 |
| 1000 cranes (folded by Hannah and Nori) spread all around the restaurant |
20th January 2012...this was the BIG DAY!. I woke up at 5am in the morning, went for a short walk by myself to the coffee shop and have a cup of coffee, thinking to myself, THIS IS THE DAY.
At around 8.35am, I went to meet Hannah and her parents mid-way between my parent's apartment and her parents hotel. I know things are going to be great today, I had all the major events for the day timed and planned. We stopped for a couple of minutes discussing what was going to happen at the tea ceremony at my parents apartment. What seemed to be quite a complicated process turned out to be a easy ceremony. We served tea to my parents, then to Hannah's parents and we received their blessings. My nephews greeted us, and Hannah gave them a red-packet each.
Around 10am, Hannah and I headed out to Villa Halia. Candy (make-up artist), K'ley (photographer) and Linda (my friend) were already at the place when we arrived. Hannah proceed straight to make-up, while I had a drink my Linda. We catch up a bit, talked a bit about what would be happening at the solemnization ceremony and before I knew it, it was 11.05am! The solemnizer would be here in 10 mins and I am still in my jeans and t-shirt,with a beer in my hand! Did a quick change into my shirt, tie, pants and a fedora. Linda graciously helped me to take the solemnization table to the Band Stand and reserved the place for the next 30mins.
I met Mr. Simon Sim (the solemnizer) and realized I left the marriage certificates at the Band Stand. Holding my anxiety behind, I told him to have a drink while I go and fetch the marriage certificate for him to go through. However, little did I realized that not only he needed the certificate, he also needed our IDs, which I left it again at the Band Stand! He was kind enough to agree to check the ID later to save me the agony of running between the Band Stand and Villa Halia in the hot scorching sun.
11.40am...time to head off to the Band Stand. Most of the relatives had decided to stay in the comfort of the Villa Halia. I was glad they made that decision because I wouldn't want my relatives who were at least 60 years old and were handicapped to walk to and fro the Villa Halia. I headed over to the Band Stand with Simon Sim. My friends, Jeffrey and Alfred (thank God for them) agreed to help get the rest of the gang to the Band Stand, and Nori would be bringing Hannah and her parents over in 5 mins.
Here I am at the Band Stand, doing last min adjustment with my tie and taking a quick picture with Simon Sim.... and when I looked over my shoulder... there was Hannah and her dad, followed by a bunch of my nephews running around in front of them! They should be 5 mins after the whole crowd, not with them! Well, let's improvised - I quickly signalled to Jeffrey to tell Hannah and her dad to slow down so that the rest of the people could gather at the Band Stand first. Simon Sim asked for the witness (Nori and my dad) ID.... well, Nori left it at Villa Halia and my dad left it at home!... uurggghhhh... Simon Sim was kind enough (again) to let the matter rest..after all, he had met Nori the other night, and I looked like my dad.
Ok... things settled, time for the walk-in...then I realized..Hannah and I NEVER had time to do our wedding vows! I turned to Simon Sim quietly to let him know, and he pulled out a laminated sheet of paper with a sample wedding vow! Thank God! Hannah arrived by my side, her dad gave her hand to me, we exchanged vows... oh, where are the rings? Oh..Linda was holding mine and Nori was holding Hannah's. By mistake, I took my own ring rather than Hannah's and she took hers... we quickly swap it and proceeded with the ceremony.
Solemnization done, and we went back to Villa Halia for lunch. Along the way, a group of strangers cheered for us, people were smiling at us, giving us their best wishes....
Well, it couldn't be a more perfect wedding. The Band Stand was beautiful with yellow leaves falling from the surrounding rain trees, food was excellent, Villa Halia was superb with greenery all around the glassed wall and excellent service, a down-pour came after the solmnization ceremony brought some cooler weather, got to meet some of the relatives whom I had never met for ages, great friends to share the special moment with me, Hannah and my family were happy and excited for us and Hannah - she just looked gorgeous.
