A Garden Wedding Party

I rarely attend weddings nowadays. Some friends who are on their second or third weddings, and for a select few, I will still attend, especially if I see them regularly. Church weddings and drinks are fine; luncheons are dependent on venue and mode. I prefer not to attend those awkward and stilted sit-down Chinese banquets. I ABSOLUTELY DETEST THOSE> I NO GIVE FACE TO ANYONE FOR THAT. 

This afternoon's wedding celebration for Candice and Ross was held at such a gorgeous garden venue of Sri House at Dempsey. There were canapés but it wasn't a luncheon or tea. Importantly, the invitation indicated 'drinks'. VERY GOOD. I had happily accepted and turned up. I wouldn't have minded if they had opted for an outdoor garden party. But I guess it's impractical to do so in Singapore. They held it indoors, in pleasant air-conditioning. 

As luck would have it, Sri House ran out of Glenfiddich for this party, and gave me Monkey Shoulder. I'll pass. That choice totally controlled my alcohol intake. I opted for red wine instead. I don't drink that much red wine because the sulphites do funny things to IBS symptoms. That meant I would take it slow. And I did. I was done after two very full glasses of red. Then I downed four full glasses of water and felt really pleased. I even skipped the boozy wedding cake and opted for a piece of the other non-boozy wedding cake.

Have I already talked about those BounceBack pills? I think they rebranded to something else. But the point is the same. DrinkAid, et cetera. Take those at your own peril. It doesn't mean you can drink like a fish after. That's not the point. You will still get drunk if you go overboard and feel like shit, and still kena a hangover. At our age, why would anyone just want to get sloshed for the sake of clubbing and getting sloshed? Your skin sucks and your throat feels like crap the next day.

It was a very busy weekend full of socials for me. I could put my foot down to say no to attending, but I didn't. I decided to turn up for all my socials since I care about these people. I knew I was in for a whole weekend of drinking. I could decline alcohol. These weren't mad parties where people would force anyone to drink. 

I don't feel pressurized about drinking either. I never do. I drink if I feel like it, and I don't if I don't. That's that. Nobody would dare to or have any right to judge me for not drinking, or drinking for that matter. But that Saturday, I felt like having three drinks in the afternoon and five drinks at night. So I decided to take it slow and pop some pills to ease the load off of my liver.

V and R Are Married!

It's one thing not to be able to celebrate V's birthday this weekend besides sending loads of love over to her. But it's quite another to not be able to hug her in IRL to congratulate her on her marriage to R. The actual solemnization date was kept fluid because of this 'circuit breaker' and general COVID-19 travel situation. Thankfully the Registry of Marriages uhh rose to the occasion, and got their act together to get it done on the week of her birthday.

V and R married over weekend, and us friends attended it online. Their families too, had to do the same. None of R's family or friends were able to fly into Singapore to witness it, and neither could they fly out. Attending this online didn't diminish the significance of the occasion. Love was all around. We were sooo happy for the wedding couple. It must be the first wedding that I wanted to attend (to do the wedding luncheon or dinner, reception, parties and all) but I couldn't be there physically. 😂

I'm just sooo glad that V and R sorted out the administrative matters in Singapore to effect the legality of this marriage under international law. That included breathing down the necks of the team at the Registry of Marriages. Ooof. Importantly, they're married because they want to! The wedding parties in two or three cities will happen when the world regains its footing.

Dear V and R, I wish you both many more years of endless chats and laughter. May you always inspire each other, chase individual passions and common goals. And most of all, may you be blessed with a lifetime of happiness.

This Pair of Red Shoes

Attended J and I's wedding reception that night. It was the after-party for the formal dinner, which made it perfect for us to pop by after a concert. Held at a chic al fresco hotel bar, the wedding couple provided light bites and cocktails. We knew a fair number of people, and we were mainly there to wish the couple well. It was a very enjoyable hour.

