A Wedding at Ruma Hotel Kuala Lumpur With A Nod To Peranakan Roots

Yie Chern and Azalea tied the knot in an intimate yet elegant affair at The Ruma Hotel Kuala Lumpur on Merdeka Day surrounded by about 70 of their closest family and friends. Due to work related reasons, the pair needed to expedite their plans for a wedding ceremony and decided to hire a wedding planner – Sherly from Tie The Knot to pull off their event within a month. Needless to say, the team hit it out of the park with the peranakan directives.

Having enlisted the planning task to their planner, the couple jetted off to Italy on a pre-planned trip where Yie Chern seized the opportunity and took Azalea, who happens to love pasta, to a pasta making workshop in the outskirts of Rome. He alerted the family who ran this programme and expressed his proposition to hide the ring in the pasta dough, to which he received a fiery retort from the maestro herself – an Italian nonna. The local family however proposed a far superior solution and one that should guarantee his success.

On the appointed day, Yie Chern and Azalea joined 15 others on the cooking class which starts with a tour of the neighbouring mediaeval castle Saveilli, thereafter they adjourn to the family home to make pastas with nonna. After the class, Yie Chern told Azalea that he had misplaced his sunglasses at the castle. An embarrassed Azalea informed someone from the family, who appeared displeased, but offered them a ride back to the castle. Trailing behind Yie Chern, Azalea made her way up the stairs leading up the watchtower, she thought it odd that she was hearing faint sounds of music. Turning the corner, she found Yie Chern on his knees, behind him, the vistas of the ancient town sprawled for miles. She said yes as the same Italian nonna, now charming, appeared with a bouquet of flowers.

After a whirlwind month of planning, the actual day arrives. Despite the limitation in time, floral arrangements were on point. Anthuriums, birds of paradise, orchids and hydrangeas grace the decor as teak furniture from Yie Chern’s childhood home completed the pelamin. A wide variety of nyonya kuehs were on offer as guests awaited the arrival of the bride.

Azalea wore a beautifully crafted nyonya kebaya and completed her look with a sleek updo, classic jewellery and an open veil with scalloped lace-lined hem. The groom looked handsome in his baju melayu with matching batik motifs staying true to the selected theme of the wedding -an homage to Azalea’s ancestry. And the dress code for guests was, you guessed it – national wear. Perfect! For the eleventh hour soiree. The akad nikah took place at The Frangipani, an outdoor terrace space and the reception was held at The Pavillion.

“I’m still amazed at how everything came together perfectly on our wedding day, considering how we decided on everything at the very last minute. From finding the best suited vendors to all the hiccups along the way, everything just landed perfectly on the day. And to have it on merdeka day was the icing on the cake, as it added much depth and meaning to our union.” concluded Azalea as she recollected her special day.

Venue: Ruma Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Photographer: Manoj Photography

Planner: Tie The Knot

Florist: Pax floral studio

Make up artist: Fazz Ariffin @fazz700_

Henna artist: @nanasyazhenna

Bridal dress: @amaze_official_

Bridal shoes: nelissa hilman @nelissahilman

Groom’s attire: Omar Ali @omarali.ttdi

Groom’s Songket: @amaze_official_

Groom’s shoes: @velascamilano

Bride’s jewellery: Heirloom