When you live 10,000 miles away from your I-do destination and the first time you see your venue is two weeks before your wedding, planning becomes a bit more of adventure. This adorable couple didn’t bat an eyelash at the distance and put their faith in the talented ladies of The Special Day to bring their vibrant, California celebration to life. With nods to two special cities, their wedding was dripping with perfect purple and pink orchids and sophisticated style. Now, before you take off to see all the beautiful images from KLK Photography, make sure you read the story from the bride, some seriously good advice for those of you getting ready to make the trip down the aisle. Ok, nooow you can explore even more right here.
From the bride… As it turns out, what happens in Vegas…definitely does NOT stay in Vegas! Kevin and I met while working at the same company in fabulous Las Vegas, where I was interning as a grad student. What started as a fun summer romance turned into much more when summer became fall, and it was time for me to return to school in California. I was skeptical of the long distance, particularly given that we had met in Vegas (baby). But Kevin proved me otherwise by showing up at my doorstep in California every weekend for two months straight, to demonstrate that all it takes is commitment and faith! Thereafter, we were inseparable, splitting our weekends between Palo Alto and Vegas. Fast forward – after graduation I moved full-time to Las Vegas, a year later Kevin popped the question, and then as a newly-engaged couple we made a huge move overseas to Singapore! I love to joke that Kevin is the only man who could convince this fair-weather California girl to move to both the arid desert of Vegas as well as the rainy tropics of Southeast Asia!
We had the usual logistical planning challenges of an ex-pat couple living 10,000 miles from the wedding location, but with the help of my local parents and amazing coordinator Sophia, we planned the entire thing abroad without returning state-side until two weeks before the wedding, giving us time to get over jet lag and finalize last minute details (oh, and have one last bachelorette hurrah in Vegas with my ladies). We even chose our venue without an in-person visit – but let’s be honest, one only needs to see photos of the Resort at Pelican Hill and its stunning ocean vistas, and you can spot its perfection immediately! Kevin and I wanted elements of our Big Day to be as colorful, bold and modern as the city where we met, so we chose a vibrant statement palette of shades of purple with accents of magenta, and finished off the look with mirrors and glass for some extra class. We brought the tropics of Singapore to the affair through placement of the beautiful Orchid flower, which united our invitations, menus, centerpieces, the cake, and to this day the loveliest bridal bouquet I’ve seen in my entire life. Even our signature cocktails reflected our unique cities of residence where we shaped our partnership – we served the historical “Singapore Sling” and “Vegas, Baby” (which was actually a Cosmopolitan).
I suppose many of our guests were surprised (confused?) when Kevin, myself and our bridal party would spontaneously burst into song a few times throughout the event, but it all made sense to them at the reception when we unveiled a fun “Same Day Edit” music video showcasing the day, set to Train’s “Hey, Soul Sister.” I admit I secretly wish I were a rock star, and when I heard of this cool Rock n’ Roll Same Day Edit option from our videographers, Elysium Productions, I asked my camera-shy hubby-to-be if he would consider doing it. Unexpectedly, he obliged! Kevin, who cannot memorize lyrics to save his life and was nervous enough about the wedding, enlisted the help of his groomsmen until the wee hours of the morning at the hotel bar the night before the wedding, who quizzed him on such whimsical song lyrics as “Your lipstick stains on the front lobe of my left side brain…”. All I can say is…what a keeper!
The day came together beautifully, though I have to admit I was quite an indecisive bride throughout the planning process. At one point, I even started to doubt the festive color scheme we had chosen, for fear that years down the line I would look at our album and the style would be far from “timeless.” But my oh-so-wise maid of honor convinced me otherwise, reminding me that what matters most is to showcase the elements we love TODAY, to capture the emotions of NOW, and to take an unforgettable snapshot of our lives as they are, in this very moment.
Venue and Catering: The Resort at Pelican Hill / Wedding Coordinator: Sophia of The Special Day / Photography: KLK Photography / Videography: Elysium Productions / Floral Design: The Mille Fiori / Hair and Makeup: Mieko of Kelly Zhang / Wedding Dress: Le Grand Wedding (Singapore) / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bride’s Veil: Renee Pawele Bride / Bride’s Earrings: The White Dress / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale / Groom’s Tux: Divine Couture (Singapore) / Groomsmen and Ring Bearer Tuxes: Men’s Wearhouse / Invitations, Menus: Lucky Me Invitations / Officiant: Kevin Carrington / Unity Sand Ceremony Frame: “Say Anything” Design, Etsy / Chair and Dance Floor Rentals: Chiavari Chair Rentals / Logo Design: Bridesmaid Susan Chiang / Wedding Rings: Tiffany & Co. / Flower Girl Dresses: Jordan Fashions / Cake: Filigree Cakes / DJ: Peter Papadopoulos of Vive Entertainment
Dove Release: White Flight / Photo booth: Cheesy Photobooths