Rachel has since made a career switch into education to spend more time with her young son and young Alvinology, Asher Lim and is a guest contributor to this blog.
With a stronger writing background than Alvinology, you can clearly differentiate her blog posts from Alvinology’s from the use of difficult and obscure vocabulary and more words than visuals.
The basket of goodies I brought over to my in-laws
This took place on a lazy Saturday afternoon on 5 June 2010, a week prior to my traditional wedding ceremony with Rachel.
I remember waking up very early to get dressed smartly to impress my in-laws. I also remember checking through the gift basket repeatedly to ensure I got all the required items.
“The Big Gift” is a traditional Chinese wedding custom. It is the most grand ceremony to take part in the engagement process and takes place between 15 to 20 days prior to the actual wedding. The groom’s family is to select an auspicious date and bring along cash and gifts to present to the bride’s family.
As both my family and Rachel’s family are not too particular about the details, we did not follow the 15 to 20 days rule nor picked an auspicious date. The particular Saturday was chosen because it was one of the only day in a weekend whereby everyone is available – this to us was auspicious enough. 🙂
Me downstairs of Rachel's home - Pardon my stoned expressionThe basket of goodies and hard liquor I prepared
What I prepared on my end:
8 giant oranges
Ang pows for my in-laws
2 x Martell Cordon Bleu
20 x wedding cakes (in the form of vouchers)
The basket of goodies I got back
What I get in return:
8 giant oranges
Ang pows from my in-laws
A bottle of orange concentrate
8 x wedding cakes (in the form of vouchers)
2 x pair of trousers
1 x new wallet with some cash inside
1 x new watch
Upon reaching Rachel’s house, the gift exchange went quickly and seamlessly. Our parents then sat down and chatted for a while over tea to discuss some details on our traditional Chinese wedding to take place the next week. This concluded the simple ceremony.
Project R was reported in the two evening Chinese newspaper, Shin Min Daily and Lianhe Wanbao yesterday (27 Oct). You can read the article HERE via omy.sg. There’s also a vodcast covering the proposal process and photo gallery in the omy.sg article. 🙂
Shin Min news report on 27 Oct 2009Wanbao cover page - 27 Oct 2009Wanbao inside article
Rachel and I also went on air at Radio 100.3 last evening at 7pm with radio deejays, Anna and Ken. Here’s the interview if you missed it (I edited away the songs and commercials):
Rachel and I have both been receiving well-wishes aplenty since yesterday and we are both thankful and appreciative that so many people care for us.
I know this proposal is not perfect and some have voiced concern that it’s a tad gimmicky and I seem to be using “gatecrashing” tactics on Rachel. To clarify, I spent three months planning the execution of the proposal so that everything would go smoothly. Would a person playing hard to get put in so much effort?
I wanted Rachel to have an enjoyable time solving the clues instead of feeling like she is being “sabo-ed”. For instance – I knew Rachel had classes that day, and had planned the clues such that she can solve them quickly during the lunch break and continue after her lesson ends at 5pm. Transport arrangements were also made for her so she did not have to run around tired and sweaty. The collaborators who helped me also knew about this and were helping to manage the timing.
Both Rachel and I are not fans of cheesy gate-crashing and ragging where the groom is made to do silly, meaningless things like putting underwear on his head or drinking questionable fluids, in the name of fun. That’s why I paired a resolution and a gift with each clue. The last thing I want is to humiliate and shame the love of my life on the day of proposal day.
Having said that, as both Rachel and I are work for a media company, we understand the workings of the mass media and communication. Hence, we are taking both positive and negative comments (and headlines) in our stride. Our mood hasn’t been affected at all and we are just glad to have each other. The only reason why I am blogging about this is because some of our good friends expressed concern. 🙂
Rachel and I would like to thank everyone who made this union possible. I would particularly like to thank Mark, Meiyen, Wei Chian, Rachel’s parents and my parents, Han Joo and the rest of the omy.sg team, Josh from Advertlets.com, Uzyn from Ping.SG, Lai Chow from Youth.SG, all the bloggers and friends who helped viral my proposal message yesterday.
A big THANK YOU!
