issue 07 JULY 2014
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THE WEDDING
#07 J U L 14
16 LOVE stories
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THE WEDDING
managing editor CHAIYEN WONG contributing editor SOPHIA GOH
THE TEAM
art direction CROSSLINE STUDIO writer JOANNE WONG contributing fashion writer MONICA FUNG sales and marketing ANDROS XAVIER CHAN cover photo by FUNKY DALI contributors Sayher heffernan
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37 frames For advertising, please email ads@theweddingnotebook.com For submission of real weddings and interesting products, please email submit@theweddingnotebook.com www.facebook.com/thewednotebook www.twitter.com/thewednotebook THE WEDDING NOTEBOOK magazine is published by Crossline Studio (426848-A). Š2014 Crossline Studio. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced whether by photocopying, recording or any other means whatsoever without the prior permission of the publisher. Views expressed in The Wedding Notebook magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers.
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fontS
Here is a font to help you pull off that modern chic look.
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by HungLan Design This font by a Vietnamese designer is perfect for when you want to use words as a design element on your wedding stationery. It’s one of the most realistic brush-stroke fonts out there, but use it sparingly as it can be a little hard to read. Looks great in black or gold stamping.
fashion
LOOKBOOK
All the new bridal collections have one thing in common: details. Whether it is lace, floral embellishments or even just a bow, the new era of bridal designers are bringing us workmanship that is more intricate than ever, and we are loving it.
details that make a difference
VIVIAN LUK
Flat bows, dainty bows or organza bows! Charm your guests with polished and pretty versions. Nothing says pretty better than a ribbon on a dress. Add a champagne coloured sash to cinch your waist and up the ante with a jewelled brooch. monique lhuillier / HAYLEY PAIGE / LUSAN MANDONGUS / ATELIER PRONOVIAS / PALLAS COUTURE
LOOKBOOK
TAKE A
BOW
LOOKBOOK
We love this trend as it provides the best of both worlds if you can’t make up your mind between a full lace dress and a simple sheath. Frankly, we don’t blame you! These stunning dresses are so versatile that they will look effortless whether in a grand affair or an intimate soiree. REEM ACRA / Oscar De La renta / PALLAS COUTURE / BERTA BRIDAL / ERSA ATELIER
Designers are taking last season’s illusion neckline to the next level by incorporating delicate lace, appliqué elements and crystals. We are mesmerised by these barely-there overlays, buttons and beautiful lace that magically float down the models’ arms and backs. CHRISTOS / ELIE BY ELIE SAAB / GALIA LAHAV / BERTA BRIDAL / monique lhuillier
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LOOKBOOK
sheer magic
Gold evokes elegance, luxury and warmth. It is timeless and absolutely easy to style. CAKE YUMMY CUPCAKES AND CAKES / CLUTCH COLETTE BY COLETTE HAYMAN / VOW HOLDER MADE DEVINE / KEY BOTTLE OPENER KATE ASPEN / CAKE TOPPER BETTER OFF WED ON ETSY
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is just a word until someone comes along and giveS it meaning.
Photo by super panda presents
WOOD Liz & Amin
Photography by Funky Dali
LOVE STORIES
LAND wo n d e r l a n d
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THEME AND DETAILS
seamlessly elegant From the traditional Filipino estate to the bride’s wedding dress, which was a modernised version of the Philippines’s traditional dress – the Terno – that featured handmade callado embroidery (a type of century-old, hand-woven needlework used in the Philippines), right down to her gorgeous bronze, pointy-toed Alexander McQueen heels, and the simple yet stylish decorations and setting, Liz and Amin’s wedding was a seamless and elegant mixture of rustic Filipino details with splashes of modernity. “We wanted an intimate, woodland wedding setting with a single long table to host our invited guests from Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.”
LOVE STORIES
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The CEREMONY Nestled in the mountains of Antipolo, Philippines, not too far from the city, is the Alpadi Estate, a quaint resort surrounded by lush greenery. This ancestral home that boasts Filipina elegance was the perfect venue for an outdoor garden ceremony. Guests sat on plain wooden chairs facing a chic backdrop of white gauzy fabric and flowers with strings of fairy lights. Every detail of the ceremony blended exquisitely with the fresh and rich greens of the Estate. “Keep your wedding simple and intimate if you can, because there is nothing better than celebrating the biggest day of your life surrounded by your closest family and friends who are all genuinely happy for you.�
LOVE STORIES
“Stay true to yourself. Do what you want, first and foremost, because it is your wedding and it should reflect who you and your groom are as a couple.”
