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Kee and Mei are resplendent in their traditional Chinese wedding attire.

Looking through these photos captured by Mocco had us reminiscing about Kee and Mei’s gorgeous and fun-filled wedding held in Butterworth, Penang. Our couple called it “whimsical luxe”, which we felt suited their style and personality perfectly, and it was taken to the next level with the expertise of their wedding planner Tricia from Moments. Let’s take a look at these photos that so beautifully captured the mood and atmosphere of their big day!

The groom and his best men in their “chang pao” look very dapper for the gate-crashing ceremony.

The groom is unmistakably stylish in his traditional wedding “magua”.

Left: The beautiful bride in her traditional “kua”, watches the gate-crashing activities on her phone. Right: The groom survives the games and goes to claim his bride.

Our couple with the bridesmaids, who are wearing a more modern two-piece outfit.

As you can see, our fun-loving couple went the whole nine yards with the traditional Chinese wedding attire! We love that they not only chose theme-appropriate clothes for themselves, but also for their wedding party. Kudos to all of them who went along with this grand idea.

Red with a hint of gold was the definitely the colour of the day for Kee and Mei.

“We chose the colour palette of red marsala and maroon with a hint of gold, knowing this would definitely please our parents,” Mei explains. “But we didn’t want it to be yet another Oriental-red-themed wedding.” Our bride has always wanted a whimsical element in her wedding, so having everyone in the bridal party dressed in traditional attire was most theme-appropriate and fun.

“Living abroad made wedding planning a bit more challenging,” Mei shares. “We pretty much sourced most of the clothing and accessories online. We found our vendors through Facebook, and were extremely satisfied with them.” While the bride’s dresses and groom’s suits were tailor-made in Malaysia by Wedding Isle Gallery and Vincent Tailor, the bridesmaids’ dresses were from an online store called Parsealed, and the groomsmen’s changpao were ordered from Taobao.

The wedding “carriage” decked in bountiful blooms.

Our couple found us through Facebook and wedding blogs, and contacted us with details of their wedding. “When Lily came back with the draft proposal, we knew we found the wedding stylist we wanted,” says Mei. “She read our minds. We were impressed by her creativity and how she developed on our ideas to come up with an elevated walkway, with the lush floral arches and chandeliers.”

The ballroom was ravishing in red and golden hues.

The bridal table, with the stage in the background.

The bridal table’s centrepiece lushly cascades to the ground.

View of the bridal table facing the breathtaking customised aisle.

Mei tells us, “I conveyed our ideas and concepts to Tricia our wedding planner, but left all the finer details to her and the Wishing Tree team. You’ve got to trust someone who’s good at their job to bring your dreams to life! The outcome was just the way we wanted it – unbelievably gorgeous.”

When we asked Mei to choose one aspect of the decor that she and Kee loved the most: “We loved the marble walkway with the arch and chandeliers! We were so in awe of the incredible decoration when we walked into the ballroom. But if we were allowed to choose more than one, we would say we loved everything.”

Kee and Mei make their entrance through the amazing aisle.

The marble elevated aisle was an inspired addition to the decor.

The marble aisle was an idea that came in towards the end of the planning, and was the brilliant idea of Tricia’s, inspired by the marble wedding cake that our bride had chosen.

Mei changes into her second gorgeous gown for the evening. We’re loving the overhead lighting from the chandeliers!

Just the two of them, sharing a tender moment.

Kee and Mei in reception area outside the ballroom.

Thank you, dear Kee and Mei, for choosing us to decorate your most treasured day, and for sharing your story with our readers on the blog. Couples looking for inspiration for their Chinese/red/Oriental wedding can rest assured that this look can be so versatile and bold without loosing any of the style and personality that befits the bride and the groom.

“Thank you to the Wishing Tree team for styling our wedding. Everything turned out more beautiful and magical than we ever imagined. You truly made the atmosphere amazing for us, and we received so many compliments. The team took utmost care to ensure that everything was perfect – from the venue decoration, down to the details of the hand bouquet and car decor. We only engaged you quite close to the wedding date, but you guys pulled all the elements together in such a timely manner that we did not have to stress out at all. We are so glad we brought you to Penang. Again, thank you so much!” – Kee and Mei

Family and cultural heritage usually play a huge role in weddings, no matter where you’re from, or where you hold your wedding. This certainly rang true for Adelle and Joel who reside overseas, and held a formal dinner in Malaysia, hosted by Adelle’s family.

