Singaporebrides | Real Weddings
August 2025
Christabel and Zhewei’s Graceful Wedding at Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore
Christabel and Zhewei celebrated their happily-ever-after with an outdoor solemnisation and boisterous wedding banquet at Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore.
Christabel, 29, Banker, and Zhewei, 31, Banker, met while studying at the National University of Singapore. While it was unclear how and when they met in school, for they both have different recollections of how they met each other, it was clear that the lovebirds were destined to meet and fall in love. After a surprise proposal overseas, Christabel and Zhewei searched for the perfect wedding venue to say “I do”, and found it in Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore, Singapore, where they celebrated their union surrounded by their family and friends.
Share with us your story. How did the two of you meet?
Zhewei: My first memory of meeting Christabel was when I (as an orientation group leader) approached her (as a committee member) back at an orientation camp asking for an extra stick of my favourite ‘MatKool’ ice cream and she said, “No, but I’ll let you know if there’s extra”, and eventually she came back with extra servings for me.
Christabel: Zhewei caught my attention when we were both in the same university seminar, where I was struggling to participate in class to score for the module, because the professor teaching the class just never seemed to notice me. On one occasion when I was desperately raising my hand to get picked for Q&A, Zhewei noticed and pointed it out to the professor so I would get selected. He scored points for noticing and lending a hand.
What drew you to each other?
Zhewei: What caught my attention initially was her beautiful eyes that glisten up whenever she smiles. The conversations that we have also feel so effortless and could go on for hours, and that allowed us to get to know each other really well.
Christabel: I was drawn to him because he was really smart and always helped me with our modules in school and also because he told the lamest and funniest jokes ever. But above everything else, he attracted me because we always had fun and endless conversations whenever we were together.
What is it about your partner that you love the most?
Zhewei: She was my closest confidante, as she was able to understand me well, and the tough times always seem less tough, and the happy times ever sweeter with her.
Christabel: He never fails to make me laugh, and somehow always understands my worries, my values, and my goals. It still amazes me how we have always been so aligned and in tune with each other.
What was the moment that made you realise that he/she was the one for you?
Zhewei: During our Korea trip in 2021, we had a serious planning lapse, and nearly missed our flight. We had to run in the rain, making many split second decisions together before somehow managing to catch our flight in time. It was a crazy experience, but doing it with her felt somewhat assuring, and that was how I knew I could spend the rest of my life with her.
Zhewei, how did you go about planning the proposal? Where did it take place, and were there any challenges/obstacles during the process?
I knew she wanted an overseas proposal so our trip to Japan was the best opportunity since we were visiting the picturesque Mount Fuji. The greatest worry whenever one plans a Mount Fuji proposal is visibility, and the stars aligned because we were heading to Japan for a ski trip, and the winter season was when Mount Fuji had the best expected visibility!
It was not easy to plan at all because she was also very sharp and noticed many hints along the way. I hired a photographer to follow us around that fateful day and that immediately aroused her suspicion. Nonetheless, the weather was perfect, the moment was a rush of adrenaline, I got down on one knee, had a speech prepared, and she said yes!
Christabel, did you know a proposal was coming before it happened, or were you taken completely by surprise?
Yes, because he had suddenly taken the initiative to plan the entire trip to Japan, and booked some really nice suites that we typically wouldn’t commit to for budgeting reasons. Also, on the day of the proposal, he was unusually interested in styling his hair and dressing up.
Nonetheless, it was a really sweet moment because I could tell he was super nervous but also really excited when he was delivering his speech and I didn’t have to think twice before I said yes!
Tell us about your wedding. Where was your wedding venue? What was your wedding theme?
Both: Pan Pacific Orchard was our chosen wedding venue. We had almost committed to another venue and had just decided to view the hotel to validate our decision. Instead, we were taken aback by how new and grand the venue was, and how uniquely designed the outdoor and indoor space was with a seamless blend between nature and modern architecture.
We didn’t have any particular theme, but it helped that Pan Pacific Orchard was already decked with beautiful greenery and plants, and the flower themes that the hotel provided and our external floral vendor put together paired nicely to create a gorgeous, pristine look.
Take us back to your wedding day: What was the day like and how were you feeling?
Christabel: We were both really excited! I think Zhewei was more nervous but I had done a lot of the planning and heavy lifting beforehand because I was determined to just enjoy myself on the day itself and have fun! It was such a blur from start to finish but definitely a core memory spending the whole day celebrating with friends and family.
What did your family/friends have to say about your wedding day?
Both: They liked that it felt intimate and inclusive despite being a really big wedding! We received a lot of compliments about how beautiful and unique the venue was too.
Share with us the most memorable moment of your wedding?
Christabel: When I walked down the aisle with my father at our solemnisation ceremony, I saw Zhewei’s unglamorous crying face when I caught his eye. Definitely the highlight for me because firstly, I had never seen him break down to that extent before then, and secondly, it made the moment so much more real and emotional for me as well.
What is one lesson you’ve learned from your wedding planning that you’d like to share with other couples?
Both: Wedding planning is really a glimpse into marriage as you both learn to work together on your first big project and compromise to achieve your shared goal (i.e. your dream wedding). It can be a very frustrating process given the amount of preparation required that often leaves the bride feeling like she’s taken on a greater share of the work (myself included), but the best parts of the journey often happen when both parties are working together in sync.
The Wedding Venue: Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore
Size of Wedding: 300 people
Cost of Wedding: Approximately $100,000 (inclusive of all other costs)
The Bride’s Gown: Vico Bridal, Rico-A-Mona
The Bride’s Shoes: Cher & Son
The Suit: Common Suits
The Groom’s Shoes: Aldo
The Wedding Photographer: Luvpersecond Studio
The Wedding Videographer: Candid Moments Cinematography
The Wedding Bands: Chan Wai Jewellery Works
The Hairstylist and Makeup Artist: Victoria Han Makeup
The Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amie Amore Label
The Groomsmen’s Suits: Shein/Shopee
The Caterer: Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore
The Wedding Cake: Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore
The Florist: Anelia Fleur
The Event Stylist: The Dreen Folks
The Wedding Invitation and Stationery: Dreamweavers
The Wedding Favours: Dreamweavers
The Photobooth: The Loco Team Photobooth SG
The Solemniser: Pastor Timothy Chong
The Wedding Resource: SingaporeBrides
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