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LOVE STORIES
The Reception Since the couple wanted an al-fresco reception, the sprawling grounds of the Alpadi Estate was also a perfect fit. For a glamorous feel, the couple had a single long table set up outside the pavilion to fit their 80 guests. Glass jars with yellow and white flowers, white lacy metal lanterns and tall, romantic candelabras with strings of diamantes made perfect centrepieces atop the crisp white tablecloth. The effect was even more evident when the sun began to set and the twinkling fairy lights and candles cast a pretty glow over the guests.
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LOVE STORIES
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Photography by Funky Dali Venue Alpadi Estate, Antipolo, Philippines Wedding Planning by Day One Project BridAL Gown by Mike Lavarez Bride’s Shoes BY Alexander McQueen Bride’s Jewellery by Tiffany & Co. Hair and Makeup by Cats del Rosario Groom’s Attire by Fairuz Ramdan Wedding Bands by Cartier Flowers and Décor by Center Table Invitations and Stationery by Bibo Aswan and Paula Pangan Entertainment by Liyana Fizi
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LOVE STORIES
Garden
Photography by Sayher Heffernan
GRANDEUR
Brenda & Cheang Kee
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“Some of the most unforgettable moments were seeing the bride walk down the aisle, and us tying the knot...
after 11 years together.�
the CEREMONY The ceremony was held at the breathtakingly beautiful Morning Star Estate. This centuriesold property is nestled amidst picturesque vineyards and exquisite gardens. Simple round pastel lanterns, white Chiavari chairs tied with simple bunches of flowers, the natural greens of Mother Nature and the captivating views of the Mornington Peninsular bay provided a simple elegance to the ceremony. The wedding had a gorgeous mix of pastels and creams with a splash of bold colours. To add a personalised feel, the couple also matched rustic and vintage decorations with DIY stationery, interesting table settings, a guestbook and a simple yet eye-catching dessert table.
LOVE STORIES
RECEPTION IDEA
the shoe game The ‘Shoe Game’ is a simple and fun way for guests to get to know the newlyweds better, and to test how well the couple knows each other! So how does it work? Two chairs are placed back-to-back for the bride and groom. They then take off both their shoes and exchange one of them with the other person so that they are holding one of each pair. Next, someone will ask the couple a series of questions, e.g. Who said “I love you” first? Who is the better cook? After each question, the couple has to hold up the shoe of the person they think should answer the question. For Brenda and Cheang Kee, instead of shoes, they used more personal and meaningful items. Brenda was represented by a teddy bear while Cheang Kee was represented by a football scarf.
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LOVE STORIES
PhotographY by Sayher Heffernan VENUE Morning Star Estate, Victoria, Australia BridAL gown by Raffaele Ciuca Bride’s shoes by Keith Kee Hair and Makeup by Elly Liana Groom’s Attire by Bespoked – Ian Chang Wedding Bands by Wah Chan Groomsmen’s Attire by Bespoked – Ian Chang Flowers and Décor by Delightful Occasions Wedding Cake and Desserts by Peninsula Cake Art Invitations and Stationery by Sunflower Creative Entertainment by Natalie Ruiz and band
Photography by One Eye Click
a cla s s i c
g n i d d e W OUTDOOR JIEYING & HONG KIAT
THEME AND DETAILS
simply grey
“Since grey is one of my favourite shades, I matched it with a burst of yellow to add some colour. The grey and yellow colour theme resonated in the décor, the wedding party attire and the invitations. We were very fortunate to have great friends who helped out with the wedding décor and designing of invitations. One of my bridesmaids even brought back four kilos of candy from the US for the wedding!”
LOVE STORIES
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the CEREMONY Right from the start, the couple wanted an intimate wedding so that they could mingle and spend time with all their guests. The Raffles Hotel’s East India room was perfect for their 120-guest reception, with a beautiful courtyard outside for their ceremony.
LOVE STORIES
“Promising to spend the rest of our lives loving and respecting each other was a significant moment for us.”
