How Cheryl Wee Pulled Off The Wedding Of The Year

Fairytales do come true, at least for Cheryl Wee. Following an extravagant Chinese tea ceremony, the Wedding of the Year (calm down, Song-Song fans, we’re talking local showbiz here) began with the 29-year-old star exchanging vows with her architect-beau, Roy Fong, at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd. “To me, the church wedding is the most important ’cos both Roy and I are Catholics,” says Cheryl, who jokes that she’s suffering from “withdrawal symptoms” now that the wedding bells have stopped ringing. We would too, if our big day was as grand as hers. FYI: She declines to reveal how much the entire shindig cost.

Cheryl walking down the aisle with her dad, Mervin. “Right before I entered the church, I was very emotional,” says Cheryl. “It suddenly hit me, like, ‘This is really happening!’ I was so overjoyed that I almost cried! When I was walking down the aisle, I was just looking at Roy. It was like time came to a stop and I was brought back to the moment when I first saw him at 7-11 12 years ago.” Who needs a time machine when you have your one true love?

The glitzy two-night wedding dinner on July 1 and 2 at the Ritz Carlton brought the adage “go big or go home” to a whole new level. For starters, the hotel’s foyer and ballroom were transformed into a whimsical enchanted forest full of Insta-worthy spots, as documented by gleeful guests. Think flower garlands draped on faux trees, life-sized owls, baby deer, unicorns and a larger-than-life music box with an actual ballerina twirling in it. When said ballerina is tired, she’s replaced by two rabbits. Why a ballerina and two bunnies? “’Cos Cheryl’s a ballerina, and both Roy and Cheryl are born in the Year of the Rabbit,” says the wedding planner.

The stage came complete with an impressive unicorn sculpture, a six-tiered wedding cake (a gift from Bengawan Solo’s boss) and a white-and-gold staircase that led to a door where Cheryl made her entrance for her performance. Explains Cheryl: “Our decor designer felt that our love story was like a fairytale ’cos Roy’s my first love and we’ve been together for 12 years. We chose to have unicorns at our wedding ’cos in the Bible, unicorns represent purity and strength.”

When it came to entertaining their guests, the duo decided to take matters into their own hands. Cheryl and Roy showed off their dancing skills in solo segments before partnering up to dance to Ed Sheeran’s ‘Perfect’. But trust Roy to bring his A-game. He surprised Cheryl by playing the piano while singing ‘If I Ain’t Got You’. “I’ve always thought that guys who can play the piano are very sexy and cool,” says Cheryl. “Every time I watch Twilight and see Edward Cullen playing the piano, I’d tell Roy, ‘Wah, so sweet’. He actually remembered and went to learn how to play the piano. I was really very touched and surprised.”

She sported a total of four customised gowns — two from Vera Wang and two by a Shanghainese designer. But the jewel in the crown was really the tiara that Cheryl wore at her wedding banquet. Turns out it’s the crown she received for emerging first runner-up at the 2012 Miss Chinese International pageant. “Actually, I didn’t want to wear it ’cos I felt a bit paiseh. But my mum said I must. That tiara cannot be bought with money!” laughs Cheryl.

A very touching video of Roy's surprise proposal to Cheryl was shown during the do. Of course it was as grand as you’d expect it to be. Think string quartet, geishas and a lesson in rickshaw riding. Here’s what went down: Cheryl’s auntie tricked her into thinking they were going on a trip to Kyoto to celebrate her parents’ 30th anniversary. When they were there, Cheryl was told they were going to take pics for the anniversary and they would all have to dress up as geishas. Cheryl and Co then rode on rickshaws to get to their destination. Mid-journey, Cheryl was tricked into thinking her rickshaw broke down. Enter Roy incognito as her replacement rickshaw rider who came to pull Cheryl’s rickshaw into the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. For that, Roy had to learn how to ride a rickshaw in Kyoto and had to arrange for a classical quartet to fly in from Osaka. Recounts Cheryl: “When I was brought into the bamboo forest, I thought, ‘Wah, this forest so nice ah, got instrumentals, got music. And they were playing our song, ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’ by The Beach Boys. I wanted to Snapchat it to show Roy. While I was doing so, I turned and was shocked to see him kneeling down!” Hey guys, if you’re reading this and you’re planning to propose to your girlfriend, no pressure.

Cheryl got the princess treatment when she stayed at the Presidential Suite at the Ritz Carlton, which runs from $13,300 per night, where she was pampered with everything from Fruit Loops-upon-request to macarons and a rose bath. Oh, and a hot lapis stone massage at the hotel spa. “We never thought that the staff would put us in the Presidential Suite,” chirps Cheryl. “I’d be really happy even with just a bridal suite. But they were really kind to make my whole experience even more memorable. I don’t mind being a bride forever!”

Cheryl hosted over a thousand guests at her church nuptials and wedding banquets. On Day One, we spotted Zoe Tay, Julie Tan, Pierre Png, Zheng Geping, Hong Huifang and Thomas Ong. Lovebirds Jeffrey Xu and Felicia Chin showed up too in matching monochrome outfits. Hey, Felifrey, so when’s your turn? (PHOTOS: PIXIOO PHOTOGRAPHY)