This is the story of Kyah and Daniel. A love story that epitomises 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, “Love is patient.” And was recently featured on Magnolia Rouge.

The two started dating during their senior year in high school. And were together a total of 15 years before they decided to tie the knot.

And even then, they had to postpone their wedding twice due to COVID! 

But they weren’t going to let anything, not even a global pandemic, stand in their way from saying, “I do.” 

When the couple came to me about photographing their wedding, we scheduled a few brainstorming sessions to talk about styling. Their big-day vision flourished out of these chats, in which I helped refine their vision by giving them direction on where to start.

The couple decided to go with a garden-inspired look to complement their venue – Taronga Zoo – a place they both had fond memories of from their childhood. 

Kyah was inspired by the surrounding greenery at the zoo and wanted to create a space that felt like they’d brought the outdoor wilderness indoors. So, they chose a unique spot overlooking the water for their ceremony – which made for gorgeous pictures, if I do say so myself! And an indoor reception styled by The Event Maison transformed to look like the outdoors with luscious greenery hanging from the ceiling and running down the tables.

But before we get into all of the beautiful details, let’s rewind just a little bit to the incredibly special and oh-so-sweet way Daniel popped the question.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

나랑 결혼해줄래? (Will You Marry Me?)

14 years prior to their wedding, the couple took a trip to South Korea. Kyah has a passion for learning languages, and in preparation for the trip, she decided to learn how to read Korean. 

During one night of their trip, Daniel took her to dinner at the top of the N-Seoul Tower, perched high on top of Namsan mountain overlooking the city.

They enjoyed an incredible meal at the revolving restaurant, which ended with a gorgeous dessert topped with a little message written in chocolate saying, “Will you marry me?” in Korean. 

Kyah, having learned Korean in preparation for their trip, realized what it said. And as she turned around, she found Daniel down on one knee, proposing.

“Daniel put so much effort into secretly arranging everything,” Kyah says. “He even managed to carry the ring around for the first half of the trip without me noticing.”

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Wild But Refined Forest Vibes

Kyah and Daniel wanted to achieve a loose, overgrown garden aesthetic. They chose colors and decor that reflected the vision: lots of white and green and hanging floral installations. Which, given that it was primarily DIY, is particularly impressive! 

They prioritized using local greenery and fresh foliage to build out the majority of the installations. And ordered additional white and blush florals to complement the look. 

The flowers also complemented Kyah’s dress beautifully. She wore a gown from Brides in Love that featured leaf detailing along the bodice and train. 

“After trying on quite a few dresses, I’d almost given up hope that I’d experience that ‘this is it’ moment that brides often talk about. But when I saw my dress on the rack, I knew I had to try it on. The moment I walked out of the changing room, I knew that it was the dress I was going to get married in.”  

The reception was just as stunning as the ceremony. The couple was blown away to see the space lit up with natural light during the day and candles at night after returning from their wedding portraits. The warm and inviting ambience of the venue made it the perfect place for their friends and family to come together, enjoy a delicious choice of dinner, and celebrate. 

As for their most memorable moment of the night, “Definitely our first dance together as husband and wife,” said Kyah. 

After a quick gown change, the couple went straight from their reception entry into their first dance. They had practised the choreography in secret so that they could surprise everyone on the night. It was a treat to watch and ended up being the perfect transition into the rest of the evening’s activities.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Wedding Planning Advice from Kyah and Daniel:

“Don’t be afraid to delegate tasks. Coming together to create a wedding is such a great way to bond before the big day.”

And if you’re a fellow couple who has been affected by the pandemic, remember, it’s not all bad! As Kyah said, “Even though COVID caused us to postpone our wedding two times before we finally got married, it only helped us to gain a better appreciation for the details that truly mattered to us.”

• 

• 

• 

I couldn’t be happier for these two. They truly deserved every bit of beauty and joy this wedding gave them. And if you like Kyah and Daniel’s photos, contact me so we can schedule a brainstorming session.

See Kyah and Daniels FULL GALLERY HERE

Vendors:

Photography: Sheri McMahon Photography Day-of Coordinator/Planning: The Event Maison Rentals: Ivory Lane Event & Styling Drapery: The Wedding Shoppe & Decoration Hire Dubbo Ceremony Florist (purchase only not design): Fleurish & Pampa Country Flowers Videography: Elk Films Photo Booth: Candid Snaps  Cake: Cakes at Number 5 Venue Taronga Western Plains Zoo Lodging: The Repose Dubbo Bride’s gown: Brides in Love Jewellery: Swarovski  Hair: Hannah Mawbey Make-up: Georgie Barber Grooms Attire: Tarocash Entertainment: Jake Edgley