Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/162471
was the choice of photographer. The pair had met Ellen Ho of Hong Photography Studio at another wedding a couple of years earlier and fallen in love with her style. "We just let her take the reins with the photography — we love everything that she does," says Ernest. To create a bold, luxe look throughout their wedding, Cynthia and Ernest took advice from their expert team. "All the vendors that Ernest picked exceeded our expectations," says Cynthia. "I wasn't nervous about his picks because I knew they were just as important to him, and I trusted his taste. We both liked the colour purple, and the décor team helped us pick the pewter and damask design that we incorporated into the invitations, linens and cake." Once they'd settled on their colour, they found florals to fit perfectly with their theme. Tall vases, topped with luxurious mounds of purple hydrangeas, with suspended magenta orchids in the stems, formed a decadent complement to the elegant, high-ceilinged Metropolitan Room. While the couple didn't opt for an Asian-style venue, in honour of their Japanese and Chinese heritage, Cynthia made several costume changes throughout the day to reflect family traditions. Her "something new" came first and was a gift from her sister: a strapless Jasmine Couture gown that she wore for their traditional ceremony at Vancouver's St. Andrew's-Wesley United Church. For the Chinese tea ceremony, Cynthia then changed into a red qipao — a "something old" that had been her mother's wedding dress from her parents' marriage 30 years earlier. The third outfit, a pretty Japanese kimono and uchikake (white covering), was rented for the occasion and worn during the second half of the reception speeches. Cynthia even wore the kimono to play a little hockey after dinner. Yes, hockey. While the couple had long since Top: In tribute to their bonded over their love of the game, their passion for favourite team, the couple the sport rose to new heights during the Vancouver led guests in a Canucks "towel power" moment. Canucks' run for the Stanley Cup in 2011. Cynthia Right: Terminal City Club and Ernest were so hoping for their hometown proved to be a warm and elegant setting for Cynthia to win that they took a long break from wedding and Ernest's reception. preparations while they immersed themselves in the Bottom: A friend made the couple's unique playoffs. When the NHL season ended (sadly, not in hockey-themed cake the Canucks' favour), Cynthia and Ernest realized topper. their wedding was now only a month away and they'd need to hustle to ready the final touches. Furthering their hockey theme, a friend made hockey-outfitted figurines of the wedding couple as cake toppers. The reception even featured a classic "towel power" moment where all the guests waved their white napkins along to the U2 song that plays at every Canucks home game, and the couple also organized an indoor hockey shoot-out game. Bride and groom fittingly finished with the highest scores at the end of the night. "But Ernest lost," laughs Cynthia, "due to the fact that he was aiming for his groomsmen instead of the net." The result was an informal and lighthearted reception atmosphere, full of personality, warmth and laughter — just like the relaxed couple themselves. Looking back at their wedding day, the two say they feel truly lucky to have had such support in pulling it all together. "A lot of our friends went above and beyond in helping us out for our wedding day," says Cynthia. "Many countless hours were spent on the creation of our invitations, favour cards, ceremony programs and slideshow. We are very blessed to have such generous and supporting people in our lives." rw pg41-47_GamePlan.indd 45 12-09-24 12:57 PM