UOB
Written by Ian Ng, Founder
The Unspoken Wish: How a Borrowed Gift Unlocked a Night of Team Rhapsody
Event Blueprint
- Client: UOB Singapore (Team-led Initiative)
- Guest Count: 16 Esteemed Colleagues
- Purpose: Team Engagement & Boss’ Milestone Birthday Celebration
- Date: March 2025
- Location: Our Welcoming, Premium Partnered Restaurant In CBD
- The Wine: A Custom Menu of French Elegance & Champagne
The Opening Scene
We believe that the deepest bonds are often forged over the most thoughtful details. For UOB, a simple birthday celebration for their department head became a masterclass in personalized appreciation, proving that even in a bustling corporate environment, care and customisation can lead to unexpected, joyous connections.
For Lynette, a dedicated team lead at UOB, the task was clear: a birthday dinner for her boss—a devoted lover of fine wine—could not be merely nice. It had to be a signature moment. She approached us with a clear intention and a month to plan, seeking to craft an evening that would feel both professional and profoundly personal, serving to delight her department head while quietly weaving the threads of her team closer together.
The Core Challenge
The challenge was in the duality: to create an experience of unforgettable elegance while managing a tight budget and an ambitious brief. Lynette needed a sharp, 45-minute guided tasting that would break the ice and lead seamlessly into dinner and networking. But the truly high-stakes detail was the special request: the inclusion of the prestigious Le Nez du Vin aroma kit—a quiet desire of her boss. The risk was simple: failing to secure this detail would render the event less personal, missing the opportunity to show genuine, attentive care.
The Unspoken Need
The deep, Unspoken Need was for a bridge to belonging. Lynette needed to dismantle the professional reserve that often shadows corporate dinners. The evening had to serve as a generous act of gratitude, allowing the team to connect with their boss and each other on a human level. The success would not be measured in business cards exchanged, but in the visible, genuine appreciation and the feeling of shared, celebratory camaraderie.
Our Curated Response
We embraced Lynette’s vision as our own. Over the following month, we poured our care into every layer of the evening: curating a bespoke menu of French wines and Champagne, partnering with a trusted restaurant for an impeccable paired dinner, and designing custom tasting booklets unique to the event’s theme.
But for the Le Nez du Vin kit—the quiet centrepiece of Lynette’s intention—we went beyond service. Recognizing the emotional weight of this unspoken wish, our founder brought his own personal aroma kit, offering it at no extra cost. This was not a business decision; it was a matter of hospitality, ensuring that the personal, thoughtful moment Lynette dreamed of was realised in full, assured colour.
As our founder remarks:
“The greatest luxury we offer is the gift of intentionality. When a client shares a detail from the heart, we answer it with our own, because the magic is always in making the moment personal.”
The Evening Unfolds
The team arrived with the quiet reserve typical of a formal dinner. The boss was the focus, and the atmosphere, while respectful, was expectant.
Then, the gentle unfolding began. The introduction of the aroma kit sparked immediate curiosity and shared fascination. As the French wines were poured and the stories behind them were shared, a beautiful, assured laughter filled the space. Guests leaned across the tables to share discoveries and reactions. What began as a formal dinner quickly softened into an evening of genuine fellowship.
The transformation was electric. After the tasting concluded, the team did not depart; they stayed for hours. The shared connection was so profound that when the live band began to play, the UOB team, including their boss, were soon up on stage, singing karaoke together—a visible, joyous surrender to the moment, a sound of rhapsody that no KPI could ever measure.
The Lasting Impression
The event was an unequivocal, heartfelt success. Lynette was visibly overjoyed, and her boss was moved, personally thanking her for the sheer depth of thoughtfulness behind the experience.
We, too, lingered that night—staying long after our duties were done. We stayed because the energy in the room was a tangible thing; a true sense of connection that you don’t rush or contain. It was a clear, vivid reminder of what we create.
A Philosophy Shared
This evening perfectly captured the heart of Simplicity Wines: human connection is unlocked through customisation, care, and an unwavering focus on the quiet details that truly matter. Whether it is a borrowed aroma kit or a spontaneous moment of shared song, the magic is in the intention. We do not just host events; we curate the conditions for people to feel seen, to connect, and to forge a memory that lasts long after the final glass is emptied.
Your Next Chapter
If you are planning an event for someone special—a colleague, a leader, or a valued client—and you know it must be more than just a nice dinner, we invite you to be ambitious with your care.
Tell us what your team loves and dreams of. Let us meet your thoughtful intention with our absolute commitment. Let’s Connect and co-create that beautiful, deeply personal moment that will become your team’s next favourite memory.
See Our Other Blog Posts
See how teams like yours turned everyday gatherings into something unforgettable. These aren’t just events — they’re moments people still talk about.