Jun 17, 2012

It's always exciting when we showcase a brand new Wedding Style Profile, but this time I've also relished the process.

You might or might not notice straight away, but I learned something new to help me blog more efficiently from now on. I decided to teach myself some neat tricks using Photoshop to drag n' drop images into photo collage templates. Settling with seven collage templates in the configurations I use the most, I can now spend more time fussing over my favourite pictures to share rather than extra unnecessary time laying out each collage from scratch. I wish I had done or known this sooner!

That aside, recollecting the day that was Sze and Andy's wedding day and the months that lead us there is the part that I enjoy most.

When I meet a couple for the very first time, I'm always hoping more than just to get along, but to make a connection. This is exactly how it fell into place with Sze and Andy. It was a relationship that was energetic and inspiring - the kind that spawns beautiful ideas, and a notion beyond simply a promise but a personal wish to see two wonderful, down-to-Earth people fulfill their dreams of a perfect wedding day.

The ceremony was held by the Lakeside of Werribee Mansion & Spa at Werribee Park. What I love about this area is the privacy it affords to both the ceremony itself, and the bride's first grand appearance without being seen by guests (and her husband to be!), thanks to the surrounding dense bushes and trees. Sze, her dad and bridesmaids get the VIP treatment, arriving at the site by bridal buggy ~ perfect for a few minutes of quiet reflection before Sze walks down the aisle!

For this absolutely stunning backdrop, we commissioned the construction and design of a natural birch bridal arch, complete with hanging blooms in teardrop glass balls, soft flowing drapes and gorgeous arrangements of flowers that match both the aisles and the provincial-style signing table. We cannot thank Nat, Cobi and the team at Flowers of Canterbury, our talented partner in floral design, for their amazing work. As you can tell, we were blessed with great weather - testament, as Sze and Andy tell me, of their daily prayers!

Sze arrived in a breathtaking strapless wedding gown, embellished with an sequined belt, delicate lace and romantic layers of frill, lace and ruffles to the train. What a sight!

 Guests were greeted with a Welcome Sign on the way to the Lakeside. It was handwritten with the same fonttype used on Sze and Andy's letterpress wedding stationery collection, and took more than 1.5 hours to complete! That little smudge was someone checking to see if it really was written in chalk or just a print. I guess they got their answer! :)

 Following the ceremony, guests were invited to the Library where we had set up exclusively to indulge them while the bridal party headed off to location photography. I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Kristen Cook for the first time as well and love her work too! I cannot wait to see the photos!

While weddings are for a day, the memories of the day can last a little longer. In this case, we designed a Fingerprint Tree on canvas for our couple where guests can ink their fingerprints and 'leaf' their mark on the canvas. After a process of lamination, Sze and Andy can display this Fingerprint Tree in their new home as a momento of their special day. As a little surprise gift, we presented the couple with this exceptionally sweet jumbo cupcake for them to enjoy at home, if not on their wedding night!

 Sze and Andy are exceptional hosts and we were inspired to create a Secret Garden-themed dessert table with plenty of delectable bite-sized treats! You'll notice gorgeous elements at play including moss bunnies, mushroom cake pops in garden pails and baby carrot cupcakes marked by pink fondant rabbits!

 Before the wedding, Sze told us that her ultimate chocolate obsession is Ganache's Caramelised chocolate coated almonds. She even bought me some to try and now I'm completely hooked! So prior to the wedding, i made a beeline to South Yarra to get some, and made sure there was a platter of these yummy choc almonds for their guests, which we displayed in mini cupcake wrappers (not pictured, but we promise it didn't last very long!)

 For the thirsty, we had fresh homestyle lemonade in milk bottles, each on an ornate cake stand, with personalised 'Drink To...' tags!

 We also designed a Writing Desk where guests can write little notes for the couple. A vintage typewriter sets the mood, we even had each notecard bearing a letterpress vintage typewriter! Sealed with a kiss, guests drop their notecards into a gorgeous wrought iron birdcage on a stand.

 Gavin took the above image entirely in natural light streaming from the stained glass windows, creating this amazing effect!

