Woman In Love: Liv Lo Reveals Why Tradition And Gallantry Still Matter In A Modern Engagement

"If you ever need me, I will be there for you.” These written words left on a note by Henry Golding, Liv Lo’s dashingly handsome BBC TV travel presenter fiancé, after their first date, pretty much came into action a few months later. In March 2011, TV presenter Lo was living in Tokyo when it was hit by a deadly tsunami. Golding dropped everything to make sure he could get his girlfriend to safety.

“The city was at a standstill and no one could work or travel. People were so panicked they wouldn’t even drink the water,” recalls Lo. “But Henry got me out of the city to join him in the Perhentian [Islands] in Malaysia.” “At first I thought he was too young for me [Golding is 18 months younger than Lo], but he really stepped up when the tsunami hit. The demonstration of character proved that he is a man of his word; that he is serious about our relationship and cares about me,” says Lo.

They had met just three months earlier, on 1 January, a day that Lo describes as a “lucky day indeed.” They were both celebrating with friends in a restaurant in Singapore, and Lo had spotted him across the room. “Henry piqued my curiosity because he is tall and handsome, yet seemed really fun and down to earth,” she says. “As I was leaving, he was going to the bathroom so our paths crossed. I took the opportunity to chat to him as I had nothing to lose.”

After a year commuting in a long distance relationship, Lo decided to move to Singapore to be with Golding. “I moved for love and career,” says Lo. “It was a gamble as my modelling career was doing well in Japan, but I wanted to do more TV hosting and Singapore had always been on my radar. And I knew I would have Henry and my friends to support me.”

Three years later, the long awaited moment came… “It was on our fourth anniversary—and we were on holiday in Phuket. We had the best day riding on motorbikes to temples, finding secret beaches and eating spicy Thai food. He had booked a restaurant at sunset that ‘just so happened’ to have a string quartet playing and was serving champagne on arrival. But, I just thought he was being romantic as it was our anniversary,” says Lo. “However, we took a stroll on the rocks and he proposed at the magic hour. Unforgettable.”

While the planning for the big day is underway, the couple are passionate about one thing: “Family comes first. As long as they are happy and comfortable, we will be too,” she says. With a similarly mixed Euro-Asian heritage—Lo is Taiwanese-Italian and Golding is British-Malay, “both of our upbringings were quite rural,” says Lo (Golding in Malaysia, Lo in Taiwan). “Now we are getting married, not only do we talk about how we are going to support the family, but we are also on the same page when it comes to starting a family. We both think the same way.”

However, with Golding being a travel presenter, he is often out of the country, and Lo’s schedule is just as hectic with shoots. “We have rules, where he’s not allowed to be away for more than two weeks and if he is away for so long, he has to be home for three days. We even have an app that shares our schedules so we know what each other is doing,” says Lo. “We understand what the other needs—I need to spend three days with him every month and he needs to be able to keep in touch with me.”

When they are both in the country at the same time, they make sure they go on “black out”and spend quality time together away from social media. They go cycling in the park, enjoy dinner together… And plan a wedding. Lo says that she is looking forward to being Mrs Golding. “Marriage isn’t going to be the be all and end all of everything—it’s going to enhance what we’ve got. We’ve got a bucket list and we’re looking forward to doing lots of things together.”

With the wedding planned in Malaysia, Liv doesn’t want a razzle dazzle affair. “We want to keep it intimate and personal.” Golding is involved in all the wedding arrangements apart from one element—the dress. “I tried one very kind of dress I could imagine,visited seamstresses,and attended trunk shows, before visiting The Proposal Bridal in Millenia Walk.They accommodated my every request and I chose a gown from them,” says Lo.

With a wedding to organise on top of a hectic career, Lo has devised a plan to make sure she stays calm during this busy period. “Meditation, yoga, running, good diet, lots of laughs, and a good night’s sleep!”

As for the honeymoon: “We plan to take a couple minimoons because there are so many places we want to go!” she confesses. “The first one we are planning is to Fiji. I want to go to Turkey next. I would also love to drive from San Francisco to LA. If I whisper it here will it come true?”

By Claire Turrell

Photographed by Gan

Styled by Windy Aulia

Model: Liv Lo/FLY Entertainment

Hair and makeup: Emma Haddock/ Indigo Artisans using Shu Uemura Art of Hair and Dior

Photography assistant: Ang Jong Jye

Assistant stylist: Debby Kwong

Additional assistance: Nayeun Kim

Special thanks to Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, Bali