Here comes the bride ... All dressed in spite
Michelle shows off controversial gown on her big day

IT WAS raining heavily when Shaun Chen and Michelle Chia had their customary Chinese wedding ceremony yesterday.

They were tired, having slept only two hours before waking up at 3am.

Then there was the controversy about Michelle's wedding dress, after bridal gown studio Renee L alleged earlier this month that its design had been copied for it.

But nothing could dampen the MediaCorp celebrity couple's spirits as they got hitched after a five-year courtship.

And yes, the 32-year-old bride wore the controversial dress.

Celebrity hairstylist Addy Lee, 38, brought in 10 staff members to doll up the bride's female helpers and family members.

Michelle's semi-detached house at Thomson Garden Estate was already bustling with preparations at 3.30am.

$888 hongbao & they're in

Addy saved his hands for the bride's crown of glory.

He said: 'Remember how the Chicago ladies of the '40s had their hair raised up? That's the look I'm giving Michelle this morning.'

Michelle - whom he met at a Lux shampoo ad filming in 2003 - is Addy's business partner for Twister Hair Salon, which belongs to the Monsoon Group owned by him.

When the bride was finally dolled up at 5.30am, she looked ravishing - but the controversial long lacy dress, with a plunge cut at the back, was nowhere in sight.

Instead, Michelle wore a short one with fluffy trimmings, showing off her long, slender legs.

The 13 'sisters' (or helpers) for the bride added eye candy for the day. They included local actress Dawn Yeoh, 23, and Taiwanese actress Candice Liu, 25.

They had worked with Michelle in local drama Taste Of Love.

Even Michelle's six-month-old white mini maltese called Tasha had gone for grooming a day earlier.

When the groom and his band of 'brothers' - including Malaysia-born actors Zhang Yao Dong and Zhang Zhen Xiang - arrived at the bride's home at 6am in six vintage cars, the drizzle became a downpour.

But no, the 'sisters' would not relent. The gate was to be shut, rain or shine. They had spent two weeks planning all the hurdles that the 'brothers' must clear before the groom could meet the bride.

As a result, Shaun had to scale the locked gate to prove his determination to win his bride's hand.

At the main door, the 'brothers' had to don pink shower caps, nappies and baby pacifiers. Shaun was also adorned with a white tutu and a wedding veil.

Yao Dong also had to lick his way through a ball of ice to get the key frozen inside.

Then it was all about the money.

A total of $888, contained in numerous red packets given to the 'sisters', finally granted Shaun his entry into the house at 6.45am.

Though there were only 18 steps that led to Michelle's room on the second level, the journey took longer than expected.

First, the groom's hair had to be blown dry and cosmetic foundation had to be applied. He had to look good for the filming of local variety show Go Live! hosted by Pornsak, which is to show parts of the wedding on Channel 8 at 8pm tonight.

Once outside Michelle's room, Shaun had to create music - or noises - with toy instruments, and had to say 'I love you' in 10 different languages before the door could be opened.

At 7am, Shaun finally went in and kissed his bride.

Was the morning ordeal worth it?

It was - for the bride, who said: 'I was very happy as I listened from within my room how much 'fun' Shaun was having outside.'

To which, the visibly tired groom nodded in agreement.

How does he feel about the marriage after a five-year courtship?

Happy groom

'Actually, there isn't a huge difference. (During courtship) I've already known her very well, as if we were married,' he said.

At one point, an exhausted Shaun sprawled on a sofa and closed his eyes. Yet he couldn't stop grinning for most part of the morning.

After Shaun passed his 'tests' and got his bride, the newlyweds headed for their condominium unit in Bishan, their marital home, to offer tea to his elders.

When they reappeared at her parents' home after that, she was decked out in the controversial long gown - one of the five wedding dresses tailored for her.

The couple denied accusations that they had copied the design.

They and the bridal gown studio have engaged legal counsel.

An unflappable Michelle said: 'I'm not worried at all. Why should I?'

Shaun also said earlier that morning: 'I'm so happy now, and I'm not affected by the incident. We have already sought our lawyer for advice, and we will hand over the matter to him.'

Just before the customary celebration ended at noon - by then the rain had stopped - Shaun told the media: 'I want to have four children, and we will work hard at making babies.'

To which, Michelle said demurely: 'I want to be a good wife, cook well and support my man to succeed in life.' Then she added: 'What's his will now be mine, but what's mine will remain mine,' getting laughter all round.

The wedding banquet will take place tonight at the Ritz Carlton hotel.

Twenty-five of Shaun's family members were bused down from Negri Sembilan in Malaysia to attend the two-day ceremonies.

---

STAR STRUCK
Michelle and Shaun's wedding banquet also becomes fans' party with stars

MS KAELYN Giam had two reasons to be as happy as a lark last night.

First, her celebrity friend Michelle Chia was getting married to actor Shaun Chen.

Second, she got to gawk, pose and take pictures with more than 20 celebrities at the wedding banquet at Ritz Carlton.

Her takeaways included photos of Zhang Yaodong, Joanne Peh, Tay Ping Hui and Apple Hong.

'I'm so excited to see them up close and personal,' the 28-year-old secretary told The New Paper.

Ms Giam was not alone in her excitement. Most of the friends and relatives of the couple had a field day swarming around the celebrities the moment they appeared at the reception area.

More than 850 well-wishers turned up for the banquet, and more than 200 were celebrities, said wedding coordinator Letty Lim.

Dai Yang Tian was a hot favourite of the middle-aged women who swooned over him.

Actress Ericia Lee also bedazzled many in her $380 Bebe dress, which she bought one month ago.

