‘We were building a future, one date at a time’
Kerwin Tan and Ruth Ty were set up on a blind date by mutual friends a few days after Valentine’s Day last year. Although neither of them knew what to expect, they decided to give it a shot. From the moment they met, however, there was an immediate sense of ease.
“We chatted and laughed and discovered how much we had in common,” Ty recalled. That dinner was followed by a second one—their first official date—a few days later at Din Tai Fung.
She described it as “special” not just because of the conversation, but also the comfort they found in one another. After two months of dating, they officially became a couple. “We weren’t just dating—we were building a future, one date, one laugh, and one memory at a time.”
Eleven months after they first met, Tan asked Ty to marry him—and she said yes. On Oct. 20 at Gloria Maris restaurant in Greenhills, the couple celebrated their tinghun or Chinese engagement.
Ty wore a beaded red gown by designer Albert Andrada that radiated elegance and opulence. Ruby crystals were delicately attached to the gown to add a deep and luxurious sparkle, and as a symbol of good fortune and prosperity.
Andrada came up with a detachable train hand-painted with motifs inspired by the vibrant summer season in China. Shades of gold, green, and blue symbolizing growth, harmony, and energy added a sense of dynamism. To tie in with the theme, the strokes of paint mimicked traditional Chinese art.
Attached, the train flowed seamlessly from the gown, making a powerful statement. But when it was removed, the look was one of elegant sophistication. Andrada created a matching headpiece with ruby and silver crystals. Delicate beaded tassels caught the light with every movement.
To complete the look, Ty wore a pair of shoes with ruby-colored crystals that mirrored the details of her gown.
