Singaporebrides | Real Weddings
March 2021
Michelle and Atticus’s Intimate Garden Wedding at The Summerhouse
Michelle and Atticus tied the knot in a simple and intimate wedding with their closest and dearest amidst the global pandemic.
Veterinarians Michelle Ong and Atticus Yeo met in school nearly a decade ago. With similar interests and active and adventurous lifestyles, the lovebirds were drawn to each other and love blossomed. On 29 August 2020, Michelle and Atticus said ‘I do’ in a simple and intimate garden wedding at The Summerhouse with their nearest and dearest in attendance.
What do you love most about your partner?
Atticus: I love Michelle’s kind nature and determination in getting things done when she sets her mind to a task.
Michelle: Atticus is able to see the good in people and is always able to see the silver lining in bad situations
What was the proposal like?
The proposal was pretty simple. We went for a nice dinner at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore and took a walk along the waterfront after that. Michelle had already suspected something was about to happen as we don’t usually eat at expensive restaurants, and I was quite well-dressed for the occasion! When we got to statue of the Merlion, our friends and family were waiting for the proposal with flowers and cameras ready.
Tell us about your wedding.
We were pretty set on an outdoor wedding as we wanted our wedding venue to be dog friendly, which helped us shortlist viable options quickly. This criteria, combined with the COVID-19 restrictions, narrowed our options down to the Singapore Botanic Gardens or The Summerhouse. We decided on the latter as it was closer to our home and slightly more affordable. We also felt that an outdoor venue would be safer for our guests during this unusual time.
Inspired by the greenery and openness of the venue, we decided on an outdoor garden theme with plenty of flowers.
What was your wedding planning journey like? How did COVID-19 affect your wedding planning?
One of the biggest challenge we faced while planning for a wedding in the middle of a global pandemic was adhering to the ever-changing guidelines for large gatherings. We had no idea whether the next televised address by our Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong would tighten restrictions on the Circuit Breaker or ease them up. This uncertainty forced us to be flexible and ready to make major changes to our wedding plans at a moment’s notice.
We also had to limit the number of guests who could attend our wedding. In the end, we were only able to accommodate 30 guests. Thankfully, most of our friends and family were very understanding of the situation.
Take us back to your wedding day. What was the day like and how were you feeling?
Atticus: The day went past so quickly and we were moving at such a fast pace that we barely had time to reflect on anything that happened that day. We were very thankful that our photographer, Wilson from Multifolds Production, was able to capture all the important moments that we had missed that day. Looking back at our wedding day photos, we were able to relive our big day. Michelle and I are definitely proud to have made it through that stressful day together as a team.
What did your family/friends have to say about your wedding day?
They thought it was simple, stress-free, and a pleasant change from the usual traditional Chinese wedding. Everyone also commented on how lucky we were that it didn’t rain that morning, as it had been raining every day for the previous few days.
Share with us the most memorable moment of your wedding?
Atticus: The most memorable part to me was all the last minute preparations we had to do the morning of our wedding day. I woke up at 5 a.m. to walk the dog, while Michelle handled the last minute preparations before we left the house. We got to The Summerhouse three hours earlier for her to get her hair and make-up done. While she was getting ready, I was busy setting up the decorations, door gifts and AV systems, as well as liaising with the Justice of Peace. It was hectic, but being focused and task-oriented helped us keep our stress levels at a minimum all the way up until the event.
What is one lesson you’ve learned from your wedding planning that you’d like to share with other couples?
No matter how detailed your plans are and how prepared you think you are for your big day, there will always be hiccups and things that don’t go according to plan. Just remember that your wedding doesn’t need to be perfect and stay cool. Rely on your best man and take any unforeseen circumstances in your stride as they come and be flexible.
Do you have any tips for couples who may be planning their wedding amidst this COVID-19 pandemic?
Atticus: Having proper live streaming audio and video equipment is actually really important for friends and family who are unable to attend the wedding! It would also be worth considering to plan some interactive activities to keep your online guests involved in the wedding. It was something Michelle and I wished we could have put more effort into on hindsight!
The Venue: The Summerhouse
Size of Wedding: 32 guests
Cost of Wedding: Approximately $7,000
The Bride’s Gown and Groom’s Suit: Stitch By Stitch Co.
The Groom’s Shoes: Geox
The Wedding Bands: Goldheart Jewellery
The Wedding Photographer: Wilson from Multifolds Productions
The Hairstylist and Makeup Artist: Patrina from Autelier Makeup
The Solemniser: Dr. Shirley Low
Want to see your love story featured on SingaporeBrides too? Submit your wedding here!
All content from this article, including images, cannot be reproduced without credits or written permission from SingaporeBrides.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram for the latest article and promotion updates!