JULIAN TSE Photography

A Texan & Taiwanese affair

Last year I had the honour of being asked to photograph a wedding in far-flung  Taiwan – and what a day it turned out to be! Renee and Kyle met and lived together in Austin for many years, and after she moved back to Taipei a few years ago, sure enough Kyle followed.

Their guests were mostly from Taiwan and Texas – and my, did they know how to have fun! Stories of the start-ups some of them are running in America, the crazy fast Nissan lacking any air-conditioning that Kyle had (yes, in Texas), Gerald’s hidden Porsche 911 and more delighted my ear.

It was the first time I saw a Chinese-style preparation – to convince the bridesmaids of his eligibility, Kyle underwent a bikini selection quiz, feeding of milk to grown-men and body-shaking test (to shake off Post-it notes containing the bride’s dislikes). Renee, meanwhile counted patiently on a triumphant fiancé in a room nearby.

Rest assured, the breakdance moves after dinner were impressive. I found myself wondering whether I’d also be a break-dancing Asian running a start-up, if I had been born in the USA.

The wedding took place at a hotel I’ve been admiring for a while, the Grand Hotel in Taipei (Wiki). It is a beautiful red building in traditional Chinese style (think former Imperial palace in Beijing) which has welcomed many a visiting head of state.

As with each wedding assignment, my mission was to recognise and snap a sequence of human interaction, reaction and emotion – it is like experiencing a week in just half a day. I flew out of Taiwan the following day as if I had spent 12 hours observing, admiring and befriending such wonderful people yet was about to say goodbye forever. Thankfully some memories are forever captured here, and hopefully we will meet again!

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Photography: Julian Tse Photography

Venue: Grand Hotel Taipei, 圓山大飯店

Gallery: click here