I have one very serious love affair going on with this gorgeous British Columbia soiree by the oh-so-amazing Joee Wong. And, really, with one lovely detail after another, it would be impossible not to be completely enamored with this bundle of wedding goodness. The casual, yet elegant vibe, the sweet blooms by Coco Fleur, the cute as can be bridesmaid frocks, the backyard barbecue... it all has me grinning from ear to ear with pure wedding joy. Not to mention that the uber-stunning bride just so happens to be Sandy Tam, aka one very fabulous wedding photographer. And her adorable groom? Her second shooter. How stinkin' cute is that? Click here for even more.
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From the Sandy Tam (The Bride)... Albert and I have THREE big LOVES in our life. Our wedding was planned around that.
Love #1: We love cooking and we love eating great food. Our wedding favours were recipe cards of 10 of our favorite recipes that Albert and I photographed and designed. Our caterer offered us an Asian fusion menu (because we are Chinese and our parents wanted something Asian) alongside Japadogs (Japanese hot dogs - the best street food you can find in Vancouver). When Albert and I first started our long distance relationship, we made caramel apple pie together every time we visited each other. Apple pie was the only thing we wanted to cut into on our wedding day. Our first date was at a dessert joint called True Confections, so we sourced cakes from them for our dessert table. Albert's boutonniere was made out of edible herbs.
Love #2: I am passionate about photography (obviously) and Albert is my second shooter at my weddings. Photography is an important element in both our lives. We planned our wedding from a photographer's eye even though it meant breaking some Chinese tradition. For the Chinese tea ceremony, we had it outdoors ("normally" indoors), in the evening ("normally" in the morning) and on Friday before the wedding ("normally" on the same day as the wedding). This is because I wanted all natural, sunset lighting for the tea ceremony. On our wedding day, everything was outdoors because again, nothing is better than natural lighting. I wanted back-lit sunset shots during ceremony and therefore, we aligned the guest seating so that it faces the sun. We had our ceremony at 5:00 p.m. so that the sun would be at the right height as we walk down the aisle. Our creative session with our photographer was done at 6:00 p.m. also for best lighting.
Love #3: Dog and Friends! At least once a week, we would have friends over at our place to hang out and enjoy a nice meal together. Chilling with our friends is our way of enjoying life. We wanted our wedding to be like "hanging out with friends." We rented loungers and bar tables for this reason. All of our vendors, other than the caterer, are our close friends. My photographer is my mentor. For our dog, West, it was important that she walked down the aisle because she is part of our family. We flew her to Vancouver in a kennel. I didn't want to burden her with a dress on a hot summer day. Instead, I made her a pearl necklace for simplicity.
From the bride's perspective, the biggest lesson I learned was to keep things light. Try not to over-think and over-analyze. Original ideas will start to come out once you stop looking for them and everything will just naturally come together in a personal and unique way. It will surprise you!
Wedding Photography: Joee Wong / Wedding Videography: Suen of Sweet Adeline Productions / Caterer: Savoury Chef / Wedding Gown: Pronovias / Groom's Suit: John Varvatos / Bridesmaid Dresses: eShakti / Groomsmen Attire: Calvin Klein from Moores / Tie: Penguin / Hair + Make-up: Lucy Chang / Floral Design: Colleen of Coco Fleur / Pie: Savary Island Pie Company / Desserts: True Confections / Hexagon Tent Rental: The Tent Guys / Lounge Furniture Rental: Furnishings by Corey / Plates: Verterra / Wedding Venue: The Cammidge House