I didn't turn up at the after-party in jeans lah. It was a celebratory occasion after all. Found a casual dress that was perfect for the humidity of a Singapore night. Shook the dust off of an old pair of red slingbacks. I've had them for years...... almost to 20 years. I picked them up from a tiny store somewhere in a small village in Tuscany, Italy. The brand name has worn off and I don't recall things like that. I can't remember which village—either Orvieto or Pitigliano. It was a loooong road trip through the region.

I've re-soled them twice, but that's all I did to it. The leather, and especially those thin strips and its buckle, held steady. It's not as if I only wear them on special occasions. They're not super expensive; the splotch of red complements many of my monochrome hues. I'm honestly stunned by how durable the leather is, and how tight the stitches are. They've held up to many wearings. Wow. The low heels made them a rather comfortable pair to stand and walk in. I almost threw them out a few months back. Now, it feels too sentimental to do so. LOL I shall just keep them around and wear them till they fall apart.

Jordan & Joan's Wedding

I was happy to attend Jordan and Joan's church wedding, a date which had been blocked out earlier in my calendar, even before they found a church to officiate it. (This is my one and only wedding attended for 2018.) But I was gonna skip out on the fancy luncheon. Oof. However, the couple beat me to the words because they cleverly asked me to be co-emcee for it, in Mandarin. WIN LOR. Liddat how to say no??!

Decided to complement the bridesmaids' color code since it wasn't too difficult. Joan was a darling. She knows my quirks and didn't care about what I wear because she's a really chill bride, and knew that I'd wear something suitable. In the end, I went to Love Bonito (the bridesmaids bought their dresses from the boutique, in powder blue) to pick a dress in a darker blue (the brand calls the color 'seafoam'), a hue closer to grey, and in a design of which I'd wear again.

My co-emcee is S, whose sense of humor is extremely difficult to translate into Mandarin. Well, not that I need to, unless it's essential information that the ballroom should be aware of. S doesn't use an emcee script either. Of course we have a program, notes and such at any event. He's cool doing off-the-cuff. I'm not inflexible, but I need an emcee script, regardless of language. I need visual keywords to link up to the rest of the phrases necessary. Also, S is tall, which necessitates me being in heels whenever I have to stand next to him in an official work or social capacity. 🙄 Standing around for nine hours in heels isn't my idea of fun. I brought flats. Those were an absolute lifesaver.

It doesn't matter that the man and I had separate duties to attend to at this wedding. (He was part of the party of groomsmen, and had to be up and about by 4.30am.) I was fine on my own. I knew the families, I knew the friends. The familiarity makes it worthwhile. Importantly, I've known the newlyweds for a decade, and they're people I see often for meals, gigs and random outings. I was comfortable. The friendships made it unnecessary to schmooze very much.

Our warmest wishes, Jordan and Joan. Gluten-and-dairy-free food can be so delicious. Find 'em right kinds. Like your fav 'har cheong gai' from Ban Leong. But stop with the tapau please. Start using that gorgeous kitchen of yours. 😉🥂

Mr T & Bibik Belachan

I was super pleased to be tasked with sorting out catering logistics for the wedding lunch reception after the church ceremony. It's always preferable to make myself useful. Minion duties are calming. And well, GOOD FOOD. I got to check out the two sets of cuisines before the guests dove into the sumptuous spread of spicy Indian and Peranakan dishes. Hurrah.

Gleeful that I could wear flats and pants in the day. Had a job that involved running around. Not needing to put on a pretty dress was welcomed. Making sure everything was ready for the bridal couple and guests at lunch was priority.

The man also tumbled back from New Delhi in time to stand with the groom at the altar as best man. He even had a simple mehndi design done on one hand because of some team-building event. AIYAH. I also wanted henna art on my hands. But too late. :( Obviously I don't think about things like that as event prep or whatever fashion stuff. Was more concerned with running through logistical scenarios in my mind and chasing for information I wanted. On that note, the bride also pooh-poohed the need for purses. She simply held her phone all the way through. Not that there was anything particularly urgent cropping up at work. But yes, a phone is more useful than a purse. Hurhurhur.

