CRAZY RICH ASIANS’ OTT WEDDING
Kevin Kwan’s bestselling novel, Crazy Rich Asians, depicted a world in which opulence and wealth are the order of the day, so when the book was greenlit for a 2018 movie adap, the production team knew they had their work cut out for them. No more so than on a wealthy wedding designed to out-do all others, as Asian-American Rachel (Constance Wu) accompanies her Singapore boyfriend Nick (Henry Golding) to his hometown and realises he’s from a hugely wealthy family.
“We’re rubbing two dimes together to make millions,” production designer Nelson Coates told press during filming of the pivotal scene, filmed in a 19thcentury convent-turned-event space in Singapore’s business district over 36 hours. To impress a congregation of characters who would have seen it all at society nuptials, Coates created a fairytale version of the Garden of Eden indoors – with monied guests sitting amidst three-foot (artificial) grass, surrounded by lush (real) tropical vegetation and a water-filled aisle (waterproof marine plywood with a reflective mylar-like fabric laminated on top) to ensure the wow factor of the bride’s arrival as she glides towards her groom. Hand-painted lanterns with traditional patterns and ancestral illustrations related to blessings of fertility, prosperity, and happiness were crafted by traditional artisans, and the props department created hundreds of copper wire and LED ‘fireflies’ to add a feeling of enchantment. And that dress (part meringue, part catsuit) took 30
beadworkers in Kuala Lumpur three weeks to add thousands of crystals...
It’s a moment of sheer colour, a contrast to the monochrome sets of Manhattan earlier in the film, designed to show Rachel the vividness and excess of Singapore life, as well as being a turning point for her relationship with Nick. As Kina Grannis sings ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’ and the lights dim, the aisle is submerged before the bride, Araminta Lee (Sonoya Mizuno), steps into the hush and the water. But the real magic is in Nick and Rachel’s reaction to each other as this $40 million wedding begins. “Yes, this is an extravagant, crazy wedding, but what makes you cry isn’t the extravagance,” says director Jon Chu. “That almost makes you laugh. When you cry, it’s about these two people… they’re an embattled couple and it’s here, at this beautiful wedding, they find the resolve… all the extravagance and the craziness disappears.”
The scene certainly had the desired effect on Kwan: “I do not cry at movies. But during this scene, I sure did.” JC