GEORGE TOWN: The unexpected announcement of the peninsula-wide conditional movement control order that begins today caught many by surprise, but some folks decided to just roll with the punches. For Joy Ong, the imposition of the conditional MCO for Penang hastened her wedding by two weeks, with the determined bride rearranging her plans, all within 18 hours. Ong, 27, said her wedding registration was supposed to be on Nov 21, with a lunch scheduled after the ceremony, followed by a wedding dinner on Nov 29. “Because of the conditional MCO, we brought the ceremony forward and tried our luck with our church, photographer, make-up artist, and our wedding decor team. “I made many phone calls and we started the arrangements after 10pm Saturday, and I am grateful everything fell into place. “The only setback was that the restaurant that we had wanted to hold the lunch was booked for another wedding dinner. “So, we found another restaurant, and everything is now good to go,” she said when met at her wedding at the Penang Christian Centre yesterday. Ong, a design engineer, said she initially thought of postponing her wedding. “Somehow, it all worked out. Our photographer was available, while my rustic-themed wedding made it easy for the decor team to pull everything together last minute. “They managed to get flowers for my bouquet, and only minor changes were needed. “My wedding arch, walkway and registration table were prepared in time for the ceremony,” Ong said, adding her wedding guests included immediate family and church members. “Unfortunately, some friends and family members could not make it as they live in Sub-District 12, which is already under the conditional MCO. “Our original guest list was for 100 people, but it was reduced slightly. “We will hold our wedding dinner after the conditional MCO is over so that everyone can celebrate with us,” said Ong, who married Kelvin Looi, 27, after having known each other for years, over the course of their studies and working in the same multinational firm as design engineers. Looi, who helped coordinate the bridesmaids and groomsmen arrangements, said he was still excited over the entire affair, even though it was all done at the last minute. “And now, we are husband and wife even earlier,” he said. Meanwhile, company executive J.X. Liew, 26, had to rush home to Ipoh on Saturday night to celebrate her father’s birthday. “I work in Penang and my parents were supposed to visit me this weekend to celebrate my father’s birthday. “But with the conditional MCO, I rushed home before interstate travel is banned to spend time with them,” said Liew, who said it felt like deja vu because she had no chance to see her parents earlier this year. “The first lockdown was overwhelming, but at least we have technology to keep in touch. “I do miss them but it is still manageable as I have good friends and colleagues here in Penang. “While my parents understand that the lockdown is necessary, they are worried about my safety,” said Liew, who is also ruing the fact that it would be nearly impossible for her to celebrate her birthday in Ipoh this month.