Singaporebrides | Real Weddings
April 2022
Shi Hui and Zewei’s Cosy Wedding at Keyaki Garden Pavilion
Shi Hui and Zewei’s intimate wedding at Keyaki Garden Pavilion was full of love and zen.
Secondary school sweethearts Shi Hui and Zewei’s story started back in 2003 when they were friends who hung out with common friends. Love blossomed between the two, and after nearly a decade of knowing each other, the pair tied the knot in an intimate wedding at Keyaki Garden Pavilion, a Japanese themed pavilion in Pan Pacific Singapore. The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions meant they had to keep guests at a minimum, but that did not dampen their celebration; instead, it made it all the more special and memorable as they took their vows and embark on a new chapter of their lives in front of their nearest and dearest.
How did the two of you meet?
Shi Hui: We were secondary schoolmates and he was one of my classmate’s childhood friends. All of us would hang out after school to play sports or hang out at my place together for food.
Zewei: We met way back in 2003 when we were 14 years old. We were both from different classes but we met through our common friends during physical education classes and extracurricular activities. I was in the school’s basketball team and she was in the volleyball team. During that period of time, after school activities consist of sports and all the main sports would gather in their individual area for activities like basketball, volleyball, netball and soccer. We weren’t in the same sport but I would always notice her from a distance.
What drew you to each other?
Zewei: I was drawn by her calmness and generosity towards people and situations. I feel that the one thing that I really love about her is her consistency.
Shi Hui: I was drawn by his outgoing personality and steadiness. His friends can always be assured that he is the go-to guy for any help they require.
What do you love most about your partner?
Zewei: She is an extremely calm and shy individual but she always manages to keep me clear headed. This is also why I have always been so curious and continue to be surprised by her. She never ceases to pique my interest with her conversations and her willingness to grow. She has always been confident around me and that is what I wish for her.
Shi Hui: He always has my back and is constantly encouraging me to do better and give it my best (you can’t find a better hype man than him!). At the same time, he is a driven and supportive partner. His sense of humor and wittiness (or should I say sarcasm) amazes me and continues to do so every day. I feel really lucky just to be able to find someone who embraces me and enriches my life to the fullest every day.
How did Zewei propose?
Shi Hui: I can still remember very clearly that it was on the 5th of October 2018 when Zewei proposed. It was our 15th anniversary and he decided to invite two of my closest friends and their partners for dinner. The dinner was held in the private dining room at Atout French Restaurant as the general manager happens to be our close friend who was also present at the proposal. The owner of the restaurant (Chef Patrick) served us personally to cut up the tomahawk steak and the food was amazing. I honestly thought that it was a simple celebration because we would usually celebrate our anniversary with our close friends and as the dinner was coming to an end, my friend appeared with a two-tier cake with sparkles and the words “Will you Marry me?” written on it. Zewei then went down on one knee with the ring. I was genuinely taken aback because Zewei is not really a romantic.
Tell us about your wedding. What was your wedding planning like amidst a global pandemic?
Before COVID-19, our initial plan was to have a wedding banquet at The Ritz Carlton Millenia with a 600 persons guest list, planned for mid 2020. However, we had to put it on hold when the pandemic hit. We were hoping that the situation would improve, but unfortunately, it got worse and we decided to hold an intimate wedding at Keyaki Garden Pavilion instead.
We visited several venues before deciding to hold our wedding at Keyaki Garden Pavilion. The whole vibe about the place just blew us away. The place has a path that leads up to the main restaurant and there is even a mini pond with Koi fishes swimming around, creating a very foreign feeling even though we are still in Singapore.
Our intimate wedding at Keyaki Garden Pavilion was planned for May 2021, but a week before our actual wedding, the government announced the first Heightened Alert and we were forced to postpone everything at the very last hour. It was a very unpleasant experience for us as the preparations had to be reviewed for a later date. Eventually, things turned out well as the vendors that we engaged were able to make it for our next scheduled date in October 2021. Since we did not know when the pandemic would end, we decided to go ahead with it as it has been postponed long enough.
Take us back to your wedding day. What was the day like? Was there a wedding theme
Zewei: I was honestly a little nervous the day before the wedding and thankfully everything went accordingly to plan. We woke up early to meet up with the makeup artist for Shi Hui’s makeup and the morning went past really quick before we proceeded to the phototaking. I have been to many weddings and couldn’t believe that phototaking could be so tiring. That being said, we both had a great time and were glad that we kept to a smaller and intimate wedding instead.
Shi Hui: I remembered that it was a hectic and joyful day for us! It was fuss-free as it was a small intimate event with our families and friends.
Theme wise, we were going for the neutral color Japanese vibe. We really liked the environment that Keyaki Garden Pavilion was able to provide us with and felt that the neutral color would really blend in with the surroundings. Zewei customised an oversized suit to give it a more casual look for the Japanese theme.
What did your family/friends have to say about your wedding day?
Our family were really excited about our wedding because they have never been to a Japanese restaurant for a wedding. The menu was chosen by them individually weeks before the wedding and they were looking forward to it. When they arrived, they were surprised to find such a beautiful place located on the fourth floor of Pan Pacific Singapore. They felt that the venue looked magical and serene.
Share with us the most memorable moment of your wedding?
We felt that the most memorable moment of the wedding was the vows. Zewei had been preparing and refining his vows for months. Even with the preparations, he still could not shake off the nervousness and excitement in his voice. His vows were detailed, concise and impactful.
What is one lesson you’ve learned from your wedding planning that you’d like to share with other couples?
Try not to be stressed about your wedding. It is supposed to be a joyous occasion and do enjoy the process and day as much as possible. Keep your wedding and wedding preparations simple and small for yourself, and not to impress the crowd.
The Venue: Keyaki Garden Pavilion at Pan Pacific Singapore
Size of Wedding: 26 guests
Cost of Wedding: Approximately $10,000
The Bride’s Gown: Tailored by the groom’s mother
The Bride’s Shoes: Customised
The Groom’s Suit: Tailored by the groom’s mother
The Groom’s Shoes: Common Project
The Wedding Photographer and Videographer: Lam Wang Photography
The Wedding Bands: Bvlgari B.Zero 1 Ring – Customised by Crossworks Manufacturing
The Hairstylist and Makeup Artist: Vicky Ang Makeup
The Florist: Elaine from The Flowering Year
The Solemniser: Mr. Thomas Pek Ee Perh (Managing Director of Tai Hu Food Industries)
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