Singaporebrides | Real Weddings
March 2025
National Wushu Athletes Vera Tan and Jowen Lim’s Joyful Wedding at The Ahava
National Wushu athletes Vera Tan and Jowen Lim’s wedding was a beautiful celebration and reunion for the global Wushu community.
For world championship medallists, Vera Tan, 27, National Wushu Athlete and Jowen Lim, 26, National Wushu Athlete, their love story began on the training mats of the Singapore National Youth Wushu Team. From teammates to best friends supporting each other through the highs and lows of elite sports, their bond grew naturally before love took centre stage. Jowen’s heartfelt proposal on a private Maldives sandbank set the stage for their unforgettable wedding on 28 December 2024, at The Ahava, where they celebrated with family, friends, and the global Wushu community. Infused with touches of their shared passion—from action-packed pre-wedding shots to a meaningful Wushu greeting at the entrance—their wedding was a joyful reunion of athletes and loved ones, marking the start of their next chapter together.
Tell us a little bit about your story, such as how the two of you met.
Vera and Jowen: We met when we entered the National Youth Wushu Team in 2010. We both entered the team at the same time and became really good friends because we trained and had dinners together almost every other day. We also travelled together with the team for competitions and training camps often.
What do you love most about your partner?
Vera: I love that his sense of humour is the same as mine. We crack up at the same things and he often tries to make me laugh. I also love his good heart, and generosity to everyone as it is rare to see it in the world nowadays. It was only after five years of friendship that we decided we should start dating. I fell in love with him because of his kindness to me when I was his friend, and I knew he was a good guy. He doesn’t treat me well because he’s trying to get me to be his girlfriend, but because he is just a nice person with a good heart. To me, that is really attractive. Even after we started dating, he still treats everyone the same way, but he makes an effort to make me, his girlfriend, feel extra special.
Jowen: I love how thoughtful she is towards the people close to her. I fell in love with her when i realised how easy it was to talk to her and how comfortable I was around her.
What was the proposal like?
He proposed to me in Maldives on a private sandbank! Our resort had a picnic experience which we opted for and while we were having our picnic lunch, he told me he wanted to test out a new drone function. We had gotten a new drone earlier so I expected him to have many retakes and redos. I was starting to get a little tired already, but when he knew he got the perfect shot and angle, he knelt down on one knee and proposed to me. At that moment I was really surprised and thought he was joking. It was only until I saw the engagement ring then I knew it was real.
How was the wedding planning?
We used the SingaporeBrides wedding planner and SingaporeBrides free wedding checklist, and customised them to suit our needs. It was very helpful for us as we planned the entire wedding ourselves, and it made sure we did not forget anything important!
How did you incorporate your shared passion for Wushu into your wedding?
We did a couple of wushu action shots together during our pre-wedding shoot, and our welcome sign was also us doing a greeting (敬礼) to our guests. This is how Wushu athletes greet as a form of respect so we thought it’ll be a nice touch. Our guests found the wedding sign very memorable and cute as well.
What was your wedding day like, celebrating with athletes from the local community and all over the world?
It was nice to have so many people in the Wushu community know each other. We saw that everyone was happy chit-chatting and mingling, so we didn’t need to have any wedding games to break the ice. Everyone was just happy to see each other, and it was like a big family reunion for many of the already retired athletes. We are also very grateful to have our overseas Wushu friends to come celebrate with us. We only get to see them during competitions, so it was nice to see them in a different setting.
What was the most memorable moment of your wedding?
Vera: For me, it was during the first march-in with my father. It was only then when it struck me that this was OUR wedding. I had spent months planning for the wedding and I had a specific look I was going for. In the lead up to the wedding, I kept worrying that it would not look nice as we decided to do away with many florals because of the cost. That was the first time I saw the main hall fully set up according to my vision and filled with guests and I was so happy and relieved in that moment.
Jowen: The most memorable moment of the wedding has to be when she walked down the aisle. Her dress and smile made me feel like the luckiest man.
The Size of the Wedding: 228
The Venue: The Ahava
The Wedding Day Photographer: Lightedpixels Photography
The Gown: Odelia Bridal
The Suit: Odelia Bridal
The Wedding Bands: Lovesignia
The Hairstylist and Makeup Artist: Alena Makeup Artistry
The Nail Artist: Jjoyfulnails
The Florist: SkinnyBlooms
The Wedding Stylist: Hause of Eden for reception and arch
The Wedding Planner: Bride
The Pre-Wedding Photographer: Odelia Bridal
The Videographer: Tay Yu Xuan (couple’s friend)
The Photobooth: Catalyst Balloons
The Wedding Invitations and Stationery: The Knot website, Taobao
The Wedding Favours: DIY from Taobao
The Solemniser: Keith Lai
The Ice Cream Cart: Chip Guan Heng
The Mobile Bar: The Shake Affinity
Credits: Images by Lightedpixels Photography
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