t ove's

lWord
f e a t u re

he story of Brian Wey and

Diana Lie is a serendipitous
tale of friendship, then love.
They first met in a business
fraternity at University of
California, Berkeley where
he was in his third year
and she was in her first. An
introductory conversation uncovered several similarities
— unlike their peers who mostly grew up in America, the
couple were raised in Asia and found themselves sharing

the
the same culture and values. This gave them common
ground to hit it off and later become good friends.
“We didn’t really have an official first date. We did
things together as friends usually as a group and then
gradually it was just the two of us. It grew from there.
One Christmas, I came home and so did Brian who A day a f t e r t h e i r w e ddi n g c e l e b r at io n i n
S i n g a p or e , B r i a n W e y a n d Di a n a L i e w e r e
i n l ig h t h e a r t e d s pi r i t s as t h e y to ok
S u h a n a A b . t h rou g h a v i v i d j ou r n e y of
t h e i r l ov e a n d t h e j oy f u l o c c as io n

A picture-perfect moment

was in Taiwan. He rang me and my mum answered the

call and later she said: ‘He must like you!’” Diana, a risk
advisory services manager at Ernst & Young reminisces
with a smile. Three months later, Cupid struck and the
pair started dating. “I thought to myself, ‘Oh my, Mum
was right!’ She has such a great knack for sensing things,”
the 28-year-old says lovingly of her mother, Mieke Lie.

PR E S T IGE 62 a u g u s t 20 0 9 The Lie family

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 The Wey family

Jimmy Lie walks his

daughter down the aisle A toast to the newlyweds

How he proposed: Six years into

the relationship, Brian — an internet
product manager at Bleacher Report and
Diana were in a different phase of their
lives. They pair had embarked on their
respective careers, moved to San Francisco
and bought a new home. To celebrate, Brian
and Diana treated themselves to a romantic
dinner at one of their favourite restaurants
— Gary Danko. They went back home in
good spirits and Brian presented a Louis
Vuitton box. “I was excited about getting a
isco
san fra nc Planning for the weddings proved
to be an experience of sorts for the
couple. They wanted something intimate for their 100
guests and decided on the James Leary Flood Mansion — a picturesque
building perched on a hill in San Francisco that overlooked the city.
“We planned everything. We designed the programmes, the menu and
picked photographs of people who were coming and placed it all around
the venue. We wanted them to feel like they were coming to our house,”
the newlyweds share. Guests were treated to a gourmet spread of beef The wedding
tenderloin with porcini mushrooms and truffle oil, seared scallops, pork cupcake

gift but when he opened it, I realised it was tenderloin and a spectacular giant cupcake with strawberries and cream.
a ring in disguise!” the affable Diana said. The evening also saw the couple dance to Stay with Me by John Legend.
It turns out that Brian had secretly kept
the ring by his bedside for five months.
During which he had been in contact with
Getting ready for the big moment
his soon-to-be mother-in-law, to narrow
down an auspicious date for the grand
gesture. “Brian is a romantic person but in
an understated kind of way and it was very
him to deliver the proposal in an intimate Lie checkin g
Brother Andrew
setting. He got down on one knee, said what on his big sister

he wanted to say and proposed,” shares

Diana, giving Brian a playful nudge.

The Planning Begins: The couple

Photos in San Francisco: Sherman Chu

knew that multiple celebrations were in order.
Having spent a significant part of their lives
in America, the couple was excited about
having a wedding reception in San Francisco.
“We’ve made so many friends since college
and wanted to share our union with them,”
Brian reveals. It was decided. The couple
would have three wedding celebrations
— the first in San Francisco followed by
one in Singapore for Diana’s family and
friends, and then in Taiwan for Brian’s.

Tables named after their favourite A quirky moment with the bride The groom with his mates
restaurants were donned with
personalised table dŽcor

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In the St. Regis lift

Pooja Khetan, Danielle Tjia, Michelle Tjia,

Irene Gomaidi and Evi Gomaidi

Diana Tjahya, Mieke Lie, the

newlyweds, Daisy Farolan and
Mr & Mrs Anton Gomaidi

Singapor e

The wedding celebration in Singapore was equally

classy. Because of the distance, the couple was assisted
by Diana’s parents to organise a wedding celebration
that reflected them as a couple. The detailing was
impeccable and the Lies even flew in an Italian pianist
— Aldo Ferrini who they had met in Tuscany to play
at the event. “My favourite part was seeing so many
people from my childhood. It was amazing seeing
them all in one room. It made me so happy,” Diana
gushed. The couple danced to one of Diana’s dad,
Jimmy Lie’s favourite tunes, Have I Told You Lately
by Rod Stewart, witnessed by some 300 guests.
Regardless of location, the couple was elated
that they were able to share an important moment
of their lives with people dear to their hearts. Hours
of meticulous planning, dozens of emails and long
distance conversations were all worth the effort.
Come December, they do it all again in Taiwan. And
judging by the thought and effort the couple have put
The Lie and Wey families with the newlyweds
in, the third installment would be just as fabulous.

The bride
dances
with dad
Jimmy Lie

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 f e a t u re

Photos in Singapore: Gabriel Mendes

The John Jacob ballroom in
St. Regis dressed in glamour

The makeup and hair

team fussing over the Tan Hooi Hwa
gorgeous bride and Eveline Tan

Standing: Keith and Rachel Harrison, Woon Liew, Kim

Chang, the newlyweds, Ben Chang, Liew Choon Wai and
Robert Hart. Seated: Ruth and Richard Tan, and Anna Hart

Simon and
Michelle
Cheong

Saying “I DO”
In Style
The Rings
• Diana’s engagement ring is a custom-
made round-cut Lazare stone with a double
micro-pave band and her wedding ring is
a platinum eternity band with eight small
diamond stones from Derco.
• Brian’s wedding ring is a brushed platinum
ring with two indented lines from Derco.

The Bride Wore

• Vera Wang Luxe custom-made ivory
wedding gown, with a sweetheart neckline,
made of three types of lace, covered and Walking down
crossed buttons, and embellished with the aisle at St
Ignatius Church
Swarovski crystals.
• A custom Monique Lhullier red, silver,
Lana and Gerard Saliot, the newlyweds,
and white gown with pleated bodice and and Jean and Yune Wasser
rusched skirt.
• Giuseppe Zanotti sandals, Chanel
Camellia sandals and Christian Louboutin
black satin and feather shoes.
• Diamond necklace and earrings by
Lazare, and pearl and diamond earrings
and necklace borrowed from mum. Mr & Mrs
Hanspeter
Brunner
The Groom Wore Aldo Ferrini, the pianist
• A Ralph Lauren tuxedo, Hugo Boss shirt, flown in from Italy
Calvin Klein tie and Salvatore Ferragamo
shoes.

The Door Gifts

• Vintage postcards of San Francisco for
their guests to remember the trip they
made to the city. Betty and Larry Lee, Lina and James
• Note cards with Mum Mieke Lie’s Cheng, and Natalie and James Loh

Chinese brush paintings.

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