KEVIN FOO, 30, financial service manager, and
ASHLEY THNG, 30, brand marketer

WHEN July 6, 2008

WHERE The poolside of The Marriott Hotel for the solemnisation, followed by lunch at the hotel’s banquet hall.

COURTSHIP The childhood sweethearts met on July 6 – their wedding date – 11 years ago, when they were students at Nanyang Polytechnic. Kevin recounts: “Romance didn’t begin from the start.

Initially, Ashley wasn’t too interested as I was an overzealous class rep, but I finally got a chance to talk to her when I helped retrieve her exam answers from a computer’s hard drive and saved them onto a fl oppy disk for her. My gallant efforts won her over.”
PROPOSAL In Milan, on Sept 23, 2007, while Ashley was there for work. Kevin made it a birthday to remember for her with a surprise visit and proposal in front of the world’s largest Gothic cathedral, Duomo di Milano, with a bouquet of flowers!

MAIN EVENT Marching to the beat of their own quirky drum, the day began with Kevin’s friends masquerading as friendly neighbourhood policemen, out to check up on a noise complaint from the bride’s apartment, in a move to beat the customary hongbao negotiations from the bride’s “protectors”. The couple then travelled in their cola-can decorated car (Ashley’s red Nissan March) to The Marriott Hotel for the solemnisation.

Ashley looked resplendent in a sheer, lace-trimmed gown from Thomson Wedding Design. The chosen ring bearers, Ashley’s pet dogs, gave the ceremony a personal touch.

The couple opted for a Chinese banquet lunch. Quipped Kevin: “We thought a Sunday dinner would be too depressing and guests would be likely to rush home.” The luncheon bore no surprises for the bride, who knew Kevin was going to turn up in full Star Wars regalia, despite her initial protests. Guests were in for a treat when, to the sounds of The Imperial March from the movie Star Wars, Kevin strode in as Darth Vader. He was accompanied by his army mates from the 501st Garrison, who gamely dressed up as Stormtroopers.

In honour of the 501st Garrison, a portion of the couple’s hongbao takings were donated to MINDS, a charity for the intellectually disabled.

After lunch, the couple were off in full regalia for a phototaking session in Little India. The tireless pair worked it for their lensman, Jonathan Ho, from Expressively joho. Ashley recalls: “We didn’t opt for a videographer as we love still visuals.” As for the unusual location of Little India, Ashley says: “It was one of our favourite haunts while we were dating, so we thought taking some pictures there would be fun and memorable. It was definitely challenging in the midst of a Sunday afternoon with the crowd and heat!”

EXTRAS Without a wedding planner and with Ashley busy with work, Kevin was sole planner and executor of the plans. Ashley says: “We didn’t want to have a wedding planner as we felt that the planning, including the exasperating bits, would be fun.” The creative groom even set up a blog about their preparations and cheekily posted photos of drunk friends at the wedding.