Singaporebrides | Real Weddings

October 2022

Pearlyn and Cody’s Romantic Blush Wedding at Ramada Wyndham @ Zhongshan Park

By Audrie Soh

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Pearlyn and Cody celebrated their love with a emotive pre-wedding shoot before they said “I do” at Ramada Wyndham @ Zhongshan Park.

It was Pearlyn and Cody’s love for Star Wars that brought them together; Cody’s use of a cheesy Star Wars line had left quite an impression on Pearlyn. Conversation flowed really easily between them and as clichéd as it sounds, they both felt like they had known each other for a long time on their first meeting. After Pearlyn said “Yes” to the surprise proposal Cody had planned for her, the pair embarked on a emotive pre-wedding shoot to capture their love, and chose to tie the knot at Ramada Wyndham @ Zhongshan Park with their family and friends in attendance to witness and celebrate their nuptials.

Share with us your story. How did the two of you meet?

Cody: We met on an online dating app. I saw that she was a Star Wars fan, so I initiated the conversation with a cheesy Star Wars line.

Pearlyn: The line was cheesy but it cracked me up! He made me laugh on the first line, which left an impression on me. The rest of the conversation was really easy and when we met up for the first time, it felt like we’d known one another for a long time.

What drew you to each other?

Cody: I felt that we were very open with our feelings for each other. I could be childish and serious in front of her without hiding it or feeling embarrassed.

Pearlyn: He was really funny and we could talk about anything under the sun and not be bored. There’s rarely a dull moment and I felt that our values and even sense of humour are very in sync.

What is it about your partner that you love the most?

Cody: I love that she accepts me for who I am. She embraces my weakness as well as my strengths too. I also love that she is smart and supportive of what I do.

Pearlyn: He is very accepting of my flaws and I love that he makes me laugh all the time. I love that he is very attentive to my needs and most importantly, he treats his friends and family well. I think you can tell a lot about someone by the way they treat their loved ones.

What was the proposal like?

Cody: The proposal was something I had planned two to three months in advance after we’ve been together for almost two years. I had planned a dinner gathering with my friends at AndSoForth, which is an immersive performance and dinner experience that, at that time, was themed around the book “Around the World in 80 Days”. I got my closest friends to help rent lighting and props to set up right outside the location after getting permission from the people at AndSoForth.

At the same time, I also had to purchase the engagement ring. Pearlyn had shown me some of the work from a local independent designer. What I like is that her designs are simple yet elegant, all handcrafted and one-of-a-kind. As a first-time buyer of rings, the designer tried her best to accommodate my questions and had given me very good advice regarding what sort of gems to get for the proposal ring (Pearlyn was adamant about not wanting a diamond ring).

After getting the ring and the tickets to the dinner event, everything was good to go. Pearlyn thought it was going to be a simple dinner with my friends. Towards the end of the event, my friends had to secretly rush to the stage to set up. When I led Pearlyn out, she was caught off-guard as she really did not expect the proposal to happen that night. As I knelt down and tried to give my proposal speech, I, too, was overwhelmed with emotions and was very nervous.

Pearlyn: Cody was so nervous in front of a small crowd of patrons and performers which had slowly formed around us that he didn’t manage to finish his speech! I couldn’t really hear what he wanted to say but I said “Yes” anyway! A big thank you to all of Cody’s friends who helped him put this memorable night together!

Tell us about your pre-wedding shoot. What was the theme/vibe you were going for, and why?

Pearlyn: I knew from the get-go that I wanted to go for an urban jungle vibe, and I have always been drawn to architecture, both new and old. I had been following Nicole’s works for a while and I loved her shooting style. She had also done some similar shoots, so I knew we were in good hands.

We chose a monochromatic and simple backdrop at the Marina Square Maze for our casual shoot to achieve a minimalist vibe and to focus on us as a couple. For our formal shoot, we chose to do it at the industrial buildings in Tanjong Pagar area close to the shipyard for a more contrasted, gritty warehouse vibe.

Do you have any advice for couples planning their pre-wedding shoot?

Cody: Always have a Plan B, and don’t be so tied down to your initial choices! Go with the flow and just have fun!

Pearlyn: Choose the right photographer and trust their artistry. Be prepared for things that may go wrong and really embrace the opportunity with your partner! I also used the pre-wedding shoot as a trial round for my makeup artist and bridal studio, as well as an opportunity to try on more gowns!

Now, tell us about your wedding venue.

