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!

To start you off, here are our answers to your burning questions.

And do read our quick round up of 2008.

Bevlyn's thoughts: 可爱的玫瑰花 (What A Lovely Rose)

I met John at Wey Jia's wedding on 24 Oct 08, who introduced himself as the one who took photos at Sy Wei's wedding.

Two seconds passed before I registered that I was engaged to sing at his wedding on 30 Oct!  

Was really glad that John and Christine picked Burkhill Hall for their wedding reception.  I've always found it a breathtaking place, no matter how often I've been there.  Being this close to nature always thrills me, and it's a welcome departure from the traditional wedding venues.

John, being a successful photographer himself, got the help from some of the best in the business.  Yang and Gilbert were on hand to document the event, and I couldn't agree more with his choices.  Still, John couldn't resist whipping out his camera and taking some photographs of the gorgeous Christine as she walked down the aisle with her mother.  Gilbert playfully took some photos of John with his camera too; it was like a 'shoot-out' with two photographers aiming their cameras at each other!


Other than the scary episode of myself stepping on a bee, I had a great time performing with with Wah Yong on his double-bass, Sebastian on lead guitar and Jon on saxophone.

Congratulations John and Christine!


Band: Bevlyn, Sebastian, Wah Yong, Jonathan Lim


Repertoire:

Can't Take My Eyes Off You (march-in)*, Cheek To Cheek, Come Fly With Me, Dream A Little Dream, Fly Me To The Moon, (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons, It Had To Be You, Let’s Fall In Love, L-O-V-E, Love Is Here To Stay, So Nice, Sway, The Nearness of You, The Way You Look Tonight, Wave, What A Difference A Day Made, , La Vie En Rose, C’est Si Bon, Quizas Quizas Quizas, 可爱的玫瑰花 (What A Lovely Rose), What A Wonderful World

*A note about the march-in song, Can't Take My Eyes Off You.  We started with the verse for the march-in, and for the march-out, we went straight into the chorus with a big bang!

Hsin Yeow's thoughts: Cinderella

Being driven around in a horse-drawn carriage on your wedding day sounds like the fulfillment of every young girl's dream. Luckily for Charmaine, she gets to live that dream.

She was married to her charming husband, Christian, in Germany last year. Horse-drawn carriage? Check. Getting married in a castle? Check. A few months later, she flew back to Singapore to prepare for the local wedding banquet at Burkhill Hall. No horses this time, but she did think of an innovative way to make an entrance. More on that later.

I have always enjoyed performing at Burkhill Hall. It's a beautiful colonial house situated within the Botanic Gardens, hence the vivid hues of nature in full bloom surrounds you at every turn.



Charmaine and Christian broke many "rules" of a traditional Chinese dinner. Usually, the couple cuts the wedding cake upon their first entrance into the ballroom, and leave the toasting to the second entrance. The couple decided to cut the cake and toast the guests before dinner even commenced! That proved to be fortuitous planning, because night was falling by the time the couple made their appearance.

And what an appearance! Christian drove into the lawn on a scooter with Charmaine riding pillion, her full skirt billowing in the wind. How she kept her composure while perched precariously on the scooter, I had no idea.

Christian impressed the guests by reciting his thank-you speech in Mandarin, while Charmaine thanked Christian's family in German.

After a few courses were served, it was the band's turn to entertain the guests. Their reaction was tremendously satisfying! Many guests started to dance, starting with the kids, their parents, and of course Christian and Charmaine. The couple danced with each other at first, then with their friends. Applause also grew louder and louder throughout the night! (I suspect it had a direct correlation with the amount of alcohol imbibed.)

We also received several song requests. Luckily, I had the lyrics of 你最珍贵 (You're The Most Precious One) with me, so I sang a duet with one of Charmaine's cousins. Christian's family was also coaxed into singing a German folk song. Then I got everyone to sing along to the finale item, 月亮代表我的心 (The Moon Represents My Heart). As the guests sang with gusto, I noticed that everyone had locked their arms around each other's waists. They were swaying along to the music, their faces flushed with alcohol and happiness.


Band: Hsin Yeow, Jonathan Ang, Jonathan Lim


L-R: Christian, Charmaine, Hsin Yeow, Jonathan Ang and Jonathan Lim
Picture taken by David Teng


Repertoire:

From This Moment, I Do (Cherish You), L-O-V-E, When You Say Nothing At All, My Girl, Stand By Me, Can't Hurry Love, Quando Quando Quando, Something Stupid, Love Is All Around, Can't Take My Eyes Off You, Besame Mucho, Beyond The Sea, 每天爱你多一些 (I Love You More Each Day)

Crazy Little Thing Called Love (2nd March-in), Fly Me To The Moon, Come Fly With Me, Cheek To Cheek, La Vie En Rose, 追 (Chase), What A Wonderful World, 月亮代表我的心 (The Moon Represents My Heart), You Are So Beautiful, Sway


Wedding Tips:

(1) Think of a creative way to meet your guests, in this case, ride a scooter!
(2) Say a few words of your vows or speech in the native language of your spouse


Compliments from Charmaine and Christian: A Big Thank You

Hello Hsin Yeow,

Sorry for the really late but Big Thank You to you and your team. It was really a blessing to have found your Group through the internet and more than that .. that you guys are really professional and has really helped to create a magical & fun atmosphere to our wedding.

