Pangkor Laut Resort needs no further introduction. Set on a 300-acre island surrounded by unspoilt rainforest and mountainous islands on the horizon, it’s exactly what it promises – private, tranquil and sophisticated.  Here’s a take on the island from the perspectives of a planner’s eyes … and feet.

My trip to the private island was all very spontaneous. I had to head over for a tour of the place and making it a short holiday was naturally a tempting option.When planning a destination wedding, the most important things to do, first thing on the list, is a thorough site inspection. We’ll need to walk through the physical locations in order to understand the complete flow of how guests will experience getting around the specific destination, activities, transportation, convenience of logistical arrangements and so forth. My journey on the speedboat to my secluded hideaway for the next three days took 30 minutes. The sea was rough and for a moment, I wondered if we would capsize. The staff onboard were very attentive. When they noticed that we got a bit wet, the driver immediately stopped the boat and asked his partner to hand over some towels to us. It is a simple gesture like this that sets Pangkor Laut Resort a class above the rest, and that’s even before you stepped onto the island!

I spent my day luxuriating at the infinity pool and taking short naps on my day bed. Going on holiday with me is no fun unless you enjoy sleeping as much as I do. I think sleep is the ultimate luxury!  To not have a clue about time, no laptop or beeping reminders from my phone. No music or phone calls. Just being present with nature and daydreaming to the mesmerizing sound of lapping waves. Just so blissful….  

The ocean had a nostalgic effect on me. They say that swimming is like riding a bike.  You’ll never forget how to swim. Despite being a swimmer throughout my entire childhood and teenage years, I got a bit scared about dipping into the sea. I wasn’t afraid of not knowing how to swim or float, but about not having the stamina to find my way back to shore! I loved the raw, salty taste of the ocean on my lips. The smell of the intoxicating ocean breeze that filled the air everywhere I went. The sand in between my toes. The ocean was so alive.

Speaking of sand, I collected a jar of sand for Jean-Paul and Jauharina. Will be sending this via courier all the way to Holland. Since they’d be getting married on Emerald Bay, it’ll be really meaningful to have some sand from Emerald Bay to be used as part of their custom-designed wedding rings. Cool, isn’t it?!

I like this area at Chapman’s Bar. The surrounding trees form nice, natural canopies and give the place some character as compared to the beach.

We came back in the evening to observe sun set time. They don’t have the prettiest view of the sunset though and too quickly, it turned to dusk. Nonetheless, the tranquility of the place is simply hypnotic.

 My choice of contingency venue in case of bad weather.

I ended my stay with a pampering session at the famed Spa Village. The bath experience was interesting. I like how they themed the interior of the spa setting according to the rituals.  I won’t say too much on this, you’ll need to go in with a blank canvas picture in your mind. This way, you’ll be able to enjoy your session as each step is an experience in itself, a journey of discovery that is both relaxing and rejuvenating.

e prepared for a serious dose of daydreamin’. Well, aren’t we all dreamers anyway? All you need to do is dream the next big idea and a heart to bring them to life! Henceforth, the concept for this tablescape at The Tamarind Springs Jungle Luxe Bridal Fair was centered around the DayDream concept – surreal , artsy and a rustic freedom of expression. A tablescape theme that screams personality yet at one with nature.

DayDream to these Suggestions for a Budget-Friendly, Eco-Friendly, One-of-a-Kind Wedding:

1. Did you notice only a handful of flowers were used? In most weddings, decorations go to waste right after the party ends. Reduce flower wastage by opting for artistic posies that guests can take home. For this look, Creativelines recycled tree barks, used papers, coconut husks and twigs to create one-of-a-kind centrepieces.
2. Local flowers can be beautiful too! Don’t strike off orchids or gerberas from your flower theme just yet. A good magician can turn water into wine, as with a good planner and floral designer who can create couture, statement pieces out of ordinary things.
3. If you want to create a lasting impression, get an event designer. For the DIY couples, consider rentals. La Flaire also offers a wide range of decoration props, linen and furniture rentals for parties and weddings.
4. Miniature cakes are perfect for small weddings. TrulyScrumptious!’s adorable miniature cakes were almost too gorgeous to eat!
5. Consider a day time wedding reception. Not only would you be reducing energy consumption, you can also reduce the cost of food and beverage. Tamarind Springs is truly the perfect respite to nature with a jungle lush dining atmosphere that’s not only intimate yet romantic even during the day.

Stationery, Conceptualisation & Styling: The Peak Xperience / Floral Designs: Creativelines / Party Rentals & Props: La Flaire / Miniature Cakes & Wedding Cake: TrulyScrumptious! / Venue: Tamarind Springs

Special thanks to Sunday Photography and La Flaire for the photos. Stay tune for the next part of DayDream.

Please click here for the Map to Tamarind Springs.

