Singaporebrides | Real Weddings
June 2026
Nathalie and Patrick’s Cheery Wedding Lunch at Aloft by Marriott Singapore Novena
Joined by family and friends, Nathalie and Patrick’s intimate wedding lunch gathering at Aloft by Marriott Singapore Novena was an unpretentious, joyful occasion.
At Aloft by Marriott Singapore Novena, a cheerful wedding lunch was held to celebrate the union of Nathalie and Patrick—a couple whose common interest in running had them passing each other by during public runs. However, the pair only officially met after connecting on a dating app, kickstarting an unwavering bond that thrives in every situation.
How did the two of you meet?
Before the HYROX renaissance and running clubs became the new social hubs, we first knew of each other through weekly public runs six years ago. Running at different paces and routes, we were just familiar faces in the crowd who passed each other by. It was during the (social) distancing of COVID-19 that we finally connected on Coffee Meets Bagel. True to the platform, Patrick enjoys his (bold) caffeine fix, while Nathalie likes her chocolate-flavoured bagels, a contrast that makes us work.
What is it about your partner that you love the most?
Patrick: The aspect that I adore most is her thoughtfulness. Since day one, she has put incredible effort into our relationship. She consistently shows up for me through every season of life, from supporting me through grad school and work life to planning our milestone surprises. She is also very close to her family and values a tight-knit circle of friends, often bringing smiles to people’s faces. I would like to say that while I often serve as the hands of the two, she is the heart of our union.
Nathalie: For me, it is the little moments. He is incredibly kind and caring, and he always finds ways to make my days a little better. Whether it is a morning latte to fight the Monday blues, organising “fun” runs in the park, or planning activities, he always remembers the small details. It is all these little efforts that build up to make our dates fun!
What was the moment that made you realise that he/she was the one for you?
Patrick: I won’t say there was a singular moment that led to the realisation, but 2024 was a year with many moments that reinforced the conviction between us, because it was a really tough year for us. If I serve as the hands, and occasionally the brain for the two of us, she is the heart that keeps the union strong. She always learns to take the best out of the situation and makes constant efforts to keep our morale high.
This became especially clear when I turned 30. Knowing I lacked the time due to my thesis, I told her not to plan anything because I didn’t want to trouble her. Yet, despite her own tight schedule, she coordinated with my family to organize 30 days of daily surprises to mark the milestone, culminating in a weekend birthday hangout. Seeing how much thought and effort she put into making that happen really meant a lot to me.
Nathalie: Patrick has always shown up for me in every way possible, even during his busiest periods. It echoes exactly what I love most about him—even when he is incredibly busy, he consistently finds ways to make my bad days better and my good days even brighter. He is also very mature and thoughtful, and we tackle life’s challenges together as a team. To top it off, he has a great sense of humor.
Tell us about your proposal.
Patrick: For the proposal, I wanted to create a deeply personal moment just for the two of us. The timing lined up perfectly on Valentine’s Day 2025, marking our fifth Valentine’s Day together in our 55th month of dating.
I selected a suite at Swissôtel The Stamford Singapore because the spacious layout and neutral wood tones provided an ideal canvas for custom decorations. To incorporate Nathalie’s love for horticulture and photography, I decorated it according to a thoughtful “garden” theme. The suite’s long entrance walkway served well as a memory lane lined with photos from every month-sary, leading into a main proposal area decorated with her favourite roses and warm fairy lights. It took me around 4 hours to set up, and I was thankful that these days there are marketplaces available for us to consolidate the shopping list and rent to reduce wastage.
It was a rather simple affair, but we both thought it was cosy and comfortable, as it was the effort and thought that counts. We also roped in our friend, who is a photographer himself (@iamonered), to help us with the photos, and it turned out great!
Where was your wedding venue and why did you choose it?
We wanted a cosy, intimate celebration and felt Aloft by Marriott Singapore Novena fit us best after a 4-month venue hunt and shortlisting. While lifestyle trends and modern concepts are appealing, we were equally committed to maintaining a balanced approach to our finances. Ultimately, deciding on a small to mid-sized wedding created the intimate occasion we were most comfortable with.
Concept-wise, we felt that Aloft juxtaposes well between style and value; its style draws from its luxury sister-brand, W Hotels (also from the Marriott Bonvoy Programme), differentiating it as a more urbanised destination. The hotel is strategically positioned as well, located in the city-region with a good mix of cultural haunts that are filled with local flair, something that Patrick really likes. That said, Novena/Balestier houses many of the famous food spots, such as Boon Tong Kee, our favourite Tau Sar Piah, and recently, a kaya toast spot at an old mall nearby!
Next was the venue, which appeals very well to us. For one, the Zhongshan Room is built on a standalone wing on the second floor, making it well-illuminated with natural lighting during the day. The regular box-style layout provided, together with the size of guests invited, created an ideal setting for our guests to have a great view of the stage without feeling too far away. This setup really helped everyone stay engaged, and the projector screens were perfect for our montage, games, and activities. Surrounding the ballroom was Zhongshan Park itself, which provided a lush green environment—perfect as outdoor photo spots.
What really made the difference for us was the team. Our banquet manager, Owen, was amazing to work with; he was incredibly informative, always well-prepared for our sessions, and answered our questions fast while always accommodating our ideas. He was so thorough that he even printed out our actual-day line-up Excel sheet to review and provide fully annotated feedback—honestly, wow. On the actual day, Nicholas, May, Anson, and the rest of the banquet staff managed everything seamlessly on the ground, keeping the entire day completely stress-free. The food was also excellent, and we really appreciated how flexible the chef was in tweaking the menu to suit our family’s tastes.
