Set against the undeniably classic backdrop of the Eastern & Oriental Hotel in Penang is this beautifully modern yet traditional wedding – complete with a doughnut wall! With hints of Korean and Malaysian Chinese traditions, the newlyweds exchanged their vows amidst beautiful floral elements and a gorgeous colour palette of navy and dusty pink. Thanks to Daren Chong Photography for this dreamy set of photos!
Carene: “If I had to single out a most memorable moment, it would be our vow reading. I was so touched by Chris’s vows because he’s not the best with words. Those vows coming from him was the most genuine moment, and I think everyone felt it because when I looked up, teary-eyed, everyone was also trying to hold in tears. It was great bringing the best of both Chinese and Korean cultures to our wedding! Because Chris is Korean, we wanted to be able to incorporate some Korean elements into our Malaysian Chinese wedding. During the tea ceremony (a tradition that Koreans also have) we did the ‘deep bow’ to show our respect to the family.
“We also had a doughnut bar (my dream!) that had both Malaysian (‘cendol’) and Korean (spicy seaweed) inspired flavours. I got to wear a traditional Korean ‘hanbok’ during the wedding ceremony, which had been custom made for me in Korea and brought over by my mother-in-law. Another thing was our first dance, which we learned by ourselves! We had Youtube lessons for one month right in our living room!
“I’ve always wanted a timeless wedding with our favourite colours – dusty rose and navy. In the end, however, the only navy colours in the wedding were the groom and groomsmen’s suits. I knew the venue had to be the Eastern & Oriental Hotel (the most iconic hotel in Penang), and we actually got married at the same venue and date (only six years apart) as my sister and brother-in-law! To be honest, I had my very supportive family and an amazing wedding planner that brought everything together. As my husband and I both live in Australia and are doctors, it was hard for us to organise a huge overseas wedding. So almost everything was done online and we were very happy with the results!”
Tips from the bride: “It’s never too early to start planning. Especially with popular venues, they get booked up quickly. Remember to be flexible – I know we all want our wedding to be the way we’d imagined it to be, but have fun with the planning and get family members involved because when you look back, you want to remember your wedding with happy memories, not filled with resentment or conflict.”
CARENE & CHRIS {Malaysia}
Photography by Daren Chong Photography / Videography by Motion In Style / Wedding Planning by Sugar & Spice Eventa Penang / Venue Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Penang / Number of Guests 340 / Bridal Gown by Emmanuel Haute Couture, Samantha Chua / Bride’s Shoes by Valentino / Hair and Makeup by Yvonne Chuah of MX Academy / Wedding Bands by Cartier / Groom’s Attire by Hugo Boss / Bridesmaids’ Dresses by Tulle & Chantilly / Groomsmen’s Attire by Peter Jackson Australia / Flowers and Décor by O’hara Florist / Wedding Cake by Seven Cream Cakery / Doughnut Bar by The After Meal / Nyonya Kuih by Li Er Cafe / Wedding Favours by Buih + Co / Art and Stationery by Minted / Wedding Entertainment by Wedding in Charlie