The Special Couple: Tamiko + Daniel

The Wedding Date: 3rd November 2018

THE FIRST SIGHT & PROPOSAL

We wish we had a more exciting story, but we met in Sydney on a night out with friends.

Our proposal story is a slightly embarrassing one! We had planned a holiday to New York, and Daniel knew I was mainly looking forward to my reservation for lunch at the Boat House in Central Park. Daniel had secretly planned to propose to me at the Boat House. The night before, I instigated checking out a local bar, which led to another bar, upon another bar. Little did I know what Daniel had planned for the next day, and he tried to subtlety suggest I start drinking waters! Knowing we were in New York, I told him to stop being crazy and have another drink with me! We had a fantastic night, but I certainly woke up feeling a little sorry for myself! I told Daniel in the morning to cancel the Boat House lunch, and I'll reschedule. While he kept trying to persuade me, he ended up cancelling the lunch on my behalf. I spent the afternoon in bed watching daytime TV, and Dan spent the day wandering the streets of New York by himself! Poor thing! A couple of days later, he proposed at the top of Rockefeller Centre, overlooking the Empire State Building, with fireworks going off in the background. It was all a surprise, and a moment we will never forget (and the original plan something Dan likes to still tease me about).

THE INSPIRATION

We didn't have a theme, but we wanted a wedding that was classic, simple, elegant but also fun. Our friends and family all being there to help us celebrate, was our inspiration. We wanted everyone to come together and enjoy themselves.

I never had a look that I inspired to emulate, but I found it quite difficult finding a dress that made me feel like me until I discovered my Badgley Mishcka dress. The dress was everything I wanted the wedding to be, classic, elegant with simplicity, yet adventurous and unlike anything I had seen or tried on.

HER SAY "YES" TO THE DRESS MOMENT

By the time I got to this stage, I had tried on too many dresses! I even bought a dress from another store before buying my dress at Eternal Bridal. I found it hard because as you try on a dress, it may look nice, but how are you meant to know it is "the one?". I wasn't someone that cried tears of joy once the dress was on (and that would be my advice to other brides-to-be, don't go off the reactions of "Say Yes to the Dress!" shows. Not everyone reacts the same, and that was the case for me. Instantly unsure of my original dress, I asked Daniel's aunty to come to Eternal Bridal with me to see if there was something for me. I looked through the website and I just felt if there was a dress I was going to be truly happy with, it would be at this store.

My dress stood out to me, because I felt as though I was wearing the dress, and not that the dress was wearing me. I felt like ME, but in a beautiful dress. That’s when I knew it was the one. It felt right.  I knew this was the dress, because it just felt right.

THE BEST THING ABOUT OUR DAY

Having all of our friends and family coming to help us celebrate. Our venue, Gunners Barracks at Mosman, was the perfect location for our wedding. A personal highlight would be my Uncle Garry walking me down the aisle, in the absence of my dad who passed away in 2016. His presence was still felt, and the day was filled with love and we felt so lucky to know everyone was there for us.

TAMIKO'S ADVICE

Enjoy the moment. I know everyone tells you that your wedding day will fly by, and it really is the case. Get to the point where once you know there is nothing more you can do, enjoy the time with your closest friends and family.

Tamiko wore ‘Autumn’ from Badgley Mischka. See more gowns from Badgley Mischka here

TAMIKO'S ETERNAL BRIDAL EXPERIENCE

My experience at Eternal Bridal was fantastic. I went for an initial visit, tried on the dress, and was prepared to buy it that day. My consultant Brooke could sense my hesitation though (seeing as though I already had a dress!), and told me to go home, think about it, and come back to try on a few options again. I'm so thankful for her non-pushy approach. Once I went home I could not stop thinking about the dress – again, making me realise this was ‘the one’.

Wedding Cake: All Things Sweet by Carissa