes from our wedding. A few of my parents’ best friends personally texted us to thank us for making them feel so young at heart at our wedding. Amidst all the fun and laughter, were there any moments that were particularly special during your wedding? Michelle: Seeing Collin tear when I walked down the aisle; having our closest family and friends being there for us on our wedding day; and actually having loads of fun throughout the day.

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Any advice on how couples can ‘keep kam’ when planning their weddings? Michelle: Be clear about what you want and always seek advice/comments from parents of both sides. Being accountable to our parents was a huge thing for us. Collin and I had in mind what we wanted for our wedding day and we were lucky for our supportive parents who were generally open to our ideas such as doing away with a 10-course Chinese ballroom wedding and having a cosy intimate dinner with 140 family and friends instead. Start early. I highly recommend those getting married to use Pinterest or visit wedding websites for inspiration. Building your own moodboard helps create the focus you need when planning for your wedding. Budget. To be honest, Collin and I didn’t have a budget to work with but thankfully, I would like to think that we are wise folks when it comes to spending. For example, instead of ordering bouquets for our bridesmaids, we agreed to save the money and have In Merry Motion create giant paper flowers for them instead. Know each other’s strengths and work as a team to make it work. I had the privilege of planning high-level events in my previous job so when it came to my wedding, it wasn’t too difficult to plan for it. Collin’s job required late-nights which meant he wouldn’t have the energy to plan the wedding. To make things work, we agreed that I would be in charge of planning the wedding, and he would be in charge of approving or disapproving any of my proposals. At the end of the day, it was a win-win situation for both of us. ■ SB

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Real Weddings

JESREEN AND KARAN WEDS IN TRADITION & CULTURE After a long engagement, Jesreen and Karan tied the knot in not one, but two wedding celebrations held over a month-long period in Singapore and India. Their gorgeously vibrant wedding in India is a mesmerising celebration of culture and tradition. Text by Tansey Tang | Images by Ramit Batra

The Couple

Jesreen Sidhu, 27 & Karan Tuli, 30

Date of Wedding 16-18 April 2014

burger for dinner, which was nothing out of the ordinary. When we got to Plaza Singapura, he suddenly changed his mind and suggested going across the road to Giraffe, where we had our very first date. I thought nothing much of it.

How did the two of you meet? When we got there, a small group of our family and close friends were already there. I still didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t connect the pieces. It was a little bit of a blur from then on. He got down on one knee and said that he knew I was the one from the very first day we met. It only then hit me that he was going to propose. Of course, I said yes. We enjoyed a long engagement as Karan was shuttling between Hong Kong and Singapore because of his Do tell us all about the proposal! job. We set a date for the wedding three Jesreen: It was a casual Sunday years after the engagement after his job evening and Karan said he felt like a took him permanently to Hong Kong. Jesreen: We met at a bar in Singapore. Karan was still studying in New Zealand at the time while I was in university in Singapore. We reconnected six months later when he completed his studies and took our time getting to know each other. Karan proposed three years into the relationship.

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You had two wedding celebrations, didn’t you? Jesreen: We’re of two different religious faiths; Karan is Hindu and I’m Sikh. We kicked off the wedding celebrations in a 4-day affair in New Delhi, India, where we did all the pre-wedding festivities, followed by the Hindu rites of marriage and a dinner reception. It was grand, magical, colourful, yet traditional. Karan entered the grounds on a white horse, a sword in hand, followed by an entourage of a band … everything you would expect in an Indian wedding. We then did the Sikh rites, followed by the solemnisation and dinner reception in a 2-day affair in Singapore 2 weeks later. We both recall the month-long celebrations as a never-ending party. Were there any moments in your weddings that were particularly special to you? Karan: The amount of love and support that we received from our family and friends leading up to the wedding and during the festivities itself was extremely moving. We had people travel from all parts of the world, and that too for two destinations. It was a huge display of love and friendship on so many levels. Which was your favourite part of the month-long celebrations? Jesreen: Personally, the solemnisation at The Rocks, Shangri-la Sentosa, was the most emotional for me, despite it being the last ceremony. Karan played the guitar to a song that meant something to us, as I walked in with my parents. We then recited our vows we had written for each other. It was all very emotional and intimate. ■ SB

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Venue: Taj Palace Hotel, New Delhi | Hair and Make up: Anjum Bhardwaj

For more images, visit our website at www.singaporebrides.com.

