Finally! The 2 bears have reached their destination at the hotel!
It was the greatest days of our lives, to finally experience the full wedding day as our own. From the gate crashing till the end of the dinner, fabulous and fantastic are what I would described. I am not sure if the people who invented both adjectives are feeling what I am feeling right now: That they would have still loved to find other words to express what they are feeling at their own super happy moment too.
As the beautiful bride takes a rest and with our air con broken down again like a broken record, I decided to post here first as hokkien proficient people will term it as "feeling gao gao". As time passed by, people only remember the more everlasting memories. However, I would like to ink down everything in detail, as much as possible.
Everytime before i attend a friend's wedding, I would often imagine how they must be feeling 1 week from their wedding up to the eve of the wedding itself. I know they must be very busy. However, me and jing really got to experience it firsthand how super duper busy it was 2 weeks before. There were still some details such as church issues which were still dangling in the air due to no apparent clear coordinator at the church but I would say that it gave us the opportunity to learn and also to find out that there are so many people who had helped us in the wedding. People like my own brother Ti Hian who helped to coordinate the difficult parts such as finding a sound man, helping to transport the bridal clothes and also offering to help out in so many small, but heavily significant roles.Without any of it, the wedding will probably cease to be smooth.
I knew that the pressure of some outstanding stuff like the guests' name list being unfinalised yet, was getting to both me and jing on the eve. However, I managed to go to nap at 430am, relieved that everything was settled finally and we are good to go for the wedding.
Woke up at 6am and shared a cup of kopi with Andy, the leader of the warriors who will be storming to the Bukit Purmei Castle to rescue Princess Fiona.. oppss Karen. Karen says i look like Shrek... Do i? zzz
As the beautiful bridal car approaches, i was amazed at how it look. It wasn't a merc, but it was the most beautiful car i had seen. Beautifully decorated with ivory colour ribbons and the 2 Arsenal bears, it was to be an eye catching decor and also one which threatens to increase our local crime rate. Uncle Swee Fatt and Auntie Ah Lay had to protect the bears and they went through so much pain and effort to do so, from the day they went to the the Seletar Broadway Bridal to the wedding day itself. Uncle Swee Fatt was even unwilling to leave the car and could only catch a toilet break so as to keep his eyes on the bears at all times.
Time was 8am as we approach Lower Delta. I also thank Jesus that the weather was perfect. You know, those partially cloudy days with not much glare from the Sun and yet the air around is cooler than usual. It had rained heavily on the 15th so normally we will get a nice cool feeling the next day. Besides this, everything went on so smoothly like we were really shooting a movie, just that we had no time to do a NG at all. Thank you my Lord.
As we were early, we had to roam till about 828am, the official time for us to arrive. Jinyuan came down and opened the door for me. However, there was to be a slight hiccup as my videographer was not able to come down yet as Jing was not ready. Nevertheless, we corrected it later.
As my Arsenal warriors began to troupe down Bukit Purmei Castle Alley, my heart fluttered. I was so excited and I didnt realised how much i grinned when I saw Jing later at her house till I saw the video montage at night.Our Arsenal warriors were valiant and fought to the end. Antics we were 'forced' to endure including 88 push ups, eating Mandarin Skin Burgers and Belachan flavoured, dancing like K POP girls, singing like Air Supply and giving several kiss marks. After a tense but fun exchange, finally we broke in about 35 mins later.
After watching several video montages of my friends, finally i came to his part when i would lift the veil and get to kiss my own bride. It was a fantastic feeling and it completed the route that I had started when i was 13 years old and had made a first visit to Jing's house as a friend attending a CNY gathering. We both were like an old car that had ridden for so many kilometers, and I had no idea how far we have rode until i walked into the room as a bridegroom.
After having some refreshments, we made way to the church. Most of the crowd had already gathered by the time we had reached at 1020am. Jing would arrive shortly later. The event started at 11am and ended at 1205pm. I would like to give special thanks to the Church Choir, Uncle wentian and qi heng for letting us hear and enjoy the musical pieces. Not forgetting the Fei Yue children who had practised hard to recite a verse and also put up a song piece. Thanks to Teachers Di lan and Sarah for coaching the children! I also never thought that Dilan, who was my Church teacher, would one day be at hand to also help us do the church decor and also help to be the emcee for the Church wedding.I give thanks to Jesus.
