issue 13 JANUARY 2016 www.theweddingnotebook.com
THE WEDDING
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THE WEDDING
#13 J A N 16
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LOVE LOVE stories stories
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THEMES
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THE WEDDING
managing editor CHAIYEN WONG contributing editor SOPHIA GOH
THE TEAM
art direction CROSSLINE STUDIO writers MABEL HO JOANNE WONG contributing fashion writer MONICA FUNG sales and marketing ANDROS XAVIER CHAN cover photo by JENNY SUN PHOTOGRAPHY For advertising, please email ads@theweddingnotebook.com
IDEAS
For submission of real weddings and interesting products, please email submit@theweddingnotebook.com www.facebook.com/thewednotebook www.instagram.com/thewednotebook THE WEDDING NOTEBOOK magazine is published by Crossline Studio (001420387-H). ©2016 Crossline Studio. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced whether by photocopying, recording or any other means whatsoever without the prior permission of the publisher. Views expressed in The Wedding Notebook magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers.
fontS
Here’s one of the fonts we used in this issue that you can use for your wedding.
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PHOTOGRAPHERs
98 Duwhoers
by Agga Swist’blnk
Created by an Indonesian designer, Swist’blnk Duwhoers Brush is a modern brush font with a vintage handmade feel. It can be used in both uppercase and lowercase for titles, making it highly versatile, but it looks particularly gorgeous when used for quotes. The font is also fairly thick, which makes it perfect for special effects such as gold stamping or even letterpress.
IN VOGUE
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While it is common to see designers mixing red-carpet glam into their designs, we’re seeing a lot of influences from the RTW trends this season. From Spring/Summer’s romantic take on demure florals, tiered skirts, and soft and sheer fabrics to Autumn/Winter’s perennial features of bling and lace, our favourite designers are incorporating them all – and we love it.
BIJOUX With inbuilt bling like these, you can check accessories off your list. Take your pick from delicate chokers to bejewelled bodices dripping with rhinestones and intricate beadwork. We especially like how Galia juxtaposed the intricacies of rhinestone with the sleekness of silk satin. MARCHESA / NAEEM KHAN / GALIA LAHAV / ANNA CAMPBELL / GALIA LAHAV
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3D florals are flourishing on this season’s runways. Updated from the previous season, the latest blooms are more lifelike and softer as compared to its lasercut peers. Be it fluttering petals or trailing blossoms, these well-placed appliqués add texture and depth to any gown. BERTA BRIDAL / ZUHAIR MURAD / INES DI SANTO / INBAL DROR /MARCHESA
Designers are continuing to wow us with every kind of illusion, and this innovative take on the illusion hemline is undeniably sexy indeed. Pair it with a long sleeved top or embroidered corset, showing off just enough skin. DAALARNA / ZUHAIR MURAD / INBAL DROR / marchesa / ZUHAIR MURAD
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Photography by Multifolds Photography
LACE & RUSTIC
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ith those beautiful rustic mixed bouquets, floral crowns and bridal robes, this inspiring styled shoot by Multifolds Photography swept us off our feet. The feminine colour
palette of the bridesmaids’ dresses perfectly matched the dessert table to complete the look. An informal shoot with the girls is just what every bride needs for safekeeping.
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Photography Multifolds PHOTOGRAPHY Bridal Gown OuI Bridal Robes Bells and Birds Hair and Makeup Tang Yong HAIR & Make Up Styling Med K채rlek Flowers Flower Story Model Tricia Ong Location East Coast Park, Singapore
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BEING SOMEONE’s first love may be great, but to be their last is beyond perfect.
Photo by JENNY SUN Photography
UNKNOWN
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LOVE STORIES
Glasshouse Romance BECKY & MIN
Photography by Jenny Sun Photography
Theme and Details
dusty pink
Pink remains one of the most timeless colours for weddings, though this particular version leaned more towards dusty pink, a softer and more elegant version of the shade. Bec’s bridesmaids were in chiffon dresses in the same tone, with simple baby’s breath bouquets, while the bride opted for a heartshaped peplum dress by Australian designer Rachel Gilbert. “Hire a coordinator for the wedding day, it really makes a huge difference to have someone take care of everything for you. You really don’t want to worry about anything except enjoying the day to the fullest.”
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The CEREMONY The off-white glasshouse of the Palm House worked perfectly well with the rustic theme. Flooded with natural light and surrounded by lush green gardens, it showed why choosing the right venue is so important in capturing the essence and mood of a wedding day. Those Chiavari chairs with the lovely lace covers definitely added to the romantic feel. We really adore how simple and beautiful this setup was, and the way it made the couple’s ‘I do’ an even more emotional experience.
