Lee & Zona : Our wedding diary

Wedding photographs

2008-05-18T09:45:02Z

Here are the links to our wedding photo albums. I've complied three sets of galleries in a SimpleViewer photo album divided into a collection of personal photographs taken by family members; and the professional photos has two galleries - the church ceremony and the bridal party photos along with the reception. The professional shots are taken by Amanda Lim. Please note that you need Flash 8 installed in your browser to view this. Church ceremony photo gallery

Bridal party & reception photo gallery

Personal photo collection

Happy viewing! *^_^*

Wedding photo slideshows

2008-05-07T15:57:50Z

We got our official photographs from our wedding photographer Amanda today! It's going to be a bit of a task getting them uploaded and onto a proper photo gallery here. But if you're on my Facebook friends list, you can view some there. In the meantime, here are select shots of Lee and I presented in two slides.

D-day

2008-04-21T08:43:41Z

Much like the April autumn morning Lee proposed, our wedding day began heavily clouded and chilly. The scattered showers didn't dampen any spirits, despite guests having minor trouble getting around in the rain. I always thought of rain as romantic. And in some cultures, rain is symbol of blessings. Instead of walking in a small entourage across Gladstone Park to the church from home, the bestman had to pick YM and I to get us to the church. At the church door, I heard the lovely violin duo play, setting the mood for everyone. The whole ceremony was made memorable by Fr Joe's little quirks throughout. Despite having rehearsed, there were a number of things that he changed at that moment. It didn't bother me at all. It merely amused me at how everyone was talking about him during the reception. After the ceremony, we went over to the old Balmain wharf in Mort Bay for the bridal party photographs, while guests adjourned to the restaurant. The aged timber deck made for a romantic picturesque setting over the bay, misty grey sky and the Harbour Bridge in the background. And for added props, YM and I had gone last minute shopping at the CBD the day before for transparent brollies! Heheh... The reception was a delicious afternoon of grazing on canapés, while mingling. I'm glad to say everyone did get to meet and chat with each other. Which would've otherwise been impossible with a guest list of 100! The comment that I got quite frequently from our female guests were about my wedding gown. ^_~ The other notable comments were about our personalised cake topper made to look like Lee and I, and the guest scrapbook which was done so beautifully personalised by every guest who were there - with a Polaroid shot of themselves and personal comment. To top it off, it didn't rain the whole day either. The sun came out beautifully during the reception, and somehow when Lee and I had a picture of our rings taken, the sun was shining directly on our hands! *^_^* By the end of it all, I felt so worn out and tired of entertaining, I was really thankful that we didn't have a big wedding! Right now though, I just can't believe it's all over! I created a collage of photos posted here, gathered from MIL's camera and ones my brother took which aren't very clear or good quality. I'll be posting up the photographer's ones here much later, when I do get it.

The Wedding Rehearsal

2008-04-21T08:23:42Z

Here are the photos of the rehearsal night, three days before the wedding. St Augustine's Church altar Holly and Olivia, the flowergirls; with maid of honour, Yuh Meei in tow. My dad and I, with Lee's brother Neil looking on. Up at the altar, rehearsing the exchange of rings. Mango, Fr Joe's Persian, was around to make sure that Lee tripped his way through the steps. Hehehe...

Tomorrow...

2008-04-16T23:25:18Z

It was only during the wedding rehearsal, walking up the aisle with my dad that it all started to sink in. I honestly didn't know what to do with my face.

"Ermh, should I smile...? Should I hold a serious face? Or stick my tongue out like one of my nieces did? Heheh..."

