How does a couple go from Toledo, Ohio to a shophouse in Singapore’s Joo Chiat?
Cate and Jack first met as two kids in high school—just shy of being fifteen and sixteen respectively—so early in life that, “Physically, when we first started dating, she was taller than me,” laughs Jack. “She was always the cute girl of the town. I had just gotten my license, so we were always driving around.” Now, a little more than a decade later, Jack is CEO of a trading company and Cate is a personal stylist and writer, with a resort brand en route.
Since growing up in Toledo the couple’s lust for life have taken them far—to Costa Rica, New Zealand, Iceland, Japan, the Philippines (“the bluest water I’ve ever seen!” quips Jack). In fact, they loved the Philippines so much that Jack chose to pop the question there, on a private beach in a sea of one hundred white roses. “That was so awesome,” laughs Cate. “I will never forget it.” Now, the couple have set up shop in Singapore; building a new life, a new village, in Joo Chiat. “We left any type of community that we had, and came here knowing no-one,” continues Cate. “We have had so many different life changes, but we’ve always stuck together. We’ve lived 100 lives together.”
Moving across the world from Ohio to Singapore is no easy feat, but perhaps it’s a testament to the couple’s loyalty to one another. In life, it is rare when you meet someone who lights a spark in you; who encourages you to be kinder, stronger, braver; who makes your world bigger and brings peace to your heart. For Cate and Jack, they are lucky enough to have found this early on in life, and it is clear that they recognise this. Not once has there been a moment of consideration for a life without the other.
“Cate has always had unconditional love for the people around her. From the moment I met her, there were never any second guesses,” says Jack. “Even with a move to Singapore, there wasn’t any hesitation. Singapore is great, but it’s completely new. It wasn’t normal for people from a small town to move here—we were kind of in a bubble and she took that sacrifice for me.”
For their wedding, it had to be yet another adventure—bringing together people from across every place they have lived in. Thrust into a week-long love affair in Mallorca, the couple took over landmark destinations across the island including Grand Hotel Son Net, Neundorf House, and a slurry of private estates for the occasion.
Planned alongside the teams at Fola Styling and Julia and Evita, the production was an equally global affair: working with a graphic designer from Australia, DJs from the U.K., and couturiers from Brazil, Singapore, Miami and more. It seems like a pretty crazy feat but if anyone could do it—I look at Cate and Jack, and I believe it.
For the welcome party, the couple took over Neuendorf House, designed by architects Claudio Silvestrin and John Pawson. For the moment, the groom wore Dolce & Gabbana, while the bride slipped into a pair of Valentino heels and Miami brand Alexis for her dress—the city where she and Jack were based prior to Singapore.
Each of the five days in Mallorca also arrived with a party of their own. Guests arrived to a party straight off the airplane tarmac, at the famed Grand Hotel Son Net, a restored Palacio dating back to 1672 tucked neatly at the foot of UNESCO World Heritage site Serra de Tramuntana. The next day guests found themselves on the oldest Spanish flagged sailboat in the world, setting sail to Cap Rocat and the Spanish open-air markets, where guests indulged in local produce and artisanal goods. The bride’s parents even brought a taste of home to the affair, transforming a private estate into an all-white party, reminiscent of their Ohio home.
Cate is a Virgo—“And I am a perfectionist,” laughs Cate. The week’s activities were not mere events, but a full production—as she even customised the majority of the furniture and shipped it to the tiny island. This included—but was not limited to—custom fabrics by Van Alter; stationary by Tamborine Press; and floral arrangements by Elena Borg.
The bride curated an array of custom gowns and accessories from Singapore, Australia, Thailand, Brazil, Thailand, and France—but perhaps the most momentous look had to be her wedding gown. Designed by Singaporean label Truly Enamoured—tucked away nearby Maxwell—the bespoke creation featured a drop waist and 70s box pleats, paired with mother-of-pearl jewellery from Van Cleef & Arpels. Sasha from the Dior Spa team in Paris also flew in to support Cate’s glam throughout the week.