Managed to pop home for a refreshingly cold shower before the evening festivities. Needed some quiet amidst the chatter. The bride changed out of her hand-sewn sarong kebaya and hand-beaded kasut manek into a glitter-glam hand-stitched lehenga choli. Dinner didn't required any input from me except to give a speech about the bride and bridegroom. Wah win lor. There was a speech from the best man, but not the bridesmaid. Bit of a pressure there. But all right, didn't dish the dirt on either. Heeeheee.

It was so lovely to see Mr T and Bibik Belachan pledge their love and commitment to each other. To this beautiful beginning of your marriage, and the glorious creating of your happy-ever-after.

An Autumn Wedding

The stark and beautiful St Mawes Castle on the southern coast of England.
It's an artillery fort built by Henry VIII in the 15th century that continued to be used as such
through the 18th and 19th centuries, and World War II.

Isn't it just a ridiculous number of weddings scheduled this year? Well, the ones attended are friends whom I see often and am close to. They've seen me through dark days; for whom I've long set aside the quota for their weddings and quietly waited/wait to be invited, if they so choose this path, and we still keep the friendship. :P

All those Skype conversations. The instant R said, "I want to hold the wedding in a castle-like fort, but not that sort of castle. Do you know what I mean?" Oh yes. Of course I do. We've been friends since we were six years old. I passed those modules on Shakespeare and English history because you summarized them for me till I fell asleep. There're only a few venues to choose from since she didn't want to hop out to Scotland. Two specifically- Polhawn Fort built by French POWs to discourage Napoleon from invading the country, and St Mawes Castle. No prizes for guessing what R chose and what her then-husband-to-be R, a military history buff, agreed on. Never mind how the House of Tudor's Henry VIII wedded six wives, divorced two, and beheaded two, and one death that wasn't on him. R and R were totally tickled by those facts.

The love story between R and R is epic. Ups and downs. Ten years in the making. Two incredibly talented and headstrong individuals. The chemistry between them today is sizzling. The understanding and space they've established in this partnership. Loads of hugs all around. It was a superb party. All that dancing!

Warmest congratulations, R and R! You're awesome hosts.  Much love, oldest girlfriend. Nothing makes me happier than seeing you happy. Here's to a wonderful start to the new chapter. xo

The Wedding of J and L

Dessert table at the tea reception set up by Little Favors by Ethel.

This was a wedding that I had quietly allocated the quota for a couple of years ago, if I should be invited. I was! Along with the man lah. We've known J and L for almost a decade now, since they started out in university. The man has known J even longer. We've kept in touch, meeting regularly year after year, establishing a friendship beyond mere acquaintances. Over the years we've seen them blossom into two distinct intellectual and wonderful individuals. I can only say this since the man and I are like... a decade and a half older than them. Heeeeheeehee.

The skies cleared up beautifully for the afternoon wedding at the church. But the morning rains cooled the grounds and we didn't melt from the heat or humidity that slowly crept back. Nibbled on light bites catered by PeraMakan. Coffee was nicely supplied by Yellow Cup. Definitely needed a cup of caffeine, my first of the day. Our table felt shy about attacking the desserts. Those cheerful bakes were supplied by Little Favors by Ethel, and we had been roundly treated to the awesome-ness of Ethel's skills the past three weekends of her pop-up. Hurhurhur. Left the desserts for the other guests to ooh and ahh over.

In the evening, we went to their super fun dinner. Had earlier clarified with the bridal couple that we needn't appear at 6.30pm stated as per the invitation. It was a busy day for everyone at this table and we could only make 7.15pm. Okay, not like there was fixed seating. The bunch of us just made up the table because we naturally gravitate towards one another at most events.