I guess that is what the veil is for! Hahaha... Speaking of which, I had two made by fMIL. One was a birdcage veil, and the other a traditional shoulder length one. Or as Lee would say, the fishnet stocking and the mosquito netting. After doing a quick try-on with the dress, the mosquito netting looked better. Ah well. So much for looking like a modern bride. =P My brother took some photos of the wedding rehearsal. I don't have it yet, cos he's still holding the camera. So, I guess it'll be a whole chunk of updates AFTER tomorrow! ^_~

The Lunch Menu

2008-04-13T11:18:23Z

I only confirmed this menu with Our Place on Darling's manager, Marco, on Monday. It didn't help that I had to read this menu shortly before lunch at work! We won't be having the usual sit-down course meal, but canapés and drinks (red, white wines, orange juice and coke) instead. Beer would be on a closed-bar basis. With a guest list of 25, Lee and I felt it was better to have everyone mingle and eat. I loved that the restaurant was a modern Australian cuisine and goes along with the East-West fusion theme that the wedding runs by. * olives, dips & warm breads * fresh pacific oysters with nam jim * peking duck pancakes * grilled chorizo & haloumi * asparagus & fontina cheese frittata * gruyere & herb gougeres * vegetarian nori rolls * prawn tortillitas * spiced lamb brochettes with tzatziki * roast pumpkin & sage crepe Don't ask me why there isn't anything Malaysian on that list. I can't bear the thought of asking for satay! (If you've been to Australia, you'll know what I mean...) x_X

In less than a week...

2008-04-13T10:44:41Z

My singledom will be over. How would I describe what I'm feeling right now? Honestly, rather listless. I don't know if you could attribute it to having all the energy put into preparing for the wedding, then feeling a close to an anti-climax as the date nears. But I'm sure things will be different in the coming days. I know the listlessness is partly owing to trying to get adjusted to work and the new environment. Yet I told Lee, had it not been for getting this new job, I think I'd have more bridezilla moments. In some ways, it is a good distraction. Ju and YM arrived in Sydney in the last few days. We've met up and had dinner. YM brought, on behalf of the others who couldn't be here, this gorgeous photobook as a wedding present! Thank you girls!!! It has all these embarrassing secondary school photos, but precious memories of all the years 6 of us girls had grown up and come together. It's really a great gift! *^_^* Also, MIL came by today to drop off my veil and the ring pillow. She made them both! No pictures of the veil, because it'll all be seen together with dress when I post up the wedding photos of course!! Heheh... But the ring pillow is so sweet! My parents and my brother arrive in Sydney at sparrow's fart tomorrow. *^_^* I'm so glad my dad is actually coming!

Our Wedding Rings

2008-04-06T05:58:53Z

We collected our wedding rings this afternoon. *^_^* I think these are the best choice we came up with. We hunted around for rings over two weeks ago, having just plain bands in mind. Somehow I wanted something contemporary, and hoped we'd find something that would speak our artistic side besides the plain old bands. That, and price was a bigger factor of course. Most of the jewellers in Sydney CBD, as I discovered, were mostly jewellers who'd custom-make what you designed. That would obviously be out of our budgets. We walked into a store at the ground floor at the QVB, and when I saw the tri-bands (they called it the Russian wedding bands), I got excited. The first time I ever saw them was on an ex-collegemate's finger. I thought it was a really unique wedding ring, but never quite thought it'd be something I'd want. Lee told me to try them on together with my engagement ring, and when I put it over the wedding tri-bands, it was an unbelievable fit! I initially thought it would be such a shame that I'll have to wear the engagement ring on the other hand after the wedding, because a normal band or any other type of rings wouldn't match. But this one was perfect! It felt so significant in a way that the engagement ring made it look like a "rope" of rings around my finger which ended up in a knot. It was a gorgeous fit! I joked with Lee that while most girls would just have two rings - their diamond engagement and a wedding band - I have four! Heheh... Yeah, and why have one band when you can have three? Like my engagement ring, the Russian wedding bands we got are tri-gold - white, yellow and rose golds.

Wedding hair & make-up trial

2008-04-06T05:38:44Z

With less than two weeks to go, a lot of the details are being sorted out quite intensely at the moment. I had my wedding hair and make-up trial done last Monday. And I have to say that while I'm happy with the hair style, it took me a couple of hours to get used to the make-up. Not because it was thick and washed out for the photographs later, but because I'm not an everyday make-up person. Despite not being able to communicate what kind of make-up style I wanted, Mariet my make-up artist, got what I was imagining in my head. I liked the brown eye shadows along the outer sides of the lids that gives a bit of depth to the eyes. And the subtle powdery brown look was more natural. I just kept wondering how it would look in daylight because our wedding will be in daytime. It wasn't difficult to describe the hair style I wanted. I've always been a big fan of curls, and have proof that my hair loves staying curled. Mariet oohed happily and said she loved my hair because it was "doll's hair", meaning hair that does what its told. Hahah... Although, because I had layered my hair quite drastically, it was quite a challenge to give it volume. I kinda regret doing. Nevertheless, the veil would make a difference later. Speaking of the veil, the reason I'm wearing a headband comb is because my face veil would be fixed onto that comb. No preview of that, sorry! ^_~