As guests were enjoying the Library, One Wedding Wish headed back to the Pavilion to lay down the final touches.

Sze and Andy gave each guest a succulent as bomboniere and no effort was spared in the design and preparation this gorgeous gift. Succulents are enduring, and bear the symbolism of hope, family and new beginnings. Each succulent individually chosen. Each pot brush-finished with antique white to create a rustic yet clean finish, then wrapped in either grey for the gentlemen, or pink polkadots for the ladies. Each name and 'care' pick, individually cut and hand-assembled, were designed to suit this uber-fresh and fun theme we were creating in the Pavilion. 

We had so much fun creating these table numbers which weren't table numbers at all! I particularly loved watching guests in amusement of their table allocations, asking each other, 'Hey, where are you? I'm on the Tomato Soup/Teapot table...!'

Our succulent pots in perfect lines along the table, arrangements of tulips, hyacinths, roses and lisianthus bring the sentiment of a flower garden onto the tables.

Overlooking the Polo Lawn, we set up a Welcome Table in preparation for pre-dinner canapes and drinks and embellished the garden tables with pretty cushions and pots of flowers.

 Before I go on, I wish to take this opportunity to thank the second-to-none, professional team at Mansion Hotel & Spa, particularly Chloe, Saurabh and staff working that evening for their incredible support and commitment to the highest standards of service. I say again and again, we cannot do what we do without them. Thank you!

A good photobooth meant bellyaches of laughter at the wedding! In The Booth joined us that evening, and One Wedding Wish made sure there were plenty of props for crazy getups behind the velvet curtain. We also spent a bit of time purchasing materials at the craft store and handmaking those hats!

The Pavilion embraced the night as flickering candles created a warm and elegant ambience.

Being at a wedding from start to finish presents a special opportunity to get to know Sze and Andy a little better, and what they mean to the people who care most about them. Sze and Andy's fathers gave heartfelt speeches reflecting sheer pride in this day for their children. The family table was by far the rowdiest when it comes to cheering for the bride and groom! It was a real treat for an observer like myself!

When Paper Cranes and One Wedding Wish come together, it's magic! It was a pleasure to have Paper Cranes on board once again - the boys ~ Santo, Ferry and Dave are such a great team to work with! I have lost count of how many times i've watched this Same Day Edit but the day was captured beautifully, with a certain tear in my eye the first time.

The words read by Sze in Andy's letter to her say it perfectly - "Anniversaries shouldn't mean that much. The fact that you get to spend each day with the one you love is more important than how long you have been together already."  With this, I'd like to say...

Sze and Andy, though our work is now done and your journey with us have concluded, yours is only just beginning ~ the building of a life-long partnership and growing in love. Thank you for your friendship, trust and inspiration. I wish you both blessed days ahead and many amazing adventures! Joanie xox

A really big thank you to an amazing One Wedding Wish team - Sarah, Olivia, Gavin and Avita for keeping cool, calm and creative on a challenging day. 

You can see also this wedding in a Wedding Style Video on our Gallery Page! Or, just click here to watch!

Images by Gavin Luu for One Wedding Wish

Wedding Perfection -
Wedding Planning, Wedding Styling and Wedding Day Coordination by One Wedding Wish

Tags: Bomboniere, Cake Pops, Candy Buffet, Centrepieces, Chalkboard Frames, Kristen Cook, Cupcakes, Cushions, Drinks Station, Milk Bottles, Sze Er and Andy, Floral Styling, Flowers of Canterbury, Garden Ceremony, Garden Weddings, Glass Balls, Lemonade, Leonda, Letterpress Stationery, Macarons, Mansion Hotel, Melbourne Wedding Planner Melbourne Wedding Stylist, Paper Cranes Productions, Paper Straws, Real Weddings, Snowberries, Succulents, Suitcases, Unique Wedding Ideas, In The Booth, Wedding Planner, Wedding Refreshments, Wedding Style Profiles, Welcome Table Werribee Park, birdcages, garden ceremony, garden weddings, Werribee Park, vintage