And Hsin Yeow, i really owe you a big thank you for the last minute request for you to be my MC as my sister was not feeling well that day and cannot do the job. It was fantastic !! I think you are really cut out for this business.

A lot of my friends are really impressed by your team. In fact, my ex-boss got his staff to contact you the next day for his company's event this coming May.

I wish you and your team the very best and success. We are really pleased to have your team at our wedding and will definitely recommend our friends your services.

Hope to see you again (this time, as one of the guests at someone's wedding. So that i can sit back, relax and enjoy !! :-))

Charmaine & Christian

Hsin Yeow's thoughts: As Time Goes By

Melinda contacted me a year ago, when she was in Switzerland. Imagine my surprise when she told me where she was, and when her wedding would be.

In the months to follow, She would call or write to me occasionally, just to check that I'd still remembered about her wedding. Of course I never forgot her.

When I finally got to sing at her wedding, I felt like we were old friends. I even teased her about her sexy wedding dress, which showed off her slim legs to the hilt!

Melinda and Marcus invited less than seventy people to celebrate the wedding, and it made the event more intimate and fun. The couple knew everyone by name, and spent a lot of time chatting with them while the band played on.

In lieu of a video montage, Marcus' best friend, Sasha, showed enlarged photos of Marcus in his youth, when he had a shock of blond hair. Marcus could not contain his surprise, and exclaimed, "I'd never seen that photograph before!"

The band had a fantastic time. Matthew summed it up the best, "For musicians, the greatest satisfaction is watching the audience dance to your music!" And the guests did. Four times, in fact. The first dance was to You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, followed by a spontaneous bout of dancing when we performed Something Stupid. More couples joined in when Save The Last Dance For Me came on and finally, everyone slow-danced to What A Wonderful World.

It was an unforgettable wedding.


Band: Hsin Yeow, Matthew and Jonathan Lim


Repertoire:

This is definitely the toughest repertoire yet. Jazz standards are really difficult to play and sing, but Jon and Matthew rose to the challenge. When it was time for us to leave, Marcus came up to me and said, "Thank you for playing all our favourite songs!" Marcus, the pleasure was all mine.

As Time Goes By, Beyond The Sea, Cheek To Cheek, Come Fly With Me, Dream A Little Dream, Fly Me To The Moon, Girl from Ipanema, Give Me The Simple Life, I Won't Dance, Close To You, I'm Beginning To See The Light, I've Got The World On A String, I've Got You Under My Skin, Moon River, Moonlight Serenade, Save The Last Dance For Me, Something Stupid, The Way You Look Tonight, Too Marvelous For Words, You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, What A Wonderful World


Wedding Tips:

(1) Contact your vendors early, especially if you're planning your wedding from overseas!
(2) Spend time to mingle with your friends, especially if it's a cosy group of friends
(3) Be spontaneous! Get up and dance if the music inspires you


Compliments from Melinda:

Hi hi

Sorry for the late reply,now in phuket with my husband n his parents holidaying lah.............n thanks so much to you n your crew for a great performance on our wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

all our guests were so impressed with you guys n so are we!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks again to you all for making our wedding so memorable!!!!!!!

Cheers
Melinda

Hsin Yeow's thoughts: Moonlight Serenade


Jeremy and Joyce

All photographs in this entry were beautifully captured by Ken
What an amazing night!

I'd gladly contend with mozzies and inadequate lighting to sing at Burkhill Hall again! I simply love the colonial architecture of Burkhill Hall and its lush, verdant surroundings. I know I waxed lyrical about it when I first sang there for Michael and Cristy, but it bears repeating.

The venue was just one of the things which made the night memorable. There were many special moments which I'm sure Jeremy and Joyce will keep in their hearts for many years to come.

My favourite part of the wedding was when I coaxed Jeremy to read aloud a poem which he had written for Joyce. The poem was one of three arduous tasks he had to complete before he could win Joyce's hand. According to Joyce, it was the toughest.

You can read the full poem here. The best lines, I feel, are in the last stanza:

Darling you caused an Eureka in me,
Throwing my well planned life into a good tsunami,
And now I can only imagine life with you from here on,
Even though you can sure nag on and on...

After he read the poem, I asked Joyce to reciprocate by kissing Jem. She readily obliged, and it was a passionate, drawn-out, full-on-the-lips kiss. Well done, Joyce!

( Reading the poem )

Another indelible memory was when Jem and Joyce took to the dance floor, which, according to their friends, was very rare. The song was Something Stupid, and unbeknownst to the couple, we actually extended the song so that they could dance longer. Yes, we're eveel.