Did you have a wedding theme and how did you achieve it?
Nathalie: I absolutely love pink! We settled on a bright, spring-inspired floral theme filled with happy, vibrant colors. During the planning phase, we spent a lot of time gathering inspiration on Pinterest to nail down the exact look we wanted.
Fortunately, the venue did almost all the heavy lifting. We found a matching floral theme directly from the hotel’s line-up that aligned perfectly with our vision, so they took care of the setup for us. We just brought in a few decor add-ons to give it a personal touch, with the help of our bridal party. It made the entire process incredibly stress-free, and the venue turned out beautiful.
What was the day like and how were you feeling?
We chose a simple lunch format to ensure our wedding felt cosy and genuinely joyful. Skipping the traditional morning gatecrash allowed us to check into the hotel the night before alongside Nathalie’s family, turning the weekend into a comfortable staycation. Everyone began the morning well-rested, and Patrick even squeezed in a run around Balestier, bringing back Nathalie’s favourite kaya toast while she was in make-up.
We made full use of the beautiful, underrated landscapes of Zhongshan Park downstairs for our outdoor shoot. The day ran like clockwork thanks to our bridal party of lifelong friends, a few of whose weddings we had also helped run. Moving the tea ceremony directly to the venue made the transition incredibly seamless, and the bright, open layout we mentioned turned the tradition into a heartwarming, lively experience for our relatives.
The hotel team was incredibly helpful throughout the day. Because our solemnization pushed the lunch start time to 1:00 PM, Owen and the banquet staff thoughtfully served canapés before the doors opened. It was a great touch that kept our guests happy, especially our famished running friends who had completed a 30km training run that very morning.
Instead of an extravagant affair, we focused entirely on injecting our own character into a cosy celebration. We DIY-ed our montages, choreographed fun march-ins with our bridal party (and Nathalie’s niece as the lovely flower girl), and hosted mini-games to keep everyone laughing. Ultimately, we wanted a day that felt like a happy, connected gathering rather than just going through the motions, and it perfectly reflected our spontaneous spirit—right down to Patrick’s attempt to sing, an act that he would usually never do apart from this exception on the big day.
What did your family and friends have to say about your wedding day?
The feedback was positive and exceeded our expectations. Most of our guests liked the cosy setting and natural light, noting that the open layout of the Zhongshan Room gave it a distinct character, unlike typical hotel ballrooms. By keeping a streamlined list of 120 attendees, it felt more like an intimate lunch gathering than a traditional wedding, which gave us pockets of time to go around and connect with many of our guests. Our families and relatives were also happy that the wedding coincided with the long weekend holiday, making the Saturday celebration a great kickoff for the break ahead.
Share with us the most memorable moment of your wedding?
Patrick: What started as a random joke by Nathalie during planning actually materialised into a performance on our big day. Surely not a singer myself, taking the mic was a leap of faith. After much thought, I chose a classic, “Sunny” by Fujii Kaze (originally by Boney M.). I suppose it was decent enough, and the guests were spontaneous enough to start waving their phone flashlights and sang along. I think that was the goal for our wedding after all; we wanted to inject the fun version of ourselves into our occasion, so that our attendees could feel the energy and enjoy too.
Nathalie: I was thoroughly enjoying my front-row seat to this dedicated performance! It turned out so much better than expected and proved that weddings don’t need to be perfect. When you focus on the people and don’t take yourself too seriously, the fun comes naturally.
What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other couples currently planning their wedding?
Patrick: Chat with your parents early on to figure out what is negotiable and what isn’t, which helps you channel your time and resources into the right places. Every couple is unique, so it’s all about designing a day that genuinely brings you joy rather than sticking strictly to convention. We opted for a simple lunch format because we loved the idea of a bright, high-energy daytime celebration that left us with plenty of time to wind down at our own pace and gave ample time for guests to enjoy the weekend. Ultimately, it’s the couple’s milestone, so embrace what feels right.
Nathalie: Take the time to understand the working style of your wedding team before committing. After your partner and the bridal party, they are the next critical piece of the puzzle. Building a good rapport with a team that knows the venue well and understands the couple’s needs is essential to bringing your vision to life. Also, remember that no wedding is perfect. Every detail does not need to be flawless, as a twist might just give you the perfect, unscripted moment that outshines the schedule. Keeping a relaxed perspective allows you to enjoy the celebration genuinely. Our friend once said, “the couple should not be fretting over small matters leading up to the big day”, which I think carries some wisdom!
Did you use SingaporeBrides as a wedding resource?
Yes!
The Venue: Aloft by Marriott Singapore Novena
Size of Wedding: Approximately 120 pax
The Gown: The Gown Warehouse
The Suit: Johnny Bespoke (Bangkok)
The Wedding Bands: Rio Diamonds
The Wedding Photographer: The Yang Statement
The Bridesmaids’ Dresses: The Thread Theory
The Groomsmen’s Suits: Johnny Bespoke
The Hairstylist and Makeup Artist: Saydanar Makeup Artistry
The Florist: Wild Matters (bouquet only)
The Solemniser: Ms. Sim Seo Lian, Pauline
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