We are pleased to share some lovely pictures from Adelle and Joel’s Malaysian reception, thanks to MunKeat Photography!

Left: Adelle’s bouquet with a single rustic red peony. Right: Adelle’s grandmother’s “Bakul Siah” was used to store red packets from loved ones. Custom-made “Kasut Manek”, gifted from Joel’s mum to her new daughter-in-law. The wedding invitation, featuring a hand-drawn architectural illustration of Joel’s late grandmother’s teapot.

We always love a modern wedding that is infused with tradition and cultural heritage, which is pretty close to Adelle’s description of their wedding: “Thematically, modern classical fused with Chinese traditional motifs.” In their wedding invitation (seen above), Joel’s late grandmother’s teapot was depicted. The architectural illustration was hand-drawn by Joel, and painted by Adelle, symbolizing a celebration of and the love for the couple’s Chinese and Peranakan cultural heritage, as well as of how they met in architecture school 10 years ago.

Working closely with their wedding planner Lane Ho of MY Wedding Planner, our couple relied on recommendations for most of their vendors – including us – and soon found out that we had previously worked with a majority of Adelle and Joel’s local friends on various events.

Beautiful Adelle shares a moment with her best friend Joyce, and her “twin cousin”.

As our bride’s family picked the venue for their dinner reception in Malaysia, Adelle and Joel, together with Lane, their wedding planner, worked closely with us to come up with the decor that would suit the interior design of the venue as much as it would suit their taste.

Keeping the venue decor in mind, Adelle and Joel sent over a mood board of what they liked, what they thought would suit the venue, and left it to us to put everything together.

Tiered floral arrangement at the entrance of the ballroom.

“The venue had a very busy interior,” say Adelle and Joel, who are fans of renowned floral stylist Jeff Leatham, “so we really wanted to soften the look with array of loosely-composed but lush floral arrangements of white and dusty pink blooms.”

Using different flowers and vases to create varying textures and heights.

Floral arrangements along the ballroom aisle, with an image from Adelle and Joel’s wedding in Melbourne as the backdrop.

While we use tiered arrangements with many different types of blooms and textures to soften the interior decor of the ballroom, we also keep the lines clean and colours muted with simple box pedestals, and all-glass vases and candle holders.

“Joel and I were totally overwhelmed walking down the beautifully-decorated aisle for the first time.”

“We love the fact that everything was very well composed,” Joel and Adelle tell us. “It was a wonderful place to arrive to, and we thoroughly enjoyed the process. From the little details of the reception table to the tiered arrangement at the ballroom entrance, to walking down the aisle, and finally arriving at the bridal table.”

Joel and Adelle’s second walk-in.

We are so happy, Adelle and Joel, that you chose us to be a part of your special day, and also for sharing it with our readers here on the Blog. Thank you! All of us at Wishing Tree wish you the very best on your wonderful new journey together.

“Wishing Tree came highly recommended by our wedding planner as well as a good number of local friends who we were highly reliant on as we reside overseas. We sent a mood board or what we liked and thought would suit, and left it to Wishing Tree to showcase their creative flare in putting it together. They did a fantastic job interpreting our wishes for the overall decor and marrying it nicely compositionally with the interior of Sunway Resort Ballroom. This was no easy task considering the expansive brown and gold motifs of the venue.

The decor and floral arrangements were very well received and made for a beautiful and memorable night for our family and friends, which was the most important thing for us. Wishing Tree was also meticulous with the little details, right down to the experience of every significant individual at our wedding reception. I loved the single red accent of deep red peony against the neutrals of my bridal bouquet, as well as the matching boutonnieres for the bridal party.

Their level of expertise and professional rang true for us right from our initial conversations, to how beautifully everything came together, with many compliments for everyone present that day.” – Adelle and Joel

As we wind down from the festivities of Christmas and New Year, and head towards the next big celebration that is Chinese New Year, we are still very much excited about amazing displays of colour and gorgeous decor. This is a great time to whip out this absolutely beautiful wedding of Howard and Yi-Ann to share with you!

How do we even begin to describe Howard and Yi-Ann’s spectacular Old Shanghai-themed wedding reception held at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur?? Thank you dear Louis Loo for the amazing photos!!

Howard shares a light moment with family on the glorious stage.

