Singaporebrides | Real Weddings
December 2021
Melissa and Nicholas’s Heart-Warming Micro Wedding at the Armenian Church Singapore
Lovebirds Melissa and Nicholas found the church of their dreams in the Armenian Church Singapore, where they tied the knot in the presence of their nearest and dearest.
Unbeknownst to Melissa, Nicholas had actually known of her through mutual friends but the pair only met in person at a party much later. The next thing they knew, they were chatting on Facebook and that was the beginning of their relationship. After a not-so-secret proposal in Australia, Melissa and Nicholas went on the hunt for the perfect church to get hitched in, only to fall in love with the Armenian Church Singapore, where they tied the knot in a heartwarming and intimate solemnisation as a cosy group of their family and friends gathered to witness their union.
What was it about your partner that caught your attention? What do you love most about them?
Mel: I was drawn to the same sense of humour and his attitude towards life! I love his sense of humour, and his trust and belief in me. He’s been a constant supporter of whatever I set out to achieve and always makes me feel more capable than I believe I am.
Nick: It was her Instagram posts that showed her zest for life, which turned out to be true, that attracted me. I love her family values, belief system and plenty of other things but if I had to name one, it would be that she’s full of empathy and emotion. She helps me see things that I don’t most of the time. Though emotional, she also has the ability to look at matters from a logical perspective with our shared goals in mind. I find that balance very attractive.
What was the proposal like?
Mel: Oh, it’s such a funny story! We were on holiday in Tasmania, Australia and we had to drive to our homestay once we touched down. Nick was extremely exhausted and passed out on the bed. I went to unpack our luggage and found a ring box that had a note saying “This is an engagement ring, do not open” attached to it. I immediately put it back where I found it. It took an immense amount of willpower not to open the ring box.
Nick: In my defense, I met a jeweller at a business event and she told me to write clear notes on the box when she found out I was going to propose overseas. She mentioned that in the event that we were stopped at customs, the custom officer would know not to ruin the surprise.
Mel: The next day, we went about our holiday and the proposal was always at the back of the mind. At one point, Nick got down on one knee to take a photo of some tulips and I froze because I thought he was going to propose in front of the many visitors who were also there to see the tulips. Luckily, he knew that I’ve always wanted a private proposal, so he proposed to me at a secluded lighthouse instead.
Tell us about your wedding. What was it like planning a wedding amidst a global pandemic, and how did you cope with the ever-changing regulations?
Mel: We were married at the Armenian Apostolic Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator! Our only criteria were that we had to be married in a church and that it had to have wooden pews! We went to a couple of churches and immediately fell in love with the Armenian Church Singapore and the grounds it was on, so it was a no-brainer!
Nick: It had to be a church. We wanted something that looked like a traditional church and oh yes, Mel was very insistent on the wooden pews. But what nailed it for me was learning about the history of the church and the significance it carries. It’s been there for many generations, and they’re raising funds to upgrade it for future weddings. You should visit it if you have the chance. There’s even a museum there.
Mel: Despite the challenging situation, I think the biggest reason why we decided to go ahead was because we were lazy to re-plan everything.
Nick: We decided to go ahead because we didn’t want the situation to determine our circumstance. We wanted to get married. The constant change to the rules and regulations was quite tough on us as it made it hard for us to plan in advance. But we just prayed hard and took it a day at the time. Mel even cried when she found out that there was a possibility that we had to have our masks on throughout the entire ceremony and even during photo taking. But, I think it helped that we didn’t have to have a big wedding so it was easier to adapt with the changes.
Mel: Oh yes, I remember feeling very emotional when I found out that I might not be able to get my makeup done and we might have to wear our masks throughout the ceremony. We also were unable to have some close friends and family there as we had to cancel the wedding dinner. It was a tough call to make but ultimately, we were glad we went ahead, and it helped that our friends and family members were very understanding.
Take us back to your wedding day.
Mel: I remember feeling quite concerned at the start as it looked like it was about to rain. We had a classic car which had the hood down and it would have been a bummer if we had to forgo the car because of the weather. Other than that, I was excited because it was a day that we had planned for for months!
Nick: There were factors that we had no control over and we just had faith that things would turn out according to plan. The cloudy skies were definitely nerve-racking. A million questions were running through my mind, “Will guests have to walk in a damp field? The whole point of the venue was the landscape. Will the sky fall as we make our way to the church? Can I operate the manual soft top for the car? Will my bride’s hair be ruined? Will the vintage car make the climb up the Benjamin Sheares Bridge?” Thank God the weather held up and the entire ceremony proceeded perfectly.
What did your family/friends have to say about your wedding day?
Both: They enjoyed it and said it was a very intimate affair. They really loved the venue and the car! Those were the stars of the day.
Share with us the most memorable moment of your wedding?
Mel: It was walking down the aisle with my dad and seeing Nick at the altar. I have a very close bond with my dad and it was a very emotional moment for me. I was trying very hard to hold back tears!
Nick: It has to be the drive-off from the church – after the ceremony was done, that is. Knowing that you have the blessings from your families and friends, and even fellow road users… it just marks a new journey.
What is one lesson you’ve learned from your wedding planning that you’d like to share with other couples?
Both: Start planning early so that you’ll have time to do as much research as you can on the different types of vendors. We’ve learnt that expensive and well established vendors might not be the best. Most of our vendors were sourced through Instagram; they are more wallet friendly and we’re extremely pleased with them! Most importantly, have fun with your other half! After all, it’s only the start of a long journey together.
The Venue: Armenian Apostolic Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator
Size of Wedding: 50 persons
The Bride’s Gown: Vanessa Cocchiaro
The Bride’s Shoes: Charles & Keith
The Groom’s Suit: Ai Lee Tailor
The Groom’s Shoes: Earnest & Collective
The Wedding Photographer: Gloria from Fleur and Craft
The Wedding Bands: Bvlgari (Groom), Custom-made (Bride)
The Hairstylist and Makeup Artist: Claire Wang from The Glow Beauty Bar
The Florist: Jos Jos Concept and the bride’s mum
The Wedding Favours: Cookie Guilt and Chateaux
The Wedding Band: Wendy Yu, Joel Yeo
The Solemniser: Pastor Timothy Chong from Cornerstone
The Wedding Car: Classic MG Car
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