Two Halves of a Whole
The moment they met, Elaine Daly and Nick Boden knew there was something special in store for them
The beautiful and charismatic Elaine Daly marries her other half, Nick Boden, in a magical wedding celebration in Genting Highlands
When asked what song would best represent her and Nick Boden, Elaine Daly picked out Al Green’s Let’s Get Together. The lyric goes, “I’m so in love with you, whatever you want to do is all right with me ’cause you make me feel so brand new,” and we found the laid-back, soulful vibe of the song to match the couple’s DNA perfectly. Love often comes knocking when you least expect it. For former beauty queen Daly, she was focused on her work as a TV personality, model and actress when a mutual friend introduced her to Boden, a chiropractor originating from South Africa. They clicked right from the beginning despite their seemingly different backgrounds. “Nick is everything I could ask for and more. He is intelligent, caring, kind and has a great sense of humour,” says Daly. It was a relatively short courtship before the two decided to tie the knot. Daly pointed out the moment when she knew she had found the one, “I was very sick shortly into our relationship. I have never had someone genuinely care for me and show such compassion like he did. I know it’s probably because he is such a great doctor but it was more than that. He truly showed me what I thought I would never be able to find, unconditional love.”
Everything fell into place within the span of a few months. A sudden change in holiday plans with friends saw Daly and Boden making a trip to Maldives by themselves. They were standing at the end of a long jetty watching the sun set over the Indian Ocean when Boden got down on one knee and popped the question. Time never became a worry when planning for the big day even though Daly described herself as a perfectionist and would never do anything half-heartedly. It took the couple about three months, with the help of their wedding planners, to plan three weddings in three separate locations. “We were both super relaxed in the lead-up to the wedding, which was surprising as I thought I would be more stressed out. I guess it is probably because we knew that this was something we had planned well for and we were so ready for the moment,” Daly reveals.
Puncak Dani, a private bungalow settled amidst the lush greenery of Genting Highlands, set the stage for an intimate garden-themed wedding. Daly and Boden
invited 150 of their closest friends and relatives for round two of their wedding celebrations, complete with ‘get the bride’ obstacles set by Daly’s entourage who called themselves Elaine’s Army and a traditional tea ceremony in honour of her mother’s Straits Chinese heritage. Shades of pink, fluttering ribbons and fairy lights created a romantic and whimsical atmosphere on the grounds. Even the usual monsoon rain gave way to a beautiful rainbow, making the day even more special and magical.
As the sky darkened and the stars came out to play, Daly changed into a shimmery gown by Sonny San to match the twinkles all around. The newlyweds then had a simple cake-cutting ceremony before proceeding to dance the night away to their favourite songs played by a DJ and live band. Daly described the experience as magical, relaxed and beautiful. “Marriage is sacred to me. It has to be with someone who loves you even when you are at your worst. It is a relationship between two people who have decided they are only whole when they are together.”