Pre-wedding photography...

I always knew how i wanted my wedding to be. (ok, I shall be more honest with myself)...I've always dreamt of my wedding. Yes this includes gown, hair, make up, clothes, flowers, reception, church, groom, and photos. And when it came to the last one i couldn't be luckier to have Jack as my friend! I wrote about Jack in my previous post hailing him as the best photographer i know. This post only reinforces that...



Since the groom could only spare a weekend I had to plan everything properly (think bridezilla) so that we could maximise his time in Malaysia. So the schedule was as such:
Friday 8pm- Groom arrives.
10pm- Mandarin Oriental to celebrate Anita's birthday.
1am- Petaling street with Ben for Siew yoke chao mien.
Saturday 5am-hair and make-up at Ken's.
8am- arrive at KTM station, start photoshoot.

When we arrived we were introduced by Jack to Teng Wei (a professional photographer) who wanted to tag along to help and contribute. Lucky me!

the first warm up photos...

Funny how this place has been used so many times and yet i still like it...

This is one of my top 20 pics (i love so many of them i had to pick 20! Not that i'm indecisive...)

It shows off my christian lacroix gown so beautifully...so dreamy...

Teng Wei captured this shot when Jack was trying to position the umbrella so that it would cast a beautiful pattern across my face.

It's amazing how such an ugly background like the car park could turn out great. All in the photographers' eyes...

An intimate shot by Teng Wei...

Next we proceeded to my church...The sun was rising fast and it was starting to get oh so bloody hot. Thank God Ken was there to touch up my make up and hair. He was such an angel helping us carry all our stuff, adjusting my gown, mopping up our sweat, holding an umbrella over me... And i didn't even ask him to come along with us. Amazing guy!

These photos taken at the very same spot in 2 totally different styles...

An ice-cream man came along on his motorbike and we all had to have a cone. I was sitting under the tree finishing it when the he decides to lick some off me when Teng Wei asked him to hold the pose and lift the veil over us. NICE!

This pic is breath-taking! I absolutely LOVE it! ♥ ♥ ♥

And Teng Wei took one in his style as well. My dad really likes this pic and he shows it to anyone who visits. Thanks Teng Wei for the pic. ♥

Then of course i had to take one looking oh-so-demure and siman...

This pic is super dramatic. The church is stunning. And Jack captured it.

After we wrapped up our morning shoot it was time for lunch. So we went to Ming Room in BSC for some dim sum.
3pm- back at Ken's place for change of hair and makeup
5pm- home to shower and change clothes
6pm- arrive at the Villas for evening shoot.


My gown was made in Jakarta by Albert Yanuar. I've always had a thing for turquoise...

The last photo taken outdoors as the sun had already set...

Spoon me please. ♥ Hence the promise on our weding day.

I wore my favourite red dress next.

a clandestine affair... love it!

We climbed along the ledge of the infinity pool to take this picture. Very fun, relaxed one by Teng Wei. Hmm.. a result of watching one too many cycles of ANTM perhaps.

He was exhausted after the super long day and Jack snapped this. Someone commented that he looks like he kena raped..LMAO



8pm- went to Tony Romas for another well-deserved meal!
10pm- went to Ecobar for Kokkin's birthday party
1am- arrived home, packed for Penang...

Sunday
5am- at Ken's doing hair and makeup
8am-Jose and Jack went for wantan mee whilst waiting for me
9am- Left home...I drove whilst Jose slept in the backseat. That was the agreement. Otherwise, no more photoshoot! *GASP!!*

12.30noon- arrived at Lorong Selamat for CharKwayTeow. It's a MUST okay. People were staring at me. ( i did look like a chinese wayang ghost. Whatever la.I wanna eat my ckt.)

3pm- start day 2 shoot.
I found this boutique hotel upon recommendation from Wee Nee (childhood friend-wedding planner-cakemaker extraordinaire!!). I mean if you need to know stuff about Penang, must ask Penangite rite? She was really helpful and gave me lots of tips. Thanks babe! I owe you one.

i was going for a 1920's Shanghainese look. A bit of old glamour you know what i'm sayin'?

Jack took some old school shots...

I'm wearing my old cheongsam..had it for years!


...some naughty ones...

...and some fun cheeky ones too!

...another one of my top 3 pics!

...Taken through the reflection of a mirror/menu outside a cafe...

Now this pic is a combination of skills, setting, lighting and luck!
Especially with the ah-pek cyling past us...picture perfect!

