HONG KONG: A Great Wedding Celebration, Part Two

Saturday 14^th April – A Great Hong Kong Wedding Celebration, Part Two

The last entry covered the hours before one of my best friend’s wedding in Hong Kong. I will try now to cover some of the great moments we shared once the Ceremony started.

3.00pm: We are all at the Shangrila Hotel, with all guests already seated in this beautifully dressed Wedding room:

- Steve, the groom, stands smiling and relaxed on his place.

- The groom’s wedding party, aka The Ushers, aka us, is all set in line, to his side – from shortest to tallest, and yes, I was the tallest one - sorry Rich.

- The five bridesmaids make their entrance, one by one walking the aisle, smiling and cute, as beautiful music is played, on their lovely and elegant dark purple dresses. They take their places to the left of where the bride will shortly be standing.

- Finally, Carol, the gorgeous bride on her beautiful wedding dress, enters the room and walks up the aisle with the cutest of smiles on her face; it is a moment of great joy and excitement - we can all feel it. She is also looking at his groom Steve, as she walks towards him. They are happy, they are excited, they are smiling with pride and emotion. After all these months, THIS IS IT.

As Carol makes her final steps and stands next to him they hold hands, briefly, and share a moment of delight and privacy with their eyes, a smile, a whisper, ‘we have arrived’ they seem to say to each other.

The Ceremony’s Master of Ceremonies takes charge, welcoming everyone present, and we are off...

To respect the privacy of such important moment in the lives of anyone, I will only share that it was a beautiful and modern ceremony yet it carried the formality and detail of the best Chinese tradition, with some very cute and personal moments.

Immediately afterwards we have a few and very welcomed glasses of a great and perfectly cold Champagne, to celebrate the happy union.

The newly weds Steve and Carol toast with everyone

4.15pm: The newly weds Steve and Carol, their closest relatives, the bridesmaids and the ushers stay at the hotel for photos. Meanwhile, the 80+ guests are driven by bus to the HK bay to board a traditional Chinese boat, for an hour long trip along the bay with drinks and canapés served on board. Everything is working like a Swiss watch, absolutely perfect.

6.30pm: We are at the 39^th floor of the hotel and we do a bit of time travelling, in great style this time. This is the Shangrila’s Library room and it looks and feels like an old British-like library, with its dark brown-blueish leather seats and sofas, its floor-to-ceiling thick books ranks and golden ladders on the walls, its flowered carpet and dark green high and thick rounded marvel columns – with another fantastic view of Hong Kong from windows that are decorated with beautiful and light coloured flowers.

You would be excused to expect Winston Churchill would come around the corner, smoking one of his famous cigars any minute now. Instead, you got me:

My usual Saturday afternoon gym outfit.

As the guests get back from what they say was a really special boat trip, drinks are served and everyone mingles around – with some informal photos being taken too.

8.00pm: Everyone moves to the large dining room and take their seats on the great looking tables. 

The Wedding cake and Table #1 of the beautifully dressed dining room at the Shangrila Hotel

Pableras and I have the honour to share the main table with Steve and Carol, Steve’s mum and sister as well as some of Carol’s bridesmaids.

One of the many beautiful moments shared with the newly weds

It was at this moment that I recalled the day Steve told me that he, finally, had proposed - and more importantly that Carol had accepted. It was one day in May 2011 and I was at Dublin airport, soon boarding back to London after a day of meetings. [NB: well, I am not sure it was exactly in May, but I was definitely at Dublin Airport; reason I don't remember exactly is that I went to Dublin pretty much every week between January and August 2011].

They were spending a week in France and I had been asking him all week: “have you proposed yet??? Have you proposed yet??? Come on mate, you cannot go to France and do all this romantic stuff and not propose, that’s just not right” to which he always responded stuff like “crazy talk mate, no plans yet”.

As it turned out, I was right and the conversation was more or less like this. First via blackberry messenger:

17.26: Alfonso: Here I am at Dublin airport yet again. Have you proposed yet???

17.38: Steve: Mate, we were at this place and blah blah blah [NB this is a literary licence I am taking to cut the long story short, but basically they had been to some romantic thing or the other with this or that glamour; all very beautiful, I have no doubt].

17.44: Alfonso: So????

17.45: Steve: What are you talking about??

17.45: Alfonso: Not answering my question...

17.50: Steve: Well, you will have to book a flight to Hong Kong for Easter next year, put it that way.

As soon as I read that I stopped and called him,

17.51: Alfonso: Enanooooooooo!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!... ‘king hellllllll!!!!.... Finally!!!!!!.... And she said yes and everything!!!!

Steve: hahaha thanks mate, you idiot.

