Joelle and Kevin, 20 Jul 08, Amara Sanctuary
Hsin Yeow's thoughts: Can't Help Falling In Love
Famous last words.
I had a bit of time after Calvin and Misako's wedding, so I popped over to Amara Sanctuary to look for Joelle. She was getting ready for the solemnisation ceremony at the Glass Pavilion, and took time to chat with me. Those few minutes made all the difference to how the wedding turned out.
Joelle told me that Kevin was not the "romantic sort." And she would be "very happy" if I could persuade him to do something "really romantic". ("Is that a challenge?", I thought.)
Then I got to know Adrian, Mui Sin and Shaowei, who were helping Joelle out. Adrian, a University friend of Joelle, told me that she's a "warm and kind-hearted person" and that he would like to remind Joelle and Kevin that today "is just beginning of their journey together".
Of course, all the above became fodder for my speech later that evening. Mui Sin also heeded my advice by penning a few lines of well-wishes on a piece of paper and handing it over for me to read aloud. Her words, strung together with thought, care and love, read like a poem.
The "challenge" was surprisingly easy to overcome. When I asked Kevin if he would like to serenade Joelle, he agreed without much hesitation (apart from the usual I-can't-sing excuse, which I brushed aside). Kevin even orchestrated the surprise by determining when he would be springing it. Instead of choosing to do it after the toasting ceremony, as I suggested, he decided to sing his song after he finished the rounds of phototaking, on the pretext of going onstage to express his thanks.
When Kevin whipped out the lyric sheet (which he didn't really need) and started singing, Joelle's shoulders shook and she started tearing up with joy. Kevin sang with conviction and panache, and he won thunderous applause from the audience and several shouts of "Encore!"
Kevin's performance was not the only surprise of the evening. Mr Ong, a family friend, was cajoled by Joelle's dad to sing the Teresa Teng chestnut 月亮代表我的心 (The Moon Represents My Heart) and Shaowei, Joelle's cousin, performed the final song of the evening, 花心 (Heart Of A Flower).
I'll remember Joelle and Kevin's wedding for the laughter, the applause and also for that touching moment when Joelle broke down when giving thanks to her parents, telling them, "I'm really a big girl now. I can take care of myself, and Kevin will take care of me. Thank you, and I love you."
Thank you Joelle and Kevin, for trusting us to provide music for your wedding! Congratulations and may you enjoy every step of the journey ahead!
Band: Bevlyn, Hsin Yeow, Edward, Lim Hui
Thanks to Kelvin Koh of Lighted Pixels for sending us these beautiful photos!
Repertoire
Wonderful Tonight, 当我八十岁 (When I'm 80), My One And Only Love, Pretty World, As Time Goes By, More Than This, And I Love You So, La Vie En Rose, Let's Fall In Love, 宝贝 (Baby), Quando Quando Quando
L-O-V-E (2nd March-in), Something Stupid, Dream A Little Dream, 家后 (Queen of the House), You Raise Me Up, Can't Take My Eyes Off You, I've Got The World On A String, Taking A Chance On Love, Save The Last Dance For Me
Audience request: 一人一半 (One Half)
Special performances:
By the groom - Can't Help Falling In Love
By Mr Ong, a family friend - 月亮代表我的心 (The Moon Represents My Heart)
By Shaowei, Joelle's cousin - 花心 (Heart Of A Flower)
Compliments from Joelle:
Hi Hsin Yeow,
Thank you, Bevlyn and your band so much for a brilliant performance on my wedding day! All our guests enjoyed your performance thoroughly and many actually thought you're our mates! And I personally owe you a big one for you-know-what!
And our sincere apologies for forgetting angpaos at the end of it all! We're really not the most organised couples around. When I'm back in s'pore again, I'll give you a buzz and organise to make this up.
thanks a million, once again...
Famous last words.
I had a bit of time after Calvin and Misako's wedding, so I popped over to Amara Sanctuary to look for Joelle. She was getting ready for the solemnisation ceremony at the Glass Pavilion, and took time to chat with me. Those few minutes made all the difference to how the wedding turned out.
Joelle told me that Kevin was not the "romantic sort." And she would be "very happy" if I could persuade him to do something "really romantic". ("Is that a challenge?", I thought.)
Then I got to know Adrian, Mui Sin and Shaowei, who were helping Joelle out. Adrian, a University friend of Joelle, told me that she's a "warm and kind-hearted person" and that he would like to remind Joelle and Kevin that today "is just beginning of their journey together".
Of course, all the above became fodder for my speech later that evening. Mui Sin also heeded my advice by penning a few lines of well-wishes on a piece of paper and handing it over for me to read aloud. Her words, strung together with thought, care and love, read like a poem.
The "challenge" was surprisingly easy to overcome. When I asked Kevin if he would like to serenade Joelle, he agreed without much hesitation (apart from the usual I-can't-sing excuse, which I brushed aside). Kevin even orchestrated the surprise by determining when he would be springing it. Instead of choosing to do it after the toasting ceremony, as I suggested, he decided to sing his song after he finished the rounds of phototaking, on the pretext of going onstage to express his thanks.
When Kevin whipped out the lyric sheet (which he didn't really need) and started singing, Joelle's shoulders shook and she started tearing up with joy. Kevin sang with conviction and panache, and he won thunderous applause from the audience and several shouts of "Encore!"
Kevin's performance was not the only surprise of the evening. Mr Ong, a family friend, was cajoled by Joelle's dad to sing the Teresa Teng chestnut 月亮代表我的心 (The Moon Represents My Heart) and Shaowei, Joelle's cousin, performed the final song of the evening, 花心 (Heart Of A Flower).
I'll remember Joelle and Kevin's wedding for the laughter, the applause and also for that touching moment when Joelle broke down when giving thanks to her parents, telling them, "I'm really a big girl now. I can take care of myself, and Kevin will take care of me. Thank you, and I love you."
Thank you Joelle and Kevin, for trusting us to provide music for your wedding! Congratulations and may you enjoy every step of the journey ahead!
Band: Bevlyn, Hsin Yeow, Edward, Lim Hui
Thanks to Kelvin Koh of Lighted Pixels for sending us these beautiful photos!
Repertoire
Wonderful Tonight, 当我八十岁 (When I'm 80), My One And Only Love, Pretty World, As Time Goes By, More Than This, And I Love You So, La Vie En Rose, Let's Fall In Love, 宝贝 (Baby), Quando Quando Quando
L-O-V-E (2nd March-in), Something Stupid, Dream A Little Dream, 家后 (Queen of the House), You Raise Me Up, Can't Take My Eyes Off You, I've Got The World On A String, Taking A Chance On Love, Save The Last Dance For Me
Audience request: 一人一半 (One Half)
Special performances:
By the groom - Can't Help Falling In Love
By Mr Ong, a family friend - 月亮代表我的心 (The Moon Represents My Heart)
By Shaowei, Joelle's cousin - 花心 (Heart Of A Flower)
Compliments from Joelle:
Hi Hsin Yeow,
Thank you, Bevlyn and your band so much for a brilliant performance on my wedding day! All our guests enjoyed your performance thoroughly and many actually thought you're our mates! And I personally owe you a big one for you-know-what!
And our sincere apologies for forgetting angpaos at the end of it all! We're really not the most organised couples around. When I'm back in s'pore again, I'll give you a buzz and organise to make this up.
thanks a million, once again...