Singaporebrides | Real Weddings
October 2025
Claudia and Keith’s Destination Pre-Wedding Shoot at Lake Como, Italy
Claudia and Keith captured their love against the timeless beauty of Lake Como in Italy.
Claudia, and Keith, both aged 27, met through mutual friends, and what began as an easy friendship soon blossomed into something deeper. Between casual lunches and effortless conversations, their bond grew naturally until they became the person they both looked forward to seeing the most. Knowing Claudia was the one, Keith orchestrated a romantic and luxurious proposal in Dubai with her parents’ blessing. Their engagement soon led them to the breathtaking shores of Lake Como for a destination pre-wedding shoot — a dream come true for Claudia, who had always envisioned herself there in a wedding gown.
Share with us your story. How did the two of you meet?
Claudia: We first met through mutual friends, and although our connection began purely as friendship, there was an ease and comfort in the way we got along. At the time, his army camp was near Nanyang Technological University, so we often met up for quick lunches or study sessions in between classes. Those small, ordinary moments slowly became the highlight of my day. Before we even realised it, we had built a friendship that felt like home. Over time, that friendship quietly blossomed into something deeper and more meaningful.
What drew you to each other?
Claudia: Honestly, he was totally my type — tall, funny, and handsome — so he definitely caught my eye right away. But what really drew me in was how easy it felt to be around him. He has this way of making every moment lighter with his humour, and before I knew it, he had become the person I looked forward to seeing the most.
Keith: I was immediately drawn to her because she’s not just beautiful, but also incredibly intelligent and genuine. She has this confidence when she speaks her mind — honest, straightforward, and full of heart — and that authenticity really stood out to me. There’s something magnetic about the way she carries herself; she’s both strong and kind, and I found myself wanting to know her more from the very beginning.
What is it about your partner that you love the most?
Claudia: What I love most about him is the way he cares for me in quiet, thoughtful ways. He works late into the night for his day trading, yet still wakes up at 7am just to buy me breakfast and drive me to work. Every evening, he’s there to pick me up without fail — not because he has to, but because he wants to. He’s also incredibly considerate, like how he always does the dishes knowing I have eczema on my hands. Whether I’m sick, recovering from surgery, or just having a rough day, he’s the person I know I can rely on completely. His love shows up not in grand gestures, but in everyday acts of care that make me feel deeply loved and safe.
Keith: What I love most about her is her unwavering support and belief in me. From the very start, when I was just finding my footing in my career, she stood by me through every high and low. Even when things were uncertain, she never wavered — she always had faith in me. That kind of love and loyalty have been my greatest source of strength. Knowing that she’s in my corner no matter what makes me feel like I can take on anything.
What was the moment that made you realise that he/she was the one for you?
Claudia: There wasn’t a single grand moment when I realised he was “the one” — it was something that grew naturally over time. We’ve been together, and living together, for seven years now, and he’s become my best friend, my favourite meal buddy, and truly my family. He’s the first person I turn to no matter what happens. From the start, we both understood that love isn’t just a feeling — it’s a choice and a commitment. To make a relationship last, you have to keep choosing each other every day, even on the days when it isn’t easy. After seven years of doing exactly that, it just feels right. He’s home.
Keith: It’s easy to love someone when everything is smooth sailing. But for me, it was during our toughest moments that I truly knew she was the one. When we faced disagreements or challenges, I realised that no matter how difficult things got, I never wanted to walk away. I wanted to work through it — to grow, to persevere, to choose her over and over again. That’s when I knew: she wasn’t just someone I loved, she was my person.
Keith, tell us about the proposal. Where did you propose and how did you go about planning it?
Keith: While she was in Hong Kong, I reached out to her parents to ask for their blessing to marry her. After getting their approval, I actually brought her to choose the ring together with her parents — I wanted it to be something she truly loved.
We’d once watched a food vlog about Dubai and being huge foodies, we joked that one day we’d go there just to eat. That sparked the idea — it’s not a common place to propose for Singaporeans, and because she loves things that are a little different, I knew she’d appreciate that. I booked Proposal Boutique Dubai, a proposal and event planner in Dubai, to help plan everything and found a photographer on Instagram for both the photography and videography coverage.
Since she adores everything a little over the top, I made sure the set-up matched her personality — complete with a huge 13kg rose bouquet and sparklers with a full view of the Burj Khalifa to commemorate the moment. Everything came together better than I could’ve imagined.
Keeping it all a secret wasn’t easy — she kept trying to help with my backpack, and I had to keep saying “Don’t open my bag!” because the ring was inside. On the day itself, the makeup artist couldn’t finish on time, so we ended up missing the sunset. It was also really hot that afternoon, and I was sweating so much during the shoot that she started wiping my face and making me stand in front of the portable air-con between takes. Even our butler struggled to carry the massive bouquet back to the suite — but looking back, all those little hiccups just made the day more real and unforgettable.
