Jesseca Liu and Jeremy Chan to wed

Jesseca Liu
Jeremy Chan

Local celebrity couple Jesseca Liu, 38, and Jeremy Chan, 35, will be tying the knot within the year.

They are in the midst of preparing for an intimate beach wedding on Langkawi, the laid-back island where the Malaysian actress grew up.

"Jeremy is very sweet. I have always dreamt of a beach wedding since I was young. He respects my decision," Liu tells The Straits Times. She adds that they have been dating with "marriage in mind".

Singaporean host Chan proposed to Liu with a diamond wedding band shortly after they started going out two years ago, according to an earlier report. It also said the couple have yet to decide if they will hold a ceremony in Singapore.

Her beau told Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao he had asked for her hand in marriage early on to prove his sincerity.

He said: "I had no house, no car to my name. My career pales in comparison to hers. I wanted to let her know I was serious and asked if she was willing to wait for me."

The wait is over and they will be entering the next chapter of their lives together. "I bought my first house this year and my career is seeing progress. We felt that the time is right. We hope people can give us their blessings," he added.

They were first spotted shopping together at Chinatown's Chinese New Year Bazaar last year. They denied dating then and confirmed their relationship only later in the year. Tongues have wagged about the couple's apparent incompatibility, both in terms of career success as well as physical appearance.

Leading lady Liu is often seen fronting Channel 8 dramas such as the blockbuster Hero (2016), while her other half is a less-well-known variety show host and actor. He was recently seen in a supporting role in the local film, Lucky Boy (2017).

The 4cm height difference - Liu is 1.72m and Chan is 1.68m - is clearly not an issue for her.

On how she decided that he was the one for her, she says: "I like him because he is very hardworking and sincere."

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 16, 2017, with the headline Jesseca Liu and Jeremy Chan to wed. Subscribe