BINZEND TAI & KAREN ANG
A Welcome Arrangement
We started as friends just like most other couples. How we became lifetime partners is a totally different and exciting story.
We first met in 2013 when I was on my second term of my first year at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business in Rockwell. Binzend was a transferee from De Lasalle University. Before we met, I was actually considering transferring to DLSU. My plans changed when he came into my life.
As we both belong to pure-chinese families, the “Kai Shao”, a Chinese tradition of arranged marriages, is strictly passed down and followed to my time. Traditionally, a single female of marrying age is to be introduced to a single male whom the family thinks can be a potential partner. Unlike arranged marriages, two people can choose not to proceed with dating each other if they don’t hit it off.
The meet-up was set in July 2015 but was postponed to give way to the finalization of my thesis. And later I was told that the “prospective partner” was also doing his thesis. To my knowledge, there are only very few Chinese students in graduate school and coincidentally, finalizing their program thesis the same time I was. Then I thought, “Maybe I know this guy!”
The day I was to meet my kao shao, Binzend called to find out where I was going like he knew I was leaving that day. My doubts were confirmed. I was right. Binzend was my “arranged partner-to-be”. My heart pounded so fast for this oh so fateful surprise. I love it.
Our wedding went with our choice of classic elegance. Veluz did an excellent job on the sophisticated patterns on my pina fabric gown. My event stylist, Teddy Manuel, gave in to my request to incorporate a photo of my dearest grandmother in my bouquet. I felt she was there to witness this special reunion.
Teddy went with geometrical patterns of gold and bright colors for the theme. Periwinkle for my maid-of-honor; blush pink for the bridesmaids and sea-foam green for secondary sponsors. This colourful spread was to make the walk down the aisle unpredictable – a creative philosophy of my genius couturier. While the male entourage were all standing dignified in their grey suits.
Still following the old Chinese tradition, the wedding must be set at 11 A.M.; not before, not after.
San Sebastian Church was the only one among the many churches we’ve checked, which confirmed us the slot – the last one they said yes to. Lucky us.
The rainy month of July did not stop our guests and friends to be with us in our celebration. We were honoured by the presence of a special guest, Richard Poon, who serenaded us through the night with his memorable romantic songs. East Ocean Palace was the reception venue which served and treated everyone with a sumptuous course of Chinese food and special entrée.
“Kai Shao” may be a tradition of dating and courtship which the modernday Chinese may not find considerable anymore. As for me and Binzend, it was a much welcome arrangement.