Match-made at a party 20 years ago, Winnie Chan and James Quan had marriage on the cards just a month after they first met, defying the myth that couples should date for a few years to really get to know each other before settling down. Along the way, they had  two children, now aged 19 and 16, and they founded Bynd Artisan, an experiential retail concept which seeks to continue the heritage of Winnie’s grandfather’s bookbinding business while celebrating artisanal excellence and the beauty of traditional craftsmanship.  The company has just been awarded the President's Design Award - Design of the Year 2016, Singapore’s highest design accolade, proving that married couples can make the best partners both at home and in business.

Tell us your love story. 

Winnie Chan (WC) James proposed to me a month after we met and I said yes immediately (he was too charming), we registered our marriage three months later and had our wedding dinner nine months later, all within the same year. I love that we have come so far and defied all naysayers who say that one should date for a few years and get to know the other person thoroughly before tying the knot. I hold close to my heart a quote by Julia Child: “The secret of a happy marriage is finding the right person. You know they’re right if you love to be with them all the time.”
James Quan (JQ) The moment I saw Winnie, I rang up my best friend and told him I was going to desperately fall in love, get married and have kids. Obviously we got to know each other better when we became a couple. Our personalities and the things we like are quite different; for instance, I love Cantonese and Mandarin songs while Winnie like English songs. I like the drumlet end of the chicken wing while she likes the wing and tip. We understand each other, respect the other’s choices instead of insisting on liking the same things. It is because we are different that we are able to join forces and achieve great things at work and at home. 

What do you look back on every time your anniversary comes around? 
WC I think of James serenading me and our guests with a love ballad at our wedding dinner. It was Jacky Cheung’s song Ni De Xing Wo De Shi Ming Zhi  “你的姓氏，我的名字”. Since then, we have been through so much together, through thick and thin. He is not just a partner at home but also at work. He is my confidante, my supporter, my critic all at the same time.
JQ The fact that another year has gone by and we love each other more than we did last year.

Celebration plans for your anniversary this year?
WC We don’t usually celebrate this day in a big way or exchange gifts. I think it is more important that we treasure each other and do not take each other for granted. James always says, “If we are happy, every day is an anniversary; if we are not happy…” Ask our children and they will able to recite it.
JQ Now that our kids are older and more independent, we are able to spend more quality time together. We plan to visit Paris to celebrate our 20^th wedding anniversary by the first quarter of 2017.

What’s the greatest gift you’ve received from your spouse? 
WC Love, trust and understanding.
JQ Herself. My children.