Pearls may be timeless, but essential for any vintage theme.

Our couple, who reside in Australia, already held an intimate reception in Melbourne that was filled with Australian rustic essence. For their Kuala Lumpur reception, they decided on a traditional Chinese wedding banquet but with an unconventional twist – an “Old Shanghai” inspired theme, using a red, turquoise and green colour palette.

Yi-Ann found us like many of our brides – while doing their online research of Malaysia wedding vendors. After our first meeting, together with our couple’s wedding planner Patricia Chan of MY Wedding Planner, we would be working together on one of the most amazing weddings of the year.

Lots of vintage details to give this Old Shanghai theme an authentic edge.

Howard and Yi-Ann were very involved in the entire process despite the physical distance, working closely with us and with their capable wedding planner, Patricia. With a project of this size and level of detail, we needed all hands on deck! Not only was it helpful that our couple was clear on their vision of and direction for their wedding reception decor, but also that they share a solid background in design and architecture. While Yi-Ann worked on the decor, Howard designed all the graphics – from invitation cards right down to the traditional candy stall descriptions.

Yi-Ann’s vision for the decor was immaculately inspired with gorgeous vintage props.

Our bride’s will and resolve resulted in getting exactly what she wanted to create the stunning atmosphere.

“I was stubbornly looking for a floral mannequin and a divider screen for the dressing table decor,” she says. “It took months to source for these items, but were fortunate in sourcing for the mannequin from good old China and had it shipped out in time for the wedding. As for the divider, we managed to find it a week before the wedding!”

A closer look at the beautiful details.

“I think designing our own wedding definitely presented an opportunity for Howard and I to reflect our personalities,” says Yi-Ann, “And it’s important to choose the right combination of flowers and arrangements and they can make or break a design.” We were delighted to receive a list of flowers our bride wanted for the reception, as it just makes our work that much easier. Yi-Ann added, “Most importantly, I wanted the flower arrangements to be lush and textured. Wishing Tree understood that, and successfully incorporated them into the decor.”

Howard and Yi-Ann’s idea for a photo booth included a traditional rickshaw!

Howard and Yi-Ann were brimming with amazing ideas for their Old Shanghai theme – like this large oriental floral photo booth. We added lightbulbs to the floral background, and panel screens on both sides, which emphasise the glamour of vintage Shanghai. Our couple chose a beautiful shade of turquoise for the screens. Yi-Ann explains, “We didn’t want the reception to be overwhelmed with red just because it is an oriental theme. The turquoise turned out great on stage too, as it complemented the jade green drapes perfectly!”

The custom-made background perfectly complemented the decor props.

Precious vintage items made for excellent props.

“Weddings are meant to be fun and vibrant, nothing too serious,” says Yi-Ann. So, pre-dinner cocktails were quite an unconventional experience for Howard and Yi-Ann’s guests… as you will see below!

Traditional Chinese candy vendors and a talented calligraphy artist kept guests busy and entertained.

Although on a much smaller scale, the guest registration tables were also decorated in line with the “Old Shanghai” theme.

Registration tables for guests of the bride and the groom are elegantly simple and beautiful.

Are you ready to see the rest of this wedding reception? Now, we’ll take you through the ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur like you’ve never seen it before…

The grand aisle with towering oriental lanterns.

Our couple wanted a glamorous walkway with oriental lanterns, but without looking too typical. Yi-Ann found a lantern design that she liked very much, and we custom-made these lanterns for the big night.

“I wanted lanterns that would soften the ambience, with tassels to create a look of volume and abundance,” says Yi-Ann. We added cherry blossoms on top of the lanterns, and scaled them to create just the look Yi-Ann desired. “The walkway turned out beautifully, and grand – many of our guests complimented them.”

Gorgeous stage and bridal table at the end of the aisle.

Creating a certain “flow” is extremely important in decorating a space such as this. With these large, attention-grabbing lanterns dominating the aisle, we needed to come up with the stage and bridal table decor that commands equal, if not more, presence.

Elegantly grand with lavish textures and layers, designed to simply take one’s breath away.

The vintage theatre-like stage decor looked deceptively simple, but they packed a design punch! Using a giant Double Happiness sign, two layers of drapes in different colours, strategically placed lightbulbs, custom-made panel screens, everything came together perfectly and the visual aesthetics were simply stunning.

