Happy couples: Ong and Ooi (centre) with three other couples (from left) Tan and Bok, Loh Kar Imm, 26, and Ching Choon Lin, 32 and Winnie Lim, 26, and Ooi Chong Tien, 31, after they tied the knot on Valentine’s Day. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: Love blossomed online for Bok Teik Hai and Tan Ing Yew after they met at someone’s wedding dinner last year, leading them to tie the knot on Valentine’s Day.
Bok, 32, a salesman, said at the beginning, he did not express his feelings to Tan, 31. Their courtship began when they added each other as friends on Instagram.
“From then both of us would communicate through social media.
“Our love for each other grew online,” he said when met at Penang Chinese Town Hall yesterday after the registration of their marriage.
Bok said it took a few months after they first met before he expressed his feelings for her; much to his joy, Tan had similar feelings for him.
Tan confessed after they took their vows that she fell in love with Bok at first sight.
“When he asked me to marry him, I did not hesitate and chose Feb 14 to solemnise our marriage,” she said.
Another couple who were childhood sweethearts since secondary school were also at the Penang Chinese Town Hall.
Ong Jin Wei, 27 and Ooi Li Min, 26, said they have been planning their wedding since Valentine’s Day last year.
“This May will be our 10th anniversary as friends, and getting married today will be our best memory as husband and wife,” said Ong.
He said they planned on holding their wedding banquet next year.
They were among 28 couples who took part in the registration of marriage at Penang Chinese Town Hall yesterday, accompanied by a crowd of more than 100 family members and well-wishers.
The solemnisation started at 9am with Penang Chinese Town Hall registrar Ooi Beng Geh and deputy registrar Lim Choo Hooi leading the individual ceremony for each couple.
Valentine’s Day has been celebrated since the 8th century and became associated with romantic love around the 14th century.
It became a culture in England by the 18th century for couples to express their love by giving flowers, candy and valentine cards.