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Beauty Editorial

THE GLAMOUROUS 20S Let our 1920s styled shoot inspire your beauty looks for your own Great Gatsby wedding gala, and get tips from our photographer and makeup experts on how to look utterly gorgeous on your big day. Text by Tansey Tang | Images by A Little Moment Photography

The roaring twenties was an era of glamour, excitement and glorious opulence. With the rich colours, lavish ornamentation and bold geometric shapes of that heady cultural period, it’s no wonder the 1920s theme is jazzing up so many weddings. We’re so inspired by the Art Deco period, and I was more than happy to revel in the sparkling embellishments and glamourous Marcel waves characteristic of that heady era for our styled shoot. This beauty editorial celebrates the beauty of a bride as she gets ready for her big day. With the beautiful work of TheLittleBrush Makeup and The Glamourous Factory, the beauty editorial aims to show local brides how to translate the 1920s beauty look for both morning and evening soirees. Our model bride, the lovely Andrea Chong, gets ready in the gorgeous Governor’s Suite in Grand Park City Hall, where the ornate furnishings and pretty dressing table, with some stylish props from MerryLove Weddings, create the perfect boudoir experience for a bride to pamper herself and her girlfriends. Capturing all the details of the bridal beauty shoot is the talented A Little Moment Photography. We had such fun styling the beauty editorial and chatting with these creative professionals. Don’t miss their great tips for brides-to-be on achieving your own Art Deco weddings!

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Hello, Andrea. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re our Art Deco bride today! What do you love about this fabulous era? Andrea: I love how being glamourously decked in jewels and flamboyant accessories was the NORM back then; there was so much effort put into looking so good! Jovie and Karis, can you tell us about the 1920s hairstyles that TheLittleBrush Makeup has personalised for Andrea? Karis: Andrea is a beautiful lady and her oval face shape suits virtually all hairstyles. For her morning hairstyle, we did a simple low chignon with a finger wave to create a chic modern Gatsby look. For her evening look, we glammed it up by finger waving her long hair for red carpet sophistication. This hairstyle is very popular among the celebrities and will never look dated. Can brides with other face shapes jazz up their hair with finger waves too? Karis: The tightness of the finger waves and where they are placed play a part in complementing brides of different face shapes. The tighter the waves, the more retro the look, and may make one look aged. Where the waves are placed can also accentuate that area. Combing the waves downward and covering part of the forehead tends to make one look younger; having the waves up will make one more mature. We love the red lipstick you gave Andrea for the morning look. How can a bride choose the perfect red for her skin tone? Jovie: For Andrea, we chose a chili red lipstick, because Andreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skin is slightly more tanned and her skin undertone is more yellow. The warmer red blends better with her skin colour. All brides can wear red. It can vary in intensity, from a tint to a very intense red. There are different formulations of lipsticks, from a very sheer to a creamy texture, and there is one that will suit everyone. There are warm and cool reds; Asian skin usually has a yellowish tone, so slightly warmer reds will suit us better. We recommend brides to do a trial before the wedding.

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How did you create those gorgeous sultry eyes? Jovie: Back in the 1920s, the ladies would have very dark, intense smoky eyes, thinly drawn down-ward eyebrows and dark red lips, but I’m afraid such intensity might scare the groom and the guests! For Andrea, I created a more toned-down version to suit her. Slightly smoky eyes, a little winged liner, and more lashes towards the outer edges of the eyes, complete the sexy and elegant look. Andrea, what did you think of your 1920s bridal looks? Andrea: I loved the pop of red for the day look. I suppose brides would usually go for more neutral palettes, but I loved the bold choice of lip colour, and I imagine it’d will make any bride stand out! Also, can I just say I love the hair?! I can never achieve the 1920s wavy curls by myself; it’s so sleek, sharp and chic! We’re so glad A Little Moment Photography is here to capture all this bridal beauty. Sze Lee, can you tell us how brides can look their best in their wedding morning photos? Sze Lee: Firstly, the bride should get enough rest the day before wedding! Whether the bride is used to having photos taken or not, it’s best for her to ignore the camera. Do not think of what to do for the camera at all. Chat with the makeup artist, or joke with your bridesmaids. A bride will look her best when she is relaxed, and it will be more natural. We’re in love with the beautiful period décor of the Governor’s Suite and how it’s looking in the photos. For their own wedding photos, what can a couple do to ensure their space looks good? Sze Lee: Keep the room neat and spacious for a cleaner look and for easier movement (there will likely to be at least one makeup artist, one photographer and one or two videographers around, and not to mention the jie-meis). Things like laundry, luggage cases, boxes containing old stuff, messy power switches with a lot of power sockets and wires should be moved to other rooms temporarily.

