*Clears cob web* Raymond Phang Photography would like to apologise to our dear readers and followers of this blog! It’s been way too long since our last wedding photography related entry! Raymond has been busy with his photoshoots and on his constantly “learning program” where he spends time reading up on latest photography and lighting techniques, reading up on tutorials and stuffs like that. Other times when he’s not doing the few above mentioned, he’ll be out running errands such as delivering DVDs of images, posting out snail mails, collecting albums, shopping to stock up our supplies for our studio etc.

Susulini (a.k.a Susu) has more or less settled down with Raymond Phang Photography. Feeding our grossmits (Hermit crabs), disturbing Baileys our Mascot chihuahua, raiding the fridge (she actually only raid the drinks and not the sinful food like chocolates!)! Susu not only does the editing, sometimes when we have pre-wedding shoots, she’ll tag along and help us out with the lightings and stuffs. She’s a straight forward person with a unique personality. Sometimes when she gets too carried away, she tends to forget about stuffs like formalities & manners, so please do pardon her if she has ever offended anyone of you ya?

As for meeeeeeee… I’m still vertically challenged (which I think will be the case forever), and horizontally empowered!! In fact, I’m getting more and more empowered! I attribute the cause to my occupation hazard. Irregular meals, super gigantic meals, and after all the sinful meals, I slam my fatty ass on the chair and grow roots infront of the monitor.

I’ve actually proposed an idea to my Boss – exercise at least once a week, sleep before 12 midnight, or the very least walk the dog for 30 minutes after a meal. My Boss liked the idea! Initially we followed the plan, but after 2-3 days, everybody seemed suffer from amnesia, they actually forgot about my plan. *Shakes head*

Nonetheless I hope Year 2010 have been good for everyone of you so far!

Here’s some images to share from Matthew & Melissa’s wedding! We met the couple quite some time back at TCC when we haven’t got our current studio yet, and I had quite a deep impression because TCC actually black out on that day and we had to walk to another restaurant to do our meet up. I remember we chatted not only about the wedding, but also on HTC phones. Hahaha! Perhaps because Melissa is an artist (she plays and teaches the Piano!!), so they’re more spontaneous in making decisions and “fearless” about doing what they really want.

They had two day wedding celebration, but we only managed to cover one of the days since Raymond had another shoot for their first day. We’re really glad that the couple chose us to photograph their wedding day, and after looking through the images, it makes me even more certain to have a wedding celebration like theirs! One which is super fun filled, one which is arranged specially for themselves and close friends to enjoy, instead of the typical dinner banquet at night where couples usually are clueless about 70-80% of the guests attending!! So a two day wedding would be perfect! Day 1 for family with all the traditional rituals and ceremonies to go through, Day 2 to let your hair loose and party like crazy with your friends!!

Enough of my naggy wordings, enjoy the images!

The couple decided on an outdoor beach wedding theme where they had their solemnisation ceremony, and thankfully they were blessed with good weather that day!

Here comes the bride!

Here’s Matthew & Melissa!

Very Club Med feel… Hahaha!

Afterwhich it’s the must have “Toss the hand bouquet” time! Guess who caught it!

So unfair since Matthew’s status has already upgraded to Married few moments ago, so they had a Toss the bouquet again, this time without Matthew!

I love the series from their wedding images because there’s a lot of big big smiles, laughters, and I could actually feel the joy and happiness from the images even though I wasn’t present at the wedding.

Having some on stage games… Hehehe…

I wonder what foodie did the friends asked Matthew to eat, but it looks like yummy satay to me!

Hmm… Maybe not? Wait, are these the evil sisters we usually see during the gatecrashing session  or are these angels??

I wish I was there to witness everything cos the images make me want to know what was happening! That’s why I say Raymond is really lucky cos he not only witnessed all the Love and happy marriages during various wedding shoots, he also got to do what he love doing the most!

Then it was time to let the hair loose and have fun dancing!!

You really don’t have to care too much about what other people think of you, whether the folks or other random strangers would think what you’re doing is pretty shameful in their eyes. I’ve heard of couples being “scolded” by their parents right after their actual day wedding banquet ends, simply because the couple removed Sharks Fin from the course and it made the parents “lose face” because other uncles and aunties complained about it, saying nasty things like “got money hold banquet at this hotel, no money treat sharks fin” even though they replaced it with individual servings of gigantic abalone for every guests. But they cannot understand how their children felt as divers and lovers of the waters, the environment and the sea creatures.

I’ve also heard of couples absolutely detesting taking the the table to table shots and faking a smile. They actually wanted to do away with the whole banquet and have an intimate dinner/luncheon with only close friends and immediate family members but couldn’t because of the parents.  I’ve heard of couples working with too many restrictions because their parents didn’t like it. No black gown, no black theme for the banquet ballroom, must wear the traditional kua and no modern cheongsam and blablablablabla.

It’s a good thing that you’re still keeping the tradition, it’s also a very good thing that you respect your parents’ wishes because you want to be filial to them. Personally I feel that the wedding is pretty much like a show. It’s the marriage that matters. Although your Actual Day is a once in a lifetime thingy,  it’s your decision whether you’d like to have it your way, or have it their way. I agree that holding the wedding over two days will really burn a much bigger hole in your pocket. So maybe it’s a good time to save up lots lots now! And ultimately it all depends on whether you’d like your Actual Day to be a grand affair for show, or to keep it small but meaningful and purposeful.

Matthew and Melissa sure had tons of fun that day.

When you do something to the groom……

You gotta do something to the bride too!!

And the couple continues to dance. It reminds me of the dancing scenes from Bollywood movies. Kekekeke.

The lovely Angels.

Congratulations once again to Matthew and Melissa on their marriage! It takes a lot to pop the question and even more to say “I Do”. I’m glad you guys have made it, and all the best to you guys as you embark on a new journey of life together as husband and wife!

Lots of  ♥,

- Angeline

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