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Pick a theme and stick with it. BECKY
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The RECEPTION For the reception, the 50 guests proceeded to the Quay Restaurant, with its dramatic views of the Sydney skyline and harbour. This was Becky and Min’s favourite part of their big day – getting to mingle with friends and family. It’s no wonder more and more couples these days are opting for smaller and more intimate settings. Once again, dusty pink flower centrepieces made an appearance, along with watercolour table signs. Bringing naked cakes to a new level was this caramel drizzle cake, topped with popcorn to end the night on a sweet note.
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Photography Jenny Sun Photography
Bridal Gown Rachel Gilbert
Flowers and Décor Clementine Posy AND Styled by Her
Videography Design Patrol
Bridal Shoes Dolce & Gabbana
Wedding Cake Hartsyard
Ceremony Venue THE Royal Botanic Garden SYDNEY
Hair and Makeup Kristen Wells and Hilary Ho
Art and Stationery THE Little Paper Pantry
Reception Venue Quay Restaurant
Groom’s Attire Mister Mister
Entertainment Tilee Music
Photography by Samuel Goh Photography
Down to Earth Constance & Jason
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Theme and Details
vintage + earthy Constance eschewed traditional bridal fashion, opting for oxfords instead of heels and a twopiece outfit instead of a wedding gown. Pair that with her mismatched bridal party, each wearing warm earthy colours and neutrals, and they all looked amazing against the leafy garden backdrop. “We went with a rustic theme, adorned with earthy tones, as we felt that it represented us – down-to-earth,” said Constance. The main colours of the wedding were tan and brown, and the beautiful bridal bouquet featured wildflowers, baby’s breath and holly wrapped in twine.
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The CEREMONY Their decision to exchange heartfelt vows and thank their families and loved ones for witnessing their union made for a very emotional ceremony for everyone. But it wasn’t without a lot of laughter and fellowship as well. Jason: “Seeing Constance walk down the aisle moved me to tears. I felt overwhelmed with joy because a longing in my heart had been fulfilled with love.” Constance: “Paya Lebar Methodist Church has a special place in our hearts because we had many emotional and spiritual moments of connection in that church. It felt like home to us.”
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To put things in perspective, it’s just one day, as compared to a lifetime of adventure. Constance
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The RECEPTION “We chose Gardens by the Bay because we both love nature and the city skyline, plus our engagement happened on the Marina Bay Sands Sky Tower, and we thought there was no better way to remember the day than by enjoying the same skyline,� said Jason. Adorned with a mix of tan and white Tiffany chairs and simple, classic tablescapes, the venue proved to be the perfect place of celebration for the newlyweds and their guests. The beautiful hanging coloured lights especially made the night both classic and Instagrammable.
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Photography Samuel Goh Photography Videography XD Studios CEREMONY Venue Paya Lebar Methodist Church Reception VENUE Flower Field Hall, Gardens by the Bay Wedding Planning Hannah Tan Lay Kwan Bridal Gown Tiara Bridal BridAL Shoes Ed Et Al (Oxfords) Hair and Makeup Jasmine Tiong of Silhouette the Atelier Groom’s Attire Silhouette the Atelier Wedding Bands Le Precieux Bridal Bouquet Flower story Flowers and Décor Med Kärlek (Event stylist) and Flower story Wedding Cake Peach Garden @ Gardens by the Bay Wedding Favours Med Kärlek Art and Stationery Med Kärlek and Adelia Lim
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Photography by Peter Herman Photography
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Yi-Ann & Howard
TEA CEREMONY Despite it being a very traditional element in most Chinese weddings, this bride and groom added a variety of beautiful elements to their tea ceremony, such as the gorgeous teapot and cup set, which complemented the bride’s wedding qun kwa. Everything came together seamlessly – the observation of a simple tradition updated with contemporary details made it a stunning ceremony. “Howard and I have always known that a wedding reception in Malaysia would be essential, mainly a formality for our respective families,” said Yi-Ann. The both of them are based in Melbourne and had already had an intimate ROM ceremony there. “To have our nearest and dearest celebrate our momentous day with us made it extra special.”
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Theme and Details
old shanghai glam Yi-Ann: “We decided on a traditional yet unconventional Chinese banquet reception based on an Old Shanghai theme. We didn’t want to overwhelm the reception with the colour red just because it was an oriental wedding, so we used a variety of red hues contrasted with turquoise and green, which worked beautifully with our theme.� Beyond the colours, the bride and groom also paid close attention to every detail: the tablescape decorations held a vast variety of old timey oriental pieces, such as painted stools, vintage furniture and wallpaper. A photobooth area even had an old rickshaw, and there was a table arrangement of old-fashioned teacups, tiffin cases and photo frames.
