Michelle Chia, 49, marries real estate boyfriend Jackson Chen, 41, curling her own hair for their surprise wedding

When most brides say “I do,” they’ve spent the morning in the hands of a small army of hairstylists and makeup artists. But Michelle Chia isn’t most brides.

In an Instagram Reel from her intimate Indonesian island wedding on Aug 8, the veteran actress can be seen curling her signature bodacious mane with a Dyson Airwrap, perfectly at ease.

The result? A cascade of full-bodied waves framing her radiant smile as she walked down the aisle to marry real estate consultant Jackson Chen, 41. 

This was no rushed, last-minute touch-up either. In the clip, Michelle moves with the precision of someone who knows exactly how she likes her hair to fall, sectioning and curling each lock with an unhurried elegance. 

The wedding itself was as thoughtful as her beauty prep. The couple chose Aug 8 for its easy-to-remember date, its proximity to National Day (Aug 9) and the lucky symbolism of the number eight in Chinese culture. The venue was equally sentimental, the same island where they had celebrated Jackson’s birthday earlier this year.

Surrounded by 40 family members and close friends, including celebrity pals Jesseca Liu, Apple Hong, Priscelia Chan and Jayley Woo, Michelle’s wedding was intimate, heartfelt, and punctuated by personal touches including a five-minute fireworks display from the groom that moved her to tears.