Mario Ho Yau-kwan joked about being shorter than his wife, Chinese supermodel Ming Xi, as the couple celebrated their marriage with a lavish reception in Macau on Monday, September 28.
The son of late Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun and Ming hosted relatives and friends at the celebration, seven years after they first married. The gathering gave loved ones who could not attend their wedding ceremony in France an opportunity to celebrate the couple in Macau.
A Lavish Autumn Themed Celebration
The reception featured an autumn oil painting theme, with thousands of flowers arranged throughout the venue. The elaborate decorations created an elegant setting for the couple’s celebration and provided a striking backdrop for photographs shared by guests.
Ming chose a dress with a direct connection to the couple’s wedding day. She wore the Dior satin couture gown she had previously worn during their ceremony at Mont Saint Michel Abbey in France in June.
She paired the gown with a diamond necklace, while Ho dressed in a black tuxedo.
The couple later took to the stage for a toast, receiving loud cheers from the guests gathered for the occasion.
Ho Jokes About Their Height
During his speech, Ho brought a lighter moment to the celebration by joking about the difference in height between himself and Ming.
He said he was “half a head shorter than her” but still decided to pursue her.
The remark reflected the playful tone Ho has often brought to discussions of the couple’s relationship. Their romance first attracted public attention after they met on a reality dating show in 2017.
But Ho’s speech quickly moved beyond humour.
He promised to love and protect Ming “in this life, the next life and the life after that ... forever.”
Ming Thanks Family and Friends
Ming also addressed the guests and thanked both families and their friends for their continued support and blessings.
She said the couple would continue to look after their families while living their lives together.
The message reflected the family focus of the Macau reception, which brought together people who have remained close to the couple throughout their relationship.
Ho’s mother, Angela Leong On-kei, also spoke warmly about Ming and her place in the family.
Angela Leong Praises Her Daughter In Law
Leong said she was grateful that her son had met “a kind and outstanding Xiao Ming”.
She thanked Ming for becoming part of the family and for bringing two children into their lives.
Ho and Ming are parents to a son and a daughter, adding another chapter to a relationship that began nearly a decade ago.
Celebrity Guests Attend Macau Reception
The celebration attracted a long list of guests from Hong Kong, mainland China and the wider entertainment industry.
Those attending included Liza Wang Ming-chuen, Huang Xiaoming, Chen Chiao-En, Jin Sha, Yuan Hong, Zhang Xinyi, Kimbee Chan, Fang Yuan, Louis Koo Tin-lok and Maria Cordero.
Wang later shared photographs from the reception on social media.
She described the gathering as warm and joyful and praised Ho and Ming as a good-looking couple.
The photographs offered followers a glimpse of the elaborate event and the group of celebrities who joined the couple for the occasion.
Their Relationship Began on a Dating Show
Ho and Ming first met in 2017 while appearing on a reality dating show.
Their meeting eventually developed into a relationship, although Ho later revealed that his decision to join the programme had a personal motivation.
He said he did not want to watch Ming date other men.
The relationship soon became public, attracting attention because of both their careers and Ho’s family background.
Ho is one of the children of the late Stanley Ho Hung-sun, the prominent Macau businessman and casino magnate whose business interests played a major role in the city’s gaming industry.
A Proposal With Nearly 100,000 Roses
Ho proposed to Ming in Shanghai in May 2019 in a gesture that matched the scale of their increasingly public romance.
The proposal featured nearly 100,000 pink roses.
Two months later, the couple registered their marriage.
Their wedding celebrations later included a ceremony at Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey in France, where Ming wore the Dior satin couture gown that she brought back for the Macau reception years later.
Her decision to wear the same gown again connected the latest celebration with one of the most significant moments in the couple’s relationship.
Seven Years of Marriage and Two Children
The Macau reception came seven years after Ho and Ming married and brought together relatives and friends who had not been able to attend the couple’s ceremony in France.
The event also reflected how their relationship has developed since they first met on television.
They are now parents to two children, a son and a daughter, while remaining closely connected to their families and friends.
Ho’s speech combined humour with a personal promise to Ming, while her message focused on family and the life they have built together.
The couple’s Macau celebration ultimately brought their wedding story full circle, reconnecting their family, friends and original wedding memories in one evening.
Would you attend a second wedding reception years after the original ceremony if it allowed more family and friends to celebrate with you?