Ben and Mei's wedding day

The photo is supposed to end this post but like the 'underlined text' below, it's just not happening! Anyway ... this was the last photo taken at the end of the wedding celebration. It was probably close to 12am (yah, so many kids are still up!) but we had to get this rare photo of the entire family (almost) all dressed up and looking so happy.

(The text below went all crazy 'underlined' with me last night while I was trying to upload the photos and I have no idea how to undo it, despite the umpteen times I tried to 'ctrl U' the text???)

We're all jet lagged. Last night, we all went to bed at 1-ish in the morning. And this morning, we had to be up early for the wedding tea ceremony. The Tea Ceremony is a traditional Chinese custom whereby the married couple would serve tea (a special brew of red dates and dried longans) to the older members in the family. The younger family members would serve the married couple the tea, and that meant Johan and I were one of the lucky few who served tea to Ben and Mei, and in return we received a red packet (with money), as a sign of their gratitude. The entire family gathered at the Four Seasons hotel to celebrate the wedding that evening. Everyone took part in the wedding. Sera was delighted to wear her white 'princess' dress, complete with her grey mouse shoes (which she named Molly) and her hair garland (I'm surprised she kept that on for more than 5 minutes). She was confused with all the commotion prior to the wedding march and when she was ushered down the aisle, together with Joseph and Marc, she walked seven steps and then totally frozed. So the ring bearers went on without her, the other four flower girls walked past her, the bride and her father walked past her ... and Sera, well she walked straight to Johan (who was sitting somewhere in the middle row) and unto his lap. We were still proud of her anyway! The wedding celebration went well into the night. A 9- course Chinese dinner was served, a deejay played Ben and Mei's favourite music, there were games and .... lots of happy people in that one ballroom. We were very glad to be a part of it and we wish Ben and Mei a wonderful journey from this day on ...

So Johan was given the honorable task of opening the car door for Mei, the bride. The duty is usually given to the youngest male in the family, which he isn't, just his luck that all the young boys were at school that morning.

First order of the morning ... Ben and Mei pouring tea for my grandparents. The rest of the family had their turn after that.


The two youngest, Yasmin and Rachel, in the family playing together



Yasmin cuddling with auntie Fiona

The flower girl. Can you tell she is just a little overwhelmed by the task ahead? ha ha


Yasmin and Johan all ready for the celebration ahead



The wedding march. Sera, flanked by her two uncles Joseph and Marc, looked almost fearful when she realised she had to walk down the aisle with all those people 'ooh-ing and aah-ing'.





She didn't get to throw petals unto the floor but she did throw them all around Johan