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Hair and Make up: Jovie and Karis of TheLittleBrush Makeup | Venue: Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Suite, Grand Park City Hall | Gowns: Miss Selfridge | Shoes and clutches: ALDO | Jewellery and accessories: Lovisa | Make up sponsor: Etude House For more images, visit our website at www.singaporebrides.com.

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What are some of your favourite shots of the bride getting ready? Sze Lee: Typically, I would take photos of the gown, shoes, makeup and hair process, and of course the parents putting on the bride’s veil at the end. It’s important that all these look real and natural, so I try not to over-pose anyone besides giving general direction. What was it like being a bride today, Andrea? Andrea: I really enjoyed this shoot because it’s something that I would have never gotten the chance to experience! This shoot is incredibly glamourous, while I’m more relaxed and casual with my style. Would you be an Art Deco bride for your own wedding day? Andrea: For my big day, I’m definitely going the Kate Middleton route of doing my own hair and makeup, and I would do them like how I would normally look on any given day! I’d also imagine my shoots to be very fuss-free because I know my boyfriend hates being in front of the camera! So it’d most probably be my future husband and I, with nice scenery as the backdrop, no props or elaborate set design for me! ■ SB

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DIY of the Month

GIANT PAPER FLOWERS Make these pretty giant paper flowers in double-quick time with our simple DIY tutorial! Big and whimsical, these lovely handmade flowers are adorable in the hands of your flower-girls, bridesmaids, or make beautiful table centerpieces to help love bloom at your wedding. Text by Tansey Tang | Images by Watson Lau Time taken each: 30 minutes Average cost each: $3

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Step 1: Prepare coloured crepe paper, large floral stem, clear tape or floral tape, glue, scissors, petal template. Step 2: Cut out a strip of crepe paper about 10 inches long and two inches wide. We chose gold to make a nice contrast against our lilac petals. Fold it and cut strips down half the width.

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Step 3: Apply glue to one end of the strip, and wrap around the floral stem. Glue to secure in place. Step 4: Print and cut out the petal templates (available on our website). Using the template as a guide, cut out petals from your crepe paper. We used gold crepe paper to cut out three small petals and lilac to cut out about 15 each of both sizes.

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Step 5: Wrap three gold petals around the flowerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s center and tape to secure. Step 6: Wrap on a few layers of the medium petals, taping to secure each petal. Try to arrange each layer so that the petals alternately overlap, instead of taping a petal directly behind another petal.

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Steps 7 & 8: Now add on the larger petals, until your flower reaches the desired size. Your giant paper flower is ready for some whimsical fun! They make great table centrepieces, and look gorgeous in the hands of your flower girls and bridesmaids.

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1. Pear-shaped Ring by Poh Heng (Price on request) 2. Vintage Art Deco Engagement Ring by Erstwhile Jewelry (USD $9,000) 3. Victorian Diamond Ring by Doyle & Doyle (USD $2,950) 4. Art Deco Diamond & Emerald Engagement Ring by Wilson Brothers via Etsy (USD $3,399.99) 5. 1.45ct Asscher Cut Diamond and Sapphire Ring by Estate Diamond Jewelry (USD $12,000) 6. Wintrop by Trumpet and Horn (USD $6,100) 7. Emerald Cut Diamond Engagement Ring by Estate Diamond Jewelry (USD $31,000) 8. The Seine Ring by Brilliant Earth (USD $1,375)

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1. Holiday in Venice Ring by Polly Wales via Catbird (USD $5,610) 2. Pentagonal Ring with Swarovski by Elyona via Wolf and Badger (ÂŁ140). 3. Asymmetrical Avens Ring with Rough Diamond by Bario Neal (from USD $2619) 4. The Queen Mab Ring by Polly Wales via Catbird (USD$ 5,786) 5. RCLT544-B by E-Clarity (SGD $1,096) 6. Blue Sapphire Ring by Lauren Wolf via Catbird (USD $1,100)