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Do find the time throughout your big day to take in all of the details and to really soak up every moment of joy and love! Yi-Ann
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The RECEPTION From the grand crystal chandeliers and high ceilings of the venue to the deep reds and regal turquoise shades, textured patterns and lights, everything was carefully brought together by a couple who paid very close attention to every detail, whether it was the table centerpieces, photobooth wall, flowers or favours. They even hired vendors and performers to add to the oriental experience. “We wanted to take our guests back to the 1920s to experience majestic Old Shanghai. Apart from the décor, we also organised stalls that demonstrated artistic calligraphy drawing and assorted traditional Chinese candy making, as well as hired an entertaining emcee and vocalist. After all, weddings are meant to be fun and vibrant!”
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Photography Peter Herman Photography Venue Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur Wedding Planning Patricia Chan, MY Wedding Planner Bridal Gown Suzanne Howard (Bridal); Custom made (Evening) BridAL Shoes Prada Hair Alan Tan Makeup Shiyo Joo
Wedding Bands Georg Jensen (Groom) and custom made (Bride) Bridesmaids’ Dresses WILLOW Boutique Flowers and Décor Wishing Tree Wedding Cake Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur Art and Stationery the groom Entertainment My love story (Band) and May mow (Vocalist)
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Photography by Alextan Artworks
Mei Ying & Jonathan
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Theme and Details
industrial chic The décor had soft pinks and natural greens to contrast with the steely greys and stark blacks. The colour palette remained neutral, which helped to highlight the main glamour points – the gold and glitter accents. Every single element played a part in the décor, from the slick black decorative oil drums that doubled as tables right down to the scattered pink rose petals. “Our theme was industrial chic – industrial based on the venue in its natural state, and we added the chic as a ‘feminine element’ to complement the masculinity of the industrial feel. Dark and neutral colours were added to accentuate the contrasts.”
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The CEREMONY From the bridesmaids’ mismatched gold and glittery dresses and groomsmen’s dapper grey suits to the soft pink, white and green bridal bouquet, everything came together to complement the majestic venue. Expansive windows and high ceilings added to the glamour and beauty of the entire ceremony, in a venue that is arguably the next best thing to an outdoor wedding. Malaysia’s (often uncomfortable) tropical weather just doesn’t lend itself well to outdoor celebrations. “My fondest moment was when my bride walked down the aisle towards me; the tears flowed automatically the minute my eyes caught sight of her,” said Jonathan.
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VENUE
city harvest kl Fast becoming one of the most highly soughtafter wedding venues, City Harvest KL is a church located in the Subang Jaya Industrial Estate. As Mei Ying explained, “[It] was a natural choice for us as an indoor venue because it was not only contemporary, but it also had the raw, unfinished look, which made it very easy to work with.”
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Photography AlexTan ARTWORKS Videography Three Libra PRODUCTION Venue City Harvest KL Wedding Planning MINT EVENTS & SOIRÉES Bridal Gown by Custom made from ETSY BridAL Shoes Charlotte Olympia Hair and Makeup AlicE Loh Groom’s Attire Ah Loke Tailor Wedding Bands by Custom made by DeGem EVENT STYLING MINT EVENTS & SOIRÉES Art and Stationery BRIDE (DIY)
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PHOTOGRAPHERS
around the world “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” SUSAN SONTAG
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PORTUGAL
BY ACAPELLA photography
PHOTOGRAPHERS
INDONESIA BY APEL PHOTOGRAPHY
MOROCCO BY aNDROIDSINBOOTS
JAPAN BY QUARTER A
AUSTRALIA BY MULTIFOLDS photography
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Canada Icefields Parkway, Alberta
BRIDAL PORTRAITS Three Years In The Making
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UNITED STATES Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Australia Blue Boat House, Perth
MALAYSIA Mount Kinabalu, Sabah
New Zealand Lake Tekapo, Canterbury
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WAn YONG & KENNY
CONCEPT
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ot only do these newlyweds have a set of stunning bridal portraits, they also have a great story to tell. In the years to come, they will be able to look back and recount their
memories of this great journey… Three years before tying the knot, Wan Yong and Kenny set out to travel to 10 countries, visiting more than 50 cities and capturing their bridal portraits along the way. Here, we asked Kenny for some tips, just in case any of you are interested in doing something similar. What made you decide to take your own bridal portraits? We like to travel a lot, but it’s hard to bring photographers along (and expensive too). Since I’m a wedding photographer myself while my wife is a freelance makeup artist, we decided to shoot our own bridal portraits using a tripod and a smartphone connected to my cameras. Out of all the places the both of you went together, which was your favourite? New Zealand. Everything is just perfect there – the scenery, weather, sunlight, people, etc. Definitely a perfect place for both bridal shoots and travelling.