Here are some screen grabs I managed to capture of the buzz yesterday. I did not manage get screen grabs of the banner run on Youth.SG, Ping.SG and Advertlets.com. If you have them, please email them to me. If I missed your blog entries, can also drop me an email or just post a comment below.
omy.sg home pageBanner tiles across omy.sgTwitter - #alvinandrachelMe, spreading the proposal on facebookFacebook well-wishesHolly Jean's blogBoon Ming's blogDarren Ang's blogChim Kang's blogDaniel Hii's blogYong Wei's blogGrace's blog
FYI, the story was picked up by Shin Min DailyandLianhe Wanbao for tonight’s paper (27 Oct) – can grab a copy of each to read more. Rachel and I will also be accepting a radio interview on Radio 100.3later in the evening at 6pm. Do tune in. 🙂
Whether you are a regular reader or a first time visitor, I, Alvin Lim (Alvinology) needs your help.
You see, I was racking my brain juices for the past month, thinking of the best way to propose to my girlfriend of two years, Rachel Chan. How should a self-professed geek like me propose?
Online of course!
Rachel and I met working at an online portal, Youth.SG and our initial contacts were via long MSN sessions late at night. Even the solitaire ring I will be proposing with is bought online.
That’s how Project R came about: Project Rachel.
Here’s how you can help me:
Being a firm supporter and user of online social media, I am leaving my happiness to everyone to viral this message below to my wife-to-be:
“Rachel, will you marry me? I am waiting for your answer at a secret location. To find me, you need to unlock a series of clues which showcase my five resolutions to you. The first clue is in a video posted on my blog. I will be waiting for you till you show up.”
You can help me spread this on your blog, twitter, facebook, friendster of whatever other social media channels as long as it reaches people who knows Rachel personally and can inform her about this. If you know Rachel personally, you can do the same plus SMS, MMS, email her so she is swarmed with hundreds of proposal messages. A thousand and one proposal messages will be romantic isn’t it? Just leave the number 1001 for me.
Right-click to save
If you wish to provide me with additional support for this wedding proposal, here’s a banner I have created for you to post on your blog, websites or anywhere else online and link back to this blog.
I will be carrying my laptop around and will be LIVE updating everyone on the progress via this blog and my Twitter account, including uploading photos and information about my five resolutions as Rachel solves them one by one.
Wish me luck and a big thank you to all!
Alvin would especially like to thank omy.sg, Ping.SG, Advertlets.com and Youth.SG for providing me with precious web banners today for this proposal.
I would also like to thank all my friends and colleagues who helped me to plan and execute this wedding proposal – you know who you are, I will not reveal your names now so as not to spoil the surprise for Rachel.
LATEST UPDATE:
Resolution 1 Solved:
Alvin promises to pamper and love Rachel, paying close attention to all her needs and whims.
Q: The message is embedded in the video above.
A: “Look for your closest colleague” – Wei Chian.
Alvin presents Rachel: A portrait he painstakingly hand drawn with attention to the smallest details.
Resolution 2 Solved:
Alvin promises Rachel a lifetime of adventures, just like that sweet old man in their favourite movie, UP.
Q: Someone in omy
A: Connie Woo who shares the same birthday with Rachel and Alvin.
Alvin presents Rachel: A photo album detailing the three countries they traveled together to – Japan, Thailand and Taiwan.
Resolution 3Solved:
Alvin promises to lavish and shower Rachel with gifts, presents and all that money can buy.
Q: Someone who taught you before.
A: Alvin’s mom who taught Rachel dressmaking.
Alvin presents Rachel: A joint account, Alvin’s two other bank accounts. Alvin’s money is now also Rachel’s money.
Resolution 4Solved:
Alvin promises to keep the romance alive in his relationship with Rachel, even when they are old and wrinkly.
Q: Someone who we traveled with before.
A: Mark and Meiyen who went Japan with us early this year.
Alvin presents Rachel: A bouquet of flowers. Yes, it’s cliche, but it is still romantic.
Resolution 5Solved:
Alvin promises to grow old with Rachel. Please be mine. 🙂
A L V I N O L O G Y 