Singaporebrides | Real Weddings
January 2021
Nadine and Owen’s Quirky Vintage Pre-Wedding Shoot at Golden Mile Tower
When Nadine and Owen’s plans to wed in 2020 were disrupted by COVID-19, they decided to make the best of an unusual year and embarked on a quirky pre-wedding shoot.
Nadine and Owen met through a friend but only re-connected two years after their first meeting. With similar interests in adventures and travelling, the young sweethearts quickly clicked with one another and love blossomed. After a somewhat unplanned proposal atop Mount Batur, Nadine and Owen had planned to tie the knot in July 2020.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted their wedding plans and forced them to postpone their wedding to the following year. Determined to make the best out of a bad situation, Nadine and Owen decided to embark on an out-of-the-ordinary pre-wedding shoot at Golden Mile Tower to commemorate the unusual year.
What drew you to each other?
Owen: I was attracted to Nadine’s sweet nature when we first met and I wanted to get to know her more. We also click well together and share the same interests, especially our love for adventures and travelling.
Nadine: Owen has a heart of gold and is kind and helpful to everyone around him. He helps me see negative things differently, and the way he smiles at me and is easily amused at my silly jokes really draw me to him.
What is it about your partner that you love the most?
Owen: I love that Nadine is patient and loving to those close to her. She has been the cheerleader in my life, encouraging me in whatever I do. She also takes care of me when I forget to.
Nadine: In our eight years of dating, Owen has always been there for me. He makes me feel cherished and adored all the time. His willingness to try new things makes my life full of adventures and because of this, I’m certain that he is the person I want to spend my entire life with.
What was the proposal like?
Nadine: He proposed during our trip in Bali, in the middle of a photoshoot! We had planned for a trip in Bali for my birthday, and prior to our trip, a friend showed me a profile of a photographer in Bali who takes beautiful couple shots in nature. So, I told Owen that I wanted to do a couple shoot on our trip since we had not done any before.
On the day of the shoot, Owen had secretly informed the photographer of his plan to propose the moment the sun rose. We arrived at Mount Batur for a sunrise shoot and whilst waiting for the sun to rise in the dark, our photographer did some test shots while his assistant checked our hair and outfits. While adjusting our outfits, our photographer requested for Owen to empty his pockets as his mobile phone was protruding out. However, even after Owen handed his mobile phone over, our photographer noticed that there was still something bulging out of his pocket, so he requested for Owen to completely empty his pocket.
Little did he know, it was actually the ring box! So, Owen took the ring box out and went down on his knee there and then, instead of when he had originally planned to. It was indeed a memorable (and hilarious) moment for us!
Why did you choose to postpone your wedding instead of downsizing and having it this year?
When we decided to postpone in July, it was still unpredictable as to when the situation will get better, we consulted a geomancer for an auspicious date next year and locked in the date at the hotel’s ballroom. In October 2020, when the wedding reception rule was expanded to 100 attendees, most dates were already taken up hence we kept it to 2021.
How did COVID-19 affect your original wedding plans?
We are lucky to have very understanding vendors from our makeup artist, to our bridal boutique, wedding videographer, wedding photographer and hotel. When we told them that we wanted to postpone, they were able to accommodate our request without incurring any additional costs. It is very important to go for trustworthy and reliable vendors, always check out their profile and reviews before committing!
Due to the current regulations, the number of people we could invite to our wedding had to be reduced. Owen comes from a big family and he has many relatives while I have relatives and friends residing overseas. So, it is disappointing that we are not able to have everyone join us at the wedding. To ensure that all our closest friends and relatives will still be able to witness our big day, we are considering having our wedding live-streamed so that they can still join us despite not being able to be physically here.
The most challenging part of our planning has to be the uncertainty of having to decide on our wedding date with many crucial factors such as our venue availability, auspicious date, the number of guests and most importantly the pandemic situation, as our guests’s well being is of our topmost concerns.
Share with us your unique pre-wedding shoot experience.
We had a lot of fun at our pre-wedding shoot! The whole concept and styling were unlike the usual couple pre-wedding shoots where the couples dressed in their wedding outfits for a romantic photoshoot. Our ideas were quirky, and we feel that we have outdone ourselves with the help of our photographer and makeup artist who helped push our boundaries.
2020 was a strange year for us and we thought of doing an unconventional shoot to commemorate this special year. When we told (our photographer) Gloria about it, she was on board right away! Although we were the ones who wanted to do an unusual shoot, we were unsure of how we should go about it, so we needed help with ideas and conceptualisation. Gloria worked very closely with (our makeup artist) Shino and they came up with the theme – Quirky Vintage.
Golden Mile Tower, famed for its theatre in the early 1970s, came to their minds quickly. It is also where the hip cineplex – The Projector is situated now. Gloria explained that the building has an untouched rustic 70’s architecture from the stairway to the rundown mailboxes which are different from the ever-evolving Singapore. She had also wanted the shoot to be an editorial style photography.
What about your pre-wedding shoot did you love the most?
I loved how Gloria and Shino were able to create a look which we had not experienced before. We did not have to worry about our poses because we were so well guided by them. Their creativity and quick thinking during the shoot made them very fun and easy to work with. We were having fun the entire time and this experience is definitely something we’d remember forever.
Were there any difficulties present during the shoot?
Due to the time constraint and cloudy weather, the natural lighting at our last shoot location was not ideal. However, Gloria was able to capture a few beautiful moments in the dark. I immediately thought of the scene in the movie ‘La La Land’ when Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone were dancing in the night. It was so romantic!
Were there any funny moments from your pre-wedding shoot.
The moment when I shocked Owen with my almost-afro hair was funny! Gloria, Shino and I had a great laugh.
What are three pieces of advice you would like to share with couples who are currently planning their pre-wedding shoot or wedding during this unusual time.
First, the vendors you engaged are very important. You would want the shoot to be hassle-free so you can enjoy the moment and experience while creating one of your most treasured wedding keepsakes – your pre-wedding photographs. So, I would advise them to work with someone they can trust, feel comfortable with, and understands their vision for the shoot.
Next, due to the current situation, do not be disheartened if you are unable to take your pre-wedding shoot overseas. Singapore has many exquisite locations, and your photographer should be able to provide a good list suited to the style you want. SingaporeBrides has also put together 41 hidden wedding photoshoot locations in Singapore for incredible shots, which you can refer to for your pre-wedding shoot.
Lastly, enjoy yourself at the shoot! It will capture your best memories and your beautiful love story. It will be a special milestone you will want to remember for the rest of your lives.
The Venue: Golden Mile Complex, Canterbury Road
The Bride’s Outfit: Bride’s Own
The Groom’s Outfit: Groom’s Own
The Pre-Wedding Photographer: Gloria from Fleur and Craft
The Wedding Bands: Sandra from Artemis Rings
The Hairstylist and Makeup Artist: Shino from Shino Makeup & Hairstyling
The Wedding Resource: SingaporeBrides
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