A chic beach party followed by a grand dinner evoking the glamour of couturier Coco Chanel gave the nuptials of Tony Wong and Toby Wen the right blend of sophistication and opulence

We’ve heard so many tatler_tatler_stories of couples finding love while on holiday abroad, at a party with close friends and at the work place. But surely not at a gym? That’s just where it started for model Toby Wen and Tony Wong, who’s in the finance industry.The fitness enthusiasts who first met in Hong Kong had had just one outing together before this. Then on their second date, at a 117th-floor gym, sparks flew.

After a year of courtship, the proposal came. As 31-year-old Toby recalls, her beau had planned to surprise her on her birthday but he ended up being surprised instead. She says, “I sensed he had something up his sleeve all along, so naturally, I wasn’t at all surprised when he popped the question. When he asked why I wasn’t surprised, I told him that some time before that, out of the blue, a good friend of ours had come up to me and asked me, ‘So, what’s your ring size, huh?’”

 

The Theme and Concept

In order to combine his desire for a romantic wedding on the beach and her dream of an elegant celebration, the couple made their wedding a two-day affair. On Day One, guests from various parts of the world were welcomed at a laidback poolside party at Tanjong Beach Club. Wedding planner Hannah Chong of Heaven’s Gift Wedding Concierge had the venue decked out in baby blue and pink balloons while suspended yellow mokara orchids, Chinese lanterns and candles lent a dreamy feel.

From carefree and relaxed on the first day of the celebration, the atmosphere turned to sophistication and splendour during the wedding dinner at The St Regis Hotel Singapore on Day Two. Putting her creative juices to work, Hannah designed two very different concepts within the hotel’s John Jacob ballroom. The first was an enchanted garden where the couple exchanged their wedding vows under a giant tree. After the ceremony, attention turned to the Coco Chanel-inspired stage, the focal point for the evening’s action. Dramatic white padded panels in the style icon’s signature criss-cross design immediately conveyed a luxe vibe while lush white floral arches filled the air with a serene elegance.

The couple settled for nothing less than the finest threads when it came to their wardrobe. Tony was dapper in four bespoke suits by a renowned designer while his radiant bride sported three different looks with gowns from Hong Kong. In a departure from the usual pink and peach, the bridesmaids wore yellow off-shoulder frocks that not only injected a pop of colour to the event’s mainly white palette but also plenty of cheer.

Creating a bit of a spectator event, an entourage of eight super sports cars was sent to fetch the bride to the hotel. That wasn’t the evening’s only attraction however. Inside the hotel ballroom, a top-notch entertainment line-up awaited.

“To get everyone in the party mood, we hired pop string quartet Vox to perform. A close friend of ours, Lorraine Tan, also sang during our march in ceremony and during the dinner,” shares Toby. For a sweet finale to the wedding, Vox emerged for another dramatic musical performance before a heavenly spread of desserts was unveiled. 

 

The Highlights

The sunset, cool air and wide open space at Tanjong Beach Club created just the romantic vibe the couple had in mind for their big day. Making the evening more enchanting and memorable, all the guests were invited to release balloons and lanterns into the air as the sun made its descent. “It was a magical sight and a perfect complement to the fun we had in the company of the people closest to us,” shares Toby.

After a not-so-successful attempt at surprising Toby during his marriage proposal, Tony more than made up for it with a meaningful video dedicated to his new wife. “It was a collaborated effort between him, the wedding planner, our photographer and videographer,” shares the bride. “Tony is a man of few words when it comes to opening his heart, yet he created this video to really express his love to me. I was pleasantly surprised.” Tony quips, “It took courage to speak up about my feelings towards her, but I was very happy to have been able to share my joy in marrying this wonderful woman.”

 

Wedding Vendors

Makeup & Hairstyling
Jyue Huey/The Make Up Room
Photography
Anthony Kho/Let There Be Light; Mike & Team/Live Studios Photography
Roving Photography
Flashpixs Photography
Videography
Yang/Substance Films
Florist
Boenga
Concept Designer & Wedding Planner
Hannah Chong and team/Heaven’s Gift Wedding Concierge
Music
Vox & Wedding Harmony
Wedding Cake 
Joey Ling/The Delights Heaven