Newlyweds Jovan Gan Ban Yong and Jolyn Cheah Yong celebrating after registering their marriage at the Che Hoon Kor Moral Uplifting Society in George Town on Valentine’s Day.
GEORGE TOWN: Love was in the air as seven couples sealed their vows on Valentine’s Day, fresh off the Chap Goh Meh celebrations.
The couples chose yet another romantic occasion to commemorate their union, exchanging vows at the Che Hoon Khor Moral Uplifting Society in Jalan Macalister after having just celebrated what is often dubbed the “Chinese Valentine’s Day” two days earlier.
Among them were hotel manager Jovan Gan Ban Yong, 32, and his wife, Jolyn Cheah Yong, 25, a sales executive at another hotel.
Reflecting on their journey, Gan shared how their love story began at work in 2019 before he finally popped the question in 2023.
“Through the ups and downs at work, we found great support and understanding in each other.
“During a holiday trip to Japan two years ago, I finally proposed and she said yes.
“Everything fell into place and during the recent Chinese New Year, we announced our marriage to our families.
“Today is even more meaningful because it’s not just Valentine’s Day, but it also comes right after Chap Goh Meh,” he said yesterday.
After the ceremony, the couple celebrated with their families before heading off to Koh Lipe, Thailand, for their honeymoon.
Another newly-wed pair, Goh Xin Yee, 25, a quantity surveyor, and her husband Tan Yong Soon, 27, brought along a large “Xi” character, the Chinese symbol for “double happiness”, as a meaningful touch to their big day.
“In Chinese weddings, this character symbolises the joy of a newly married couple,” Goh said.
She recalled their first meeting at a food court in 2023, where a simple encounter eventually blossomed into something deeper in the following months.
“We finally registered our marriage in December last year but decided to wait until Feb 14 to exchange our vows here,” she said.
Surrounded by parents, close family, and friends, the couples embraced the joyous occasion, capturing countless photographs to cherish their special day.
