Derek Liu literally thought outside the box when he proposed to Tiffany Chan. On New Year’s Eve, Tiffany was bustling about their apartment getting ready for a double date with friends. As she was finishing, she passed the dining room and noticed an elegant shopping bag and present on the table. Nestled in tissue paper, Tiffany uncovered a captivating clutch and when she opened it, she found an engagement ring. “So in the midst of New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly in the background, I said ‘yes’ and we were engaged!” she recalls.

For their “timeless event with highlights of Chinese and American culture,” the bride and groom were enamored by a luxury hotel in Battery Park that offered magnificent views of New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty. Moreover, the couple enjoyed “the ease of working with its staff throughout the planning process.”

Following a formal tea ceremony for close family and friends, Tiffany glided down the aisle in a gorgeous strapless gown with a black bodice and white skirt featuring an asymmetrical diaphanous overlay and modern black tulle floral designs in the back. Since red is often used in Chinese weddings because it is considered a lucky color, the bride carried a striking bouquet that included scarlet roses and dark crimson calla lilies that were almost an ebony hue.

The bride joined her groom, who donned an onyx tuxedo and calla lily boutonniere, beneath an arch crafted of curly willow branches anchored by creamy arrangements of Casablanca lilies and dendrobium orchids. The classic palette, along with similar components, was carried over to the flower arrangements adorning the reception held in a golden ballroom. The three styles that graced tables reflected a sense of spring blossoms: a dramatic, tall centerpiece composed of ivory stargazer lilies and orchids, accented by curly willow branches; small bundles of vanilla roses, hydrangeas, and orchids; and pearl dendrobium orchid stems submerged in a cylinder vase and topped with a floating candle.

Tiffany had a special surprise for Derek during the reception. While planning the celebration, she remembered how they had discussed the classic Taiwanese song “Ting Hai,” a tune that is difficult to sing, on one of their first dates. So, Tiffany decided she would perform it for her new husband on their wedding day. “Not only did I have to practice my vocal range (I was at one point a classical voice major in college), I also had to learn the pronunciation of the Mandarin lyrics (I speak Cantonese),” she explains.

Later, the bride slipped into a pearl Qipao dress with gold embroidered details and red trim for the cake cutting. The three-layer confection was embellished with black bands at each base, piped floral and leaf designs, as well as sugar roses and ivy vines. Ultimately, the fête elegantly captured the newlyweds' personal styles and cultures.