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1. Cala Small Sapphire Ring by Bario Neal (from USD $820) 2. Loveknot Ring by Isabelle Rowe via Wolf and Badger (£850) 3. Medium Band – Multi Color Sapphires by Polly Wale via Catbird (USD $4,780) 4. Nikko Ring by Bario Neal (from USD $1,766) 5. R00512 by E-Clarity (SGD $1,351) 6. Baguette Knife Edge Bands by Lizzie Mandler (USD $1,600) 7. Modern Rock Asscher Engagement Ring by metalicious via Etsy (USD $680) 8. Fishtail Diamond Ring by Bario Neal (from USD $350)

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1. Oceans Sapphire Ring by Poh Heng (Price on request) 2. Elizabeth Ring RI1008787 by Larry Jewelry (SGD $48,500) 3. Orleans by Trumpet and Horn (USD $2,150) 4. Rose Quartz Ring by Glacier Jewellery via Wolf and Badger (ÂŁ280) 5. Stonewall by Trumpet and Horn (USD $3,350) 6. Vintage Art Deco Sapphire & Diamond Engagement Ring by Erstwhile Jewelry (USD $3,600) 7. Tiffany Enchant Yellow Diamond Ring (Price on request)

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Article

5 SKINCARE PRODUCTS TO TRY BEFORE YOUR WEDDING While the basic three-step cleanse, tone and moisturise routine may work for brides who are blessed with problem-free complexion, those who are faced with more specific and common skin woes such as large pores and dull skin may seek a more targeted skincare routine in their pursuit of beauty. Text by Audrie Soh | Images by A Little Moment Photography

You don’t have to be a bride to want flawless and beautiful looking skin. Like most, I do not have a flawless complexion and in my pursuit to shrink pores and eliminate dark eye bags and circles (amongst other skin concerns), I’ve spent much time, effort and money trying out different low and high-end skincare products over the years. To help you narrow down the most effective solution at the lowest cost in the shortest time, I’ve decided to open my doors and share five of my holy grail skincare products I use to keep my skincare woes at bay.

For Less Visible Pores Constantly exposing my skin to the extreme hot temperatures during hot yoga lessons has caused the pores on my nose and the areas surrounding it to enlarge and become visible. Instead of concealing these enlarged pores with pore-fillers, I turn to pore tightening essence like Laneige’s Pore Tight Essence. It tightens enlarged and drooped pores with a pore-tex peptide ingredient that contracts the skin around pores to keep skin looking smooth and clean by elastically tightening pores and controlling excessive sebum. Does it work? Definitely! And I say this with confidence. I once stopped using the pore essence for a week and I was horrified at how visible my enlarged pores were. Although my pores did not disappear after I resumed using it (and I didn’t expect it to), they did shrink and were less visible within a week.

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For Soft and Supple-Looking Skin or when worn by itself, keeps the lips Keeping your skin happily moisturised is essential for soft and supple-looking skin no matter what skin type you have. Because I have combination-dry skin and am an avid hot yoga fan, my skin can dry out very quickly if I do not moisturise. Sometimes, even my day and night moisturiser aren’t enough for the job, especially when I spend most of my time in an air-conditioned environment. I make sure I supplement my usual skincare regime with a facial mask like SK II‘s Facial Treatment Mask at least once a week. Each SKII cotton mask is soaked with Pitera™, boosting the skin’s natural surface rejuvenation process to reveal a radiant and crystal clear complexion. And the result of religiously applying a facial mask is softer and more moisturised and radiant skin by the end of the week.

For Moisturised and Full Lips While it’s the least of my problems, I still like to keep my lips properly moisturised with a lip balm. It makes a better base for a smoother application of lipstick,

looking soft and supple. Unlike most lip balms, the seemingly colourless Dior Addict Lip Glow reacts directly with the unique chemistry of each woman’s lips before releasing its colour ingredient, resulting in a customised colour to complement every skintone. Formulated with wild mango and luffa cylindrica, the Dior Addict Lip Glow continuously protects and moisturises throughout the day to revive lips for a fresh, full and radiant glow.