Alfonso: Oh mate, I am really pleased for you both. It was about time!! All this stuff you were doing in France and I was thinking ‘she’s going to dump him if he hasn’t proposed by the time they board the flight back’.

Steve: no mate, that was always the plan. I couldn’t tell you before her though.

Alfonso: fair enough, but you know, she would have dumped you, I am pretty sure!

I briefly also spoke with Carol to congratulate her – and also to check if she knew was she was doing. Thankfully it seemed to me she perfectly knew what she was doing, phew.

That was then and this was now, almost a year later, or thereabout. I can only but wonder how many stories they must have gone through in the build up to this day, to this moment where they have finally done all the “wedding stuff” and it is their time to fully enjoy and celebrate with their family and friends. As I say, it was an honour to share the evening at their table. Carol, Steve: THANK YOU BOTH.

THE MEAL: As with the ushers’ lunch earlier in the day, the food throughout the dinner is of outstanding first class, accompanied by delicious white and red wines. Here are some examples which will speak for themselves:

That was SOME STEAK - thanks Pableras for your input in the selection stage!

One of the most amazingly mouthwatering chocolate mousses ever, fact. Hhhmmmmmmmm.

THE SPEECHES: Throughout the evening there are a number of very personal, emotional, funny and beautiful speeches shared with everyone.

Wedding Day Master of Ceremonies, Rich, hands the micro to Steve for his moment of glory - and what a moment that was- while Steve's sister Leanne stands next to him, to make sure he doesn't joke about her childhood years again.

Hoping to respect the privacy of all of them I want to only specially recall that of Steve’s mum Frances, who stood up and took the micro from her daughter, Leanne. 

As soon as she spoke I had goose bumps from head to toes. I cannot recall a time where such naturally simple yet immensely beautiful words, spoken proudly and most honestly from the bottom of her heart meant so much and could have this effect in other people’s hearts.

To me, considering everything that had happened in recent years, it was an unexpected yet extraordinary trip to the bottom of my heart where I realised, once again, what the important things in life really are, and who we should, above all, love and respect.

It is a truth repeated too often, that we don’t know what we have until we lose it. But I truly believe in making the most of things while we can; they don’t have to be amazing, one-in-a-lifetime 'things'; they can be everyday’s things, whatever, a smile, a whisper, giving a hand to someone, a chocolate cookie, whatever, as long as they work for you - as someone said before, and Woody Allen put on film, 'Whatever Works'.

But, most of all, why not try to being thankful for the good things that happen to you, cherish those moments with all your heart and don’t let tough moments bring you down for ever, adapt to them, learn from them and rather, why not try letting LIFE BE GREAT, every day.

For those words Frances, I thank you wholeheartedly.

As dinner came to a close and desserts were served, the groom’s wedding party closed the speeches for the day and, to top it off, we managed to get the entire room with 90+ guests standing on their feet and wishing loud “Long Live the Bride and the Groom” – all this is in the more Spanish way of 

“VIVAN LOS NOVIOOOOS!!!! VIVAAAAN!!!!!" 

"VIVAN LOS NOVIOOOOS!!! VIVAAAANNN!!!"

"VIVAAAAAN LOOOOOSSS NOVIOOOOOOOSSSS!!!! VIVAAAAANNNNN!!!!!!"

Past 11.30pm and until sometime between 2 and 5 am the following day: we partied, we danced, we sang, we drank (a little), we hugged; we laughed, we almost cried, we jumped, we fell, we crawled, we laughed again; we drank (a little more), we plugged our iPods once the hotel staff asked the DJ to leave (strange HK rules!), we crawled once more; we took taxis, some went home, some had McDonalds (yes, we did; what can I say), some went clubbing... and above all WE FELT ALIVE, YES WE DID.

It was a great day and night. One that we will all remember for years to come. Thank you Carol, Thank you Steve – you guys rock. See you soon wherever that is!

HONG KONG: A Wedding Day, Speeches, Fish & Chips, Preparations and Love. Part One.

Today’s entry is Part One of the wedding day of one of my closest friends, Steve, to his lovely fiancé, and now wife, Carol. This was the original reason why I was travelling to Asia in the first place, which also prompted me to start this Blog, and therefore I feel this day deserves special treatment.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS: If you have been to a wedding in Hong Kong, or anywhere else for that matter; if you have been "best man" or "bridesmaid" before, or will be soon; if you are married or will soon be - or if you have any stories or questions you want to share, we'd like to hear from you, WHAT DID YOU LIKE THE MOST, WHAT WAS MORE SCARY/FUN/CRAZY... Feel free to go to the bottom of this page and share with us. And A MILLION THANKS for reading, as always!

Saturday 14 April – Steve’s and Carol’s Hong Kong Wedding Day – Part One, Before the Ceremony.