UNITED STATES Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
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China Hakka Earth Building, Fujian
Vietnam Ha Long Bay, QuAng Ninh Province
Nepal Annapurna Base Camp
Greece Ios Island
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UNITED STATES Grand Canyon, Arizona
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Which trips were the most expensive and most affordable respectively? We spent the most on our Australia trip though I’m not sure exactly why. We were surprised that we spent more there than even in Europe and North America. The most affordable trip was Nepal; I highly recommend it to everyone. It’s safe and the people are very polite. Did it take a lot of time to get the photos that you wanted? The length of our holidays depended on where we went. Some places like the USA and Canada we travelled for a month plus, while some Asian destinations took us two to three weeks. We preferred longer trips so that we could take our bridal portraits at a slower pace. That way it wouldn’t spoil our holiday, although we took very little time to do the setup for our shots. We avoided peak seasons and usually got up very early to avoid crowds. I did my own research before each trip and we very much enjoyed the flexibility of not following a tour group. What cameras and gear did you use? My gear included the Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 6D, Canon 1635 2.8 II, Canon 70200 2.8 IS, Canon 50 1.2, Canon 35 1.4 and Canon 15 2.8 fish eye. Are there any tips that you would like to offer to other couples who might want to do the same? Learn to tolerate each other. The key is to be patient at all times, as many things will not be within your control, especially the weather and people. To be honest the most challenging part was avoiding the crowds at touristy spots to get the photo we wanted.
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LOOKBOOK
SANTORINI
Fall 2016 Bridal and Evening Collection by Julie Vino
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CHRIS SPIRA
The quiet observer
Chris Spira is a destination wedding photographer based in Frankfurt, Germany, who travels frequently to places like Italy, Santorini and parts of Asia. We are mesmerised by the intimacy of her bridal portraits, as well as the beauty of her wedding day photographs.
What inspires your work?
Why do you travel to Asia so
Inspiration is something that I seek
often? I lived in Shanghai for
everywhere. I believe that if you
over two years and still get many
are a good observer, you can get
referrals from clients in that region.
inspired by almost anything. The
I feel very grateful to be able to
less you think about it, the more
return quite a bit. I feel very drawn
likely it is that your creative eye
to Asian values, concepts and
is at play, even in your daily life.
personality traits, also because I can
I get inspired by light, movements,
very much relate to the Buddhist
graphics, colours, and most
way of seeing and living life.
importantly, emotions. If there’s not much going on in my ordinary life, I go out and wander – discover a city, be still in nature, watch
What is a word that you might use to describe Asian weddings? Graceful.
a movie, look at art, do yoga,
Name a country that you would
meditate. I get inspired by good
like to visit but haven’t been.
conversations and people who
Japan.
have a great passion for what they do. Being inspired is like tapping into energy, so go with the flow. What are your other interests besides photography? I do love yoga, being outdoors, running, travelling, painting and exploring new places. Do you shoot in film or digital? I only shoot digital at this point. I do apply a film look to my images though. You shoot a lot of weddings overseas. What’s one of the most beautiful places you have ever shot in? Each wedding is unique and each overseas destination is an adventure to discover beauty. I especially loved photographing in Myanmar, Bali, Nepal, India and Marrakech, to name a few highlights.
Vital Statistics Started
2008. Photography is my second career; I previously worked as an art director in advertising. Photography style
Documentary-like, dreamy, authentic. Average number of weddings a year
Between 15 to 20. Gear
A couple of Canon 5D Mark IIIs and 24, 35, 50, 85 and 135mm prime lenses. Next GEAR on the list
It’s not about the gear. I’m quite happy with my current setup.
Do you prefer photographing bridal portraits or wedding days? They are both beautiful in their own way, as long as it’s about real emotions and authenticity. What’s one of your favourite photos and why is it special? This photo (top) might not be my most popular shot, but I love it for its simplicity. It’s an ‘in between’ moment of the bride sitting in a vintage Beetle and fixing her veil. A moment of calm strength and beauty. Describe yourself in three words. Introvert. Good observer. Creative.
“I get inspired by good conversations and people who have a great passion for what they do .”
What’s your mantra in life? Today is today. Everything flows. Be kind and do good. Never take no for an answer.
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