Marriage is not just a vow of commitment to each other, but it goes deeper than that. It is about being unselfish, unconditional sacrifices when you realise your only aims are to make your partner happy and feeling secured. I am a good old fashioned man. I enjoy the traditional aspects of the wedding, exchange of vows, tea ceremony, wedding march, first dance and toasting. It solemnised the importance of the wedding.                                                                                                                                                                -Michael Hii-

I am excited to share with you the wedding of Michael and Jun Yee which was held at The Bankers Club, at the penthouse of Plaza Amoda. Both Michael and Jun Yee are based in London and they engaged our services about six months prior to their wedding. Despite not being able to meet up face to face, I could sense that Jun Yee has a great personality, with her bubbly persona and sweet voice. Not to mention, the colourful emoticons on her MSN! hahaha… well, we all know lawyers are the best exemplars of “Work Hard, Play Hard”. ;P

I think I only had a word or two with Michael over the phone, just before they came back about a week before their big day to coordinate the surprise segment for Jun Yee. After our first meeting, I told Jun Yee, “Michael is a really great man! You are really lucky to have found each other!” and she retorted,  “How do you know he’s a great man?” Hmm… call it six sense.

The wedding of Michael and Jun Yee had a classic English ambience infused with bright colours of summer. Volumes of law journals form an integral part of the decoration, along with Shakespearean quotes and feathered pens in mahogany and black. The classic, aristocratic stuffiness was soften with colourful butterfly message cards and blooms of orange, yellow, peach and red carnations, roses, orchids and lilies. As the planner, my biggest concern was to ensure the bright colours will not make the setting look tacky or OTT. The direction of conceptualisation was to ensure that the wedding was classy but not too old-fashioned. I think we did pretty alright in balancing the rich colours of red, orange and yellow in tasteful details that are current yet would remain timeless.

With Jim, Ning and John of Jim Liaw Photography as the official photographers, one can be assured that all those  priceless moments would be captured beautifully and encapsulated in timeless art. Marching in to the song ‘Daddy’s Angel’, Jun Yee entered the hall through the grandstairs of Bankers Club together with her father. He then handed her over to Michael and together, they walked to the stage for the cake-cutting ceremony and first dance. After the bouquet toss, guests were then invited to the next hall for dinner. Miniature towers of Ferrero Rochers doubled as centrepieces and wedding favours. The ambience for the evening was intimate and laid back, with Keith Tan, Malaysia’s very own Jason Mraz serenading the guests throughout the evening. For the second gown, Jun Yee wore an exquisite  royal blue embroidered silk gown from Shanghai Tang. Sharon of Wedding Isle did a beautiful side swept hairstyle for Jun Yee, finished with some yellow Mokara orchids and slightly deeper pink cheeks. The dinner started on time and ended early, but both Michael and Jun Yee had a good uninterrupted time to catch up with old friends throughout the night. I really enjoy planning intimate weddings, it’s always more meaningful when the couple gets to talk and thank every guest who attends the wedding.

This wedding is also featured on Wedding Guide Asia.

Wedding Planner/Coordinator: The Peak Xperience / Wedding Photography: Jim Liaw Photography / Wedding Venue: Bankers Club / Wedding Gown: La Sposa Barcelona / Evening Gown: Shanghai Tang London / Wedding Shoes: Christian Dior / Hair & Make Up: Sharon of Wedding Isle / Flowers: Wishing Tree / Stationery: The Peak Xperience / Wedding Car: Prestige Limo

Much earlier, we featured a post on the pre-wedding shoot of Lipson and Jessy at Maldives.  Now, feast your eyes on their wedding which was held at The Hilton Kuala Lumpur. When you think of weddings, your mind might wander off to the soft pastel colours of pink or purple, or perhaps the crisp colour of white or the bold shades of red. Lipson and Jessy have never wanted your standard-ballroom-wedding we’ve all come to expect. Their wedding oozed charisma! Although inspired by the cold tones of winter-themed wedding, Lipson and Jessy weren’t keen on yet another white fairytale winter-themed wedding but wanted a clean, modern wedding with royal blue, plum purple, black and silver as their colour theme. In fact, they specially requested their guests to come in dark shades of purple, blue or black.

I only met Lipson once, i.e., just days before the wedding during the finalisation stage when we had to get acquainted with the emcee and bestman.  Lipson, a very successful financial planner attached to Manulife, was often busy with work, leaving the wedding in the hands of his beloved wife.

Jessy was a decisive bride who knew what she wanted. From magnetic invitation cards to personalised place cards for every guest, butterscotch black fondant cake to translucent tea pot filled with rose tea buds, every detail of the wedding was planned to a T. There were times when I would get up to 15 emails a day from Jessy! haha.. She even bought me oriental slippers during her trip to China. *Thanks so much! Hugssss* She was also a hard core DIY bride who decorated her bridal suite, made the pomanders for her sisters and many other personal touches that made the wedding truly meaningful. I used to be so worried that she’d be too busy or stressed out on her wedding day to complete all these tasks. But she was the coolest, most stress-free bride I ever know! It was indeed a real pleasure working with Jessy on her wedding!!

