Singaporebrides | Real Weddings
December 2019
Brenda and Zhi Wei’s Elegant Wedding at Swissôtel Merchant Court
Brenda and Zhi Wei embarked on a quirky, oriental themed pre-wedding shoot before they said “I do” in an elegant affair at Swissôtel Merchant Court Singapore.
Brenda and Zhi Wei met through a mutual friend and clicked right from the start as they discovered that they shared the same values and likes. Before they said “I do” in an elegant wedding celebration at Swissôtel Merchant Court, Singapore, the pair of lovebirds embarked on an old Shanghai mixed with traditional Chinese themed pre-wedding shoot where they nailed the edgy-traditional Chinese look in a classic Kua, a pair of oriental fan and modern shades.
What drew you to each other?
Brenda: Right from the start on our very first date, we were both very upfront about what we were looking for in a relationship and in a marriage. We soon realised that we have the same values and likes! And with that, we dated with marriage in mind. I remember telling my best friend casually, on the type of man I was looking for as my husband – a man who puts God first; a spiritually and emotionally mature man. A man who will look past all my flaws and still love me the same.
Zhi Wei: The 3 ‘C’s – Chemistry, Character, Core Values. Our chemistry was overflowing the moment we met as we had a lot in common. Her self-driven, independent, generous, caring and kind character also attracted me. Most importantly, we share the same faith, have similar values on family, children, career and finances.
What is it about your partner that you love the most?
Brenda: So many things! But the top three would probably be his generousity, his grace towards me, and his discipline.
Zhi Wei: As Brenda has shared, indeed so many things! If I really had to highlight some, they would be her generosity, her encouragement (being a pillar of support) and grace towards me.
How did Zhi Wei propose?
Brenda: Zhi Wei proposed to me while we were having dinner in a cable car. Honestly, I totally expected it! I knew he was going to propose to me before the year ended. The proposal, like our relationship, was sweet, kinda funny and very eventful. So the strap on my dress broke while we were on the way to Faber park. Instead of panicking, we manage to troubleshoot the challenge together and eventually found a way to tie a knot to keep the dress up!
You had an unusual and interesting theme for your pre-wedding shoot. Can you share more about it?
For our pre-wedding photoshoot, we wanted to pull off a mixture of the “old Shanghai” and “traditional Chinese” look. My grandfather is Shanghainese, and he came to Singapore with his family when he was young. I also did my internship in Shanghai when I was in university and had a fascination with “old Shanghai” fashion. We can’t stand public displays of affection/cheesy photos! So, we wanted our photoshoot to move away from a romantic-cheesy kind of photoshoot.
We sourced for our outfits, a traditional male and female Kua, and traditional accessories from Taobao, while we bought the red umbrella from a past bride. We left the location planning to our photographer, Kenny from Wanderlust Dream Co, after we informed him on our concept and showed him the image of our outfits.
What was the day like and did you have fun?
The weather was ideal (i.e., adequate cloud cover but allowing sufficient natural lighting for the photoshoot) and the location was nostalgic, taking into consideration Chinese traditions (heritage). The shoot was smooth, relaxed, fun and enjoyable. Given the location, we also had the opportunity to embrace and appreciate our Chinese heritage while having our photos taken. Kenny was also very professional and made us feel very comfortable, bringing out the best in us through his artistic choreography and photography.
We encountered a funny moment – as we were unsure if The Chinese Garden had adequate changing facilities, we decided to change into our Kua at the nearest (and safest) venue which worked out to be the Singapore Science Centre. And as you can imagine, after changing, the public saw us walking back to the car in our Kua, which I thought was quite funny. Thankfully, the timing of the day was off-peak and there weren’t many people around!
Do you have any advice for couples who are about to embark on their pre-wedding photoshoot?
First, trust your team to deliver. Secondly, chill and be happy – a happy bride looks the best in photos! Lastly, try to enjoy the process without stressing over it.
Take us back to your wedding day. What was the day like, and how did you feel?
Brenda: We chose to wed at Swissôtel Merchant Court Singapore because we loved the idea of a dedicated reception area for our ballroom. Plus, the ballroom was also pillar less! Our banquet manager, Grace, and Sales Manager, Husni, were extremely helpful too.
I was actually feeling very calm and relaxed on the actual day, even though we had very little sleep! I had my best friends, groomsmen and hotel staff to thank, as they made sure they took care of everything!
Zhi Wei: On the day of my wedding, I was feeling at peace and was just trying to enjoy the moment. It helps immensely that we had a very outstanding wedding team who made sure all preparations and execution were done to the best interest of the wedding.
What did your family/friends have to say about your wedding day?
Our key focus was for everyone to enjoy themselves and we were extremely thankful and blessed that we had friends and family who flew in to be part of this celebration. They also enjoyed the wedding and the food.
Share with us the most memorable moment of your wedding?
We did a dip kiss (Hollywood style) during our solemnisation that took place before our wedding. That drew a few laughs and gasps from the guests!
What is one lesson you’ve learned from your wedding planning that you’d like to share with other couples?
“Everything will fall into place on your wedding day” – This has been told to me by my friends, and like many, I found it cliché and hard to make sense of it, but as our wedding unfolded in front of our eyes, this cliché phrase is so true!
The Venue: Swissôtel Merchant Court, Singapore
The Size of Wedding: 250 guests
The Cost of Wedding: Approximately $40,000
The Pre-Wedding and Wedding Photographer: Wanderlust Dream Co
The Wedding Videographer: Fabian from 1907 Films
The Bride’s Outfits: Kua from Taobao (Pre-Wedding Photoshoot) // Yikeshu
The Bride’s Shoes: Bugis Street
The Groom’s Outfits: Taobao (Pre-Wedding Photoshoot) // Benjamin Barker
The Groom’s Shoes: Clarks
The Hair and Makeup Artist: Cass from Wild Roses Bridal Makeup and Hairstyling
The Florist: Hibiscus Florist
The Wedding Invitations and Stationery: DIY by the Bride
The Wedding Band: Merry Bees
The Solemniser: Ps Gerald from Church Arise
The Wedding Resource: SingaporeBrides
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