A ‘wedding force’ to be reckoned with

GEORGE TOWN: Alvin Chan and New Su Yee’s wedding ceremony will surely be remembered for a long, long time.

Their family and friends were all dressed up as Star Wars characters at their wedding.

Among them were Obi-Wan Kenobi, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Padmé Amidala and others, while the aisle leading to the stage was made to look like the movie’s opening text and its theme music playing in the background.

It was an extra special ceremony for the groom, who was diagnosed with third-stage colon cancer three years ago in 2015.

After successfully undergoing chemotherapy and surgery, Chan, 37, said he was happy to have finally married the love of his life.

“I proposed to her before I found out about my cancer. We did not set a date then but would have been married earlier.

“Last year, my mother was also diagnosed with stage two colon cancer, and we both have made a full recovery since.

“It has been quite a ride getting here. Everyone has been looking forward to our wedding,” he said, adding that he and New have been together for more than eight years.

Chan, from Perak, said he and New’s family are big fans of Star Wars.

“When we brainstormed for a wedding theme, Star Wars was a clear winner.

“As our wedding was held in a church, we asked the church for permission, and they were very supportive as long as there were no evil characters, so we gave Darth Vader a miss.

“We told our guests that they could also join in and gave them the option of attending our wedding in Star Wars costumes. However, we opted to wear traditional wedding attire as my mother is a bit conservative,” he added.

During his speech at their wedding held at Excel Point Community Church at Hexagon Tech Park along Jalan Gurdwara, Chan thanked New for choosing to marry him and standing by his side during his illness.

The couple, both engineers who met at work in Penang, earlier sealed the ceremony by joining two lightsabers as a symbolic form of two people becoming one.

New, 33, whose parents dressed up as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Princess Leia, said her family were big fans of Star Wars movies, and were game to dress up.

She said her bridal party and the groomsmen were also dressed in various Star Wars costumes.

“To me, Star Wars is special because it is not about the action, but the core values of unconditional love, acceptance, redemption and forgiveness.

“If you follow the storyline, it has a message that love conquers all.

“Even when we found out he (Chan) had cancer, it all worked out. I remember telling him that no matter what, I would support him,” said New, who is from Kelantan.