But the most popular of them all was probably 26-year-old actress Joanne Peh.

At 7.30pm, she stepped into the reception area dressed in a black jacket bought in Shanghai, carrying a bag with a snake-skin design to match.

Immediately, guests young and old made a beeline for her, requesting pictures non-stop until a hotel staff had to usher her away into the hall half an hour later.

Was she concerned that the many celebrities might have stolen the limelight from the bride?

No, she said. 'The couple will always dazzle the most on their big day.'

And she's probably right.

Lee Hwa Jewellery sponsored the 32-year-old bride with two bracelets, two pairs of earrings, a necklace and a ring to wear during the banquet - all made with diamonds - costing more than $100,000.

However, the controversial gown with a deep plunge cut - allegedly a copy of a design by Renee L bridal gown studio - was nowhere to be found.

Not afraid

Not that Michelle was afraid of running into trouble with Renee L.

When she wore that particular dress on Sunday morning at the customary wedding, she had told The New Paper: 'I'm not worried. Why should I?', denying the allegation of copying.

Moreover, she had no shortage of dresses. Last night, she wore three other evening gowns, starting with an elegant white number adorned with numerous crystals.

To match the occasion, the celebrity guests too helped turn the wedding into a glittery fashion show - after all, the event was beamed live on the local variety show Go Live!, which started airing last night at 8pm on Channel8.

The show, hosted by Pornsak and Lee Teng, carried the clips of the customary wedding on Sunday, but the main highlight was the wedding banquet last night.

Pornsak said: 'I'm very happy to do this show. With so many familiar faces around, this feels more like a reunion.

'For the first time on Singapore TV, we have a programme that traces a wedding 'live'.

'With all the mega stars appearing on the show, I believe the ratings will shoot up.'

Adding to the show factor were the appearances of familiar host Quan Yifeng and actor-comedian Mark Lee.

The performers - though not professionals - moved the hearts of the guests and the couple.

Michelle's cousin Cheryl Ann Chan, in her early 30s, who works in the marine industry, took the stage with five friends and serenaded the guests with a repertoire of more than 40 English and Chinese jazz and pop songs that night.

Even Michelle's mother got into the act.

Madam Mary Yip, in her 50s, went on stage to sing two Chinese classics, including Full Moon And Beautiful Flowers - as a surprise gift for the couple.

But the moment that tugged at the most hearts was when Shaun cried as he made vows to take care of Michelle forever.

Asked by the hosts what assurance he had for Michelle's parents, the groom turned his gaze to his bride and said: 'I will always love and take care of you.'

Source : New Paper

Labels: Wedding

《綜藝Go Live!》將直擊陳泓宇和謝韻儀的婚禮及婚宴，這應該也是獅城首次有藝人的婚禮現場轉播。

（新加坡訊）謝韻儀和陳泓宇后天（5月10日）舉行結婚迎娶儀式后，隔天5月11日在麗嘉登(Ritz Carlton)酒店舉行盛大婚宴。

據知，謝韻儀在拍攝《緣之燴》認識的好友劉容嘉和公主姚懿珊將會充當姐妹團。和陳泓宇同樣來自馬來西亞的章縝翔及張耀棟則是兄弟團不可少的人選。

婚宴當天，郭亮和李騰也會帶領《綜藝Go Live!》節目攝制隊，現場報導整個盛況。
下周一（11日）晚上8點，陳泓宇和謝韻儀在麗嘉登酒店舉行千人婚宴，到時，新傳媒綜藝節目《綜藝Go Live!》將拉隊到婚禮現場，做1個小時的現場報導。

《綜藝Go Live!》監製吳永華受訪時說，節目不只會在婚宴當晚現場拍攝，還會在來臨的星期六和星期天拉隊去拍攝新人敬茶、新郎如何被整、新娘和姐妹團趕製送給賓客的小禮物等精彩的花絮。

“韻儀很有心思，特地和她的姐妹團親手製作了1000份小禮物，準備送給出席她的婚宴的賓客。這份禮物聽說是很特別的，不過觀眾和賓客得等到當晚才知道是什么。”

吳永華透露，節目主持人當晚會直擊謝韻儀的化妝間，比賓客先看到新娘子的新娘造型。而她也通知了藝人管理組，當晚把所有出席的藝人賓客都打扮一番。

“新人請了很多新傳媒藝人出席，我們準備來個‘藝人服裝展覽’，把鏡頭迎向出席的藝人們，讓他們走‘紅地毯’！”

准新娘子謝韻儀受訪時透露，《綜藝Go Live!》製作組前幾天征求她的意見，希望能到現場進行拍攝。

“我覺得ok，因為這是喜事，沒有什么好避諱的，而且我請了很多藝人同事，媒體也受邀到場。”
不過，她表示，不想把婚禮變成一場秀，所以節目製作組會順著她的婚禮節目來進行，盡量不會干擾到流程。

“我只想大家一起參予這樁喜事，所以節目主持人去訪問其他藝人，說一些祝福的話語，或拍攝我們準備婚禮的畫面，我都可以接受，因為這也是特別的回憶。”

據她透露，婚禮的主題是秋天的童話，所以會場會有許多干草和深色花瓣的佈置。

記者聯絡上准新郎倌陳泓宇(小圈)，他表示知道星期天早上《綜藝Go Live!》製作組會親臨現場。
“我聽說我可能需要吃wasabi（日本芥末）,我也準備好工具，到時直接爬牆或用武力撬開門就好了。現在行情不好，我先準備99元(約238令吉)紅包，看到時的情況如何再說！”

Labels: Article