Singaporebrides | Real Weddings
October 2026
Jade and Leonard’s Warm and Cosy Wedding at Min Jiang at Dempsey
From an unexpected match online to a beautifully intimate celebration inspired by nature, Jade and Leonard’s love story is a reminder that the best things often happen when you least expect them.
From conversations about their favourite music to laughter that came naturally and moments of heartfelt connection, Jade and Leonard discovered a love that grew from the simple joy of being themselves around each other. When it came to their wedding, they envisioned an intimate celebration that reflected their personalities and the things they valued most. Set amidst the lush greenery of Min Jiang at Dempsey, with whimsical, nature-inspired florals and an intimate, fuss-free celebration filled with good food and heartfelt moments, Jade and Leonard’s wedding was a beautiful reflection of their love and the things that mattered most to them.
Share with us your story. How did the two of you meet?
Jade: We met on Tinder. A friend swiped on my behalf and convinced me to give him a chance, even though there wasn’t a single clear photo of his face on his profile. I’ve always had a thing for men with long hair, though, and his long hair was pretty much all I could make out from his photos. Frankly, it was enough to start with.
What drew you to each other?
Jade: I quickly realised that we were into a lot of the same music, which gave us plenty to talk about from the start. He could also text in full sentences and his grammar checked out – very important to me as a writer. More than anything, he was incredibly easy to talk to. I never felt nervous or like I had to be anyone other than myself around him, which felt like a very good sign. It also helped that he had a great sense of humour.
Leonard: What initially drew me to her was that she looked like Faye Wong in Chungking Express. In all seriousness, though, it was her sense of humour and the fact that we could have genuinely deep conversations. It was easy to talk to her about anything, whether we were joking around or discussing something more serious.
What is it about your partner that you love the most?
Jade: Probably his sense of humour, and how reassuring he can be. He knows exactly how to lift my mood on my worst days, and he has a knack for bringing some much-needed levity to difficult situations. I really appreciate having someone who can make me laugh while also making me feel supported and understood.
Leonard: Definitely her wicked sense of humour, but beyond that, I really admire her resilience. She has an ability to persevere through whatever challenges come her way and somehow keep going, even when things get difficult.
What was the moment that made you realise that he/she was the one for you?
Jade: There wasn’t one big, defining moment. It was more of a gradual realisation that came from how safe and at ease I felt in the relationship. He became the first person I wanted to tell whenever I had important news, and the person I wanted to come home to and be around after the longest of days.
Leonard: There wasn’t any big event, per se. But I remember waking up beside her one morning and thinking, “I want to wake up next to her for the rest of my life.” As cliché as that sounds, something just clicked for me in that moment. It was a very ordinary morning, but I think that was what made the realisation feel so certain.
Leonard, tell us, how did you go about planning the proposal?
I proposed on Naoshima Island in Japan, somewhere we had always wanted to visit because we both appreciate art. I knew the specific artwork I wanted to propose at, so much of the planning involved figuring out how to get there early enough to have the space to ourselves before the crowds arrived.
The biggest challenge was probably just getting to Naoshima itself. It’s quite a journey from Tokyo, so there were a few modes of transport and timings to coordinate. Thankfully, everything fell into place, and I managed to get us there without giving too much away.
Jade, did you know a proposal was coming before it happened, or were you taken completely by surprise?
I knew he was going to propose at some point during the trip, but I had no idea exactly when it would happen. So it was still a very pleasant surprise when he got down on one knee beneath Lee Ufan’s sculpture.
What happened afterwards made it even more special. A couple of fellow tourists had witnessed the whole thing and, without us realising, photographed and filmed the proposal. They came up to us afterwards and kindly AirDropped everything over, so we ended up with photos and a video of the moment completely by chance.
Walk us through your wedding planning. Did you have a specific theme or venue in mind?
Jade: We didn’t start out with a specific theme or venue in mind. We just knew we wanted something simple and intimate, with our closest family and friends. Good food was also at the top of our priority list. We really wanted our guests to enjoy the meal, which eventually led us to Min Jiang at Dempsey.
