A Little Dream seeks to move, inspire and engage our wedding couples and guests with the magic of live music. A professional wedding live band comprising more than 20 versatile singers, emcees, songwriters and musicians, A Little Dream provides a one-stop service for your music needs. From 2006 - 2009, A Little Dream performed at over 800 local and overseas weddings. Read about them here!

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And do read our quick round up of 2008.

Hsin Yeow's thoughts: Magic Moments And Fluffed Pillows

Valerie and Ying Ming's wedding celebration was on a scale of epic proportions.

A grand feasting with relatives and friends takes place on 20 July at The Shangri-La. But on 14 July, I, together with my trusty band members Jonathan Lim and Jonathan Ang, had the privilege of being flown to Bali to perform at their solemnisation ceremony (their second!) and wedding banquet.


Ying Ming and Valerie at The Ritz Carlton, Bali

A beautiful shot of Valerie and Ying Ming by acclaimed wedding photographer Gabriel Mendes


The Ceremony

Although Valerie and Ying Ming exchanged their vows in front of a solemniser in Singapore a week before the trip to Bali, they wanted to do it again, this time in front of their family members and closest friends. This was where the ceremony was carried out: the Tresna Pavilion, a beautiful chapel-like structure that stands above the sparkling, azure Indian Ocean.


Tresna wedding pavilion (taken by Gabriel)


L-R: Hsin Yeow, Jonathan Ang, Jonathan Lim
We're standing on a see-through glass aisle with a flowing, stone-lined river underneath.

The ceremony was simple, yet romantic and meaningful. Instead of a solemniser, vows were exchanged in front of a marriage celebrant, a dear friend of Valerie's dad for over twenty years.

Friends of Valerie and Ying Ming then came forward to share a passage from Mitch Albom's Tuesdays With Morrie, and a poem by James Dillet Freeman.

Next, Valerie and Ying Ming each held a candle, and lit a third candle together, representing the unity of their two lives as well as of their families and friends. To mark this significant moment, the band performed Two Words, a lovely song that captured the couple's feelings perfectly.

Finally, the couple exchanged their vows* and rings, and shared a passionate kiss as husband and wife.

* Apart from the more serious vows of trust and respect for each other, I distinctly remembered Ying Ming promising to fluff Valerie's pillow every night!



Repertoire:

Misty, When I Fall In Love (March-In) As Time Goes By, (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons, Two Words, It Had To Be You


The Dinner

After the solemnisation ceremony, the guests proceeded to the Asmara Gazebo for the banquet.


L-R: Jonathan Lim, Hsin Yeow, Jonathan Ang

While we were happy to provide background music at the solemnisation ceremony earlier, our performance at the banquet became a vital element in creating the ambience the couple wanted.

From the breezy Come Fly With Me to the flirty I'm Beginning To See The Light, we were buoyed by the guests' enthusiastic response and applause, which grew louder as the night (and amount of alcohol imbibed) progressed. Many of the guests were called to the dance floor as we performed their requests: 夜来香 (Fragrance In The Night) and Dancing Queen.

As I told Valerie later on, I felt that there was an incredible number of Magic Moments during the wedding. Some of them were:

- Rendition of The Wedding by Valerie's dad

- Rendition of Can't Help Falling In Love by Valerie's dad, who was so chuffed by the response to his first song that he picked up the microphone again

- Our performance of L-O-V-E, which was the song for Valerie and Ying Ming's first dance. Valerie used up all her powers of persuasion to coax Ying Ming to take up swing dance lessons. Her efforts paid off handsomely, and I have pictures to prove it.

(The photographs below were taken by Gabriel)





Our performance finally ended with an encore performance of Sway, a special request from Valerie's mum, who was eager to practise her cha-cha. It was yet another magic moment.

To Valerie and Ying Ming,

Thank you so much for your generosity and faith in us! Performing in Bali for you and your guests was an unforgettable experience for us. All the very best to the both of you, and may you enjoy fluffed pillows every night!


Band: Hsin Yeow, Jonathan Ang, Jonathan Lim


Repertoire:

Can't Take My Eyes Off You, Come Fly With Me, Close To You, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Dream A Little Dream, Everlasting Love, Fly Me To The Moon, I'm Beginning To See The Light, I've Got You Under My Skin, Let There Be Love, L-O-V-E, Love Me, Magic Moments, More, My Cherie Amour, My Girl, Pretty Woman, Save The Last Dance For Me, Stand By Me, Sway, The First The Last My Everything, The Way You Look Tonight, The Wedding (sung by father of bride), These Are The Moments, You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, You Can’t Hurry Love

Encore: Can't Help Falling In Love (sung by father of bride), Everything, 夜来香 (Fragrance In The Night), Dancing Queen, My Favourite Things, Sway


Wedding Tips:

(1) Write your own vows, and don't be afraid to add humour
(2) Share a passage from your favourite book or poem. If possible, have the live band provide instrumental accompaniment to the readings. It makes the readings so much more romantic and beautiful
(3) Conduct a simple ceremony (e.g. jointly light a candle) to signify the unity of the couple
(4) Get your parent to sing a song
(5) Engage a live band to create the mood for dancing!
(6) Learn to swing dance with your partner!


Compliments from photographer, Gabriel Mendes:

Hi Hsin Yeow and guys,

I really enjoy your performance at Bali. Your 2nd set ROCKS! It is not just plain singing, you guys put up a SHOW!.....and that's ENTERTAINMENT!

Love,
Gabriel Mendes


Compliments from Valerie and Ying Ming:

Hello Hsin Yeow, Jon and Jon,

thanks very much once again for coming with us to Bali. We had heaps of fun that day and we are glad that you guys had fun too!

A couple of thoughts -

(i) We thought that the instrumental accompaniment to the readings made the readings so much more romantic and beautiful.

(Thanks Val, have added this tip!)

(ii) The evening performance was really really good stuff - a combination of you guys + our "paging" for people to join us on the dance worked really well. Ernest has it all on video which is why you guys must come around to our place on 4 Aug to check it out.

(iii) You guys did not mention the after party and Wii on your blog - tsk tsk, I think that was quite memorable too. I need to get a copy of the video clip that Jon Ang's got on his phone!

Keep in touch guys and see you soon.