I ate many rolls of popiah with super shiok chilli that was meant for the roast duck, but I ate it with everything anyway. We laughed, ate delicious murgh makhani and pilaf, yummy strawberry shortcake, and had a blast. Our server enthusiastically brought out the whisky for us and merrily topped up ice cubes and all that. To clarify, we didn't enjoy the party just because we were plied with whisky; we enjoyed it because it was always fabulous to hang out with friends whom we already see often. Managed to steer clear of copious amounts of whisky till the very last glass. The groom came around and poured crazy amounts into our glasses from the last bits of the final bottle. Our glasses looked like they held green tea with a ton of ice cubes.

The bridal couple have gone through tremendous trials and tribulations; the man and I couldn't be happier to see them on this day all radiant, and wish them well as they begin a new chapter hopeful, healthy, blessed and united in faith. There is a note that the man and I didn't pen in the guestbook. There was a long queue behind us lah. But they'll read it in this post. :)

Dear J and L, 

We have no words of wisdom, except a gentle nudge to you to always communicate. You understand the power of words, nuances, points of arguments and objectives. Communicate, and there'll be pretty much nothing to fight about, ever. A conversation will always remain within the structure of a debate with a focus and an outcome that both desire.  

Our warmest congratulations, sweethearts. Stay in love.  

xo 

D and J

To Joshua & Chelsea

Since the timing matched, the man also wanted to attend his mate Joshua's wedding to Chelsea. Ookies. Vivacious and lovely couple. We know their magical love story, and it's been great hanging out with the whole gang and all. Joshua thoroughly spoils us whenever we're in Hong Kong. While I usually shy away from weddings, I went with the man to this one because it would be such a party.

Beautiful church ceremony at The Vine in the afternoon (this same venue would host this fantastic gig in two weeks- Explosions in the Sky. Heeeee. Are you coming?), and a lovely casual stylish do in the evening at The Grand Stage Western Market (西港城大舞臺) in Sheung Wan. Great music on the playlist. Loads of Stevie Wonder, Jónsi, Grizzly Bear, The Irrepressibles, et cetera. Of course there was fabulous live music too. So many talented musicians and vocalists at this #wongnak wedding! 

The conversation at our table was so good. Nobody cared about the food till the emcees pointed at our table, and wondered why we ignored the queues at the buffet tables. We were busy talking till in the merriment, we didn't realize we were hungry! We knew one another already. Caught up with acquaintances and renewed friendships. Great gathering of friends. The table gifts were little tubes of salt either of flavored with lime and chilli or orange and ginger, of which Chelsea and her girlfriends had earlier painstakingly filled up one by one. Loved the reference to Matthew 5:13. Thoroughly enjoyed the party, although we didn't stay till the end. Old farts, needed to run back 'across the sea' to prep for another early day. Slipped away quietly when the festivities were rolling high.

Our warmest congratulations, Joshua and Chelsea. Such a privilege to have witnessed your joy and sacred union in love. Thank you for having us! May this day be the blessed start of an awesome chapter in your lives.

The gorgeous Gigi Marenette serenading the bridal couple.

Strange Fruit

Mid-week in Seoul, the man somehow got conscripted to be part of a wedding band for the weekend. So very strange, but quite usual in the way of how exciting things could happen. We don't even know the names of wedding couple. Never met or spoke to them! Still, the man gamely said yes. I didn't mind it because the venue would be in a bar. The boys easily borrowed guitars, found a jam studio in where-else-but-indie Hongdae, and rehearsed the songs.

The wedding reception was held at Strange Fruit, Hongdae. It's a tiny basement bar pivotal within the Seoul indie music scene. Keen musicians, the wedding couple decided to throw this party for the friends that definitely went down way better than any stodgy wedding dinner would. (Bride wore skull-printed socks and DocMarts with her white dress!) Before tonight, we aren't acquainted with the wedding couple, so we literally crashed their hip wedding reception, ate their cake, and wrote our congratulations on a celebratory ribbon. :P Felt a little embarrassed really. Opted out of the graciously provided-for food and drinks, and bought our own. It was an awesome summary and personal introduction to city's music scene that isn't K-Pop.

