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HE'S a heart-throb footballer and she's a pretty, talented actress-singer.
And their wedding yesterday was one of the most anticipated nuptials in the Malay entertainment community.
National footballer Baihakki Khaizan and Suria artiste Norfasarie Mohd Yahya, both 25, tied the knot yesterday at a lavish dinner in Eunos in front of 500 guests.
They had held their akad nikah (traditional wedding ceremony) on Thursday. Wedding celebrations will last till tomorrow with lunch receptions for a few thousand people over the weekend.
When The New Paper spoke to the couple earlier in the week, they were busy making last-minute preparations.
Norfasarie said: 'I'm the oldest of three siblings, I'm the first daughter to be given away. So it is very special for my parents.'
Baihakki, a defender with Geylang United, said he took exactly 'four days' leave' and would miss one match for the wedding.
With a who's who guest list and the couple's celebrity factor, the biggest sign of just how closely-watched this wedding was is probably the amount of sponsorship involved.
The couple managed to secure 22 sponsors and co-sponsors, making it one of the most high-profile footballer weddings since Fandi Ahmad's union with Wendy Jacobs.
The sponsors include big names like Soo Kee Jewellery, Nike and Fatimah Mohsin Gallery, and up-and-coming brands like Flipside.
Norfasarie said: 'It actually started with one or two companies, and then it just snowballed...
'Like, someone will ask, 'Do you have a photographer? and we'll say no and they'll introduce us to a photo studio and then they will offer to sponsor.'
The total amount of sponsorship, she estimated, is between $30,000 and $50,000.
But the couple say they had no intention of monetising such a personal occasion.
Baihakki said: 'There were some who said if you get your wedding sponsored, it will be turned into an event that is out of your control, and you just have to show up.
'But this is not what it is for me. It's not just about them giving us things and that's it.
'We worked closely with them, we've become friends with them, we have coffee with them and chit chat. It's not just a business deal.'
He added: 'I'm grateful to the companies that came in... They are also keen to showcase their products because some of them are new companies, so it's a win-win situation.'
Baihakki said there were actually more companies offering to be sponsors for the wedding.
'I'm the kind of person who finds it difficult to say 'no'.
'But in the end, we had to sit down and say, 'okay, we have this and this, we don't need more'. So we had to turn some people away.'
OLD FRIENDS
Some of the sponsors were old friends of the couple, such as stylist and make-up artist Fatimah Mohsin, who designed all 10 sets of the couple's outfits worth about $20,000.
Her company, Fatimah Mohsin Gallery, also did the dinner decorations, and indoor and outdoor photo shoots.
Ms Fatimah said: 'I used to do Norfasarie's make-up and along the way, we've become close. When I started my own gallery six years ago, she would come to me to make her baju kebaya.'
Norfasarie said Ms Fatimah was one of the first people she approached because 'I knew I wanted only her to do my wedding gown'.
For the dinner, Ms Fatimah said the actress wanted a 'royal' feel with songket and a lot of gold colours for the decor.
Norfasarie's outfits include a bright fuschia baju kebaya, as well as two modern white gowns - one a tube dress and the other a drop-waist with a flared skirt.
What about the groom?
Said Ms Fatimah, with a laugh: 'He wanted to be as glamorous as his wife. If her baju kebaya has sequins, he would ask for the same amount of sequins as hers.'
Soo Kee Jewellery is sponsoring 500 vouchers worth $200 each for the door gifts.
The couple also bought their wedding bands and a necklace as part of Norfasarie's dowry from the jewellery chain.
A spokesman for Soo Kee Jewellery said the company is 'personal friends' with the couple and the sponsorship was a 'goodwill gesture'.
As for the food, halal caterer Royal Catering sponsored yesterday's dinner buffet - a mix of local and Western dishes - at a cost of more than $10,000.
Mr Chris Seow, Royal's sales manager, said the company is 'looking to break into catering for the Malay wedding market'.
The happy couple got engaged, with a half-carat diamond ring in April, last year. They met through mutual friends in 2003 but only started dating three years ago.
And it wasn't without problems at first.
Norfasarie recalled how it was tough juggling schedules - him with his football commitments and her with her acting gigs.
Besides, both were well-known faces in the Malay community.
She said: 'At first, when we went out, people would stare at us, we didn't really have privacy.
'I didn't know how to react... But since our engagement, things are more settled. We're used to it.'
And yes, people have even commented they are Singapore's version of Posh and Becks, a label she denies.
'We're just ordinary people. In fact, when we first knew each other, he didn't even know I was an actress, he knew me as an air stewardess.
'And I didn't even realise he was a professional football player. He just said, 'Oh, I play football'.'
As for future plans, the couple will move into Norfasarie's family flat at Bedok Reservoir while they apply for a new flat.
And work still comes first.
On Monday, Baihakki will be back on the pitch for the Brazil-Singapore friendly.
And while he wants children 'right away', Norfasarie said she is busy filming season three of her hit comedy series 2x5 Dol.
She added, wistfully: 'I'm thinking, hopefully - one boy, one girl. But we'll leave it to fate.
'Whatever it is, I'm not a factory, okay?'
Main sponsors
Stylist and make-up artist Fatimah Mohsin: Designed 10 sets of the couple's outfits worth about $20,000. Her company did the dinner decorations, and indoor and outdoor photo shoots.
Soo Kee Jewellery: Sponsored 500 vouchers worth $200 each for the door gifts.
Halal caterer Royal Catering: Sponsored yesterday's dinner buffet - a mix of local and Western dishes - at a cost of more than $10,000 to break into catering for the Malay wedding market.
Other wedding sponsors
Flipside - invitation cards, videography
KooolGift Creations - party favours of coasters with the couple's name engraved on them
D'vineShots Photography - photography for the wedding dinner
Traditional Wellness - spa treatments for the Norfasarie
Nike - special football for a party favour. They also endorse Baihakki.
Sugarly Nice - seven-tier wedding cake
Perfect Trading - cupcakes for lunch reception hosted by Baihakki's family
SMS Wedding - SMS dedication service for guests to send SMS wishes to the couple which were projected on a screen during the wedding dinner
J'Kids - children's entertainment corner for guests with kids
Red Boudoir - henna art for Norfasarie
Raffles Marina - venue for outdoor photo shoot
AMK Packaging - paper bags with the couple's pictures for the party favours
Puteri Catering - catering for lunch reception hosted by Norfasarie's family
Xclusif - wedding car and host AB Shaik
Carry On Sound - sound and lighting system
Sri Warisan - kompang troupe
Dewanga Sakti - percussionists and musicians
1800Printer - invitation cards
Veils & Laces - bridal fabrics
This article was first published in The New Paper on Jul 26, 2008.
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