ONE FOR THE ALBUM: Mr Chiu and fiancee Jean posing for their wedding photo shoot at the Marina Bay platform.

 

WEDDING SPARKLE: Ms Allyson Theseira-Ding and husband Aaron at the Oriental Hotel rooftop poolside on theirwedding day on Aug 9, 2000.

Couples remember their wedding day with photographs taken in places most meaningful to them.

For 29-year-old Anson Chiu, who is tying the knot in November, that special place for his wedding photo album had to be the Marina Bay platform – and it had to be while it was decked out for the National Day Parade (NDP).

Of course, his being the secretary of this year’s NDP Air Participation Committee helped – a lot – with the logistics. He got permission from the chairman of the organising committee for a photo shoot last Wednesday and then posed with his fiancee in their wedding finery, with a guard of honour in full uniform behind them, also having its own photo shoot.

This is the second year Mr Chiu is involved in the NDP. Last year, he was also on the planning committee, when the parade debuted at Marina Bay.

His fiancee Jean Low, 27, who shares his enthusiasm on the choice of photography venue, said: “He’s so proud to be part of the whole parade that it is catching!”

She will be watching the show from the stands with his parents.

He said: “I’ve helped out for two years, so this place has a lot of memories for me personally.”

The photographs will go on show at their wedding.

He is not the only one for whom the NDP and love are intricately linked. Parade rehearsals have set the scene for many a blossoming romance.

In the 1991 parade, Mr Peter Jong, 43, and Madam Christina Chan, 44, were team leaders for the dance segment put up by the People’s Association (PA).

Cupid struck, and five months later they got married.

Since then, being part of the parade in some way has become a ritual. This year, they are minding the performers with help from daughters Shermine, 15, and Sabina, 13.

The PA’s 400-strong contingent this year boasts 14 other couples.

TIES THAT BIND: Mr Peter Jong and his wife Christina with their daughters Sabina (second from left) and Shermine (extreme right) at last year’s NDP rehearsal in Marina Bay.

For Army Guard officer Tay Kwang Leong, 31, the NDP was where he proposed to his girlfriend – now his wife – in 2006, the final time it was held at the National Stadium.

Like Mr Chiu, his being on the organizing committee helped in getting his marriage proposal and then girlfriend Wee E-Ying’s picture flashed on the giant screens just as the parade ended. With that backdrop, he got down on bended knee and presented her with a diamond ring.

And then there are those who choose to get married on the nation’s birthday. This year, 27 couples will take their vows on that day.

Among those who did so in recent years was Ms Allyson Theseira-Ding, who got hitched on Aug 9, 2000 by the Oriental Hotel’s rooftop poolside, with the parade fireworks in the background.

Two children, now aged five and one, have since come along, and the family has made it a  point to catch the fireworks every year.

The 33-year-old, who designs wedding invitation cards for a living, said: “Once my children are older, I am going to ballot for tickets and be part of the celebration – live.”

 

Baywatch

Looking for the perfect backdrop for sparks to fly this National Day? Just be sure to be facing Bay-ward by 8.01pm.

That is when this year’s elaborate symphony of fireworks begins. Here is our guide on some of the romantic spots where you can catch the show:
» Explore the grassy patches around the edges of Marina Bay;
» Splurge a little for intimacy, and check into nearby hotels like the Fullerton, Marina Mandarin and Swissotel the Stamford, which have special packages for rooms with a view. Or try the Naumi boutique hotel, across from Raffles Hotel, where guests can view the sparks from its rooftop infinity pool;
» Book a table at the Equinox, on the 70th storey of Swissotel the Stamford, or Hai Tien Lo on the 37th story of the Pan Pacific Hotel; or
» Take your love to new heights on the Singapore Flyer which, at 150m, is as close to the action as you can get.