Singaporebrides | Real Weddings
November 2025
Nara and Arya’s Urban Romantic Pre-Wedding Shoot in Singapore
During their destination pre-wedding shoot in Singapore, Nara never imagined Arya would drop to one knee, transforming an ordinary moment into a scene of pure magic — one that would be forever captured in time.
Nara Pernama, 29, private employee, and Arya Sena, 29, MBA candidate and student first met nine years ago. Although their relationship took a pause after dating for some time, fate had other plans. In 2020, amidst the quiet days of the pandemic, they found their way back to each other and rekindled their love. Arya had planned to propose to Nara in Indonesia, but when a family matter brought her to Singapore, he saw the perfect chance to do something unforgettable. In the midst of their pre-wedding shoot, he dropped to one knee — turning an ordinary day into a beautifully unscripted moment that felt straight out of a movie.
Share with us your story. How did the two of you meet?
Arya: We first met in 2016 at campus when Nara’s high school friend, who was in the same program as me, introduced us. A year later, we were re-introduced through another mutual friend from campus, and eventually exchanged numbers and started seeing each other. However, we broke up about a year and a half later. But during the pandemic in 2020, we reconnected, started talking and meeting again, and eventually got back together.
What drew you to each other?
Both: It was a combination of qualities and shared values. There’s the unwavering support and commitment we give each other in our careers, education, and personal dreams. There’s also genuine kindness and sincerity – not just toward each other, but toward family, friends, and others. And of course, a shared sense of humour that makes life together enjoyable.
What is it about your partner that you love the most?
Both: Apart from the combination of our character and commitment, it’s also the little moments that make life fun that we love most about each other. We cherish each other’s humour and kindness, not just toward one another, but toward everyone around us. We value each other’s resilience, perseverance, and dedication in pursuing our dreams and standing up for what we believe in. Most importantly, the trust we have in each other to grow and become better every day is what makes us feel confident that we can grow old together.
What was the moment that made you realise that he/she was the one for you?
Arya: In the past few years leading up to the moment we decided to get married, there were things I wanted to achieve that didn’t always work out. Through it all, Nara never left my side and always supported me by being there. That constant support and presence made me realise that she was the one for me.
Arya, tell us about the proposal – how did you go about planning the proposal? Why did you decide to propose during your pre-wedding shoot, and were there any challenges/obstacles during the process?
Arya: I’d always imagined proposing to Nara in a way that felt really her; warm and surrounded by the people she loves most. My plan was to throw a surprise birthday party and propose to her then. I booked a villa, invited her closest friends, and brought all her favorite dishes for dinner. Everything was set! But just a few days before, the engagement ring got stuck in customs and didn’t arrive on time. I had no choice but to postpone the proposal.
A week later, Nara told me she was going to Singapore with her family. Since I’d always wanted my pre-wedding photos to have a modern, city look, I thought Singapore would be perfect for that. So I suggested we do the photoshoot there. What Nara didn’t know was that the ring had finally arrived. After confirming the details with Fir, I sent him a message privately and told him that I would be proposing Nara during the photoshoot. Fir was the best partner in crime I could ask for. No one else knew about my plan except him. On the day, when Nara wasn’t nearby, Fir showed me a spot he thought would be perfect. Once we got there, he told us to stand back to back. I had given him the ring earlier that morning, and he slipped it back to me. He told Nara she could only turn around when I tapped her shoulder. I got down on one knee, then tapped her shoulder. She turned around and the rest is history. Fir captured the whole moment perfectly!
Nara, did you know a proposal was coming before it happened, or were you taken completely by surprise?
Nara: I had no idea at all that a proposal was coming until it actually happened. We were already in the middle of preparing for our wedding and had set the dates for both the engagement ceremony and the wedding, but none of that had anything to do with a proposal. I wasn’t expecting it at all, especially since there had been an issue with the ring, and that meant it wouldn’t even be ready in time for the planned engagement ceremony. The whole plan of having a pre-wedding photoshoot in Singapore was also a last minute decision, so when it happened, it truly took me by surprise.
Take us back to your pre-wedding shoot: What made you decide to have your pre-wedding shoot in Singapore?
Both: It all came together at quite last minute. We had initially planned to do our pre-wedding shoot in a studio in Indonesia. It never crossed our minds to make it more memorable by doing it abroad. Nara was supposed to be in Singapore for her father’s surgery, and the whole family was planning to come along. I decided to accompany her, and the thought came to make the most of our trip and have a pre-wedding shoot during our free time.
What was your pre-wedding shoot planning like? Did you have a specific theme/venue in mind for the shoot?
Arya: I started searching through Instagram to find a photographer whose style I liked, and that’s how I came across Mavericks Weddings’s page and Fir’s work. What stood out to me was how comfortable every couple looked in his photos and that’s when I knew Fir would be the best fit for us. We both had a specific theme in mind. Nara wanted something white and with a touch of European, while I was more into a more modern, city vibe in the CBD area. We had no idea which locations would work best, so we were incredibly lucky that Fir took the initiative in proposing places and preparing a storyboard for us. It really helped us plan our outfits and visualise the day.
What was the actual shoot day like? Were there any challenges/obstacles along the way?
The shoot day couldn’t have been more perfect, even the weather was in our favour. Just a couple of days since our arrival in Singapore and before the shoot day, it had been pouring in Singapore, and both Nara and I were so worried since all our planned locations were outdoors, especially the proposal venue. Fortunately, it turned out to be a clear day, and we ended up with the most beautiful day for photos.
Our photographer, Fir, went above and beyond. He’s effortlessly talented not only in capturing moments, but also making sure we feel completely comfortable in front of the camera. He has such a great eye for finding spots we wouldn’t have even noticed. The whole experience was genuinely fun. It didn’t feel like a photoshoot at all, rather more like a casual date or a day out with a friend. Fir even gifted us some extra time for an additional location for a night shoot, which we were so grateful for. The photos turned out absolutely stunning.
What were some of the memorable/funny moments during the shoot?
Arya: Definitely the proposal moment, which was a complete surprise for Nara. Fir made everything felt so natural, as if it was just another part of the photoshoot. I was incredibly nervous, but Fir kept encouraging me throughout the session as we got closer to the big moment. When it finally happened, Nara was genuinely surprised, and all went smoothly. Little did we know, Fir also secretly recorded the moment on video and sent it to us a few weeks after we returned as a lovely surprise.
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.
Both: I’d say having photo references or a rough moodboard on Pinterest or Instagram really help a lot with planning. It allows your photographer to better understand your style and the kind of look you’re envisioning. This definitely speeds up the planning process from choosing locations to preparing outfits and makes the whole experience much more effortless.
Equally important is finding a photographer you genuinely vibe with from the very first discussion. Make sure you feel comfortable around them because that comfort will really show in the photos. And most importantly, trust your photographer to do a great job. When you have faith in their expertise, you’ll find it easier to relax and that’s when the best shots happen.
The Pre-Wedding Venue: Fort Canning, CBD area, Orchard Road
The Photographer: Firdaus Rosli from Mavericks Weddings
The Hairstylist and Makeup Artist: Devina Wongso
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