A couple of years ago, I started to build my YouTube channel when there was an influx of Hongkongers coming to live in the UK. I did ok and built up a small fan base, some of which developed into real life friendship. One of them was Wendy. Originally we communicate online when she needed advice about settling down in the UK. When she and her boyfriend Nelson arrived in the UK we even meet up a few times. Initially it was a bit of a rocky road for them. Coming to a new country, with no friends or family nor job, and no idea where to live. Luckily it only took them a few months to settle down, and they quickly got their life and careers back on track.
Fast forward two years, they decided to take the plunge this weekend and enter the next stage of their life together.
The wedding was held at their local church near London, giving me a reason to spend a few days in London this week, something that I hadn't done for a long time.
The couple had decorated the church entrance with some simple traditional Chinese wedding decor. Red is a lucky colour used in weddings, as is the double happiness symbol on the left and a pair of birds on the right representing the newlyweds.
Inside the church, they displayed many photos and a video of their journey together. It was really nice to learn more about them as I hadn't known them for that long.
It was a small intimate wedding. Guests were a mix of their fellow churchgoers, and friends they had met since they arrived in UK. I also met one of their childhood friends who flew in from Denmark. It was quite hot inside the church, plus I was wearing contact lenses and makeup, something which I don't do often. All this made my eyes quite uncomfortable and watery, and I was dabbing my eyes all time. I think hubby thought I was overcome with emotions and crying!!
After the service and photos, there was a simple reception in the church hall. The church congregation was quite diverse, and it seems they all chipped in to help with the catering. We drank Caribbean punch which had lots of spices, and ate some tasty Indian snacks. Of course, there was also a wedding cake, it may look simple, but it was one of the best I've had.
These goodie boxes are very popular in Chinese weddings and I wrote about them at another wedding I went to last year. People normally put sweets inside, but Wendy and Nelson went one better and included a beautiful little cake. If you look carefully you can see its heart shape and looks beautiful. It was delicious, as was the cup cakes at the reception. I think they, along with the wedding cake might be made by the same local baker. Yummy!
The wedding may have been quite a low key and simple one, but personally I felt very touched by the whole event. Like many Hong Kong people who have had to leave Hong Kong in the past few years due to China's increasing dictatorship, the change in life for them wasn't something they had ever had planned. To witness their journey in the UK, integrating and contributing to society and building a future for themselves in a new country, is truly a beautiful end to a story, or rather a beautiful start to another chapter in life.