After the Pastor had solemnized the marriage and we exchanged the rings, we began to sit down and enjoy the rest of the process. I was a bit worried Sunny, being a non christian, would sleep. However, he was serious and showed respect to the Church and event by remaining alert and participative throughout. After the event ended, we took photographs with families and friends. I also saw how much the children of Fei Yue, both present and before, loved Jing so much in the way they mobbed her to take pictures at the Church and the dinner as well. I am sure she must have felt greatly rewarded for whatever she may have to put up over the years as a teacher. I would say that it was very heart warming to see those kids grown up and yet be able to still come on our special day and wish us. From a teacher/student relationship to an adult friendship.
After the refreshments, it was time to proceed to the hotel to have some much needed rest.Checking in to the wedding suite was a breeze, well done by Novotel Hotel. Although there were many nice and attractive drinks waiting on the table.. we had to be careful. $$ hahaaha.
Our legs were aching from the event earlier, however I knew that we had to keep stomachs full as there is still a long night to go. Went to the foodcourt nearby and bought food to replenish our energy. There was only abt an hour's rest, before I had to meet with Dennis' the coordinator for the dinner. Details about the schedule were discussed and by 545pm, I trooped down to Level 5 Clove Room for the tea ceremony. We had always discussed and joked about the big number of relatives on my side, and that we will have to offer tea until siao before our wedding. Well.. not siao as i found out, but siao as in a way funny. It was a very light hearted and yet warm way of introducing each of us(me and jing officially in Chinese tradition to each families respectively. I am sure Jing will remember the day she has to call an uncle from side as Ba Jiu(8th Uncle). Big Chua family we had, don't we?
At about 650pm, guests were starting to come. I really have to thank Marcus Kua, another valiant Arsenal Warrior who held the reception fort so well and guiding his valiant female warriors Meredith and Henrietta as well as my Sis in law Eunice. DUe to unexpected last minute changes, minds have to be quick and the rest of the warriors Andy, Jiawei and Sunny had to be vigilant and alert to several things at the same time. Our videographer Whye Keen had met with a massive traffic jam at the roads near the hotel and Andy had to go down to get the much anticipated montage of the morning events from Whye Keen at the road. I also got to experience first hand the massive Bukit Purmei crowd who was stuck in the jam also and had came all at once at the reception.
Nevertheless, most of the guests had settled in by 815pm, although there were still some late ones trickling in. I gave the go ahead to start the wedding at 825pm and it was simply breathtaking to see the nice purplish light in the ballroom. Beautiful and elegant. Just as exactly how i wanted it to be when i laid down the deposit with the Hotel last year.
Jinyuan started the dinner with a very nice and touching speech about me and Jing. This was a young cheeky boy who had nearly knocked into me at his home, welding a gigantic toy sword many years ago.Yesterday, he showed that he had also grown up to be a very mature and sensible man of immense potential both to family and the education sector. I was touched and he is like a little brother to me. I was the youngest in my own family, and often, i struggled to treat people who were younger than me like a little brother. But I have to say that Jinyuan is a really pleasant boy who is very filal to parents and caring to siblings and family. He is a family oriented man and also one who is deeply loved by Jing.
Before we knew, we had to go up and change into our night outfits. I managed to take in a few more mouths of sharks' fin before we had to go. I found the food very nice, and even tastier than what we had eaten on the food tasting night.
By the 4th dish(fish), we were ready to walk in. We managed to catch a glimpse of the video montage by Whye Keen and I only realised how nice it was done when i watched it again at the hotel room after the wedding. Many friends would later text me to tell me how nice it was and that they were very touched by it and had even teared. Although there was a technical glitch, but nevertheless, it was exactly what me and JIng had wanted. You know, i had wanted the same touchy feeling after watching Kit Chan's rendition of Home. Although i didnt tell Whye keen that to give him additional pressure, I was very pleased i felt it yesterday night. The story was there and it was beautiful.
I realised that as i write this blog, it is already 1131pm. abt 24 hours have gone by after the last hand shake yesterday night when guests were leaving. So quickly time has passed. I remember I was speaking with my lawyer boss on Wednesday that i cant wait for next week to come because I was so excited and nervous about the wedding and preparation prior.My boss told me to relax and enjoy the procedure as it will be over before i know it. I am very glad me and jing do really enjoy it.
It was a day to remember, besides that it was also my Birthday as well. There were so many well wishes on facebook that i could only reply them this afternoon. To me 16th July no longer only represents the Harry Potter yearly movie release date and my birthday. Harry potter has already gone home to sleep, while me and jing's wedding anniversary will be one to for us to remember. Not only remembering the date, but also that on this day 16 July 2011, all our loved ones, families and superb friends were around with us to walk through this special day.It shall be one that I will fight to remember at all costs, and to commemorate yearly, forever and ever.