Poodles, PowerPoints, Love

From a PowerPoint wedding proposal to a fairy-tale themed garden affair, longtime lovers Nicole Tham and Ng Chee Hong tied the knot last year culminating in a grandiose ceremony at The St Regis Kuala Lumpur

When Nicole Tham Carmenn and Ng Chee Hong tied the knot in a series of grand celebrations spanning months, it was clear this was no ordinary wedding. From a whimsical poodle-themed aisle to a PowerPoint proposal, their nuptials were a testament to their shared penchant for the playful and profound. But blended in alongside the humour and mayhem of wedding planning, the couple shared a bond founded in mutual respect and gratitude for one another. “There wasn’t really one ‘big bang’ moment when I knew he was the one,” says Tham, who is a senior manager at Alvarez & Marsal. “It was more gradual, and I think it was when I realised that he loved me for all of my imperfections and not in spite of them. He broke all the walls I’ve spent my entire life building around myself, and it was because he made me feel safe enough to be emotionally vulnerable with him,” she adds.

Their journey to the altar began with a uniquely modern touch. In April 2024, Ng proposed to Tham in a Bangkok suite adorned with flowers and a “Will You Marry Me” sign. But the real showstopper? An eight-page PowerPoint deck titled “Chee Hong’s Credentials to Support Nicole in Marriage.” Tham laughingly recalls, “He said the only way I process anything is through slides. (Untrue!)” Despite battling nerves and Tham’s last-minute illness, Ng’s proposal was a smashing success. “The moment she said ‘Yes’, all my worries and anxiety went away. It was definitely one of the best moments in my life,” says Ng, who is vice president of digital strategy at Maybank.