( The First Dance )


Bevlyn's thoughts: Made For Each Other

It's amazing I know, but it was actually my first performance at Burkhill Hall despite having sung at weddings for coming to 4 years now. It was either due to scheduling problems or requests for male singers that robbed me of the opportunity to step foot on the venue Hsin Yeow had been gushing about since the day he performed there. And he sure wasn't exaggerating - the breath-taking flowers and fauna was a sight to behold, a dream haven for nature lovers. Also a thumbs-up choice for couples who just want a different ambience from the enclosed banquets we usually go to.

Love the group photo below - Hsin Yeow and I put on our most nature-friendly colours for the occasion at the Botanic Garden and I was tickled at how the photo is symmetrical in terms of colour-coding. Anyway, there was no way anyone could steal the limelight from the barefoot bride and the groom with his shirt tucked-out. Now, that's what we call "made for each other".

( More pictures behind this link )


Band: Hsin Yeow, Bevlyn, Ein Ein and Jonathan Lim

( Dressed for the part )


Repertoire:

A Love That Will Last, Can't Hurry Love, Can't Take My Eyes Off You, Eyes On Me, I Only Wanna Be With You, I Will Follow Him, La Vie En Rose, The Way You Look Tonight, Wishin' and Hopin', 至少还有你 (At Least There Is You), Quando Quando Quando, Something Stupid, 小夫妻 (Couple), Angels, Beyond the Sea, Everlasting Love, Grow Old With You, In This Life, L-O-V-E, Love Me, One Boy One Girl, She, Somebody, The First The Last My Everything, You're Still You


Wedding Tips:

(1) An alternative to giving tasks for the groom and his groomsmen to accomplish when they come to fetch the bride, think of specific challenges for the groom to overcome!

(2) Be spontaneous! Tuck your shirt out if you feel like it. Dance, like nobody's watching.

(3) Spring a birthday surprise!


Compliments from the Wedding Photographer, Ken, who is a man of few words:

Great music!


Compliments from Jeremy chocsaltyballz:

We did not realize that the song was extended. Neither Joyce nor I had ever danced, but we were having fun attempting it. I knew it had to be done, after seeing your initial reaction at Suntec City when we told you there would be no first dance. The setting, the ambience and most definitely the music MOVED us literally. Ur evilness was very much appreciated. And yes I signed the cheque =)

When Beyond The Sea was playing....I thought it was a CD...that's how good A Little Dream was.

Who is the band? Who chose the songs? Are they friends? ... Just some questions that were asked about A Little Dream.

The songs were a hit to the young, the old and the ancient. Hsin Yeow and the crew were as close to us as friends, and the band's chemistry just completed it all.

I hope to get you guys again, for some other event, or just for a meal....we'll definitely be in touch.

Hsin Yeow's thoughts: La Vie En Rose


L-R: Jonathan Lim, Michael, Cristy, Hsin Yeow and Jonathan Ang
There is something magical about the song La Vie En Rose.

Whenever the band performs it, couples find themselves inexplicably drawn to the dance floor.

It happened during Michael and Cristy's wedding. It was supposed to be their first dance, but as the song went on, they were joined by more and more couples who gently swayed to the alluring melody.

And when you speak, angels sing from above
Everyday words seem to turn into love songs
Such simple words, woven together to form an irresistible tapestry of love and romance. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.

Another thing I loved about Michael and Cristy's wedding was the beautiful location. It was my first performance at Burkhill Hall, and I was enchanted by the architecture and the breathtaking scenery. There were no steel structures in sight, nothing but verdant flora and wide-open spaces. In Michael's words, "It's like I'm back in England!"

The evening was capped by positive feedback by a surprising source: the wedding photographer, Mr Gabriel Mendes. An award-winning veteran in the business, we're honoured to be mentioned in his blog. Take a look at Gabriel's beautiful photos of the event.


Band: Hsin Yeow, Jonathan Ang, Jonathan Lim


Source: Mr Gabriel Mendes

Repertoire:

C'est Si Bon, Come Fly With Me, Dream A Little Dream, Fallen, It Had To Be You, Just The Way You Are, Let's Fall In Love, L-O-V-E, Magic Moments, Save The Last Dance For Me, Sway, La Vie En Rose


Wedding Tip:

Set the mood for romance by having a First Dance, then encouraging your friends to join in!


Compliments from Michael and Cristy:

(This was first posted in a wedding forum)

Hi all,

We just had our wedding last weekend. A Little Dream performed for us and we really enjoyed it; got lots of nice feedback from our guests.

We actually were wishing that we were guests to our wedding so that we could have more time to sit and listen instead of going around to greet everyone.

Hsin Yeow has been friendly, professional and really helpful from the moment we first contacted him, which was really good for us since we didn't use a wedding planner.

They are a very versatile group who can play all kinds of music and they were also able to cater to our limited budget very well. Hsin Yeow offered many great suggestions for our evening which were really appreciated.

Hsin Yeow sang for us and we had the two Jonathans on keyboard and saxophone; they set a great mood and really helped to make our evening so special.