From very early in the morning there was something special about the day ahead, and here is how it unfolded for me:

07.30am: I wake up and Pableras is already awake. He has been putting down to paper what he would like to say at the wedding. For months we have been debating over emails how many of us should speak at the wedding, and what to say.

To put things more into context, we are five ‘best men’ or ‘ushers’. It means Steve did not choose one and only best man, but a few of us – which in return means a big honour for all of us: Rich, Tobes, Dan, Pabs and me, also known as Fonz. All the other ushers were based in Hong Kong, while I was the only one living abroad. This was a challenge for me since I didn’t have opportunities to meet face-to-face with the other ushers except Pabs until the morning of the wedding, literally. To their great credit, they organized a fantastic stag-do for Steve, which although I was unable to attend I have in good understanding that it was truly epic.

If you have been a ‘best man’ or 'bridesmaid' before you may know what I am referring to. In my case, I have been honoured to have been asked to be one twice before this wedding and it always is as exciting as much as challenging. It is very easy to think that you know the groom/bride so well it will be easy to say things that people will like right away. Wrong. Then you realise it is your friend’s biggest personal day to date, and that of his partner too – as well as for the rest of their families. Some people are natural at speaking in public and with a glass of wine it is all much easier, some others dread it at the mere thought. When it is five of you the puzzle gets even more interesting. Thankfully, I think we managed to play it just right.

Back to Pabs flat: Pableras shares the draft of the words he has been putting together for Steve and Carol. From the moment he starts reading them I have goose bumps up and down my back, thinking how simple as much as beautiful is what he has come up with.

He has shared countless moments with Steve and Carol since day one – while I have only have the opportunity a handful of times. In addition, Pableras has one of the biggest hearts I have ever found and that has come out beautifully in this speech, from his heart.

He has not given a best man speech before and I am impressed he has come up with those beautiful lines, with the natural balance between being personal and ceremonial as well as a little funny but also intimate.

We give the speech a few tweaks here and there and write it down in the computer, so it is easier to read on the spot with the nerves and all.

With Rich becoming the Master of Ceremonies for the day and Dan also giving a speech, I focus on being the last one of the ushers to share a moment with everyone else. Pabs and I agree I should not to go for a speech but for a more interactive mini-show: it is their wedding and everyone present will want to also wish them well, so I write a little script to get everyone to wish them well, in typical Spanish way – more on this later.

11.15am: After collecting our James Bond-like tuxedos in central Hong Kong from Mr Yun, Pabs and I meet Rich and Dan to wrap up the speeches and what else we are going to be doing during the day, while we will meet Tobs later on.

We are meeting at Rich’s office near the Shangrila Hotel, where the wedding will take place. The office is on some 19^th or so floor overseeing part of the Hong Kong bay and some of its high end hotels – it is an impressive view with the green mountains, some of which we were trekking up and down yesterday, just behind them. What a great city of contrasts everywhere, at every opportunity.

HK towers, glamour ads, a pool, a mountain - CONTRASTS

HK architecture - never a dull moment

Rich will be the Master of Ceremonies (MC) during the day, which will mean telling the guests what is going to happen and when or where to go when. As the big rugby player he is, he is definitely suited to be telling people what to do and when, and people will just do it – which makes the other ushers’ lives a little easier. Sweet.

Dan shares with us his speech too. For the second time today I have goose bumps up and down my neck from the start. I have just met Rich and Dan for the first time in person, after months of emails, and it takes me no time to realise why Steve has also picked them as ushers. Rich is also taking the opportunity of being MC to add personal touches every time he has to address everyone. We come up with some really nice ideas and some good jokes too.

We have a feeling people will have a great day.

12.45pm: We meet Steve at the Five-Star Shangrila Hotel. He is looking great. Not only the tuxedo makes him look sharp, he actually, genuinely is looking great. Despite whatever nerves he may be going through, despite any last minute nightmares that we may not know of, he is as relaxed as if he was just a guest in someone else’s wedding.

Before having our ushers’ lunch, we get a sneak preview of the room where the Ceremony will take place. It is beautifully dressed in light cream colours. The variety of white roses is classy and romantic in equal measures, very personal to them. Like it.

The Ceremony room -  beautifully dressed, and Rich

1.30pm: We are sitting around the table for lunch at the hotel’s cocktail bar and Tobes  tells me how he met Steve years ago and how rubbish Steve was at rugby back then. The exchange more or less went like this:

Me: ‘And has his rugby improved at all?’

Tobes: ‘Not one bit, but he never gives up annoying the opposition’

Steve, always interrupting when people talk about him: ‘Yep, like the day you dropped me not even to the Reserves and I had to play for the opposition because they were short on players’

Rich: ‘Yes and you injured at least two of our team!’

