THE groom wore jeans as fuss-free as his bride’s ponytail.

And when it was time to exchange wedding rings, Christopher Lee, 38, looked shyly to the crowd for help.

The down-to-earth actor was momentarily stumped over whether he should slip the platinum band on Fann Wong’s left or right ring finger.

He went for the right hand, then hesitated and tried to put the ring on the left hand. Still unsure, he looked up and asked: “Left or right ah?”

Fann, also 38, slapped him playfully, causing the crowd to break out into laughter.

“Christopher and I aren’t the type of people to rehearse for things like these,” Fann later  said, with a giggle.

“We just wanted the whole event to be casual and spontaneous.”

Indeed, their solemnisation ceremony at the presidential suite at The Shangri-La Hotel yesterday morning was filled with sweet, fumbling moments from the lovebirds.

They were constantly ribbed by their friends throughout the signing ceremony.

Before his fumble with the ring, it was Fann who was made to feel embarrassed. While reading her vows to him, she suddenly blushed and rushed through her lines professing her love and devotion to him.

This drew chuckles from the guests and even Fann’s parents, the witnesses for the solemnisation, couldn’t hide their grins. She said: “I was already very touched at that moment so I was feeling very shy. Besides, I’m an old bride already!”

One of the tickled guests,TV host Brandon Wong, even joked that Fann was “more natural” when she was acting. To which she replied good-naturedly: “I have a script, that’s why.”

While the suite oozed grandeur – apart from two bedrooms, it also has a gymnasium and a kitchenette – the ceremony was a warm,cosy affair.

There were only about 50 guests, including local celebrities like Brandon, Hong Huifang and Dennis Chew.

Justice of the Peace Chiang Heng Liang, who presided over the event, said: “This is my first celebrity solemnisation. “But what’s wonderful is that Christopher and Fann are very humble people, even after  all the attention that has been showered upon them.”

Celebrity hairstylist and official wedding planner David Gan teared when he spoke of the couple.

Best tribute
He said: “I wanted the theme to be one of simplicity as the couple doesn’t have to outshine anybody. I think this would be the best tribute to them.”

When The New Paper on Sunday arrived at the hotel lobby at 9.30am, it was quiet, without a fan in sight. It seemed that the couple’s fans were respecting their wishes to  keep the event a private one.

At 10am, the media was ushered to the suite where friends and family were already milling around, enjoying the light fare of Danish pastriesand orange juice.

At the far end of the room was a table with a centrepiece of white and pink roses, where the couple would sign their solemnisation papers. Christopher and Fann, who have been dating for seven years, made their entrance at 10.30am, with all eyes on the resplendent pair.

Fann, in her short tube dress made of duchess satin and taffeta, looked stunning. Her designer, Mr Keith Png, founder of Hide & Seek Design, said the gown was Bohemian- inspired.

He added that David’s instructions “was to keep it unique and current”.

Joked David: “And you know how I managed to do her hair up in a simple ponytail but making it look like her own hair was used as the rubber band?

“I’m the master, that’s why.”

Fann had only seen her dress a few days ago, as she had left everything in “David’s good hands”. She gushed: “I love my dress. It’s perfect.”

The groom looked elegant and relaxed in his tuxedo shirt and jeans outfit by Ermenegildo Zegna. Christopher, a Singapore permanent resident who was unable
to arrange for his Malaysian mother to be a witness in time, said that “it’s the same as we’re all family now”.

His soft-spoken mother, who sat in her wheelchair with Fann’s parents at the table, didn’t seem to mind as well. She, too, looked delighted.

After they were pronounced man and wife, Christopher held Fann’s face in his hands and kissed her passionately to raucous applause.

Then it was picture-taking time with family and friends before everyone proceeded to a lunch downstairs. Said Dennis, the screenwriter for The Wedding Game, which starred Christopher and Fann, with a laugh: “This is not a game anymore.

“And because I believe Christopher’s ‘gongfu’ is quite good, they should have many children.” Huifang, who plays Fann’s mother in the upcoming Channel 8 drama The  Ultimatum, hadadvice for her on-screen daughter.

She said: “As Fann and Christopher are both in the entertainment circle, they have to communicate often. “For example, if they have heard something they’re not pleased with, they should talk it out. This is how they will stay happy.”

Well-wishesand advice aside, Christopher had only one regret – that his father, who died in February of heart disease, wasn’t there on the “happiest day of my life”.

Said Lee Mingzhong, Christopher’s actor- brother: “We really miss our father. But I believe he is here watching over this ceremony now.”

After lunch, the couple left for Christopher’s hometown of Malacca to pay respects to his father and ancestors. They will be staying at a hotel there and not in Christopher’s house, as they have an entourage of “seven cars of familyand friends”.

The happy couple were relieved that everything had gone as planned. They spent the previous night in separate rooms in the hotel, but found it hard to sleep because of butterflies in their stomachs.

Fann was exhausted because she had “cried the whole day” while filming her last scene for The Ultimatum earlier that day.

She said: “I only slept a few hours but I feel so blissful now. The whole signing ceremony went even better than I expected.”

Christopher’s wish for “many kids” – he likes girls and Fann has no preference – made her joke that she hopes they will grow up to be docters or lawyers.

“This is so that I can retire and be a tai-tai,” she said with a laugh.

This article was first published in The New Paper.