The night got underway at 9.45pm. The boys played an easy (not sappy) rock ballad of sorts. That song is still untitled. Tsk. Then the wedding cake was cut, and more congratulations were read out, along with risqué and witty poem written specially for the wedding couple. After that, 'Galaxy Express' plugged in and got up to rock out the night. We'd have loved to stay and hear more bands and musicians, but for an early start in the morning. We bade farewell and slipped away by midnight.

The Wedding Dress: 200 Years Of Wedding Fashion

This exhibition at the National Museum is like a nightmare. No, no, that's not accurate; my nightmares are way more exciting than this. They never involve pretty dresses, always leather and jeans. Guns, swords and bombs, optional. You know I don't share the enthusiasm for weddings or any sort of fascination for wedding dresses. But I was curious to see how fashion reflected to social trends of the era, and importantly, the social standing of women from then till now.

I stared at the Victorian wedding corset in absolute horror. This one is made by Edwin Izod, who in the late 1860s, developed "a steam-moulding technique to improve his corsets' shape, performance and comfort". Dear lawwwd. What is up with women of the olden days and their tiny waists???! Did you see the previous exhibition on cheongsams and read about the 21-inch-waist? That was simply mind-boggling. How can they be so slim and so tiny?

Well, we all know that the white wedding dress didn't come into popularity and slide into the dreams of all brides till 1840. It's like...diamonds, I guess. The diamond solitaire is really a result of successful marketing. Whenever I buy a diamond, I know I'm not gaining an asset. The one thing I did like- the shoes of the late 18th to 19th century. At least the shoes of the 1800s looked comfortable. Almost flat like ballet shoes, otherwise, they had low wide heels which guaranteed comfort underneath those layers of tulle, taffeta, silk and lace.

It's a small-ish collection on loan from London's Victoria and Albert Museum. It's kinda nice that at the space before one enters the gallery, the curators have also displayed traditional ethnic wedding dresses used in Singapore in the recent past, as well as the western influenced white wedding dresses we know today. As we stared at the information board which included photos of the bridal couples in their wedding finery, we couldn't help but exclaim that they were just children...teenagers getting married. *shudder* Times were truly different then.

An Indie Garden Wedding

If there's one wedding worth delaying a vacation for, it's this couple's fabulously cool wedding at Fort Canning. It wasn't just a wedding party. There was no bullshit dressing up in silly heels or caterers passing off bad food as fancy. It was a refreshingly honest and fun party that reflected the personalities of the bride and groom.

This wedding party was rock star cool with sundresses and havaianas. The stage, was effectively, a full gig set up complete with pub grub and beer!. How to resist those food stands where one could get hotdogs, potato, pasta salad and Ramly burgers! Chilled Pure Blonde in plastic mugs ruled!

We loved that spacious stage and solid set-up. Good sound, great bands. Awesome to see the friends lend an air of festivity with all the strumming and singing to wish the wedding couple well. At the same time, we celebrated the flourishing Singapore indie music scene. The bawang and chilli must have worked. The evening was beautifully breezy and easy on the humidity.

I eyed that big bouncy castle like crazy. But I couldn't, in good conscience, chase the children out so that this giant impie could go jump on it. So I had to just watch wistfully. We couldn't stay for long and there were many other people to catch up with. (A shoutout to cavalock! But I'm sure we left before you arrived.)

We heard that the fireworks at 11.30pm were breathtaking. Brightly colored ones that went high up in the sky. What a sparkling way to end the evening and celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in the friends' lives. Pity we couldn't stay till then. Congratulations, E and L!

A Garden Party

There're weddings I dislike and won't attend. Then, there're those invitations I say yes to almost immediately. This is one of those.

It's very nice to head out of town on the weekend and into a green belt. I love the easy vibes at Gabriel and Susan's wedding lunch at Mimolette. A party, they say, and a party the guests made. The sauvignon blanc is gorgeous- so good till all of us drank it and none of us knew what it is or where it's from.

