Crazy Rich Asians

Araminta’s parents Annabel and Peter Lee prepare for the wedding party that is being held in Harry and Felicity Leong’s home. Annabel and Peter are new money from mainland China and have always wanted to be a part of Singapore’s exclusive, upper-crust society, but they were never invited in until her daughter’s engagement to Colin Khoo. Annabel raised Araminta to fit in with high society, enrolling her in the right schools and giving her a more “Westernized” education. Since Araminta became engaged to Colin, Annabel believes her choices paid off well. Annabel is impressed that the Leongs live in a Black and White; a historic style of house that is coveted because few still exist in their original condition. She is excited to be among the Leongs and the Khoos, and especially to see Araminta in this particular class.

Meanwhile, Astrid argues quietly with Michael near the stairs. She promised him that he would get to see Cassian but lured him to the party to get him to stay for dinner so she can keep up appearances for her family. She tells Michael her plans for them to attend the Khoo wedding, but Michael refuses to go. She asks if he’s missing the wedding to visit his mistress in Hong Kong; Michael begrudgingly agrees. He becomes angry when someone asks him to fix the oven, and Astrid covers for him, saying he’s only upset because he’s going to miss the wedding.

Nick tries to introduce Rachel to two of his family members, Cassandra and Victoria, but they treat her coldly and disregard her. Instead, they complain about Eddie dressing his kids in expensive clothing. Soon, Alistair comes to the house with Kitty Pong, who is wearing a dress that is so sheer that her nipples are visible through the fabric. They announce their engagement, which shocks the family. The two women who were indifferent toward Rachel suddenly find her fascinating.

Peik Lin and Rachel discuss the previous evening’s events over breakfast. Rachel tells Peik Lin what it’s like staying at Tyersall Park, where no luxury is spared. She reveals that she even has a maid assigned specifically to her. She laments that she can barely keep up with the full schedule of events, and Peik Lin asks her what outfits she is planning to wear. Noticing her confusion, Peik Lin explains that she needs a new dress for every single wedding event. She decides to take Rachel to her friend Patric, who styles clients all over Asia. Rachel tries on quite a few dresses, and Peik Lin decides to buy the ones that she looks best in. Rachel protests, saying that she can just wear her black and white dress to the wedding. Peik Lin tells her absolutely not because those are considered mourning colors. Rachel insists that Peik Lin should not buy the dresses because she has her own money, but Peik Lin tells her to save her money for souvenirs and buys the dresses anyway.

In another dressing suite, Mandy Ling is being laced into a red dress by two attendants while her mother Jacqueline scolds her for wasting time in New York. Mandy was sent to New York by her parents to woo Nick but was far more interested in becoming part of New York society. Jacqueline reminds Mandy that she needs to marry well because all of their family wealth will go to her brother.

The guests arrive at First Methodist Church for the Khoo wedding. Photographers line up outside to take pictures of the important guests. They ignore Rachel but clamor for photos of Eddie, Fiona, and their children. The distinguished guests ignore the seating chart and sit wherever they’re used to sitting in the church. They complain about the décor, especially Cassandra, who immediately spreads gossip about prominent people who are furious about the way the church is decorated. Eleanor arrives with Philip and assumes that Nick purchased Rachel’s designer dress. Philip is friendly with Rachel, but Eleanor is silently offended by Rachel calling Tyersall Park “home.”

The family is surprised to see Shang Su Yi arrive with Astrid. She claims that she wants to see Nick as the best man. Soon, the lights in the sanctuary dim and a choir of blonde boys enters—the Vienna Boys’ Choir—each holding jars of fireflies and singing an English song. The bridesmaids enter and hold cherry blossom branches up to form the eight arches that Araminta enters through. Colin is smitten when he sees her. Standing next to him, Nick imagines Rachel walking down that same aisle. He searches the crowd for Rachel, and when he sees her, he mouths the words “I love you” to her. Araminta, noticing Astrid in the crowd, is insulted to see that Astrid hasn’t worn a new gown to her wedding.

The wedding guests head to Fort Canning Park for the reception. The party features a giant teapot and teacups as décor, which spout champagne. The park is covered in roses, and Cassandra remarks that Annabel bought up all of the roses on the world market and had them flown in on a private jet from Holland. Rachel learns from Oliver and Cassandra that the Lees spent $40 million on the event. Nick joins them, bringing Rachel a glass of champagne. He takes Rachel away from them.

Kitty stares at the opulent reception, in awe of the display of wealth. She mistakenly believes that Alistair’s family isn’t as rich as he says they are because they don’t constantly flaunt their wealth. Kitty asks about his grandmother, and he points her out as she sits under a gazebo with some older women. He explains that one of them is a Malay princess, and Kitty excitedly asks him to introduce her to them. He brings Kitty to the gazebo, which is guarded, but Ah Ma decides to let them in so she can meet Kitty. Kitty greets Ah Ma but then completely ignores her to talk to the princess. The princess congratulates Kitty on her engagement and hands her one of her rings, much to everyone’s horror.

Nick brings Rachel to one of his hideouts from when he was a kid—a cave where he used to bring his girlfriends to make out. In the cave, Nick starts to tell Rachel that he’s sure he wants to marry her, but before he can finish, Mandy comes in. Nick is surprised to see her as she said that she wasn’t coming to the wedding, but she says that she changed her mind last minute because her rich boyfriend Ziv’s private plane can “zip around so quickly” (315). Rachel has no idea who Mandy is, but Mandy ominously says that she’s heard loads about Rachel. Then, Rachel notices the names Nico and Mandi carved into the wall—Nick and Mandy’s nicknames for each other.

Back at Tyersall Park. Su Yi gives out some of her jewelry to prevent fighting after she dies. She gives Fiona a necklace to wear to the dinner that evening, having her promise to give it to her daughter someday. Su Yi tells Alix that Alistair needs to break off his engagement with Kitty Pong because of her questionable lineage. Alix changes the topic to Rachel, and Su Yi insists that Nick has no intentions of marrying Rachel and wouldn’t do anything without her blessing. Su Yi calls Oliver and asks him to help get rid of Kitty Pong.

Rachel questions Nick about his ties to Mandy, but he insists that they only dated when they were younger and that it was puppy love. Rachel, however, feels that Mandy’s behavior toward him was territorial. They head downstairs and run into Augustine, who is running from his father, Eddie, because the boy accidentally spilled orange soda on Eddie’s suit. Eddie’s yelling draws Fiona’s attention. He yells at her about Augustine ruining the aesthetic that he was going for, and she tells him to just wear one of his other tuxedos. Eddie balks at the idea of wearing something he’s already worn, and he threatens to spank Augustine. Nick tries to reason with his cousin that the boy made a harmless mistake, but Eddie doesn’t stop his yelling until Fiona puts him in his place about needing everything to be perfect and screaming at their kids. She asks to ride with Nick and Rachel, not wanting to be seen with “a tyrant.” She gives the necklace Su Yi gave her to Rachel because she feels she has nothing to prove by wearing fancy jewelry.