YS & Stella Wedding
A Taste of Forever: YS & Stella's Intimate Wedding at Keyaki
Singapore, a melting pot of cultures, offers a plethora of stunning locations for wedding celebrations. But for YS and Stella, the choice was clear: the serene and elegant Keyaki Japanese restaurant at Pan Pacific Singapore. This wasn't just a venue; it was a sanctuary, a place where their love story unfolded amidst the tranquil beauty of a meticulously crafted Japanese garden. As their wedding photographer I was privileged to capture the essence of their special day.
Keyaki, with its authentic Japanese architecture and lush greenery, provided the perfect backdrop for an intimate wedding. The soft, natural light filtering through the shoji screens created a warm and romantic ambiance, ideal for capturing those precious, fleeting moments. YS and Stella's vision was clear: a celebration that was both personal and meaningful, reflecting their deep connection and shared love for Japanese culture.
The day began with Stella's graceful preparation, surrounded by her closest friends and family. The delicate details of her wedding dress, perfectly complemented by her radiant smile, were a joy to photograph. YS, equally dashing in his formal attire, exuded a calm confidence, a testament to the love he shared with Stella.
The ceremony itself was a beautiful blend of traditional elements and heartfelt personal touches. The tranquil setting of the Keyaki garden, with its koi pond and carefully manicured landscapes, provided a sense of peace and serenity. The exchange of vows, spoken with sincerity and emotion, was a moment that resonated with everyone present.
Following the ceremony, we explored the various corners of Keyaki, capturing candid moments of joy and laughter. The interplay of light and shadow, the textures of the wooden structures, and the vibrant greenery all contributed to the visual narrative of their wedding day. Every frame was a testament to the love shared between YS and Stella, a love that felt both timeless and deeply personal.
One of the highlights of the day was the intimate reception, where guests enjoyed a delectable Japanese feast. The atmosphere was warm and convivial, filled with joyous celebrations. I focused on capturing the genuine emotions and interactions, ensuring that every memory was preserved.
Why Keyaki?
Uniqueness: In a city filled with grand ballrooms, Keyaki offers a unique and intimate setting.
Authenticity: The authentic Japanese architecture and garden create a truly immersive experience.
Serenity: The peaceful atmosphere allows for a more relaxed and personal celebration.
Photography Gold: The natural light and beautiful backdrops are a photographer's dream.
YS and Stella's wedding at Keyaki was a testament to the power of intimate celebrations. It was a day filled with love, laughter, and genuine connection. As their photographer, I was honored to be a part of their story, capturing the moments that will be cherished for a lifetime.
If you're looking for a unique and intimate wedding venue in Singapore, I highly recommend considering Keyaki. And if you're looking for a photographer to capture your special day with authenticity and artistry, please visit my website at www.chrischangphotography.com. Let's create memories that will last a lifetime.
Looking for your own unique wedding photography?
Explore more of my work at www.chrischangphotography.com
Contact me to discuss your wedding vision.
Let's create something beautiful together.
Thank you, YS and Stella, for allowing me to be a part of your beautiful journey.
Annabel & Yosuke Wedding
Hi everyone, we are thrilled to feature the beautiful wedding of Annabel & Yosuke today! Due to travel restrictions in 2020, their much-anticipated wedding was postponed to the end of 2023. Annabel, hailing from Singapore, and Yosuke, from Japan, brought their loved ones together for a joyous and unforgettable day of love and celebration.
Their wedding began at the bridal suite at Fullerton Bay Hotel. The bridal prep began a little later than usual so the light during the shoot was pretty good! When we arrived, the make-up was already well underway. As there was no gatecrash, we had the luxury of time to capture detail shots as well as beauty shots of Annabel before you got changed into her first outfit.
Right after, we had some time before the tea ceremony, so we took a quick photoshoot with the couples and families at the Fullerton Bay Hotel corridor leading to Monti. We often have limited time for these photos on wedding days due to the schedule running over, so I made sure to be ready. I set up a lightstand with an umbrella because the corridor lighting wasn't great for a big group photo.
Next would be the tea ceremony held within Monti. Tea ceremony can be a very traditional event but it can also be a very emotional affair when the families officially welcome the bride or groom to the family. Monti offers a beautiful panoramic view of marina bay sands area but is also very back lit when photographed in the afternoon hence I needed to setup some lights for the tea ceremony to ensure that both subjects and background are exposed properly.
Next would be the solemnisation ceremony itself. Held at the rooftop of Monti, it offers an unobstructed view of the Marina Bay area. If you are having your solemnisation ceremony in the afternoon do note that it can get really hot!
Next after the ceremony I headed back to the dining area to capture the details of the setup.
After the celebrations in the afternoon it was followed up by another dinner party at Fullerton Bay Hotel!
Jasmine & Julian's Wedding Day Coverage
Often we see larger weddings being featured on wedding blogs. From a packed wedding schedule to a big guest list, larger wedding days are fun to capture as there is just so much happening all the time. How about more intimate weddings though? I remember back in 2012 when I got married myself, mine was an intimate wedding too with over 10 tables at Four Seasons Hotel. This brings us to the present day, featuring the intimate wedding day coverage of Jasmine & Julian. They were getting married in Four Seasons Hotel as well and had their banquet at the Windows East room on the 20th Floor. Not sure if this is a new venue for the hotel but I have not shot at this particular room till this year (2023). Perhaps since the pandemic, hotels are now more equipped to cater to both smaller and larger wedding guest lists. I recall when I was planning my wedding, most hotels had a minimum booking of close to 40 tables (nearly 400 guests). Four Seasons Hotel was one of the few hotels at the time which allowed for a smaller guest list.
For Jasmine & Julian, they started their day early for bridal prep. This is quite different from caucasian weddings which start much later in the day accounting for the nicer lighting you see when you look at photos from the bridal prep. To deal with the darker lighting conditions we had to set up various external lights around the home. This would create more flattering results when for our bridal prep shots.
After the bridal prep was completed, Julian arrived for what was a very relaxed gatecrashing session which involved answering questions about the bride. I have noticed over the years that couples prefer simpler gatecrashing games or none at all. In place, they would allocate more time for a couple or bridal party photoshoot during the wedding day. As Julian had arrived slightly earlier than expected, we decided to do the bridal veiling after the gatecrashing to allow the makeup artist more time to complete her work. As there was a glass dining table in the living room we had requested for the bridal veiling to be done in the living room instead so that we could get some cool reflection shots.
Next, after Julian & Jasmine’s first look, we proceeded to Julian’s home as part of the next leg of the morning’s customaries. Beforehand, Julian mentioned to me that his family would like to have a short family shoot session in various spots around their home. I didn’t include too many of those here but you get the idea. For family photoshoots, usually I bring a mobile studio setup to ensure consistent lighting for the family. Fortunately, I had my intern Xinyi with us to help!
After the morning’s customaries were completed we headed to the hotel for the Solemnisation & lunch banquet. I thought I’d share some impressions about Windows East as it was one of my first times shooting there. It was on the 20th floor of the hotel and is a beautifully intimate space filled with natural light. The windows in the space let in a lot of daylight and it is a venue very suitable for lunch banquets. There is a small outdoor area overlooking the orchard area which is good for a quick photoshoot during the banquet. Beside the dining area are other function rooms and it also leads to the rooftop swimming pool area. If you have more time during your banquet you can also pop out for a couple photoshoot in that area.
I am thinking of starting to do vlog posts of weddings that I cover. I used to do it in 2016 but stopped. Do you think it would be something you would be interested to watch?