For a Radiant and More Even Skin-Tone Constant late-nights and my love for sun-tanning in my younger days has led to dull and uneven skin tone. Before the Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate became one of my skincare holy grails, I had doubts about its 7-day youth-restoring, glowbestowing and fine-lines-banishing claims. So it wasn’t until they launched the second generation Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate that I decided to take a gamble on this rather expensive skincare serum.

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The Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate claims to target the 10 key signs of youth: texture, resiliency, elasticity, firmness, sagginess, fine lines, wrinkles, radiance, even skin tone, and clarity, with noticeable results in just seven days, for all ages, ethnicities and skin types. While my skin did not recover the elasticity and clarity it had when I was 16 years old (not that I thought it was possible to), it did brighten and even out my skin tone considerably. What I love about this light-weight serum is its exclusive self-loading dropper, which automatically loads just the right dosage I need for each application, minimising unnecessary wastage of the product. It also takes no time for this light-weight serum to be absorbed into my skin without leaving a sticky feeling on the face afterwards, which means I don’t have to wait seconds before I put on the next step in my skincare routine.

For Youthful Looking Eyes Out of all my skin woes, the area under my eyes is my biggest problem and the one I spend the most time, effort and money on. To be more specific, I have hereditary puffy eye-bags, as well as dark eye circles as a result of my

late night endeavours. I also have fine lines under my eyes due to vigorous eye-rubbing in my younger years and a drier under-eye area, which ages me and makes me look more tired than I really am. Age, of course, also had a hand in creating and worsening these problems. To combat these problems, I’ve tried the chilled teabag, spoon and cucumber methods and spent hundreds of dollars on all sorts of eye gels and creams. But I’ve never found one product that worked until I stumbled upon Lancôme‘s Génifique Youth Yeux Light-Pearl and Génifique Yeux Youth Activating Eye Cream two years ago. An eye-illuminating serum, the Génifique Youth Yeux Light-Pearl claims to brighten and smoothen the under-eye area and deflate eye bags. While I did not notice much brightening effects on my eye contour, my foreverthere eye-bags did lessen considerably when I used the serum. The unique rotating and massaging applicator that comes with the serum fits nicely into the corner of my eye contour and helps deflate the puffiness with a delicate and precise massaging action too! Ever since then, the Génifique Youth Yeux Light-Pearl has been an integral step of my skincare. ■ SB

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15 YUMMY DESSERTS TO SERVE AT YOUR WEDDING What makes a wedding even sweeter? A table full of desserts, of course! Fill your guests’ tummies with these delectable desserts at your wedding. Serve them individually, pack them as wedding favours, mix them up and create a wedding dessert table or build a cookie or doughnut dessert bar! Whichever you choose, our list of 15 desserts to serve at your wedding promises to satisfy anyone with a sweet tooth! Text by Audrie Soh | Images from istockphoto.com

1. Cupcakes

3. Cake Pops

It’s impossible to not love these bitesize sweets. Perfect for both the young and old, incorporate them as part of your wedding cake tower and serve them individually to your guests, or include them in your dessert table so your guests can plate as many as they want.

We just can’t get enough of cakes! Cake pops are balls of cake styled as a lollipop and perfect as individual treats, especially if your guests prefer a smaller portion of dessert. Coated with icing, chocolate or coloured sprinkles, these adorable and yummy bites are guaranteed to win over both the young and old at your wedding.

2. Cakes in Jars These are perfect as a wedding favour and dessert. Guests can easily bag these home without any mess and reuse the jars at home. For a more homemade and rustic feel, use brown cupcake liners and twine to decorate your jars. Or, go with satin ribbons or lace for a romantic look.

4. Doughnuts Not everyone on your guest list might love cakes and sweets, so offer them a little variety by including doughnuts in your dessert table. Or, if you’re on Team Doughnuts yourself, skip the other desserts and create a bar full of sugar and icing-coated doughnuts instead.

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5. Brownies

serve pies and tarts at your wedding. Other than serving dessert pies and tarts, you can consider including savoury pies such as chicken pies or egg tarts for guests who do not have a sweet tooth.