The bride and groom had plenty of opportunity to mingle with everyone and chat. Everyone knew one another. We've all hung out at some point, and many, regularly. Those colors on the bride's sari are so beautiful! I love the jewel hues, beads, detailing and most of all, how radiant she looked.

Thanks for having us at your party. We loved it. What a sweet and heartwarming celebration. Congratulations Gabriel and Susan!

Luckily I'm Not There

The man's out at a wedding. It's the wedding of a good friend's good friend (i.e the groom). I have met the couple on a superficial basis for a grand total of 3 times. Once for dinner, twice for drinks. All by proxy.

By virtue of the 2 degrees of separation, apparently, there was a verbal invitation to the wedding. Verbal, mind you. (I didn't hear anything spoken to my face) Not hard copy, not on email either. To my best of knowledge, I was not specifically told to show up.

So I put my foot down and absolutely refused to attend the wedding. Not even as 'partner'. As far as I was concerned, I had received no direct information nor invitation. As far as I was concerned, the man was the only one invited. Thankfully, the man did not speak further on this. We'd have gotten into a very nasty quarrel.

Hello, you're my good friend. It doesn't mean that your best pal is my good friend.

I don't respond to just any wedding invite. My stand on attending weddings borders on illogical. The entire world knows that.

I've spoken so little to the groom that there's no loss if he's not my friend and if he is, there's no gain. Their friendship won't make me happier or sadder. You know what? I don't even know how the bride's name is spelt, much less her surname.

Hairpieces

I didn't know the bride would have a feathered hairpiece too! Luckily, in the style of all female wedding guests to not outshine the bride, I'm glad I put on a simple one yesterday.

If there's one thing I can create with my hands, it's head/hairpieces. I like wearing hairpieces. I'm always on the lookout for them. But I don't often find beautiful ones. The last time I saw a pretty one, it was mounted on an ugly hairband. Eiooow. I'm not about to pay S$100 - S$450 for hairpieces that don't particularly appeal.

I can't seem to quite find the 'perfect' ones, so to speak. The easiest way is to make my own. It's something that comes naturally to me. I gather loose items to string/glue them together. I usually grab a corsage as the base before I add on the other stuff. So now, I've a number of hairpieces in different colors from simple to dramatic looks appropriate for afternoons and evenings.

Occasionally, I go to the salon to do my hair for galas. But not often. I don't have enough time to zip to the salon between work and the evening event. I find it alot more convenient to change into the dress of choice in comfort and do my own hair at home without having to rush around. So hairpieces are a great way to add on to self-styled mussed-up hair in a deliberate finish.

Buying An Outfit

In Kuala Lumpur to attend J's garden wedding, and also to grab a weekend break with the man, beyond packing the essentials, I didn't bother bringing a dress for the wedding from home.

I wasn't worried about not having anything to wear. My hotel was adjacent to 1 Utama shopping mall. It was a huge mall with many many shops. It definitely made great sense to just buy an outfit next door. Garden weddings are a good avenue to experiment with clothes. The al fresco setting and all makes it easier to wear kooky stuff. The best part is- I needn't wear stilettos. Heh!

Left the man alone for a day. He sorted himself out at the gym and caught up with his friends in the city too. One morning at the mall sorted out everything from the dress, shoes, clutch and accessories. I was so pleased.

The Wedding In KL

We got to the wedding venue pretty early. Chilled out and soaked in the cheerful, elegant yet casual atmosphere.

Jo and David's wedding was held at the terrace right by the pool side. As the sun set, a soft breeze wafted in. In the twilight, we just hung out at the side and watched the guests stream in. Then, the fairy lights twinkled and a romantic hue enveloped the terrace. We beamed as the bridal couple appeared at the top of the stairs and gently descended the steps.

Jo's smile was nervous but radiant. She was gorgeous in her flowing pink gown. Her hair fell in soft curves framing her lovely visage. No bling could have outshone that smile on her face. She had shared with me stories and this journey of love. I was absolutely honored to be invited to the wedding. I had to seek her out for a tight hug.

