The Special Couple : Alison + Vincent 

THE FIRST SIGHT & THE PROPOSAL 

Vincent and I first crossed paths during a university scholarship interview (so nerdy). We officially met at a university camp in my first year, and Vincent was a camp leader. We ditched the party on the final day and talked all night.

Vincent 'inceptioned' into my head to plan a camping trip with friends and family. In reality, Vincent had meticulously planned the entire trip for the proposal. We hiked to a lovely waterfall at one of my favourite camping spots, Barrington Tops. Here, Vincent tricked me into turning on the drone which captured the entire proposal. I'm not too fond of surprises, so he blindsided me with the proposal, and I couldn't even stand up from the shock. The camping trip turned into a mini-engagement celebration which was really special.

THE INSPIRATION & VENUE 

It was essential for our wedding to capture as many cultural elements as possible; and have an enjoyable/happy vibe. My husband is from a Chinese background, and I am Vietnamese. However, we were both born and raised in Australia, so we also wanted some parts of the wedding to be Western and modern. Ultimately, we divided our day into three parts: the Vietnamese tea ceremony, the Western civil ceremony and a Chinese banquet reception. Our Asian events were vibrant red to represent good luck and prosperity. Then I wanted to keep the theme as classic and minimalist as possible for the civil ceremony, so we went with an almost all-white theme. The bridal party florals were all white and blush-pink.

THE BRIDAL LOOK 

When scrolling through Instagram for inspiration, I was attracted to wedding dresses with intricate detailing and sparkles. I wanted a more modern, slightly sexy look and a fitted wedding dress. Many married friends told me that, in their experience, they ended up going with a completely different style than what they initially had in mind, and of course, that's what happened to me as well! When I tried on a couple of ballgown dresses, it brought a big smile to my face. My bridesmaids told me I would never wear an extravagant gown like that again. So that's how I ended up with the Livia by Le Lee studio dress, which had the gorgeous floral details and sparkles I wanted, albeit a very different shape than I envisioned.

SAYING "YES" TO THE DRESS 

I tried on about 4-5 gowns each at three different boutiques. When I saw the Livia gown, it was hidden in all the other wedding ballgown dresses. Still, I was immediately drawn in by the incredible floral embroidery and hints of sparkle. I liked how the pattern/design was kept consistent throughout the dress, something that other ones I tried on did not have.

I initially wanted a fitted style dress, such as a fit-and-flare or mermaid silhouette. But when I tried on the Livia gown and looked in the mirror, I had that "wow" moment. The wedding gown's bodice cinched in my waist, had a great open back, and the silhouette was more relaxed than some of the more traditional ballgown styles, so it met my goals for a modern, a bit sexy bridal look. I had a great experience at Eternal Bridal, my stylist Fusae helped me during the first appointment, and she was very patient and professional throughout the process. She offered advice on what looked good on me, highlighted details of each dress I may have missed, and helped me pick the veil.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR DAY 

I loved every minute of the day; we had such a blast! If I had to pick out a key moment, though, it was when I walked down the aisle. Having both my parents walk with me beaming with joy, seeing the faces of almost every important person in our lives watching us, watching my (usually emotionless) partner hold back the slightest tear - it was a surreal moment. That's a memory I'll cherish forever, and I don't think words can even describe how much emotion and love was in the room that day.

ALISON'S ADVICE 

Take more time off, relax before the wedding, and outsource as much as possible! When I think back to the month before the wedding, it was one big chaotic and stressful blur. It felt like I was being pulled in all different directions, and it was an unpleasant time, which was a shame as many family members visited us before the wedding. In hindsight, I'd recommend taking more time off from work and delegating minor tasks so you can spend quality time with friends and family beforehand.

Alison wore Livia wedding dress from Le Lee Studios. See more gowns from Le Lee Studio Collection here. 

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