A Wedding Dinner at the Grand Shanghai Restaurant

for Elaine and Joel (featuring Poppy!)

One of my favourite surprises when going over to the bride or groom's houses on the wedding day, where we usually start the wedding day from, is when there are pets! I mean, I already knew prior to that morning Elaine and Joel had a small Jack Russell cutie named Poppy because we've exchanged our dog pics right after a call where we ran through their day's programme for the Grand Shanghai Restaurant, but it always feels good to see a dog excited and so cute and yet clueless of what's going on - just happy to be part of the day. But Poppy definitely seemed to recognise her task for the day; accompanying Joel when he saw Elaine for the first time that day at their family's home, to sitting pretty on Elaine's lap for some portraits before we left for the restaurant.

I have so many favourite moments from this day. From how Elaine's ah ma offered them to drink a bird's nest drink before leaving the house, her shyness and love for her granddaughter and which now extends to Joel as an addition to the growing family, or how Joel and Elaine seemed to so easily break into that throw your head back kind of laughter. We shared our enthusiasm for going to live gigs and the music genres we're drawn to en route to Gallop Extension for a quick photoshoot for the both of them. I love this day beyond words, and I hope these photos remain close to their hearts forever and more ♡