Carrie and Brian

Carr ie Brian AND

BLACKHEATH

CARRIE AND BRIAN NG OPTED FOR A REAL CLIFFHANGER OF AN ENGAGEMENT SHOOT ON THEIR TRIP TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.

When adrenalin junkies Carrie and Brian came to the Blue Mountains in 2016, they managed to tick off a bucket-list wish and their engagement shoot with eff ortless poise. The Singaporean pair, who met at a college outdoor interest group and have been together since they were aged 19, are passionate rock climbers who travel the world seeking adventure.

“We love rock climbing and to be in the outdoors. Every year we travel to beautiful national parks or places close to nature to hike or rock climb,” explains Brian. “In 2015, we made our way to Yosemite National Park in California and did a three-day hike to Half Dome and Cloud Rest, where I proposed to Carrie. The Blue Mountains is a well-known climbing area in Australia and it became one of the climbing crags on our joint bucket list.”

Words: Jacqueline Forster. PHOTOS: ZOE MORLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

Both born and raised in sunny Singapore, the healthcare and social-welfare professionals already had a connection to Australia and the mountains. “Brian had been to the Blue Mountains as a kid and remembered its beauty,” says Carrie. “Based on this, we decided we would fly to Australia to climb and to have our engagement photos taken.”

Logistically, this could have been a nightmare but the intrepid pair had everything worked out in advance. “We found a trek that led to the top of the cliff, so we didn’t have to climb in our wedding outfits,” Carrie recalls. Brian climbed in outdoor attire, then changed into a suit after getting up over the top of the cliff. He then tied himself back onto the rope and lowered his body off the edge for the money shot.

Photographer Zoe Morley, who captured the action, says she was pre-warned of what was expected of her. “When Brian first emailed me, he asked me whether I liked adventure and the outdoors. I guess I shouldn’t have been too surprised when Carrie and Brian hooked me up to the side of a cliff and made me rock climb up it to get the shots they wanted,” she laughs. “I can’t say I have ever done an engagement shoot quite like that before.”

Brian climbed in outdoor attire, then changed into a suit after getting up over the top of the cliff. He then tied himself back onto the rope and lowered his body off the edge for the money shot.

“Brian had been to the Blue Mountains as a kid and remembered its beauty. Based on this, we decided we would fl y to Australia to climb and to have our engagement photos taken.“

Having travelled to the Blue Mountains with a large group of friends, the couple says they spent most of their twoweek trip climbing and visiting towns in the area. “On rest days we went to weekend markets in Leura, Lawson and Wentworth Falls, sipped coff ee in Blackheath and Leura cafés, and visited some antique shops,” says Brian.

The group stayed together in a large mountain villa they found on Airbnb and were lucky to have a yoga instructor among them. “While waiting for our laundry to be done, we cleared out the living room and made it our yoga studio,” says Brian. “Then, after a tiring day of rock climbing, we’d spend our evenings tasting local wines while putting steak on the grill.”

On their return to Singapore, Carrie and Brian celebrated their love with a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony in the company of family and friends. They won’t be settling down any time soon, however – the now husband and wife are already hoping to include the Blue Mountains in their future adventures.

“We love Australia for the pace of life and the abundance of good wine and fresh produce,” says Brian. “We would love to be back in the Blueys one day.” BML

“We love Australia for the pace of life and the abundance of good wine and fresh produce. “ We would love to be back in the Blueys one day.

STYLE FILE

CARRIE White Dress from lulus.com and Ombre dress from theoryofseven.com, worn with heels from pedroshoes.com. Carrie did her own hair and makeup BRIAN Jacket and pants tailor-made in Bangkok, Thailand, worn with shirt, bow tie and lapel pin from benjaminbarker.co, and shoes from whyandco.com ENGAGEMENT RING AND WEDDING BANDS Jannpaul, Singapore FLOWERS The Little Flower Shop, Wentworth Falls & Leura ACCOMMODATION IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS Nagual Retreat in Leura and Ben Boar in Katoomba ADVENTURE CLOTHING & EQUIPMENT CARRIE Patagonia top and backpack, Nike pants and Evolv shoes BRIAN Patagonia jacket, Prana pants, Macpac backpack and Salewa shoes PHOTOS Zoe Morley Photography

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