SELINA Jen has shed many tears over the past year since she suffered third-degree burns in a horrific filming accident.
On Monday night, the 30-year-old cried tears of joy as she shyly walked down the aisle to the tune of S.H.E's hit song I Love You.
It was a deeply poignant and emotional moment.
For one, the singer of popular Taiwanese girl group S.H.E is finally getting married to 39-year-old lawyer Richard Chang, after she had been forced to push back her wedding, initially planned for April, because of her injuries. Monday was also her birthday.
Secondly, Jen was actually walking.
It's a tremendous feat, given that her legs were so badly burnt in the accident that she needed skin grafts.
She also lost all sweat glands in her legs.
And for the first time in more than a year, S.H.E was reunited in public as the trio performed their song In Love With You.
Addressing her guests, Jen said "This song is for me and (Richard)", before turning to her new husband to say: "You have to listen, okay?"
And everyone was transported back to the good old days, as Jen forgot her pain and stood for four minutes belting out the tune with fellow S.H.E members Hebe Tien and Ella Chen, whom she nicknames her "wives".
Yesterday, Jen's father told the Taiwanese media that even though Jen experienced some discomfort during her wedding, she was very happy with how it turned out as "there was more happiness than pain".
At around 4pm yesterday, Jen posted a message on her Sina Weibo microblog thanking everyone who had sent her their blessings.
Birthday bash
She wrote: "I really felt very, very fortunate. I couldn't help but cry when I celebrated my birthday, because my birthday last year was spent amidst pain and morphine.
"I have loved celebrating my birthday ever since I was a child, and so it didn't matter how tired I was after the wedding. I had to cut my birthday cake.
"And when the clock passed midnight, it was the groom's birthday! The two of us have six wishes and I hope all will come true!"
On Monday night, surrounded by more than 800relatives and friends, Jen wept as her father gave her away to Mr Chang at the couple's star-studded wedding dinner held at Sheraton Taipei Hotel.
Mr Chang was also seen wiping his tears with ahandkerchief.
Underneath her NT$660,000 (S$28,000) ivory princess bustier gown, designed by bridal boutique LinLi Wedding, the beautiful Jen - her face looking visibly plumper - was said by Taiwanese media to be wearing a pressure suit, which protects her skin.
Jen and Chinese actor Ham Yu were severely injured in October last year after explosives went off prematurely during the filming of the drama I Have A Date With Spring in China.
She suffered third-degree burns on 54 per cent of her body, including her hands, arms, thighs and back, and was hospitalised for three months.
Her father had said in January that she would require one to two years of rehabilitation. Because of her weak health, Jen had to do away with the traditional daytime marriage ceremony onMonday.
It was also difficult for her to stand for long and so she sat on a white armchair on stage to greet her guests at the dinner.
Jen and Mr Chang held hands tightly on stage, often gazing at each other tenderly.
The fairy-tale wedding seemed fitting for Jen, who has often been called a princess by the media and her fans.
A large carousel stood on the stage, alongside an oversized wedding portrait of the couple. The menu read like a poem, with the first words of the 11 lines saying "Richard Chang, Selina Jen In Love Forever".
Jen also changed into two other outfits - a baby blue mermaid-like gown that cost NT$350,000 and a champagne orange evening gown adorned with Swarovski crystals costing NT$280,000.
The wedding, hosted by Taiwanese TV comedians Ken Lin and Nadou, was witnessed by Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, who also gave a speech.
Celebrity guests included Harlem Yu, Lin Chi-ling, Jolin Tsai, Wang Lee Hom, Barbie Hsu and Dee Hsu. Jen's bridesmaids included her sister Kirsten and bandmates Tien and Chen.
Jen later tossed her floral bouquet to her single female friends who had gathered to catch it. When Tien caught it, she burst into tears and said: "And I thought I could never get married!"
This article was first published in The New Paper.