6pm- Jack very kindly told us to rest for a bit whilst he downloaded his pics. We flopped onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep.
8.30pm- OMG! We overslept!

Jack: erm guys... issit ok if we go for dinner? I'm kinda hungry...Oh no...POOR him!!! So we drove aound for some hawker food and went back to the hotel for a quick change and shoot...

time to work my red cheongsam...

This pic is in my top 3 list... Sooo gorgeous! He really did my cheongsam justice!

Sunday 11.30pm- end of day 2 shoot.
Before i showered and ruined my fabulous hair i had to take more pics of it. Ken, your work is FABULOUS! Your skills (natural/dramatic/period/wedding/couture make-up? Yup he can do them all), dedication (he painstakingly curled all my hair into tiny little rosettes before pinning them in waves), patience (3 hours just for the hair mind you...), care and initiative (always ready to help, never calculative unlike other make-up artists who complain if you ask them to change hair/make-up) is unbelievable! Ladies, if you ever need a stylist who's out of this world call KEN!!! (+6012-6654214)



Monday
9am- Wake up, shower...looked out the window...it was pouring!! *SOB SOB* 11am-still pouring...Was starting to worry coz day 3 was suppose to be the beach shoot 12noon- drove around for lunch.
Jack brought us to Gurney drive and we stumbled upon Perut Makan. The nyonya food was extremely yummy. After ordering I went to the loo...came back and those 2 almost finished all the food! Waaa... Order some more! Then Jack had an idea..Hey what if we took photos in here? We asked the owner and he said No.. cannot... So never mindla..Just enjoy the food. Then the owner approached us and said Ya...okay.. you guys can take photos in here... We were estatic! I ran to the car and grabbed my kebaya and curling thongs...ran back in and hurriedly made myself up. Scared he change his mind!



Then Jose came to pose next to me. His hair was an absolute mess so i tried to tidy it. Then the owner asked me to stop whatever i was tying to do. He ran upstairs to his home and brought down a comb and hair gel, and started styling Jose's hair...while haughtily exclaimed, 'i used to be a hairstylist you know!" What are the chances?

This pic went on to win Jack an award.

My kebaya was made in Jakarta. The silk batik was a gift from Jose's mum.
Super ♥ it!

We finished quite quikly. I still can't believe how lucky we were to be able to shoot there.

5PM-the rain finally stopped!! We quickly changed and ran down to the beach...

I like this pic cos its simple and endearing!

I'm wearing a white, grecian-inspired gown on loan to me by Caryn (one of my bridesmaids)...

...time to get down and dirrty...

7pm-end of day 3...We went for a HUGE seafood dinner and slept early that night.
I called my mum that night and told her how worried i was that it might rain again the next day. She said don't worry dear, i'll pray for you...
Tuesday 8am- its not raining! Hallelujah! Time for my dream photoshoot!

Jack shot a video of us exchanging personal vows. Jose said "Ny, you know how on our first date we saw a rainbow and you said, "There's a pot of gold at the end of it.."I thought to myself "What? the treasure's right next to me!" And over the years you know how you always get lost (ya, i got a crap sense of direction) but i want you to know that i'm the one who'll be lost if i don't have you.." Aw, so sweet right? I was so moved i actually teared! But i blinked it away. (must not ruin makeup..)

I told Jack i wanted to do some typical cliched shots but was worried if it'll look too cheesy. Ever the sweetheart he said "hey don't worry whether it's cheesy or not. If you wanna do it, just do it"

so we relaxed and had a lot of fun...

Then it was time for my romantic dream photo...After a few hiccups with the horse...The poor thing kept walking towards the beach when i wanted it to walk into the water...And at one point we almost gave up when it started bucking and running. Thank god we both can ride.

I absolutely love this pic... The horse finally calmed down and was easier to control...

And they lived happily ever after...

I'm super grateful to the following people:
Ken for being the best stylist...so accomodating with my demands and crazy hours.
Teng Wei for the beautiful shots and poster-sized photos.
Wee Nee for helping me plan the Penang shots and moral support.
Caryn for her gorgeous gown.
The owner of Perut Makan for his generosity and kind hospitality.
My mum for her prayers.
Jose for being my willing (most of the time anyway) co-model and partner.
Jack for his unwavering dedication, passion and devotion to giving me my dream photos.
He gave in to my every whim...and always smiling, always kind.
For all these and more, i am truly thankful to all of you.