For the bridal table, “I was happy to go with Lily’s design proposal,” says Yi-Ann. “I loved the idea of having low arrangements since we were going with large lanterns and long tassels for the aisle, and tall arrangements for the guest tables. She did a fantastic job including various types of flowers and created textures that I asked for. I loved the use of different lamps shades, candle holders, and coloured vases that very much suited the theme.”

Gorgeous wedding cake by Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur. Our couple requested the cascading flower design; flowers on the cake were the same flowers used on the guest tables.

Centerpieces for the guest tables.

A theme-appropriate microphone for the evening!

Something that Yi-Ann had always wanted were beautiful, lush hydrangeas cascading down the staging steps… and here at Wishing Tree, we make our bride’s wishes come true.

Lots of big, beautiful hydrangea in red and pink for this momentous occasion.

Yi-Ann, in her bespoke, all-red evening gown, stole the show every time she was on stage. So divine!

The newlyweds and their immediate family members sharing a traditional “yum seng” toast with their guests.

Thank you, dear Howard and Yi-Ann for having us to be a part of your most special day, and also for sharing these beautiful photos with our readers. We wish you both a lifetime of happiness!

“It was a great experience having Wishing Tree on board as one of our wedding vendors. Lily especially as once again lived up to her name as one of Malaysia’s top florists and decorators. She was patient with us and was ever-willing to work together to create the best possible decor within our budget. Wishing Tree delivers and executes every detail to perfection, and we are extremely pleased with the splendid decor, especially the flower selections and arrangements. A big thank you to Lily and her team!” – Howard and Yi-Ann

If you’re looking for wedding inspiration in blue, cream and gold hues that’s cheerful, light, and exudes a fresh elegance, look no further than Kristian and Mellissa’s big day!

This colour palette shines in an outdoor setting, as you will see in these beautiful pictures expertly taken by Joshua and Daren of Inlight Photos.

Blue and blush-coloured tones complement each other elegantly.

Our couple know us from their many friends’ weddings that we decorated over the years, so it was rather natural for recommendations to be pointed our direction. “I knew that we could trust the Wishing Tree team,” says Mellissa, “and that we didn’t have to micro-manage or give them very detailed briefs – this was a major selling point because I didn’t want to hand-hold a less experienced or new decorator, and would rather pay for peace of mind.” Thanks for the confidence, Mellissa and Kristian!

A simple table setting framed beautifully with a lush backdrop.

In our almost 20 years decorating weddings, we have heard all sorts of inspired ideas from brides and grooms about how they would like their wedding to look like.. and they continue to surprise us with their input. With Kristian and Mellissa, they had more specific ideas of what they did not want, instead of what they wanted – so everything worked out by method of exclusion!

But it did start with the blue that Mellissa really liked, because “it wasn’t too girly.” Neither did our couple want anything too rustic.

The gorgeous wedding cake by Miss Shortcakes.

Speaking of the wedding cake, which was one of Mellissa’s favourite aspects of the wedding, “I trusted Gigi and Miss Shortcakes completely, and just showed them a few photos that I liked. There was a collective “wow” from guests when the cake was wheeled out – it was that gorgeous. The best thing – it tasted really good too!”

Mellissa and Kristian, looking amazing on the aisle.

Kristian and Mellissa left the rest of the decor planning to their wedding planner Gigi Chua of MY Wedding Planner and us after choosing the colours. “We didn’t know what the decor would look like until we walked into the venue on our wedding day!” explains Mellissa. “That’s how much we trusted them. All we knew was that there would be blue, cream, and gold.”

Our bride loved her bouquet so much that she didn’t toss it.

The wedding party moves indoors, into the dining space at Marble 8. The decor is an extension of the outdoor ambience, with a more luxuriant touch.

Shimmery gold table linens lend an air of glamour.

Bathed in golden candlelight, the lunch reception is tastefully intimate and elegant.

A closer look at the guest tables, decorated in shades of blue, cream, gold and white.

A sumptuously well-appointed lunch.

Thank you, dear Kristian and Mellissa, for choosing and trusting us to be a part of your most treasured day! Big thanks also for sharing it with our readers here on our blog. We are most touched by your kind words:

“If you’re looking for class, taste, beauty, and peace of mind, Wishing Tree is really the best choice you can make. You can trust them completely to come up with the most beautiful decor for your special day. It’s all the little details! We can’t recommend them enough.”
– Kristian and Mellissa