Claudia, did you know a proposal was coming before it happened, or were you taken completely by surprise?
Claudia: He actually called me one day while I was in Hong Kong and told me he had spoken to my parents about marrying me — which, looking back, was pretty funny because we were in a bit of a rut at the time (as all relationships go through!). I remember thinking, “Huh? So random!” A few days later he brought me to look at rings, and I even got to design my own with his input — after all, I’ll be the one wearing it for a long time! But he never revealed the collection date, so that part stayed a surprise.
I had a feeling it might happen in Dubai — I mean, why else would we be going all the way there in the middle of September? On the actual day, I came back from the sauna to find a makeup artist waiting in our room, and that’s when it clicked. Thankfully, I’d packed a white dress and my custom Louboutins that we had designed together earlier — everything fell perfectly into place.
Walk us through your pre-wedding shoot planning journey.
Claudia: I had always dreamed of hosting my wedding at Lake Como — especially after Passalacqua opened and was crowned the No.1 Best Hotel in the World. The funny thing was, I wasn’t even engaged then, but I already knew I wanted to wear a wedding gown there someday. I’m a sucker for beautiful hotels, and the scenery in Lake Como is just unreal — the glistening lake, the boats, the manicured gardens, the fountains, and the endless blue sky. One of our favourite things to do as a couple is to stay at beautiful hotels, so it just felt right. Since we couldn’t hold a destination wedding (we have elderly family members who wouldn’t be able to take a long flight), I kept pitching the idea of doing a pre-wedding shoot at Lake Como instead.
Keith: What she wants, she always gets. She’s the queen of manifestation.
Claudia: I later found out that the photographer we had shortlisted for our actual wedding day, Aura Studio, was going to Italy in June. Coincidentally, we had just booked our wedding venue in March, which meant we only had three months to plan everything. It was a complete rush, but somehow, it all came together in the most beautiful way.
What was the actual shoot day like? Were there any challenges/obstacles along the way?
Our makeup took a little longer than expected, so we missed the sunrise shots we’d originally planned for. Then came the rental car saga — we crashed our poor BMW several times (thank goodness for insurance!). Left-hand driving was definitely not our strength. To top it off, the corset boning of my Monique Lhuillier gown broke right after being taken out of the vacuum-sealed bag, so the dress kept slipping off me the entire day. It was hot, we were starving, and both of us were sweating under the sun — but looking back, it was chaotic in the most hilarious, memorable way.
What were some of the memorable/funny moments during the shoot?
Claudia: By mid-afternoon, we were so hungry that every time our photographers told us to smile, we’d just list out the food we wanted for dinner — “pizza, gelato, pasta…” That was our motivation to get through the shoot! Keith was truly my MVP. He carried the train of my gown everywhere I went, held my bouquet between shots, and kept steadying me through the countless flights of stairs and uneven cobblestones so I wouldn’t trip. He even carried our bags and joked the entire day to keep my spirits up. Despite all the hiccups, we both couldn’t stop smiling — it felt like such a real reflection of what marriage is: things go wrong, but you laugh through it together.
Do you have any advice about planning a pre-wedding shoot to share with couples who are currently planning theirs? If yes, please share them with us.
A pre-wedding shoot is more than just capturing beautiful photos — it’s a glimpse into how you and your partner navigate life together. You’ll see how they stay calm when things don’t go as planned, find solutions instead of stressing, and still make you laugh in the middle of chaos. That day reminded me that marriage isn’t about everything going perfectly; it’s about facing the imperfect moments together with grace. No matter how much you plan, something will always go slightly off — but those often become the memories you treasure most. Don’t let the inconveniences get to you. Enjoy every moment, because these are the ones you’ll look back on with a smile.
The Venue: Shangri-La Dubai (Proposal), Passalacqua Hotel, Villa Monastero, Villa del Balbianello (Pre-Wedding Shoot)
The Bride’s Outfits: Rosie Etienne Bridal (Proposal), Monique Lhuillier Alexandra Gown, Netta Benshabu Teddy Gown (Pre-Wedding Shoot)
The Bride’s Shoes: Custom Kate Louboutins (Proposal), Charles & Keith Platform Heels (Pre-Wedding Shoot)
The Groom’s Outfits: Common Suits (Proposal), Common Suits Tuxedo, Cartier Cufflinks (Pre-Wedding Shoot)
The Groom’s Shoes: Crockett & Jones (Proposal), Fugashin (Pre-Wedding Shoot)
The Photographer: lk_design_photography (Proposal), Aura Studio (Pre-Wedding Shoot)
The Hairstylist and Makeup Artist: 迪拜化妆师川 (Proposal), MUA engaged by Aura Studio (Pre-Wedding Shoot)
The Florist: Flowers.ae (Proposal), Passalacqua (Pre-Wedding Shoot)
The Boat: Varenna Charter Boat
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