The restaurant felt warm and cosy, and being surrounded by nature ended up inspiring the direction we took with the florals. There’s a scene in the film Annihilation where the protagonists walk past this surreal floral-fungal landscape in shades of pastel pink, teal, and saffron. I showed that to Sam, our florist from This Humid House, as a reference and essentially let him run with it.
He proposed this incredible wall installation incorporating mushrooms, sea sponge, moss and other unexpected natural elements, which then informed the organic arrangements on each table. Although there wasn’t a theme, it all came together very organically from the space and that one visual reference.
Take us back to your wedding day. What was the day like and how were you feeling?
Leonard: We were surprisingly calm. We had prepared as much as we possibly could beforehand, so by the time the wedding day arrived, there wasn’t much left to do except enjoy it. There were a few small hiccups along the way, as I’m sure there are at most weddings, but nothing that really fazed us. Overall, everything went very smoothly and we were able to be present and enjoy the day.
Jade: The morning started on a calm note with Airin, my makeup artist. We’re friends as well, so it was really nice having a familiar face with me as I got ready for such an important day. I was excited to see all our loved ones gathered in one place, and to finally devour everything Min Jiang had prepared.
We kept the programme intentionally simple: no gatecrashing, performances, or long speeches. We had our tea ceremony at Min Jiang in the morning, followed by a short break before the guests arrived. Leonard and I greeted everyone at the door ourselves, which gave the celebration a slightly more casual start.
After that, we had our first walk-in, gave a short speech and finally got to eat before I changed for our second walk-in. We cut the cake, went around to take photos with each table, and that was pretty much it. I’m very glad we kept everything short and sweet.
What did your family/friends have to say about your wedding day?
Leonard: The food was definitely one of the things our friends and family talked about most, which we were very happy to hear because that had been one of our priorities from the beginning. They also commented on how smoothly everything flowed, from our walk-in to lunch and the cake cutting. We deliberately kept the programme fairly simple, so it was nice to hear that our guests appreciated the pacing too.
Jade: Our friends and family adored the wedding cake that Kendra from Pétalo Cakery created for us. I had a little time before the guests arrived to properly admire it, and the flower petals were so delicate and exquisite – it almost felt like a shame to cut into it. It tasted every bit as good as it looked. We loved it so much that Pétalo Cakery is now one of the first names we recommend whenever someone asks us for a cake vendor.
Share with us the most memorable moment of your wedding.
Jade: Our table arrangements incorporated actual fruits, mushrooms, and gourds, and throughout the wedding, we noticed some guests eyeing them. A few even asked whether they could take them home afterwards.
Once the wedding was over, our florist gave everyone the green light, and several guests essentially started pilfering the edible parts of the arrangements. It was hilarious watching our centrepieces slowly disappear. Some of my friends even took the mushrooms home and put them straight into their hotpot that very same night, which was probably the best possible fate for a wedding centrepiece.
What is one lesson you’ve learned from your wedding planning that you’d like to share with other couples?
Jade: I think the best outcome is finding a happy compromise between what you and your partner want and what matters to your families. But ultimately, it’s still your wedding. It’s easy to get caught up in pleasing everyone else, but you should be able to look back and feel that the choices you made were yours.
And on a more practical note: please eat. You spent all that time choosing the menu, so enjoy it. Eat the food, have a drink, spend time with the people you love and actually have fun at your own wedding.
The Venue: Min Jiang Dempsey
Size of Wedding: 100 guests
The Bride’s Gown: Cecilie Bahnsen
The Bride’s Shoes: eBay
The Groom’s Suit: Kay-Jen
The Groom’s Shoes: Solovair by NPS UK
The Wedding Bands: Heng Heng Jewellery Pte Ltd
The Wedding Photographer: Highest Kite Weddings
The Hairstylist and Makeup Artist: Airin Lee from ARLY
The Caterer: Min Jiang Dempsey
The Wedding Cake: Pétalo Cakery
The Florist: This Humid House
The Wedding Invitations and Stationery: Done by the couple on Canva
The Wedding Favours: Kindred Teas
The Wedding Car: Bride’s father’s car
The Wedding Resource: SingaporeBrides
Want to see your love story featured on SingaporeBrides too? Submit your wedding here
All content from this article, including images, cannot be reproduced without credits or written permission from SingaporeBrides.
Follow us on Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok for the latest article and promotion updates!