Boutonneires

2008-03-21T06:43:12Z

Weddings seem to have its own glossary of big words. Bombonnieres... Boutonnieres... But they're just favours and corsages, respectively. All this jargon almost made me feel like I was learning another language just trying to sort things out. Anyway, one of the DIY ideas I had was for the boutonnieres which the bridal party and family members are going to wear during the wedding. I knew going the usual way of fresh flowers would be a waste of money. So I thought I'd try to make a beaded one like ones I've seen on websites, which could become really nice keepsakes. I ended up coming up with this idea of making little flowers out of wire lace. It's a really delicate Italian tubular wire mesh ribbon that I've seen in Japanese beading magazines. And fortunately enough, the products had arrived in Australia in September last year. Thing was, I didn't even know what the wire lace look and felt like, if it will even become the flowers I had in my head. I bought some from a site online, based in Victoria. (Does anyone know where in Sydney I can buy the wire lace??) And finally had a chance to make them! The first three mini bouquets came up nicely, but then I realised it was too small. I was going to need either a leaf background or something else for it to get attention. So I thought I'd try making a miniature fan out of Japanese paper. The final product? Voila... Problem now is, knowing full well I won't have much free time left, I thought I'd complete making them this long Easter weekend. I did manage to make four of these today, then ran out of wire lace!!! Arrgh... =P

The Bridal Party

2008-03-18T10:45:24Z

We're pretty much sorted in choosing our bridal party. One maid of honour, one best man, and Lee's two nieces, Holly & Olivia, are our flower girl and ring bearer. Yes, we're going the unconventional (and cheap) way by having darling Olivia be our ring bearer. The whole task of finally getting my dress over the weekend has sent my whole wedding colour scheme out the window. I initially wanted a white, silver and red theme. But now that my dress is actually an off-white champagne colour, with beautiful gold threads, the white and silver idea has to be scrapped. Now its become an off white, gold and deep red theme. The initial theme selection was an idea going for our East-West fusion marriage. And at the same time, I was really trying to avoid the whole Chinese-sy colours. Hence no ang pow bright red type of colour! But now we're somewhat closer to that. Meh. In any case, the symbolism of the fusion is by having the boys wear suits and red ties, with Lee in a white tie, while my MOH and nieces wear a cheongsam. I went shopping at Haymarket with fSIL and her mother yesterday. And we found the girls these gold cheongsams. Don't they look adorable?

The first rehearsal

2008-03-17T23:06:05Z

Lee and I have been meeting with our celebrant Fr Joe Camilleri almost every fortnight since January. Yesterday was our last meeting before the actual wedding rehearsal with the bridal party. Fr Joe showed Lee and I a run through of the steps for each section of the ceremony. The first part, left me with a lump in my throat. As Fr Joe explained how he usually instructed the bridal party on the walk in, he lead me to Lee and showed how my father would walk me up the aisle where we would meet Lee. Every small gestures and exchange of hands had a symbolic meaning. I had to hold back thinking of that moment on who would be the one to do that on that day itself. I've always been a person who was into the meaning of things, little gestures and all. While I had earlier initially wanted to have the church wedding in Malaysia, after watching Fr Joe teach us each movement, I am thankful that it was God's grace that He put us under the guidance of a wonderful priest! The wedding rehearsal will be on -- Tuesday, April 15th 2008 @ 7pm St Augustine's Church, Balmain

Just one wish

2008-03-17T10:05:23Z

Last night, I started up a facebook group asking a small wish from my friends. I still feel a flush of embarrassment for having done that, but four weeks is just so close, I wasn't sure what else to do.

