Couple Spotlight: Valerie Ong and Travis Loh's Road to Marriage

"The moment he got along with my parents and took care of them when they needed medical attention, I knew he was the one," says Ong. "He is the most filial person I know." 

Similarly, one of the things that Loh most admired about his then-girlfriend was her family values. It was a bond that was magnified during the pandemic, as both navigated the challenges of the lockdown during the pandemic, including caring for their respective families. 

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As border restrictions eased at the end of 2021, Ong and Loh travelled to London—a much welcomed return to indulging in their shared love of travel before the pandemic when they skied down the snowy slopes of Hokkaido, explored the souks of Marrakesh, visited Cape Town wineries, and much more. 

However, only a few days into their London trip, Loh tested positive for Covid-19 and went into quarantine in a hotel alone. "My family and I celebrated Christmas Eve in our London home without him. He was out of quarantine on Christmas day, but that was also the day I tested positive!" exclaims Ong. 

"The original plan was to propose on Christmas Day," says Loh. The couple were separated for two weeks before they could see each other again. 

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"Before I knew it, the trip was almost coming to an end and Valerie's parents were due to leave. So I decided to just commit to the course of action and asked Valerie's parents for their blessings. We concocted a plan together and staged a family photoshoot. On the third group shot, I got down on one knee with the ring in my hands," he shares. 

"It finally made sense to me why Travis kept carrying his bag with him everywhere he went, refusing to put it down or store it in the cloakroom. It didn't cross my mind at all; I thought he was just being careful about his camera and lenses, which are very precious to him," says Ong, referring to her husband's avid interest in photography. "It was a very sweet detail to include all my loved ones in his proposal."

For the intimate ceremony to register their marriage on May 24, 2022, the couple transformed their garden into a luxurious floral fantasy with elaborate floral arrangements, including a display of their initials 'V' and 'T' decked out in pastel-coloured roses.

Read all about it here: Inside Valerie Ong and Travis Loh's Solemnisation Ceremony

A month later on 18 June, the two families came together to carry out Chinese wedding traditions. A jovial affair, Loh and his groomsmen put their game faces on to take on the challenges—from putting on their own lion dance to walking on coconut shells—during the gatecrashing to fetch the bride.

“After all the games, when I barged into Valerie's room. I found her peacefully sitting at the edge of the bed,” recalls Loh. “Standing in front of her, I couldn't hold back my tears. Here she was, my wife. The image of her covered in a red veil is carved permanently onto my mind.”

See also: A Jewellery Guide For Malay, Indian and Chinese Weddings

On June 18, the couple scaled up their marriage solemnisation for a grand garden wedding at the St. Regis Kuala Lumpur to celebrate this happy occasion with more friends and family members. 

The beautiful event began with Ong walking down the aisle, surrounded with 3,500 fresh Holland hydrangeas in a bespoke exquisite white wedding dress by Singapore-based Indonesian fashion designer, JessicaCindy.

“I always envisioned myself in a super bling and sparkly dress with a long veil and tail. I only had four months to search for my wedding dress and JessicaCindy managed to make exactly what I wanted within that short timeframe!” gushes Ong.

See also: The Best Celebrity Wedding Dresses of 2021

On their grand entrance, the couple shared that their nerves were immediately forgotten the second they marched into the venue hand-in-hand: “The entire ballroom filled with the biggest cheers from our family and friends. It was so surreal and overwhelming. It is the happiest memory I have to date."

From there, the wedding only got better. “It felt like every puzzle piece fit together perfectly,” remarks Loh. Both their fathers gave a heartwarming speech, imparting wisdom upon the newlyweds.

See also: 8 Celebrity Brides Who Embraced the Mini Wedding Dress

The highlight of the night was the special dance performed by the bride, who changed into an elegant tangerine gown by Brian Khoo with the Malaysian designer’s signature corset detailing, along with her bridesmaids. She danced to a remix of Jennifer Lopez's On the Floor and gave a rendition of Beyoncé's Love on Top—both received with thunderous applause from the crowd.  

Surrounded by family and friends, it was a night filled with joy and laughter; without doubt, the first of many as they venture into the world as newlyweds. 

See also: Billionaire Heiress Kim Lim's Wedding Solemnisation Was a Flower-Filled Fantasy

Take a look inside the extravagant affair:

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