Wedding Coordinators/Planners: The Peak Xperience / Wedding Venue: The Hilton Kuala Lumpur / Wedding Photography: Lifetale Studio / Pre-Wedding Photography: Touch Collection (Malaysia) and Muha Photos (Maldives) / Wedding Gowns: Micky Tan / Wedding Cake: Truly Scrumptious! / Flowers: Wishing Tree

It is a fun and provocative advocate by Shanghai Tang to liberate men from wearing ties.

In short, it is a by-invitation only Club with the goal to promote elegant Chinese-inspired style for men. Instead of the traditional necktie, the mandarin collar is a modern, elegant and formal alternative. I always find men in mandarin collar tuxedos (also known as the Mao jacket or nehru jackets) to exude that authoritative charisma and manly confidence associative with successful, powerful men.

What’s more interesting is that Shanghai Tang’s Mandarin Collar Society actually have a manifesto (and a really cheeky one):

Say hello to Jessy and Lipson who had their pre-wedding photos taken in Maldives. Jessy first contacted me in year 2007 when she started planning for her wedding. Unbelievable, isn’t it?! At that time, she insisted on having a beach wedding and the top venue of choice was Avillion Resort Port Dickson.  I still remember the sentence she uttered in a brim full of excitement, “die die also my feet must walk on sand!”.

Needless to say, more than 700 days of thoughtful consideration later, the venue was finally confirmed at The Hilton Kuala Lumpur. No sand indeed, but she got her wish by having a pre-wedding photo session at Maldives.

The infinite shades of blue and the crystal clear ocean is simply paradise to the eyes! To save the cost and hassle, they decided to engage a photographer directly from Maldives.

Did You Know? With an average ground level of 1.5m {4 ft 11 in} above sea level, The Republic of Maldives is the lowest country on the planet.^[6] It is also the country with the lowest highest point in the world, at 2.3m {7 ft 7 in}

Shot by Mario Testino, this is the Spring/Summer 2010 Salvatore Ferragamo campaign featuring the legendary Claudia Schiffer turned into the iconic Grace Kelly.

I am so loving it that I worked on a styleboard drawing on the elegant simplicity of this iconic fashionista but with a classic modern twist.

Some key pieces on this styleboard:

• VERA WANG LAVENDER LABEL Stone Crystal Halter Gown
• Vintage Turban from My Sugarland
• Tiffany & Co Aria Drop Earrings from Bag, Borrow or Steal
• Lace Vellum Invitation from Enchanted Envelope
• Vintage Diamond Cocktail Ring by Lang Antiques
• Silver Frames from Crate and Barrel

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Grace Kelly-inspired Styleboard (2)

On Halloween’s Day, The Peak Xperience launched its new consultancy studio at The Strand, Kota Damansara with a cocktail party themed “Twilight Love – Vampires Rule, Cinderellas Drool” with Alter Ego as the dress code.

As the hostess of the party, I certainly had a fun time conceptualizing all the bizarre settings together with our dessert sponsor, Anizah of Truly Scrumptious!.

As we themed the evening’s event Twilight Love, expect to see our version of the modern-day Cinderella – one who wants something different and is not afraid to take the road less traveled as she plans for her wedding to Prince Charming. Whilst we do not expect potential clients to come to us for a vampire-ish wedding theme, we certainly hope the cozy space we had transformed managed to showcase a sneak peek at what we can do as wedding and party planners – and that is, to create memorable experiences that are unique, creative and fun.

In this renewed interpretation of modern fairy-tale love story, we added our own twist as we showcased thematic table settings -  Oriental Autumn Twilight, Twilight in Spring and Gothic Winter to suit every bride’s every whim and fancy. In a way, it is a romantic interpretation on our part of what was once thought of as a scary nightmare.

To further add to the event’s flavour, we unveiled our new brand, Sugar & Spice and together with Truly Scrumptious! as our dessert sponsor, guests had the opportunity to sample specially concocted desserts with intriguing names such as Till Death Do Us Part, Vampire’s Kiss, Forbidden Fruits *Poison Apples*, Tru Blood, Blood Beer, Sugared Blood, Happy Pills and many more sinful temptations that proved to be a hit with the guests.

We are thankful to our corporate partners and friends such as That Special Occasion for showcasing their beautiful gowns, Jewel Avenue for displaying accessories that are sure to set every bride’s heart aflutter and of course, Truly Scrumptious! for preparing the heavenly dessert samplings.

Patrick Low of Budget Brides emerged as the best dressed winner of the night. Pumpkins from top left to right: Creations of Louisa Michael of That Special Occasion, Bernie of That Special Occasion and Kris Wong of Weddings Malaysia.

All in all, it was a great Halloween Night! The only disappointment of the night was that Robert Pattinson (who plays Edward Cullen in the famed “Twilight Love” movie) was nowhere in sight…

For more photos, check out our Facebook album.

For complete details, check it out here - The Peak Xperience Wedding Planning Contest