In four weeks, I'm getting married. While it's every girls dream to have a dream wedding, all I want is for my father to walk me down the aisle. I'm only asking for a small donation of at least RM5, to raise just enough money for my dad's return airfare (RM3000/USD$948) from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney so he could walk me down the aisle April 18th 2008. I moved to Australia in Dec'07, with nothing else but a suitcase and love. Asking this is difficult for me to do, but I'm swallowing my pride here and humbly asking for a very small favour from you. I don't want a lavish expensive wedding, and am not having one. Our guest list is a small 25 person wedding of only family and very close friends of Lee and I. We'll be having a Catholic church ceremony, and nothing else means more to me in this world than to have my dad walk down the aisle and "give me away". My dad has been retired and out of work now for the last two years. My brother and mum have just barely got enough to buy their tickets. My dad has sacrificed not coming because our family can't afford it. I love my dad, and I can't dream of walking down that aisle without him. I haven't found myself a full time job yet, and can barely make do with the casual job I have right now. Honestly, the transition hasn't been the smoothest ride without the support and familiarity I'm so used to back home in Malaysia. I wish I had the money to do this myself, but unfortunately, I don't. I pray that you can help. I have a Paypal.com account which you could put your donations to -- zmt.etc@gmail.com

Or if somehow you would prefer to have something in return for the donation, I would love it if you purchased any of the jewellery I've made during my time here, at http://jewels.midnitelily.com Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. And if there is anything I could do for you in return, please ask.

I am very, very touched and thankful for and by the friends who've responded so far. The amount at the moment is at USD$162.99 ( RM 519.86 ). I will sort myself out and put up constant updates here, and a button to make sure everyone's updated of this mission. Thank you. God Bless.

It's not a wedding without him...

2008-03-16T14:15:37Z

My brother sent me a text message tonight, saying that he and my mother finally have their airtickets to come to Sydney for the wedding. My heart weighed heavy, I was hoping my dad would come too. The airtickets from KUL-SYD now are about RM3000 (USD$948). That's about a month's salary for a lot of middle-income group earners in Malaysia. And if three of my family members were to come, that was just too much to spend. I knew that news was coming. I'm tossing and turning in bed. And in tears. Suddenly, everything else that I want to have in my wedding doesn't matter. I don't even want to spend on decorations or flowers. I don't want anything else. I just want my dad to walk me down the aisle during the church ceremony, to "give me away"... Many girls dream about having big lavish pretty weddings, I don't want any of that. I grew up knowing my mother's father had passed away before she got married. Like me, she was close to her father too. I never spoke to her about it, but deep down, I think I know what she would've felt. Now, my dad is here. And I've always dreamed he would be there for me. But he can't. The wedding suddenly doesn't mean anything to me if I can't have my whole family there. I don't want my dad left behind. I wish I could do something...

The Wedding Dress

2008-03-15T05:59:07Z

With the wedding just four weeks away, I'm almost ready to hit the panic button. I had met with f-SIL together with f-MIL last weekend and talking to them about wedding ideas, decorations etc, made me really stressed out. Not having a wedding dress five weeks into the wedding, felt like I was at zero, no matter the other plans and bookings I'd made. The initial idea was for f-MIL to sew a dress for me, and I'd grown to have that fact in my head while I went along to organize and plan everything else. An unforeseen circumstances with family came up recently, and then it made me feel guilty about having f-MIL take time off to make the dress. So off we went to the city today, with a shopping list of the wedding dress, wedding rings and groomsmen's ties. And we got all of those almost with no trouble! It's just this whole matching thing going on with the bridesmaid, flower girls and groomsmen having to have similar matching colors to bring out the themes which I was initially worries about. I decided to have Lee's nieces who are our flowergirl and ring bearer, along with my bridesmaid wear a qipao to represent a fusion of our East-West marriage. While the men's side would be wearing their usual smart suits. The guys in full black suits and red neck pieces, Lee in a full black suit and white neck piece. Anyway, I digress. The initial gown try-outs had me thinking that the right dress was strapless A-line in pure white. But after today's search, I ended up with a gorgeous intricately-brocaded cream colored mermaid silhouette Henri Josef gown, named Briar Rose, which fit me to a tee. No alterations needed at all! *^_^* Of course no pictures! This is just the detail on the dress. ^_~