If you dislike cake altogether but love chocolate, you might consider serving brownies at your wedding. Whether they are dusted with icing sugar or baked with nuts, it’ll be hard to find someone who’ll say “no” to a piece of 9. Macarons rich, chocolatey goodness, especially if Ah, who can resist the smooth texture it is served with a scoop of ice cream. and crunchy bite of a macaron? This pretty French confection comes in a 6. Dessert Shots myriad of flavours and colours, making Dessert shots are great because they it a perfect addition to any wedding. are perfect one-mouthful portions and that means your guests can sample 10. Ice Cream Sandwiches different varieties of these without being overly full after a sumptuous meal. Can’t decide if you should have ice Attach a spoon to each shot glass for cream, cookies or frosting? Have an easy consumption or leave spoons on ice cream sandwich or whoopie pie the side and let your guests decide if instead! Talk about killing two birds with they want to use them or simply slurp one stone. the dessert down.

7. Ice Cream Nothing will make your guests and their younger ones happier than an ice cream dessert stand, especially if you’re having an outdoor wedding.

8. Pies/Tarts Take a less common approach and

11. Candy Apples

Who says desserts can’t be healthy, or at the very least, partially healthy? Candied apples are great if you don’t want your guests (and their little ones) going into a sugar overdrive after your wedding. Dip apples in caramel or melted candy and coat them with nuts, coconut shreds or even chocolate sprinkles, if you like.

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12. Meringues Made of whipped egg whites and sugar, meringues are strictly for those with extremely sweet tooth. But, that isn’t to say that some of your guests aren’t. Besides, meringues make such pretty little additions to your wedding that you have to include them.

13. Chocolate Truffles and Candy Chocolate truffles and candy are great alternatives to the more filling and sweeter cakes and sweets. Pack them as wedding favours, or provide take-away bags for your guests to fill up and bring home.

14. Choux Pastries and Croquembouche Towers Choux pastries such as cream puffs, sugar or chocolate coated puffs and eclairs have long been favourites of any buffet spread. These delicious puffs also double up as beautiful decorations when you stack them up in a croquembouche tower.

15. Cookies Please all the cookie monsters on your guest list by including cookies at your wedding. Serve up a variety of cookies made with chocolate chips, oatmeal or nuts and let your guests pick their poison. Pack them as wedding favours or leave goodie bags for them to fill up. Or, if you’re a cookie monster yourself, create a cookie bar full of different types of cookies instead of the usually cake-filled dessert table. ■ SB

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Article

6 FUN DRINKS YOU CAN SERVE AT YOUR WEDDING Calling all brides out there! Ditch the usual Coke and orange juice and get creative with the selection of drinks your guests will be served during your wedding. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve rounded up 6 fun and refreshing drinks you can serve at your wedding, in individual glasswares or glass beverage dispensers, that will leave your guests with a positive impression. Bottoms up! Text by Audrie Soh | Images from istockphoto.com

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Image 1: Fruit Champagne Image 2: Pomegranate and Lime Juice Image 3: Lychee Freeze

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Image 4: Citrus Magarita Image 5: Lime Mojito Image 6: Lemonade and Raspberries

Embark on a journey of beautiful memories that will last a lifetime. Concorde Hotel Singaporeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wedding packages for 2015 will have it all covered for you, to ensure that your once-in-a-lifetime dream comes true. Conveniently located in the heart of Orchard Road, our team of dedicated and experienced wedding planners will fine tune your wedding to perfection; be it a spectacular event or an intimate affair. Leave it to Concorde Hotel Singapore to make your special day memorable for you and your guests. Prices start from $828++ per table. Creating lasting memories. Always at Concorde. Rates are subject to 10% service charge & prevailing Government taxes. For more information on our wedding packages, please visit our website or call 6739 8339 or email cateringsales.chs@concorde.net.

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4 REASONS TO GET MARRIED AND HONEYMOON IN VIETNAM Vietnam is full of natural beauty, and I’m not just talking about the women. The often-photographed green rice fields and one of the world’s most historical landmarks can be found in this country, and many couples have been making wonderful use of Vietnam as a backdrop for their wedding and honeymoon. Text by Michelle Tay | Images by VietJet Air

The fact that Vietnam, with its breathtaking beaches, lush countryside, rich history and colourful culture, is just a short plane ride away from Singapore, is definitely why couples have chosen to have their wedding photos taken there. While Vietnam has progressed at an impressive pace and become a very cosmopolitan country, it still retains its exoticness and has blossomed with beautiful boutique hotels, spas and villas, making it the perfect destination for a wedding or honeymoon. Here are just four reasons why Vietnam has become such a great wedding and honeymoon destination.

