No amount of wedding photography work could have prepared me for this important occasion – my own 2 weddings
The last 3 months was spent in Berlin, planning a solemnization and wedding party in Berlin, and a customary wedding and dinner in Singapore.
I must say, no amount of weddings I have photographed could have prepared me to be a better bride, or shake away the jitters of a wedding.
Inspired by many American wedding websites with beautiful photography, I wanted my wedding to be a photographer’s dream. In short, it had to be a wedding full of personal touches, which meant a lot of details had to be crafted by hand. Thankfully, Maddy and my mother-in-law supported my decision and insane ideas all the way.
Below, pictures of the planning and preparation process leading up to the wedding, some photographed by my father.
Everything is conceived from the heart.
WEDDING VENUE 1 : MOTHER-IN-LAW’S GARDEN AND HER PLANTY PLANT HOUSE
WEDDING VENUE 2: CEREMONY AND PARTY AT THE ALTE BRENNEREI, RIBBECK IN HAVELLAND
The Alte Brennerei (Old brewery) in Ribbeck, 40kms out of Berlin, was the first wedding venue we viewed last winter and it was a hit! Although we encountered many logistical problems transporting equipment and our guests to the little town, the atmosphere on the wedding day showed it was all worthwhile.
THE WEDDING DECORATIONS:
DIY Pom-poms:
Largely inspired by www.greenweddingshoes.com and www.stylemepretty.com, the pom-poms were hand-made of crepe paper, styrofoam and glue. After many cold spring nights of cutting and sticking, accompanied by the radio and sometimes the fiance, or my mother-in-law, it was such a joy to see them finally being transported and hung up in the Alte Brennerei in Ribbeck, our wedding venue.
Table decor:
We battled between buying napkins for guests, or using thick serviettes. In the end, we bought napkins and folded peony-inspired flower balls.
WEDDING GOWN: A CHEONGSAM FROM LAI CHAN
She is muted ivory with a high collar and a touch of red satin inside her collar. The sleeves are cut modestly where the shoulder ends, concealing yet accentuating a woman’s curves. Her inner lining holds up the fragile piece of French lace with peony motif, scalloped at the train. If this dress were human, she would be Maggie Cheung walking straight out of Wong Kai Wai’s movie, In The Mood For Love.
I walked passed her twice, hanging on a mannequin of Lai Chan’s shop. She stole my heart. On the third occasion, mum went with me to try on the gown. Lai Chan happened to be there, and said it was apt to be wearing traditional chinese clothing whilst getting married in foreign land. My grandchildren of mixed-race, he said, could one day look back at the photos, and know that grandma once wore a cheongsam at her wedding. reflecting her heritage. Tears welled in Mum’s eyes, somehow we knew this was the right piece for the occasion. The gown became a gift from my parents, and it is, in a very emotional way, representative of their deep parental love.
WEDDING CAR INSPIRATION:
WEDDING STATIONERY:
Hand-crafted wedding invitations are hard work! We scoured the shelves for the perfect wedding invitation but couldn’t find any. So we decided to make our own, from design to printing.
WEDDING SET-UP DAY
Mummies and wedding couple at work
Our table setting
Relieved, tired, emotional, and filled with anticipation of the next day…
by mtan2
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