If Jack was Cate’s first love, it was an apt turn of events that the very first dress Cate tried on also became “the one”. “I think a lot of brides can feel pressure to look a certain way,” explains Cate. “But I feel like I stayed true to myself and thankful for that—because I felt so beautiful and it looked like me.”
For the ceremony, the couple revamped a private 17th century Spanish villa, complete with a hidden club for the afterparty. For the couple, it was a celebration of their “village”—those who had been by their side since day one, and who, too, had equally shaped their love. “I just wanted it to feel like a huge family altogether,” says Cate of the moment. Every person—from every stage of their lives—had a role to play, with their high school best friend officiating the ceremony, and another friend playing the piano.
Among the custom furniture was a bespoke two-sided podium, allowing for a 1-on-1 moment between the couple when the bride entered the hall. After all the chaos of the week, it granted a moment of intimacy as they exchanged their matching Tiffany & Co. rings. “It was just … a little something for us. It was something I really wanted,” says the groom, who wore a Dior suit for the ceremony. Outside of the opulent Mallorca wedding, the Singapore shophouse home, and all their other crazy adventures—these are just two kids who met in high school and have been bound ever since.
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Staff stood ready with cocktails inspired by the many places we have called home, each one offering a taste of the cities and chapters that have shaped their story.
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A quiet moment before it all begins. Sunlit walls, a little stillness, and the anticipation of seeing our dream wedding come to life.
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This and all your fave people. Nothing compares.
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Me and my best girls. Our very own terracotta runway, champagne in hand, dressed in gold and some of the best moments of our life still to unfold.
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Waters with our custom monogram.
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Sunset sips, and to our surprise and delight: synchronised swimmers at sunset. Theatrics at its highest level.
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Beyond the rugged coastlines and dramatic mountain ranges of Mallorca's idyllic landscapes, was our welcome party and my mom Michelle's 60th birthday party.
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With the sails billowing overhead and the Mediterranean shimmering endlessly below, we set the tone for the wedding weekend from the water—an afternoon of champagne, adventure, and our closest friends, with the sea as our only horizon.
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Mallorca looks good on him.
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Three girls, endless blue, and an afternoon made for the kind of memories that last long after the sails come down.
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Wedding weekend living, island style.
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Saltwater hair, sun-warmed skin and a playful string of red.
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Best friends, reunited at sea—where hours slipped by in endless conversation, laughter, and stories of the favourite memories we've shared along the way.
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Love, laughter, and the people who mean the most, gathered beneath the evening light. There is no more beautiful way to spend the night before you say “I do.”
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Something Blu at Villa Buehrer. All dressed in white and my gown breathtakingly catching light.
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White-glove service, a five-course dinner, and an exquisite wine pairing curated to complement each course.
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A long table, lamplight and wine, with everyone they love gathered close. An evening to linger over. But the night is still not over…
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The Yark’s, down to dessert. Custom embroidered aprons and plates: all part of the branding and tiramisu served with the same care as every other detail of the evening.
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Welcome to Le Club Yark: a night club that exists for one night only. An after party created from scratch in an 18th century villa.
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A ceremony in white. Soft draping, sculptural florals and a long aisle leading to the heart of it all: a promise of love and devotion for a lifetime and beyond.
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Taking a moment to myself before the day unfolds.
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Surrounded by vintage automobiles, a quietly personal tribute to Jack’s late father and a beautiful nod to a legacy that remains close to his heart.
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An open window in an 18th century villa, a breathtaking view of the Mallorcan landscape, and an unforgettable silhouette.
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A runway to heaven—an all-white, intimate vision of quiet beauty, with our closest family and friends gathered as I made my way down the aisle on my father’s arm, while my best friend played 'Je te laisserai des mots' softly on the piano.
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Jack, waiting at the altar.
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Officiated by our high school best friend, every cherished person was woven into the evening.
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From teenage sweethearts in their hometown to building a life on the other side of the world.
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Into the sunset we went, carrying the joy of it all—knowing the next day would be our greatest story yet.
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