Steve: ‘You see??? You see??? That’s what happens when you drop meeee’.

Some things never change.

Steve and Rich at our ushers lunch - it is going to be a great day

FOOD: being a 5 * Hotel you sometimes never know what to expect. It may be either over the top, or simply spot on. 

This small difference goes back to the concept of "Quality", which I learned years ago to be the difference between what you expect, and what you get. For example: 

If you book a five stars hotel in Vietnam and pay, say, $500 a night, you may be perfectly entitled to expect your room to be rather large, with amazingly comfortable beds and complete silence from the street, a great view from the window and a fantastic bath - as well as round-the-clock room service and first class facilities including spa, gym and a large swimming pool and/or a private beach. And the list can go on and on.

However, if when you arrive it turns out that the room is about 40 square metres, it has one noisy and worn out mattress, are facing a busy highway and a wall of bricks at the other end... Then you may be perfectly entitled to believe it really is not a hotel of "great quality".

On the other hand, if you are budget-travelling and book a hotel room for $50 a night in London, you probably expect it to be a small room, with a single bed, facing a wall, with only a shower dish but no bath, let alone room service. 

However, if you get a 100 square metres room, two double beds, river views and a free bottle of champagne, you would most probably think it was a hotel of great quality.

In this instance it was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. We ordered some salads and some fish and chips. Yes, you read correctly, “fish and chips” in Hong Kong. I KNOW. It is not Brighton, is it? Thankfully, the historic British presence, when it comes down to Fish and Chips, is definitely a great legacy. And having access to extraordinary fish by being an island, these guys have really put some serious fish and chips together. And I mean SERIOUS.

FISH (& CHIPS) - TRULY OUTSTANDING

The batter is really light as well as crispy and tasty. Now the cod, and I mean, THE COD is bloody marvellous. It is so fresh and soft you would be forgiven to think it was just picked from the sea, literally. It melts in your mouth within seconds and the meat is simply outstanding. At every mouthful you want already the next, but not wanting to rush as it will come to an end at some point. And the chips, well, the chips are so moreish you have to fight back not to fill yourself with a few too many.

That was TRULY FAN.TAS.TIC.

simply AMAZING Ceasar Salad

Cufflinks: Since I had forgotten to bring my cufflinks from London I had asked Steve earlier that morning if I could borrow a pair from him – via WhatsApp messenger:

Me: Mate, big day today, really hope everything goes well.

Steve: Thanks mate.

Me: Now, can I borrow some cufflinks from you, didn’t bring them from London.

Steve: You muppet. I’ll see what I can do.

Out of the blue during lunch Steve presents each of us with some amazing silver cufflinks, to say thank you for being his ushers and from what we had done and were going to do on the day.

CORRECTION: No Steve, you do not have to thank us for that. On the contrary, we thank you for having given us the opportunity in the first place. And for the cufflinks, and the meal – God, that was really good.

2.30pm: I have now had the chance to see Carol, who is looking absolutely gorgeous. Not only is she a naturally beautiful girl, she has great style in everything she wears and on this big day she still manages to take things to a whole new level. GORGEOUS. The five bridesmaids are also looking beautiful with very smart and classy purple dresses.

I have also by now seen Frances, Steve’s mum, and his sister Leanne. They are both looking also great. It is not only the lovely outfits they are wearing or the classy and subtle makeup and hair styles. There is a special spark of happiness in their eyes for this big day, for what it means for Steve and for what it means for them too. It is an honour to be part of it all.

All guests start to arrive. There is a great mix of people from many countries. As with most of the weddings I have been to in recent years, for people of my generation this is completely normal.

Isn’t it great that nowadays one can have friends, good friends, literally from every corner of the planet? – and that in special occasions, such as this one, they all make the journey to be part of it and share this great day? I have been lucky enough to have been brought up in Spain –way before the current economic situation- and have also lived in Italy and England, whilst have too had the opportunity to travel for work to many countries around the world, as well as holidaying in many countries. During all these years I have met many great people and it is encouraging to see how almost everyone, nowadays, has the opportunity to do just that.

For that, if I may, I love globalization. And the likes of Social Media sites that allow you to be in contact with everyone you know at the touch of a click. Simples. Like it.

We are just a few minutes away from the start of the Ceremony. After months of preparations, this is what it all comes down to. A final check by everyone involved making sure everything is in place, guests have taken their seats, both families are in the front rows, the ushers take our place, the bridesmaids are all set for the Bride to make her entrance. One big deep breath and this is what this is all about. TO BE CONTINUED...

END OF PART ONE: I am finishing Part One here with a final check by some of the ushers - and I am leaving a Part Two for the Ceremony and the fun celebrations that followed afterwards. 

Three of the ushers get the final check - Myself, Dan and Pabs

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