islandhippy

We would have expected nothing less from photographer Collin and designer Biona's wedding: a laid-back party in a chic garden setting facing the seafront. The gods threatened to spoil the event by sending menacing storm clouds to Singapore in the morning but they chilled at the prospect of a good party and gifted the happy couple blue skies and a light sea breeze.

The venue was 1 Twenty Six, a restaurant and bar with a lush garden located on the beach at East Coast Park. The garden features a central, timber-decked pagoda, which the couple used for the solemnisation, an island bar overlooking the beach and lots of secluded chill zones with wicker tables and chairs. Pebbled paths meander through the greenery and water features complete the zen-like ambience. We had the whole garden to ourselves so Olive had fun wandering around collecting pebbles and trying to swim in the fountain.

In our experience, wedding food in Singapore is often a let down but the food prepared by 1 Twenty Six was very tasty. Before the solemnisation, staff drifted through the garden with light bites of smoked salmon and quails eggs wrapped in bacon. Free flow from the bar also helped get people in the mood. For dinner, the restaurant laid on a simple buffet spread so guests could help themselves then mingle in the garden with a plate of food. For starters, there was a sweet potato salad, a duck salad and Vietnamese rice-paper with sweet chilli sauce. For mains, there was spicy seafood pasta, rice, and dishes of beef stew in red wine, chicken and wild mushroom ragout and John Dory ... enough to satisfy all tastes.

With the sun hanging low over the sea, wedding vows were exchanged in the al-fresco garden pagoda, and orchids hanging on ribbons from the pagoda roof fluttered in the breeze. Half of the guests were professional photographers, the rest — like us — keen amateurs getting in the way, so the paparazzi was out in force.

We had a really fun evening and we were sorry to have to take the sleepy baby home before the tuak (rice wine), flown in from Sarawak by Collin's family, put in an appearance. We wish Collin and Biona a happy, chilled-out life together.