Singaporebrides | Fine Dining
March 2020
Jessica and Jun Wen’s Cosy Wedding at Arbora at Faber Peak
Intimate, cosy, and starlit. That was the type of wedding that Jessica and Jun Wen had had in mind and this led them to celebrate their big day at Arbora at Faber Peak.
First finding each other online, Jessica, 29, Editor, and Jun Wen, 33, Civil Servant, found the love of their lives in each other. What began with a mere exchange of numbers grew and the couple celebrated their union with an intimate dinner at Arbora at Faber Peak on 6 July 2019 with their loved ones.
Share with us your story. How did the two of you meet?
Jess: I used to write for a dating site Lunchclick and downloaded a whole bunch of apps for research. And because I was single anyway, I swiped right on him on Paktor as he looked cute and seemed like a decent guy. We exchanged numbers, but nothing much happened as we were both busy with our lives.
A couple of weeks later, he texted me out of the blue and continued where we’d left off (he said my profile picture in Whatsapp caught his attention!).
The day we first hung out was memorable. It was the day the late LKY made his final journey around Singapore and it was raining heavily. My friends and I were drenched despite wearing ponchos while camping at Cavenagh Bridge to catch a final glimpse of LKY.
After, Jun Wen mentioned he was in town too so we decided to meet. He surprised me by showing up smartly in a tailored white shirt with black tie! I was initially impressed he suited up but he burst that bubble quickly by telling me it was for his work. I liked his honesty though – it was refreshing.
We watched a movie but couldn’t have dinner as I wasn’t feeling well after being drenched in the rain earlier. Despite me being grumpy halfway, he was a gentleman and didn’t push to continue the date. Instead, he was concerned that I would get home safe.
A few more dates later, and all I can say is that I’m glad I swiped right too!
What drew you to each other? What made you fall in love with your partner?
Jess: I liked how he was gentlemanly and thoughtful – he always sent me home despite our “long distance relationship” – I was living in Pasir Ris and he was living in Toa Payoh. I could tell he was a kind soul as he always bought tissues from uncles and aunties selling them and felt bad when we were rushing for time and couldn’t give to folks asking for donations on the streets. I also liked his bass voice and good skin (despite just using Ginvera Marvel gel).
Jun Wen: I love Jessica’s cheerful, bubbly personality and appreciate her patience with me and my flaws. Her sense of adventure is something that inspires me to step out of my comfort zone. She is like a balloon that lifts me up to new horizons, while she calls me her rock that keeps her grounded. So, together, we are rolling stones!
What is it about your partner that you love the most?
Jess: Even now, he takes care of me well and always respects my independence and listens to my incessant ramblings patiently. He also does small, sweet things, like giving me head rubs when I have a headache, and is one of those rare guys who is thoughtful enough to do his share of the chores at home, and more. He is calm, and has a total ‘dad’ sense of humour but is so amused by it himself that I find it endearing.
Was there a moment when you knew that he/she was the one?
Together: Both of us don’t believe in the concept of “The One”. “The One” is simply the one whom you’ve chosen to put work in a relationship with. The One is someone that makes that work mostly a joy.
Jess: For me, there wasn’t a particular moment. But whilst previous relationships sort of scared me when it came to thinking long-term, it wasn’t the case with Jun Wen. Instead, I felt excited to do life together as partners-in-crime.
June Wen: As for me, I remembered how Jessica was caring when I was sick and that really solidified my thoughts on how she was someone special that I wanted in my future.
What was the proposal like?
Jess: Jun Wen and I had planned a holiday in Athens, Greece. My friends and colleagues kept hinting that I was going to be proposed to, but I didn’t buy it because the trip was a last-minute 2-for-1 flight deal. Also, because I didn’t want to get my hopes up and be disappointed in any way.
But during the journey, I got increasingly suspicious. In the itinerary excel sheet, he made note of a restaurant, “Romantic and great for proposal”. But what confirmed my theory was a pop-up notification on his phone at the airport from his bro, which I happened to accidentally glance at, “Did you remember the ring?”
