President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) daughter, Chen Hsing-yu (陳幸妤), took the plunge yesterday in a wedding that helped cheer up a nation recovering from two typhoons in as many weeks.
The event was a relatively unassuming affair, as the first family wished to keep it "simple, modest ... and just like a commoner's."
The wedding and banquet for Chen Hsing-yu and Chao Chien-ming (
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
The wedding ceremony began at 6:30pm when around 600 guests arrived at the hotel, including the heads of the five branches of government, Vice President Annette Lu (
President Chen took Hsing-yu on his arm and walked down the aisle as Chao waited on the stage.
Serving as the wedding witness, Judicial Yuan President Weng Yueh-sheng (
PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE
Weng was the president's professor at National Taiwan University and was also the witness for the marriage of Chen and first lady Wu Shu-chen (
"I believe that President Chen and first lady Wu set a fine example for the newlywed couple, as they have taken care of each other all these years," Weng said during his speech at the wedding.
In his speech, Lee said that Chen and Wu had sacrificed what could have been ordinary lives to devote themselves to their country.
PHOTO: FANG PIN-CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
"President Chen has consulted with me many times during the past month," Lee said, "and one of the major issues he once asked me about is how to be a good father-in-law. I think I am more experienced than he is on this issue."
After Lee and Chao Chien-ming's father gave their speeches, the president then expressed his appreciation to all guests and officials who helped to organize the wedding.
Chen said that Hsing-yu and Chien-ming should work hard just like other ordinary young people, and praised his wife for bringing the happy couple together.
"The thought of her daughter's wedding kept her motivated after going through such pain following the car accident 11 years ago," Chen said, referring to the politically-motivated accident which cost Wu the use of her legs.
Chen said that he had stepped into the political circle 21 years ago when Hsing-yu was just five years old and that it was his wife who should take all the credit for raising their daughter.
"This is the happiest moment for my wife," Chen said, "and the last dream for Shu-chen is to hold a grandchild in her arms."
Early yesterday morning, Chao and his companions went to the presidential residence to collect the bride and take her to the Mandarina Crown Hotel.
Through a steady drizzle, six rose-draped limousines arrived at the presidential residence at around 9:10am. Chen Chih-jung (
Chen told the couple at the residence: "A marriage reflects everyday life. It cannot be sunny everyday, and it will be stormy from time to time."
"On the stormy days ... they should support and care for one another. With more tolerance, care and understanding, there will be greater happiness and fulfillment."
After the family photo shoot, the president put down the veil for the bride and then the bride and groom bid farewell to the first couple.
The first lady then sprayed water from a bowl, a gesture that Hsin-yu was no longer the cherished child of her own family and must fulfill the duties of her new family.
The first couple was apparently very happy but also reluctant to part with their daughter. Both of them wished the newlyweds a happy life ahead.
Just before the limousines left the residence, the president picked up a camera and took photos of his daughter.
When the limousines arrived at the Mandarina Crown Hotel at 10:45am, they were greeted by a long string of firecrackers set off by the groom's family.
A boy from the groom's family greeted the bride with two apples in hand, symbolizing well-being, good fortune and sweetness.
After the newlyweds entered their bridal suite, the couple sat side by side on a couch with a pair of the groom's pants on it, which symbolized that the two will share their good times and bad times together. The groom unveiled his bride and kissed her.
The couple then fed each other sweet dumplings for a happy life ahead.
Despite widespread media coverage of the event, the Presidential Office kept a low profile and championed simplicity.
Because of the recent string of typhoons, many activities surrounding the wedding such as press interviews and news conferences were cancelled.
The president donated NT$1.5 million he had planned to give as his daughter's dowry, along with NT$500,000 of Hsin-yu's savings, to victims of Typhoon Nari.
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