Elliot's Pre Wedding Dinner

 

Elliot got married to Melinda !

11 July 2026 – The Day Our Family Grew

There are days in life that quietly slip into memory, and there are days that become part of a family's history.

11 July 2026 was one of those unforgettable days.

Our eldest son, Elliot Heng Fook Juan, married the love of his life, Melinda Chuo, at BCCM Kota Kinabalu Church. It was a day we had anticipated for many months, yet when it finally arrived, it seemed to pass in the blink of an eye.

Long before dawn broke, our home was already awake. Lights came on while the rest of the city was still asleep. There was a wonderful mixture of excitement, nervous laughter, whispered conversations and quiet moments of reflection. Hair, makeup, cameras, flowers, suits and dresses all came together as our home transformed into the starting point of a beautiful new chapter.

The photographers and videographers moved gently around the house, capturing the little details that often go unnoticed—the polished shoes waiting by the door, the neatly folded jacket, the smiles exchanged between siblings, and the proud yet emotional faces of parents who knew that life was about to change forever.

One of the moments I will treasure most was standing beside Elliot before he left home.

As parents, we have watched every stage of his life—from his first steps, his school days, university, his adventures with music and sports, his career, and now, the day he would begin his own family. Looking at him in his wedding suit, it was difficult to reconcile the confident young man before us with the little boy who once held our hands wherever we went.

Time really does pass far too quickly.

Soon, Elliot left with his groomsmen to fetch his bride. We smiled, waved, and watched the cars disappear down the road, knowing that when he returned, life would be wonderfully different.

Before long, we arrived at BCCM Kota Kinabalu Church, where family and friends had already gathered. There was an atmosphere of warmth and joyful anticipation as familiar faces greeted one another. Many had travelled from near and far to witness this special occasion, and seeing everyone together reminded us how richly God had blessed our family with friendships that had endured through many seasons of life.

 

The wedding ceremony, solemnised by Pastor Lo Yi Ping, was simple, beautiful and centred on God. Surrounded by the people who loved them, Elliot and Melinda exchanged their vows and promised to walk together through every season of life. Their marriage certificate was witnessed by both fathers—a fitting symbol that two families had become one.

As we stood for photographs afterwards, it struck me that every picture captured far more than smiling faces. Each one represented relationships built over decades—family, friendships, faith communities and lives intertwined in ways only God could have planned.

The celebration continued with a reception at the Basel Hall, where conversations flowed as easily as the laughter. Guests enjoyed a wonderful spread of food and desserts, children ran about happily, old friends reunited, and everyone seemed to linger just a little longer, reluctant for the morning to end.

Yet the day was only halfway through.

As the afternoon slowly gave way to evening, our family made our way to The Garden Glass Hall at Elza Manor, Putatan, one of Kota Kinabalu's newest and most beautiful event venues. Bathed in the golden light of sunset and surrounded by lush gardens, it provided a magical setting for the evening celebration.

 

While Elliot and Melinda stole a few quiet moments with their photographers among the gardens, guests began arriving. There was an unmistakable buzz in the air as everyone admired the elegant glass hall, caught up with old friends and eagerly anticipated the celebration ahead.

It was, without question, a night to remember.

Rather than a traditional Chinese banquet, Elliot and Melinda chose a menu that reflected who they were—warm, relaxed and delightfully different. Guests enjoyed fragrant Chicken Biryani, rich Lamb Curry, tender Beef, fresh Fish, and an assortment of accompaniments. Around the hall, live food stations served sizzling satay, freshly baked pizza, colourful ABC (Ais Batu Campur), homemade local kuih, delicious puddings, and the much-talked-about Cha Qian Sui Special Fruit Tea, which quickly became everyone's favourite refreshment.

Of course, no celebration would be complete without raising a glass. Beer and red wine flowed freely among family and friends, while our family gathered for a special champagne toast. Together we celebrated Elliot and Melinda, praying that their marriage would always be filled with faith, laughter, peace and God's abundant blessings.

The evening became even more memorable because it was so unmistakably Elliot.

Music has always been woven into his life, so it was only natural that he joined the live band on stage with his cello. Watching him perform on his own wedding day filled us with immense pride. It reminded us that throughout every stage of life, he had remained true to the gifts and passions God had given him.

Then came a delightful surprise. Together with his friends from the Sabah Calisthenics Association, Elliot performed an energetic calisthenics routine on the horizontal bar. It was a celebration of friendship, strength and years of shared experiences. The hall erupted with cheers, laughter and applause as everyone witnessed another side of the groom.

As the evening drew on, the lights softened and the music slowed. Elliot and Melinda stepped onto the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife. For those few moments, the world seemed to pause. Surrounded by the love of family and friends, they danced into the beginning of a new life together.

Looking around the hall that evening, I realised that weddings are never simply about two people.

They are about families growing, friendships deepening, generations gathering, and lives becoming beautifully intertwined.

One day the flowers will have faded. The music will become a distant memory. Even the menu may be forgotten.

But we will never forget how everyone made us feel.

To every family member, relative, friend, colleague and brother and sister in Christ who travelled from near and far, who prayed for Elliot and Melinda, who celebrated with us, laughed with us, cried with us, and filled our hearts with such overwhelming love—thank you.

You made this day far more beautiful than we could ever have imagined.

It was not simply the day our eldest son married the love of his life.

It was the day our family grew. ❤️