We first met Jenny at her home in St Kilda. Jenny was wearing a traditional Chinese wedding dress (called a qipao) in bright red, and her hair was neatly styled at the nape of her neck. She was finalising the preparations for a family tea ceremony that would be the precursor to the European ceremony later in the day. As Jenny and Gary’s family and began to arrive, it was clear to see that everyone was dressed for the occasion, even four-legged guests got in on the action! There were vibrant red Chinese decorations everywhere, designed to bring good luck to the newlyweds. Even the BMW that Gary arrived in had Chinese decorations on the doors! Gary was dressed in a red and black Chinese wedding suit jacket. There was time for a few family photos before the bride- and groom-to-be presented packets of tea to the guests. Then the bride’s family bestowed betrothal jewellery to the young couple that signalled the end of the Chinese festivities of the day.
Costume change! Jenny helped Gary into his navy three-piece suit, blue bowtie, and tan leather shoes. Jenny’s gown was a classic French silhouette, with refined lace and sequins on the bodice. She carried an elegant bouquet of white roses.
The second venue, for the ceremony and reception, was The Brighton Savoy (specifically in the Seaview Room and Courtyard). Located directly opposite Middle Brighton Beach, The Brighton Savoy offers a number of spaces to cater to weddings of all budgets and sizes. The Seaview Room and Courtyard features a glamorous crystal and charcoal decor theme, with simple white chairs and arbour for outside ceremonies. Jenny was walked down the aisle arm-in-arm with her father. Their celebrant, Warren Morrison, married them amidst green foliage, white lilies, and roses.
Formalities out of the way, the newlyweds, bridal party and groomsmen ventured across to the beach for some photos (and a few beers) as the sun began to set. Jenny and Gary, in preparation for their first dance, actually practiced a few times on the sand. We admire your dedication to the finer details of the dance, and think it must not have been easy to do all those lifts and turns on such an uneven surface!
As we entered the reception space, we were met with a wonderful collaborative ‘wedding installation’ dedicated to Jenny and Gary. A white and gold cake from For An Angel Cake, with floral styling by Louise Knight was sat next to a donut wall (…omg!!!) from Donut Wallry. A tidy acrylic plaque from Meet Joy Party completed the ensemble perfectly. We love seeing vendors work together on pieces like these that make weddings feel like such a special event!
Once guests were seated and fed, it was time for speeches. Although they were short… they were not lacking in laughter or kind wishes! As bellies and hearts were on their way to being full to the brim, Jenny and Gary cut the cake and a few guests got the dancefloor warmed up! We love an informal feel to wedding receptions, where things can move along at their own pace. Jenny even had time for another quick outfit change (her third for the day… phew!) before taking centre stage on the dancefloor with Gary for their first dance as husband and wife. Their beach rehearsal was worth the effort, the couple moved effortlessly around the Seaview room – and had us all itching for a boogie!
As the night drew to a close, we were reminded how weddings truly bring people together… in every sense of the word. Thanks again to Jenny and Gary for having us!
