Getting your future mother-in-law to like you is a huge step towards happily ever after. Especially when she's a former Miss Hong Kong and you stand a chance to a sizeable fortune from your husband's family inheritance should he, you know, kick the bucket or, worse, get a divorce.
For China's four-time Olympic gold medalist Guo Jingjing, getting Miss Hong Kong 1977 Loletta Chu to let her eldest of three sons-and heir to the great Fok family fortune-dive into marriage was probably the highest platform she's ever had to climb. Loletta, according to reports, absolutely adores Jingjing.
Kenneth Fok, 33, belongs to one of Hong Kong's richest families, who owns businesses in oil, real estate, casinos and restaurants. His late grandfather was the tycoon and philanthropist Henry Fok.
Jingjing, 30, is set to marry Kenneth on November 11, after dating him for seven years.
Despite their best efforts to keep a low profile on their relationship, their romance has provided plenty of fodder for the media. Things got especially hot when Jingjing retired from professional diving last year, leading to speculation that a wedding was in the works.
Friends and relatives were finally greeted recently with an e-mailed invitation to the nuptials. But the location of the ceremony will only be revealed in the actual card. There is talk that the Foks will throw a 50-table banquet at the Hong Kong Convention And Exhibition Centre.
The guest list will read like a who's who of the sporting, business and entertainment world.
Sports stars like Chinese divers Wu Minxia and He Zi are said to be the bridesmaids.
Meanwhile, Jingjing and Kenneth are said to be hoping for Olympic gold medalists Lin Dan and Liu Xiang to also "perform" at the wedding.