This is the first time I meet Jo's new husband, David. I don't know him or anything about him prior, but I know he makes Jo happy. And that's enough. She totally deserves to be taken care of properly. She has been so so strong. Nothing was happier than the news of the solemnization a couple of months back. Nothing touched me more than this joyous union that evening.

The evening was all that she wanted. It was neither cheesy nor clichéd. The decor was romantic. The walkways were strewn with candles and rose petals. The tone was simple, serious in intent, yet warm and lighthearted. This celebration was attended by guests who loved the couple and wished them well.

And the husband sang Ronan Keating's "In This Life" to his wife. It was a beautiful rendition done a cappella. He could really sing! But it was his poem of love dedicated to his wife that made everyone go 'awwww'. Nothing was more poignant and momentous than a public declaration of vows and commitment.

It was a beautiful evening. Thank you for having us, J & D. Warmest congratulations.

Strange Things I Do

I cannot believe that I busted my own (wedding) attendance quota to fly in for her wedding dinner. 

She has become a friend. And that made it meaningful to do so.

In fact, when she extended the invite over the phone, I immediately checked it against the calendar. The date and timing was good. So I said yes, with all my heart. :)

Sharon and Rob's Wedding

Nowadays, I pick and choose which wedding invitations to accept. I refuse to go to weddings where I'd be just making up numbers at the table. If I am to give an ang pow, I will give generously, and willingly; not because I'm obligated to. I view weddings as just one tangible representation of a couple's love. I don't find it necessary to have one. But when good friends do, I rarely say no to being a witness.

This weekend was Sharon and Rob's wedding. I was honored to be invited to both her church solemnization and the celebratory dinner in the evening. Without hesitation, I accepted her invitation. This is probably the only wedding I'm attending for 2007. Her wedding is what weddings are meant to be. corsage is a friend. We share honesty, humor and insight in our friendship. In that, I found meaning in attending both celebrations.

I wasn't too afraid of being bored. This weekend, I was glad to share her happiness and many touching moments. I enjoyed sharing a quiet minute with her in the bridal suite before dinner. But I had to reject the invite to the post-party, despite being tempted by those bottles of whisky. Early working Monday, you see.

To you, babe and your dashing groom, may you have many joyful years ahead.

Heartfelt Wedding Gift

Our dear scientist gave D a wedding present in the form of a plasmid DNA with their names encoded in it. All of us were blown away by the effort he took to do this. He gave a totally detailed presentation as proof of its existence. I saw stars. I've obviously forgotten all chemistry lessons except that The Periodic Table exists.

Reproduced from their wedding blog, here's the proof!

*********
A DNA sequencing chromatogram showing the sequence of the 4 DNA bases (adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine) within the region of interest on the plasmid.

If you ignore the first and last 3 bases which are start and stop signals (ie ATG and TAA), you will find that the DNA sequence translated into its corresponding amino acid sequence reads: DAWNANDIANALWAYS.

Results may be verified with a genetic code table.

Congratulations, Dawn & Ian!

An intimate wedding is the dream of every couple. Dawn and Ian insisted on sticking to a small celebration and sorted out their wedding and reception at Ember at Hotel 1929. That ended 2005 beautifully.

The cosy do saw 35 friends and family bear witness at the solemnisation before celebrating it with great food and wine. Ember does their food beautifully. The hosts ensured everyone was taken care of. Blue was the theme of the evening.

I don't attend many weddings. It's just not quite my scene, especially the traditional sort. There're many things I disagree with, and prefer not to turn up so as to keep my temper in check. This one is different. The bridal couple made their rules. Everyone attending their wedding more or less knew one another. The company was relaxed and jokes fluttered all around. Bliss was so totally in the air. D and I are the man's oldest friends and saw him through years of pain at school. Heh. I've only recently gotten to know them and totally enjoyed their awesome company and conversation. 

Our warmest wishes for this new chapter in your life.