Perfect English wedding for ex-beauty queen and lawyer

CAMERON HIGHLANDS: They wanted a romantic English-style wedding on a scenic hill. 

Former Miss Malaysia International 1999 Andrea Franklin Gomez, 27, and lawyer R. Ram Pillai, 40, her sweetheart of four years, found the perfect setting when they tied the knot at the old colonial All Souls Church in Tanah Rata here. 

The newlyweds from Penang later celebrated their union with a cocktail reception for some 150 relatives at the Smokehouse Hotel and Restaurant – a 1937 Tudor-style inn at nearby Brinchang on Saturday. 

“We already knew that we wanted our perfect English wedding in Cameron Highlands but had no idea there was this beautiful Anglican Church on a hilltop. 

“I just fell in love with the church the first time I saw it. I’ve never seen something like it in Malaysia before,” said Gomez, who looked charming in a long flowing gown. 

NEWLYWEDS: Ram Pillai carrying Gomez outside the All Souls Church in Tanah Rata, CameronHighlands, after tying the knot on Saturday.

The couple first met at a friend’s party in 1999 during one of Gomez’ trips home from Singapore where she was running her business. 

“We kept in touch for the next two years until the time I returned home to Penang for good in 2001. 

“We bumped into each other one day and started dating almost immediately after that,” she said shyly. 

The couple’s wedding continued with a dinner with their relatives who came all the way from the United States, England, Australia, Indonesia and all over Malaysia, at the grand ballroom of the Equatorial Cameron Highlands. 

“We’ll be having another do for about 450 friends back in Penang next weekend,” said Gomez.