Cher and Alex celebrate ‘intimate’ traditional English and Chinese wedding

“It was important to us to ensure all members of both our families were properly honoured — so including the Chinese Tea ceremony after the wedding breakfast was as significant as the English ceremony before it.”

That’s groom Alex talking about his traditional English and Chinese wedding to Cher on September 15, 2018. The couple, aged 47 and 36 respectively, wed at Port Lympne Hotel, a location Alex describes as “magical”. “As the reserve makes a direct contribution to the protection of wildlife, it was a natural choice for us and the venue itself not only met but exceeded our hopes of somewhere different but classy,” he says.

The couple’s reception speeches feature a speech in Mandarin from the bride’s father, translated by Cher’s cousin, and a teary dedication by the groom’s father to Alex’s late mother. “She was a Bond girl in the 1969 movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and more importantly, a special soul remembered by anyone who met her for her personality, integrity and kindness,” recalls Alex.

The groom describes the day as “Intimate but diverse, with guests from all nations and ages, East meets West with a traditional Kent wedding ceremony, a private safari and a Chinese tea ceremony — all without a celebrity budget!”

Photos courtesy of Doville Gaile Photography.

The bride wore shoes from the Rainbow Club.

“Given the short timing between my Valentine’s proposal and our wedding day the same year, it was all the more amazing luck that we were given availability,” Alex says of the venue.

“A beautifully simple and elegant three-flavoured, semi naked cake with sugar flowers in Chinese symbolic red and pink peonies and pink lotus on top,” says Alex of the cake.

“All table favours, namecards, seating display and children’s play packs were put together by Cher’s family,” says Alex of the table details.

“To add something just a little bit different, we arranged a surprise private safari tour of the Port Lympne Reserve for the guests after the wedding breakfast,” says Alex.

Alex adds “Even my Jewish uncle was included in the Chinese tea ceremony!”

“A beautifully simple and elegant three-flavoured, semi naked cake with sugar flowers in Chinese symbolic red and pink peonies and pink lotus on top,” says Alex of the cake.