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Real Wedding: Lucy & Alan

Real Wedding: Lucy & Alan

An elegantly modern wedding steeped in traditional touches

Modern Chinese Wedding | Elegant and Romantic Wedding in Ontario

Traditions don't have to be at odds with style, elegance and minimalism — Lucy and Alan confirmed this even more with their gorgeous wedding. Trendy wedding colour scheme in white and green tones, the bride's luxurious and sophisticated silk gown, minimalistic décor and a dessert table instead of a wedding cake were what made the couple's wedding unique and unforgettable. Below you will find details of the wedding planning from the bride, as well as wonderful film photos from our member Lola Rong.

Tell us a little about yourselves. How did you meet? What do you do for a living? What are your hobbies?

Alan and I studied in the same program at university, but we were a year apart. We never met during that time. But we did meet ten years later on a dating app. I'm a pharmacist and he is a dentist. When we first met, he made me mulled wine, we walked in the snow, and I knew he was the one. It was a Taylor Swift "Lovers" moment — I couldn't tell if I'd known him for 20 seconds or 20 years.

Where was your wedding? Why did you choose this venue?

Our wedding took place at Lune 1860 in Goderich, Ontario. If you watch Coessential Wed’s super 8 film, you will understand why. It was the perfect nostalgic and dreamy vibe. Their 8 phases, each inspired by the different phases of the lunar cycle, offers an innovative and intimate atmosphere. Allowing the contrast between light and dark, between vintage and modern, and between natural and curated.

What was the concept behind your wedding and how did you find your inspiration?

A play on shape, texture, and movement. I have all our vendors to thank for inspiration, all such creative souls. I wanted it to feel like art, but also have the intimate feel of a gathering. Wild yet minimal, elegant yet cute, sculptural yet fluid. Like how willow branches cascaded down like flowing water. How the drapery gently fell onto the floor like a soft afternoon light. How the chillies added that subtle pop of red. And just some cute carrots with a bow on top. There was a play on colour, inspired by Alan's nickname for me, rainbow eyes. The bridesmaids wore various combinations of muted, natural colours.

How long did it take to plan your wedding? Did you encounter any challenges during the planning process?

13 months, between finding our planner and the wedding. Having a planner early on was extremely helpful, especially for all the logistics and keeping you on track. As someone who is more laid-back, I struggled with the endless choices. Decision overload hit hard. But it was great to have trusted vendors to rely on.

Tell us about your outfits. How many different styles have you tried?

Alan wore a bespoke tuxedo from Harry Rosen. I kept it casual while getting ready, with an oversized boyfriend shirt from Aritzia. My bridesmaids matched in blue. For the tea ceremony, I wore my mom’s qipao. As for my dress, I tried on a few styles but none of them felt quite right. I was in New York and decided to try on some Danielle Frankel gowns for fun. The moment I stepped into the studio, I knew I would find the one. The asymmetrical draping, the flow, the satin sheen. For my reception outfit, I opted for a suit from Cortana. It felt the most like me, since I basically live in blazers and oversized buttonups.

How many guests did you have? And what was the seating arrangement at the wedding like?

47 guests. We sat at the sweetheart table, surrounded by falling daisies. The guests were seated at 4 tables. Each with a fruit/veggie theme, kind of like “find your veggie, find your seat”.

What was your first dance song? Did you choreograph or improvise?

We had a lovely moment dancing to Eric Clapton's “Wonderful Tonight”. It was a choreographed dance since, let's be honest, our dancing skills are limited to the shower.

Did you have any special performances or entertainment?

DJ Malig set the vibe for the after-party, he got everyone on the dance floor. Everyone loved him!!

What was the most memorable moment from your wedding day?

The most beautiful sunset, oh my gosh. I still remember when our photographer came over and pointed to the sunset. We all stopped eating and ran outside. It was so magical. A close second would be Alan using a Q-tip to dry his tears.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

I’m so thankful for all our vendors! They are all artists! Lara, our planner, and the design mastermind. She is literally a walking Pinterest board and curated the most special day for us. I am not the most expressive with words, but Lara really took the time to understand what I wanted. She is also the creative mind behind Pieceful Ink who designed our invitations, vow books, and welcome sign. Jaimie from Inscape Floral (previously Leaf and Bloom) creates the most beautiful abstract floral designs, including the idea of draped pedestals; where each pedestal had a floral arrangement placed on top like an “art piece”. Miranda from Stylee Beauty created a free-hand pearl design to complement the open back of my dress. Deardeer made the dessert table of our dreams!! It was (almost) too cute to eat. Everyone loved Forrest's food and said wedding food will never taste the same.

We were fortunate to have an amazing team of photographers and videographers who were about capturing candid moments and genuine emotion. Marissa and Vai from Coessential Wed for digital photography, Lola for film photography, and Dialogue Design for videography and super 8. I discovered Lune through Marissa’s previous super 8 films, so I knew I loved her aesthetics and candids with an editorial touch. I am a lover of all things analog, and Lola was an obvious choice. I love the way she captures texture and emotion. Initially, we considered super 8 only and wanted to skip videography altogether. Lara persuaded us otherwise, emphasizing the sentimental value a video would hold. We are thrilled that we had Sean and Erin from Dialogue Design captured our day. You can tell the amount of work they put into their creations. Not to mention how creative they are!!

Were there national/religious traditions at your wedding and how did you implement them?

We are both Chinese and sprinkled some traditional elements throughout the wedding. We adopted a more casual version of the traditional Chinese tea ceremony, where we pay our respect and gratitude to our families by serving tea. Typically, the bride wears red, as red is a symbol of happiness, joy, and prosperity. I opted to wear my mom’s qipao instead. But we made sure to incorporate red in other ways. Like the cute chilli table!! Forrest also made sure to include familiar Chinese flavours in our menu.

Did you have any special or unique elements (such as a signature cocktail or a fragrance) at your wedding?

We opted for a dessert table instead of a wedding cake. Guests were welcomed with ice cream that were shaped with edible mini hydrangeas (and lactase for our lactose-intolerant friends). We personalized five signature cocktails, each named after our favourite memories: a “Portofino Sunrise'' aperol spritz (inspired by our first vacation together), a “Poker Fridays” whiskey sour (dedicated to Alan and his boys and their love for poker), a “Sangria Sisters” rosé sangria (our Monday Bachelor sangria tradition), a “Soju Think U Can Dance” soju and yakult spritz (for all our post-exam Ehwa hangouts), and a “Baby Fever” sparkling juice. And of course, no pharmacist party would be complete without Hydralyte (because hydration is key). We chose two Loewe fragrances that were designed to be shared, one for him and one for her - Loewe 001 Man and Woman.

What helped you cope with the anxiety before the wedding?

I didn't. But that's okay. When the day came, the anxiety went away. I focused on enjoying the moment, and trusted the planning team to take care of the rest.

What advice would you give to couples who are currently planning their wedding?

For the not-so-organized brides like me, find your planner early on! They will become your best friend and help reduce the stress load that comes with wedding planning. It’s so easy to get lost in the sea of inspiration (and decisions). But your planner will help curate a vision that is uniquely you.