1. Decades of Romance in Ho Chi Minh City Full of history and culture, this city’s charming architecture is blossoming in romance that lures couples down elegant tree-lined streets, a testament to the original city of love – Paris. The Notre Dame Cathedral even rings out atop the secluded side streets, offering a beautiful backdrop for a photo with your loved one. Ho Chi Minh is perfect for cosmopolitan couples looking for a Europeaninfluenced destination at their door-step.

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2. Higher Love in Da Lat Da Lat, affectionately know as “Le Petit Paris”, offers couples luxury and sophistication, great for couples seeking an intimate wedding destination or honeymoon. Surrounded by mountains and lakes, this beautiful backdrop is comparable with the beauty of the French Alps. Popular for its year-round milder temperatures, imagine soaking in resplendent scenery whilst exploring the aptly named “Valley of Love”. Here, you can escape the humidity and chaos of the cities.

3. Tropical Paradise in Phú Quoc Phú Quoc is an idyllic haven which boasts untouched natural beauty and pristine sandy beaches. Relatively undiscovered, couples can be forgiven for thinking that they are alone in utmost peace on a romantic desert island. The National Park of Phú Quoc covers much of the island and this protected land is just waiting to be explored. If it’s peace and tranquillity you are after for your honeymoon or a dream beach wedding, then there is no better destination.

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4. The Romantic Charms of Hội An The ancient city of Hội An is a 15th century trading port town, known for its beautiful shop houses and traditional hanging lanterns. The architecture of the city reflects the influence of Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, French and British traders. Hội An is one of the country’s wealthiest cities and known as one of the culinary and cultural meccas of Vietnam today. This coupled with its rich culture and architecture makes for a magical spot for a wedding.

Getting there VietJet, a dynamic and innovative airline, operates a new and lively fleet with comfortable leather seats of choice to reach 21 routes domestically and globally. Lovebirds looking to celebrate their special day in Vietnam can take advantage of VietJet’s great value-for-money airfares from Singapore to over 10 magnificent cities of Vietnam via Ho Chi Minh City to Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Vinh, Hue, Da Nang, Quy Nhan, Nha Trang, Buon Ma Thuot, Phu Quoc Island and Da Lat. VietJet’s flight route between Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City operates seven round trip flights per week with a duration of 1 hour and 50 minutes. Tickets can be purchased online at www.vietjetair.com or via VietJet’s Facebook Page by clicking on the “Booking” tab. ■ SB

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parkroyalhotels.com/beachroad PARKROYAL on Beach Road 7500 Beach Road Singapore 199591 Tel: +65 6505 5697 celebrate.prsin@parkroyalhotels.com

A Wedding to Remember It all comes together at The Ballrooms at PARKROYAL on Beach Road. Refreshingly modern interiors accentuated by high ceilings, our pillarless Grand and Sky Ballrooms offer a resplendent backdrop for your celebration with impressive views from its floor to ceiling windows. With customisable menus, state-of-the-art technology and dedicated service from our friendly wedding professionals, your dream wedding starts here. Speak with our wedding professionals at 6505 5697 or email celebrate.prsin@parkroyalhotels.com.

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HONEYMOON IN ROMANTIC PARADISE WITH CLUB MED After celebrating with all of your loved family and friends, the honeymoon is for you and your newly wed spouse to relax in each other’s company in the privacy of a romantic vacation. While some couples choose to explore a new culture or discover excitingly different countries, many newlyweds opt for a slow-paced, luxuriously relaxing honeymoon where they can enjoy being alone in complete comfort. Text by Tansey Tang | Images by Club Med