Cody: We chose to wed at Ramada Wyndham @ Zhongshan Park. Their iconic lanterns and accessible location that made our choice easy. It also helped that it was within our budget for the banquet. We had also heard many good reviews of their food from friends and family.

Pearlyn: It was actually one of the first venues we viewed. I liked the fluted panels, pillar-less ballroom that they have and most importantly, it was the superb service by the banquet manager that was sold on me. While I was not very particular about the venue, knowing that we were in good hands made us feel at ease. The service and hospitality were genuine, and a far cry from many of the other hotels we have been to.

Take us back to your wedding day. What was the day like?

Cody: I was really nervous and excited at the same time. We had a packed schedule despite skipping the traditional gatecrash, as we had to travel between three locations before heading to the hotel. Fortunately, the three locations were quite close to each other. We wanted to be able to offer tea to my grandfather who was not physically able to be there with us, hence we added the little detour. We were also a little exhausted from the little sleep we got the night before. The good thing about a lunch banquet is that everything was over by the afternoon and we were able to chill and relax with our friends in the hotel after!

Pearlyn: To be honest, the day went by in a blur. I can’t really remember many of the details, just that the emotions were really high! It also felt quite surreal with all the activity buzzing around you. It makes me wish that I had engaged a videography team as well, so that I could look back and see what everyone was seeing that day. I was constantly worrying about the time, but we ended up being ahead of schedule for almost the whole way through. I really have my best friends, Gabby and Serene, to thank for helping to coordinate the day’s events.

What did your family/friends have to say about your wedding day?

Cody: There were resounding compliments from all around about the food, it was really the main thing we were hearing about!

Pearlyn: We also had loved ones who were glad that we chose to hold our solemnisation ceremony during the lunch banquet instead of separately, because this allowed everyone to be a part of the moment we say “I do”! At the end of the banquet, guests were all happily taking the flowers from the reception decor home, so I was glad to be able to give the flowers a new home!

Share with us the most memorable moment of your wedding?

Cody: For me, it was the moment we exchanged our rings, signifying that we were officially husband and wife. Also during the champagne popping moment, I think I took a good long five minutes to pop the cork, which ended up only falling off to the ground without a sound, so it was a little embarrassing.

Pearlyn: Our wedding day happened to be one day after Cody’s birthday, so his secondary school mates had planned a birthday surprise for him during the photo-taking session. I had to distract him while they set up the cake at the table and we managed to surprise him with another celebration that day!

What is one lesson you’ve learned from your wedding planning that you’d like to share with other couples?

Cody: Don’t be stressed out and just have fun planning! Also, happy wife happy life.

Pearlyn: Well, the “don’t stress” part is certainly real. I had lost sleep countless nights before the wedding due to multiple things going wrong! Other than having to change our banquet decor a month before, I had to choose a new wedding gown a few weeks before the wedding because the bridal studio that was supposed to make my bespoke dress could not deliver despite engaging them a year prior! Many thanks to The Gown Connoisseur for saving the day and even letting me have multiple try-ons sessions despite the tight timeline.

I also had to engage a new photographer a month before the wedding due to unforeseen circumstances, but I am also grateful that I was able to engage the peeps at Iki Company, whose works I had always admired, so I knew the vibes were right. Everything worked out in the end! So, don’t stress and have fun!

The Pre-Wedding Venue: Marina Square Maze, Tanjong Pagar Distripark & Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal
The Wedding Venue: Ramada Wyndham @ Zhongshan Park
The Bride’s Outfits: Bridefully Yours (Pre-Wedding Shoot) / The Gown Connoisseur and Rentadella (Wedding Day)
The Bride’s Shoes: Loeffler Randall (Wedding Day)
Groom’s Outfit: SuitYourself (Pre-Wedding Shoot and Wedding Day)
The Groom’s Shoes: Arden Teal (Wedding Day)
The Pre-Wedding Photographer: Supercolerolls
The Wedding Photographer: Iki Company
The Hairstylist and Makeup Artist: DearMuse Makeup (Pre-Wedding Shoot and Wedding Day)
The Florist: Pei Per Flowers (Pre-Wedding Shoot) / Star Florist (Wedding day banquet) and Shade & Hue Flora (Wedding day reception)
The Wedding Bands: Self-crafted at Fat Anvil Studios
The Wedding Invitation and Stationery: Mylin Design Co.
The Wedding Favours: Natural handcrafted soaps by Good Vibes Studio
The Solemniser: Ms Pauline Sim Seo Lian
Did you use SingaporeBrides as a wedding resource?: Yes

Credits: Feature Image by Iki Company.

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