Now married, couple who got engaged during Taylor Swift’s concert looks back at how it went down

2024 was the year of concerts in Singapore, and there were none bigger than Taylor Swift’s.

For two whole weekends, Swift’s “Eras Tour” was all anyone talked to their friends about.

Like any cultural moment, we’ll look back on it and wonder what we were up to when it happened.

Some made friendship bracelets and joined throngs of concert-goers at the National Stadium to watch Swift perform.

Some were on the outside looking in, singing along to their favourite songs with fellow fans and soaking in the vibes.

For some, it was a love story that ended with a ‘yes’, and that’s probably how Kerina, 25, and Kar Hong, 28, will remember Taylor Swift’s concerts at the National Stadium.

They were one of a handful of couples who agreed to tie the knot as the pop star pelted out her hit songs.

After Taylor Swift wrapped up her tour and marked the end of an era, I reached out to the newly-weds to find out how they were starting theirs, how the proposal came to be, and how they’ll look back on it all.

Beating the ‘unromantic’ allegations

Before the proposal, Kerina and Kar Hong dated for three years, having met online.

“Kar Hong made the first move,” Kerina tells me.

Of course, I wanted to dive into the tea, the who, what, when, where, why and how of the concert proposal.

“When I was planning the proposal, I was cracking my brains to think of a romantic yet memorable proposal as Kerina had said that I’m not romantic at all,” Kar Hong quipped.

When news broke that Taylor Swift was going to be in town in March 2024, Kar Hong knew this was it.

Mar. 3, 2024 — the second night of the “Eras Tour” — will be when he’ll pop the question.

“I wanted to make the proposal one that was special, memorable, and a surprise, proposing in front of thousands of people who will witness our special moment,” Kar Hong shared.

Did Kerina see it coming, though?

“I actually suspected that he might propose on that day. However, I didn’t expect it to be at the concert or during the song, ‘Love Story’,” she revealed.

No strangers when it comes to love

To make sure he’d get the timing right, Kar Hong prepared by listening to ‘Love Story’ on repeat.

The night went on, and when the pop star started performing ‘Love Story’, the nerves set in.

“I was sweating profusely. I froze up at the start of ‘Love Story’, even though I had been practising for this moment,” Kar Hong admitted.

When the words he was waiting for rang through the stadium, Kar Hong got on his knees, whipped out the ring, and asked, “will you marry me?”.

Unlike proposals elsewhere where friends might be present for support, the concert proposal required unfamiliar help.

“As we were there by ourselves, I couldn’t get a photographer or friends to capture the moment,” Kar Hong explained.

“Before the concert started, I passed a few notes to the people seated around us to enlist their help to film the moment,” he added.

Thanks to the sporting spirit and kindness of the strangers around them that evening, the loving moment was caught on camera.

Video courtesy of Kerina and Kar Hong.

“I was shocked, surprised, yet touched. I did not expect it to happen there and then,” Kerina recounted.

The public proposal was followed by a more private celebration of the occasion.

Full circle

Songs like ‘Love Story’ and ‘You Belong With Me’ were tunes that Kerina grew up with.

“I remember jamming along and singing her songs especially ‘Love Story’ and ‘You Belong With Me’ with my friends when the songs came out,” Kerina reminisced.

Now, they are the soundtrack that marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life with Kar Hong.

The couple got married in October, and they are preparing to move into their new home early next year.

“We’re both excited for what’s to come in the future,” the newly-weds shared.

Special place, special moments

It’s not just at Taylor Swift’s concert where proposals took place.

Throughout the year, the National Stadium at Singapore Sports Hub served as the concert venue for big names like Coldplay and Joker Xue, which also became the backdrop of proposals.

While couples like Kerina and Kar Hong will likely remember the National Stadium as the place where they agreed to tie the knot, others may remember it for different reasons.

Some will look back fondly at the concerts they attended, while others may reminisce about the post-concert vibes outside the stadium.

Others might remember attending Pope Francis’ Papal Mass, while some may remember it as the place where the Singapore Lions held the Chinese team to a nail-biting draw during the World Cup qualifiers.

Whatever it is, there’s always something for everyone happening at the Singapore Sports Hub.

For concert proposers like Kerina and Kar Hong, it may soon be the place they welcome the new year together, adding to their collection of memories at the National Stadium.

Singapore Sports Hub is giving away 15 best in the house seats to the proposers to catch this New Year’s Eve fireworks display at “Let’s Celebrate 2025”, Singapore’s longest single countdown fireworks display this year.

If you had also proposed while attending a concert at the Sports Hub, good news. The giveaway has been extended until Dec. 26, 2024.

Here’s how you can win these seats:

• Share your concert proposal as an Instagram post or story
• Tag @sgsportshub on social media
• Write a caption about your best core memories at Singapore Sports Hub
• If you are one of the 15 winning couples, Sports Hub will contact you via social media
• Couples will receive a curated basket of finger food and refreshments to enjoy as they countdown to 2025 at Sports Hub
• Submit your entries by 12pm, Dec. 26, 2024

This branded article made the writer think about what he was doing during Taylor Swift’s concerts in Singapore.

Top image via @kerinachua/Instagram, courtesy of Kerina and Kar Hong