The Maldives has long been honeymooners’ favourite choice for a romantic and idyllic vacation. What’s not to love about this exclusive beach paradise? Sparkling turquoise waters wink and dance in the tropical sunlight, and smooth white beaches stretch for uninterrupted miles, perfect for sunset strolls hand in hand with your new spouse. From the privacy of your villa on stilts, you’ll enjoy leisurely waking up to a gorgeous seascape, or even a friendly visit from reef sharks or manta rays in the clear blue waters below. From February 2015, couples looking for a slice of private paradise can find it in Club Med’s brand new Finolhu Villas, a newly launching resort boasting 52 exquisitely designed Villas with the most refined luxury facilities and services available, as well as access to the adjacent Club Med Kani Premium Resort. “For honeymooners seeking the trip of a lifetime, or anyone else planning a romantic getaway, the Finolhu Villas without a doubt offers one of the most exclusive and dreamy settings for a holiday,” says Club Med East South Asia Pacific CEO, Heidi Kunkel.

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A 40-minute speedboat ride from Male’s international airport, the Finolhu Villas are an exclusive eco-chic paradise constructed to complement its local environment. Built to the highest standards of sustainability in a beautiful natural setting, the Villas use energy-saving construction techniques and solar-powered energy. The Villas’ beautiful modern design blends beautifully into their surroundings—one of the most pristine and scenic location on Earth. Each private Villa comes with its own pool and terrace, and Lagoon Villas give you direct access to the gorgeous ocean. On stilts above the crystal clear waters, the Villas are the latest addition to the Club Med Kani Premium Resort, and are for adults only, making it the perfect choice for honeymooners and couples looking for a luxurious and romantic destination. As with each all-inclusive vacation with Club Med, a honeymoon at the Finolhu Villas ensures you have plenty of leisure close at hand. While the Villas are designed to blend naturally into the surrounding nature, its spacious facilities offer a fine dining restaurant, a bar, a main pool and a spa. Feast on love and fresh seafood delicacies at sunset on the beach, sip on refreshingly exotic

cocktails at a romantic bar, or stroll hand in hand along the pristine shore. Embark on your newlywed journey with a series of underwater adventures that the Villas can tailor to your preferences. Snorkel or dive in the turquoise seas teeming with colourful marine life, hop on a jet ski or go parasailing. Whatever a couple’s preferences for leisure, the Villas’ exceptional hospitality services can tailor their honeymoon to indulge their every whim. Along with breakfast and afternoon tea served in the privacy of their Villas, vacationing newlyweds will even have a personal butler at their service, in the form of a Villa Host! With Club Med’s Kani Premium Resort just five minutes away, couples are free to stroll over for a change of ambience from the bespoke experience offered at the Finolhu Villas. For shows, themed parties, and festive fun, Kani Premium Resort’s newly upgraded facilities in 2015 will give you nights to remember. Back at the Villas, you can dance barefooted at beach dance events, be serenaded by live music, or experience a romantic night of cinema under the stars. With the opportunity to enjoy a different slice of paradise together every day, honeymooning couples at the Finolhu Villas are truly in for a romantic vacation.

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For a limited period only, the Finolhu Villas will be exclusively priced at $2,853 (special launch offer) per person for a Sunrise Beach Villa to celebrate its opening.

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A Fresh Chapter A New Start It’s the perfect locale to pledge your life and love – where enchanted gardens and beautiful blooms marry seamlessly with stunning modern architecture. PARKROYAL on Pickering, a PARKROYAL Collection hotel, Singapore's ﬁrst hotel-in-a-garden, is abound with lush sky gardens, shimmering pools, cascading waterfalls and an outpouring of vertical greenery. Exchange vows with an eco-experience, amidst modern glass walls and high ceilings, which provide beautiful backdrops of a twinkling night sky or the glow of natural daylight. From an intimate gathering to a lavish celebration, PARKROYAL on Pickering can provide the special touch for every couple. For more information, connect with us at 68098974 or email celebrate.prsps@parkroyalhotels.com.

parkroyalhotels.com 3 Upper Pickering Street Singapore 058289 Tel: +65 6809 8888 enquiry.prsps@parkroyalhotels.com

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L eave your wedding preparations in good hands Celebrate your nuptial with complete peace of mind, knowing that your every need is taken care of by our expert wedding planners. Our team is dedicated in creating a memorable and seamless experience for you and your guests with our flexible menu options and wedding themes.

Speak with our wedding professionals at 6428 3031 or email to weddings.prskt@parkroyalhotels.com Wedding packages start from S$888. Price is subject to service charge and prevailing government taxes.

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