We woke lazily on Saturday 27th to a hearty breakfast (woo, the breakfast bar was PACKED) and then bundled everyone into the car and drove over to my folks' place. This family home had been the scene of many a rowdy clan gathering, and we were yet again readying it to receive one more. A very special one. The wedding of my brother, the eldest boychild in our generation (and thus the future head of the clan) and his cosmopolitan statuesque bride Diana.
When we arrived, my mother was already bustling about the house sweeping and dusting and mopping and planning. Grandpa was busy too - talking. We parked Bean and Annie in the guest room to play and dug in to help.
Up went the curtains in the bridal room. Up went the tapestry that was a gift from Diana's father. Up went the red chiffons and the festive scarlet doorveil ("Muun Houng" - literally "Door Red") that marks the celebration of any chinese wedding.
There was a little scare regarding the promptness of the marquee crew (Mom was almost at the top of her voice and the end of her tether when they rolled in at 1500H to set up tentage and tables). Mom, Grandpa and I then got out the peonies, tulle, and ribbons and bedecked the bridal car.
During the madness of the red marquee going up, Hubby had gone to fetch Poppy (his sister) from Sentral station. I drove Bean and Annie back to Ascott to rest, then bought charsiu rice for their lunch, and rushed back to finish the decor.
We were done by about 1600H, and I sped back to the Ascott to shower & change. That night was the first part of the celebrations. Dad had booked the entire Ozeki, famed for modern Japanese cuisine and a huge variety of sake. The crowd comprised family and friends of the bride and groom. Five long banquettes in the middle of the room were filled with young and dashing friends, and the elevated partially-hidden tables (quieter) were reserved for the folks. Wine and sake flowed freely, and dinner was better than even what I had expected.
Bean stole the show transiently from the wedding couple. It was, after all, her debut presentation to the extended family. She was in a dusky-pink shirt-dress and matching socks, and looked really sweet and gentle. Hubby was in a dark suit and I was in a terracotta BCBG cocktail dress.
We exited Bean back to the Ascott (just a short walk away) when it was time to sit down for dinner. Diana's japanese relations were here, and we all had a pretty easygoing time punctuated by my bro & Diana dancing a sizzling number, and later yet by bro's band of brothers having a rowdy high time.
Poppy, Hubby and I left early after watching the younger japanese girls whisper "ohhh, kakkoii desu!" about my baby brother (the youngest of us sibs, with a Wang Lee Hom smile), helping to host the older japanese guests, and hearing one too many drunken renditions of the brother's alma mater anthem.
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