On my birthday, we booked a photo tour and drove to Santorini’s high cliffs, which had a breathtaking view. Before this, he suggested I go shopping for a nice dress, and I decided to do so because I half suspected this might be a proposal.
And it was! The photographer/videographer captured it all on film: the laughter, him “pretending to tie his shoelace” and the proposal that felt surreal. It was sunset, and we celebrated our new chapter with glasses of champagne.
What was the wedding planning journey like? Were there any challenging/favourite moments during that planning period?
Jess: We had about a year to plan our wedding and at the start, we were pretty chill before we rushed towards the end! We were also concurrently planning our resale flat’s renovation at the same time, so we were crazy busy every weekend. From choosing tea ceremony items at Chinatown, to gown fittings, to recceing the place, to figuring out the lighting and the sound system. It felt like an extra job, though it was a fun one.
We were worried about the venue – whether it would rain, how the sound system would be like, playing our photo video montage etc. Also, we had a challenge in terms of planning the seats and making sure our guests were cool in an alfresco setting.
But through it all, we had fun and it was nice seeing our families meet and get along swimmingly!
What was your wedding day like?
Jess: We had our wedding at Arbora, the alfresco venue at Faber Peak. We knew from the start we wanted something different and more intimate, as opposed to a grand hotel ballroom wedding where we might not know everyone. The garden setting of Arbora also captured our imagination – the beautiful views, the cable car ride up and even the magical light show on a tree (admittedly, it’s a regular tourist attraction, but we loved having it play on our wedding day)!
On the day itself, everything passed by so fast but I felt as if I was on a constant high. The previous planning and worries had all faded away and came to this – a cliche, but I was marrying my best friend. When we said our vows in front of the Faber Peak bells, the significance of our union hit me and I started tearing up. Another beautiful moment was when we made our wedding speeches, and we walked down together for our first march-in (Disney’s “You’ll Be In My Heart”) from the steps above Arbora.
How did you create and decide on your wedding theme?
Jess: To be honest, we didn’t “decide” on a theme; it just happened. The venue was already garden-themed and we merely brought in some fairy lights from IM Perfection to add light to the area and give it a magical touch for the evening. But I guess we did follow a sort of colour palette of green, deep red and navy.
What did your friends/family have to say about your wedding?
Jess: Some found it refreshing that the wedding was not in a hotel, and had fun on the complimentary cable car ride up! They also loved the food. Some said they enjoyed my performance too – I sang.
What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other couples who are also in the midst of planning their wedding?
Jess: Plan well – the excel sheet really helped us. Let go of perfection and remember it’s not just a show for your friends and family; it’s about you two and how you’re going to start on a whole new chapter. Also, focus on a few things that really matter to you and cut the rest so you won’t spend a bomb. My other money saving tips include negotiating with your venue, doing your own reception decor, and doing e-invites on Canva to save trees and money.
The Size of the Wedding: No. of guests – 210
The Cost of the Wedding: Slightly below $40,000
The Venue: Arbora at Faber Peak
The Wedding Day Photographer: Knotties Frame
The Gown: BQueens
The Bride’s Shoes: D&C
The Suit: BQueens
The Groom’s Shoes: Frank Williams
The Engagement Ring: JannPaul
The Wedding Bands: JannPaul
The Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bangkok
The Hairstylist and Makeup Artist: Arieltistry
The Nail Artist: Kelly Nail House (Pasir Ris)
The Florist: Listoria Floral
The Pre-Wedding Photographer: Bridelope Productions
Proposal Photographer: Santorini Tours
The Photobooth: Selfiprint Singapore
The Wedding Invitations: Dreamweavers
The Wedding Favours: Dreamweavers
The Solemniser: James Teo
The Wedding Car Rental: BW Venture
The Fairy Lights: IM-Perfection
The Wedding Resource: SingaporeBrides
Credits: Images by Knotties Frame
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