Dorothy & Alvin: A montreal love story rooted in friendship, faith, and family 蒙特利爾的愛情故事，植根於友誼、信仰和家庭
Photography: Tim Chin Photography
Ceremony Venue: Montreal Chinese Alliance Church • Reception Venue & Banquet: Restaurant Le Richmond
As Featured in The Art of Celebration Annual Edition No.2
“Dressed in my cheongsam and surrounded by our relatives and close friends, we poured tea for our parents as they gave us Hongbaos and passed down gold jewellery. Few words were shared, but the magnitude and significance of the moment were mutually understood.”
When Dorothy moved from Vancouver to Montreal to complete her undergrad at McGill University in September of 2013, she met Alvin at a gathering for university students at the Montreal Chinese Alliance Church (MCAC). Over time, Dorothy developed feelings for Alvin, but Alvin wasn’t interested. Still, their friendship deepened and neither of them thought they could be more than friends. Building on a foundation of a five-year long friendship, they eventually started dating. Dorothy ended up spending an extra two years in Montreal before moving to Hong Kong for work. For the next two years in Hong Kong, the couple mastered the art of a long distance relationship. Finally, she moved back to Vancouver where Alvin joined her shortly after, and where they’re both settled now.
From the time they began to plan for their wedding, they knew it was going to be a melting pot of different traditions and cultures, much like their upbringing. Drawing from their Chinese heritage, playing door games to pick up the bride and the tea ceremony to honour each other’s parents were a must, even if it meant they had to start their day at four in the morning just to be able to fit it all into their schedule. Each having a special connection to Montreal, they were eager to rekindle their experience of the Montreal food scene and share it with the guests, especially those from out of town. They chose Le Richmond, an Italian/European restaurant, as their reception venue based on friends’ recommendations and were thrilled with the outcome. And as Christians, they decided to get married at MCAC, where they met, surrounded by a loving church community who watched them grow up, and officiated by the pastor who ministered to them in their youth.
After getting married, Dorothy and Alvin were also excited to have all of their loved ones, with some from as far as Hong Kong and France, gathered in one room to celebrate them and their journey. They wanted to create an atmosphere of love, gratitude, and joy, especially for those who travelled far and those who generously gave them their time to make the wedding day possible. Upon arrival at the reception dinner, they had the greeters hand out handwritten notes to each guest to thank them for having played a key role in their journeys. The entire day was filled with joy, laughter, and the recounting of old stories, and eventually, they capped it off with a night of good music, bad dancing, and wonderful memories lasting a lifetime.
One of the highlights was the tea ceremony because of how meaningful it was for them as second generation immigrants. While Dorothy and Alvin have very different personalities, one of the few things they have in common is their background. At least one of their parents immigrated to Canada for school, and even though being in a foreign land where English was their second language was difficult, they eventually started their own families. Some years were better than others, but one thing was certain: their parents made countless sacrifices and did their very best to give them the best opportunities. Dorothy, dressed in her cheongsam, and surrounded by their relatives and close friends, poured tea for their parents as they gave the couple hongbaos and passed down gold jewellery. Few words were shared, but the magnitude and significance of the moment was mutually understood. As the two embarked on their own journey, it was only right to close off the chapter by thanking their parents for their unwavering support throughout the years.
More from Fête Chiniose
Choosing an auspicious wedding date is important, as it can contribute to a smooth and peaceful start to your marriage. While some may view this as a cultural practice, it is believed by many that selecting the right date can set a positive tone for the future.