Couples making their way up the event hall for the mass wedding ceremony.
KOTA KINABALU: December 12, 2012, similar to other triple date sequences like 11.11.11 or 10.10.10, is a very popular wedding date because of the novelty, ease to remember or a blessing based depending on a couple’s interpretation.
A total of 35 couples tied the knot in a mass wedding ceremony at the Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) here yesterday.
The ceremony was carried out by four assistant registrars of marriage appointed by the government, who are Datuk Chong Choon Kim, Mej (K) Chang Chin Shin, Peter Tiew Sii Neng and Chung Wan Kiong.
Liew Yung Chay, 24, tied the knot with Liew Fui Li, 20, after a year of dating as he believed that if he has found The One and he need not wait any longer.
“I have found my love and I want to make it quick before I miss out on this chance,” he said in an interview at the event.
Yung Chay, a full-time tour guide, is also a performer who does a fine imitation of Fei Yuqing, a popular Chinese artiste. At times he can be seen on stage during events performing Fei Yuqing’s songs and even mimicking the artiste’s expressions during the performance.
Yung Chay said even though his wife fully supported his singing career, he will be performing less and focusing more on being a tour guide after tying the knot as he has a family to look after now.
The couple chose 12.12.12 as their wedding date because when the numbers are read out in Cantonese, ‘yat yi, yat yi’, it would sound like a blessing for the couple to go through every day with ease.
Yung Chay said he was initially attracted to his wife, a seafood restaurant receptionist, because she was cute. Over time, he learned that she was a filial daughter, independent woman and good financial planner.
Fui Li added that she admired Yung Chay for his good character and loyalty towards his family.
To Patrick Tiew, 34, and Jennifer Wong, 31, saying ‘I do’ at KKCCCI yesterday was even more special as Patrick’s father, Peter Tiew Sii Neng, was one of the four assistant registrars of marriage who conducted the ceremony.
Patrick had been preparing for his wedding with Jennifer since a year ago but it was not until two months ago that he decided to tie the knot on December 12, as per his father’s suggestion.
“The date only come once in 100 years. It is a perfect sequence of numbers,” Patrick said.
Patrick, who is in the sound system, lighting and stage business, disclosed that he was also involved in the set up of the sound system for the mass wedding ceremony.
Asked what he would say to his wife, who is a valuer, Patrick said,” I will love you forever.”
On the other hand, Jared, 49, and Selina, 39, were planning to have a very low-key wedding ceremony to celebrate their union.
Jared and Selina, who come from Klang and Kuala Lumpur respectively, have known each other since four years ago.
Selina said she had not planned to marry so soon.
“I think we could have done it earlier or later (getting married) but 12.12.12 is a meaningful date because it sounds like ‘I do, I do, I do’,” she said, adding that the mass wedding at KKCCCI made everything easier as the event was all planned out.
Also present at the event were KKCCCI acting president cum deputy president Datuk John Su Haw Tieng and incoming president Michael Lui Yen Sang.