The Vision for Two Celebrations
For Tiffany Weger-Wong, a Malaysian Chinese American who grew up in Queens, and her husband Ben, the idea of having two distinct celebrations—one in Brooklyn and one in Kuala Lumpur—perfectly captured the essence of modern love. They faced a common dilemma: how do you honor family members spread across ten thousand miles? The only answer was to double the joy. Their journey through pandemic dating, deep family traditions, and multiple continents resulted in a tapestry of moments worth remembering. Here are seven highlights from their incredible brooklyn kl weddings journey.
The Logistics That Shaped These Two Events
Organizing a wedding is stressful enough. Organizing two on different continents requires remarkable dedication. Tiffany and Ben faced a challenge shared by many diaspora families. How do you honor the family that raised you in your hometown while also honoring the family that spans oceans? The only real solution was to plan two separate gatherings. This meant budgeting for events in New York and Malaysia while ensuring key family members, like Tiffany’s father, could travel for the first celebration. The success of their brooklyn kl weddings hinged on open communication and a willingness to lean on extended relatives who lived close to Kuala Lumpur.
Moment 1: A Suit-Wearing First Date on Zoom
Before the rings and the receptions, there was a global pandemic. Tiffany and Ben matched on a dating app at the height of lockdowns. They lived just a borough apart—Tiffany in Queens, Ben in the Bronx. Still, they decided to take things slowly. Over two months, they went on ten Zoom dates, building a foundation of genuine conversation and real connection. What made that first virtual date so memorable? Ben showed up wearing a full suit. Tiffany found the gesture both hilarious and endearing. It signaled effort and intention right from the start. This extended period of digital courtship became a hallmark of many relationships born in 2020, proving that slow love can grow incredibly strong. They focused on deep talks, sharing playlists, and learning each other’s quirks through a screen.
Moment 2: Blending Traditions at Rule of Thirds
The first wedding took place in 2024 at Rule Of Thirds, a beloved Brooklyn restaurant known for its Japanese-inspired cuisine and intimate, airy space. Because Ben is Jewish, incorporating his heritage was a priority. The couple signed a ketubah, a Jewish marriage contract, which they had composed together. It now hangs framed above their bed as a daily reminder of their vows. Ben also smashed the glass, a tradition symbolizing the fragility of life and the commitment to support one another through difficult times. Ben’s father had the honor of cutting the challah bread during the ceremony. Having Tiffany’s father travel all the way from Malaysia to walk her down the aisle in Brooklyn made the moment feel complete and deeply emotional.
Moment 3: The “When Is It Gonna Be Over?” Tea Ceremony
To honor Tiffany’s Chinese heritage, the couple hosted a traditional tea ceremony. This ritual, known as jìng chá, involves serving tea to elders in a specific hierarchical order. While beautiful in meaning, the ceremony can take a very long time. The couple did not expect the extended quiet that falls over the room during the process. The tension broke in the most wonderful way when Ben’s young nephew blurted out, “When is it gonna be over?” The room immediately filled with laughter. The moment reminded everyone that weddings are about family—including the honest, unfiltered moments children bring. After the ceremony, they participated in the tradition of giving red envelopes filled with money. Since neither of them has younger siblings, Ben gave envelopes to his niece and nephew, while Tiffany gave one to a younger cousin who is like a sister to her.
Moment 4: An Arch from Facebook Marketplace, Adorned with Love
Weddings do not need to be expensive to be deeply meaningful. Tiffany found a plain wooden arch on Facebook Marketplace and decided to decorate it herself. She and Ben wove in an irreplaceable family heirloom. They draped Ben’s late grandfather’s tallit, a prayer shawl, over the arch. This simple act brought the presence of Ben’s grandparents into the ceremony in a tangible, visual way. It transformed a thrifted piece of decor into a sacred family altar. Against the clean lines of the restaurant, the fringed silk of the tallit added texture, history, and a profound sense of presence. For couples planning a wedding on a budget, this serves as a brilliant idea: look for structural pieces secondhand and layer them with sentimental textiles.
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Moment 5: A Recessional Song That Felt Like Fireworks
Music can define a wedding day. Tiffany grew up loving the Faye Wong Chinese cover of the Cranberries song “Dreams.” When she and Ben first started dating, they exchanged playlists. Ben, knowing how much the song meant to her, had placed it on his list. Choosing it as their recessional song was an obvious and poetic choice. As the DJ played it right when they shared their first kiss as a married couple, Tiffany described it as pure magic. The joy continued into the reception with the Hora, a lively Jewish dance. Guests form a tight circle and lift the bride and groom on chairs. Watching their mothers scream with excitement while being lifted up captured the unique, exuberant blend of their families. Tiffany has said it remains her favorite part of the Brooklyn celebration.
Moment 6: Gold Everything and Family Help in Kuala Lumpur
One year later, the couple flew to Kuala Lumpur for wedding number two. The planning process began at a Buddhist temple. Tiffany and her mom consulted a priest for auspicious wedding dates based on their birth charts. The priest advised June 14th. In Malaysia, Tiffany’s extended family took over the planning. One aunt hosted the welcome dinner at her home. Another aunt expertly hemmed Tiffany’s dress and sourced Ben’s traditional attire. The couple wore a ma kua for Ben and a kua for Tiffany. These are intricately embroidered gold jackets. The aesthetic philosophy, as Tiffany puts it, was “more is more.” This segment of their journey showcases the immense emotional support of a strong community. When the couple decided on brooklyn kl weddings, they understood they could rely on this family network, and it paid off tenfold.
Moment 7: Gatecrashing, Wasabi Rice Balls, and a Hakka Speech
The final highlight involves the classic Chinese “gatecrashing” tradition. To “win” the bride, Ben and his groomsmen faced a series of physical and silly challenges. They ate wasabi-stuffed rice balls, attempted Chinese calligraphy, and held difficult yoga poses. The bridesmaids, playing the role of tough gatekeepers, demanded payments for incomplete tasks. In a hilarious modern twist, they accepted both Venmo payments and US dollars. The most touching moment of the day came when Ben surprised Tiffany by delivering a speech entirely in Hakka, a Chinese dialect her family speaks at home. Hakka is not a Mandarin dialect; it is a distinct language. Learning and performing a speech in Hakka showed immense dedication to Tiffany’s specific heritage. After breaking through the barriers, the couple prayed together at a shrine in the aunt’s home, officially sealing the union in both spirit and tradition.
Tiffany and Ben’s story is a masterclass in blending old and new traditions. They proved that distance is just a number when families are willing to meet in the middle. Whether it was a thrifted arch draped in a grandfather’s prayer shawl or a Hakka speech delivered with shaky confidence, every detail was a thread in a larger tapestry of belonging. Their brooklyn kl weddings stand as a beautiful blueprint for multicultural couples everywhere.