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LOVE STORIES
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PhotographY by One Eye Click VENUE Raffles Hotel, SINGAPORE BridAL gown by Emanuel B. CouTURE Bride’s shoes by Jimmy Choo Hair and Makeup by Jac Chua Groom’s Attire by Emanuel B. CouTURE (tuxedo) AND Louis Vuitton (suit) Flowers and Décor by Raffles Hotel, SINGAPORE WEDDING FAVOURS by Raffles Hotel, SINGAPORE
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THE COUPLE THAT TRAVELS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER.
rustic
TRAVEL THEM Event Styling by coochicoo
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Originally, all the couple wanted was a rustic burlap theme, but their wedding stylist, Jokee of coochicoo, felt that the décor should carry a bit more meaning. The couple had done a lot of travelling together since childhood, thus a rustic travel theme was born. Their rustic travel themed reception at Janda Baik was designed with a sit-down dinner setting. “They really showcased their best work and the outcome was marvellous. I was totally impressed by their hard work and we received so many compliments from our guests,” said the bride.
PhotographY by MEMOIR CLICK STUDIO Event Styling BY Coochicoo VENUE ANnexe Hall of enderong resort, TANARIMBA, JANDA BAIK, MALAYSIA
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FASHIONABLE STYLED SHOOTS
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MOOD for LOVE
BY THREEBOX STUDIO
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CONCEPT
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ashion editorial-style shoots is one of the emerging trends in bridal portraits. Compared to regular bridal shoots, photographers need to be a lot more skilled with lighting,
and be able to direct a couple who aren’t your regular models. Threebox Studio, one of the up and coming photography teams that have ample experience in advertising productions, recently did a styled shoot to show you what they can do. What kind of mood were you trying to achieve with this styled shoot? I personally like the vintage moods of Wong Kar Wai and Wing Shya. We were trying to achieve an editorial-style shoot with some sort of storytelling in it. What do you think about editorial-style shoots as wedding photography? I think this is a new trend for wedding photography, and hopefully it will become more acceptable soon. How long did it take to produce this photoshoot? It took us about three months in total, from concept and sourcing the location to preparation and the shoot. Where did you shoot these photos? We shot this in the Kuala Lumpur area. We needed to get permission before we could shoot. It’s really surprising that we can still find places like this in KL now. Sadly, one of the locations was closed down three months after our shoot. Besides Photoshop, location played a very important role in helping to achieve the mood for these photos.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY THREEBOX STUDIO Modelled By LC LOh and Bocai LOCATION Kuala LUMPUR, Malaysia
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CONCEPT
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ne of our favourite photographers from Indonesia is All Season – Photo. They constantly amaze us with their styling and mood shots that set a new standard for
fashionable bridal portraits. We managed to have some time with Rio, who shared with us a little more about this recent shoot in Venice. Why did the couple shoot in Venice, and what kind of mood were you trying to attain? They felt a strong connection with Venice – its ambience of glamour, luxury and love. We wanted to create a romantic feel, and we shot from morning to noon with very minimal colour correction. The couple looks very stylish. What do they do and where did they get the dresses? The groom is a businessman while the bride loves fashion and has a great style. All of the dresses were handmade and custom created for her by a local designer. Is it the norm for an Indonesian bride to wear all black? It is almost taboo here in Malaysia. It is not the norm but more and more modern brides are wearing it. Black is considered okay to wear for a pre-wedding shoot but is still a big no-no for wedding dresses. Have you done any fashion photoshoots before? What kind of style and where would you like to do one if given the chance? I have done some fashion photoshoots with local designers for editorials and commercials. If I were given the chance to pick any location to shoot, I would choose Maldives. Who doesn’t love Maldives, right? The gorgeous beaches, the sea and the seclusions. Maldives just screams love, I think.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALL SEASON – PHOTO LOCATION VENICE, ITALY AND SWITZERLAND
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COFFEE PRINCE BY OBRA MAESTRA
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CONCEPT
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ith the soaring popularity of Korean dramas in Southeast Asia, it’s not surprising that fans are now looking to mimic that style for their bridal portraits. Very similar to
fashion editorial shoots and mostly done on sets in studios, Korean wedding photography plays with soft lights and vintage looks that often create a very romantic, dreamy mood. We managed to speak with one of Korea’s leading cordinators, Ti-amo Korea Wedding Photography, to learn more about the wedding industry over there. Most Korean photographers have a very similar style; can you pinpoint for us what is done differently? Bridal portraits in general, especially destination shoots, often put more emphasis on the dramatic locations than on the bridal couple themselves. The angles become a little repetitious and boring. Korean style photography focuses instead on close-up expressions, which has more character. Ti-amo has a lot of overseas clients. Where do most of them come from? People first discovered Korean style wedding photography through the Korean reality show ‘We Got Married’. In Seoul alone there are already more than a hundred such bridal studios with builtin sets that attract clients from the Chinese market, mostly from Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and China. Is it hard to shoot them compared to the locals? Is there a language barrier, for example? Our package includes a translator who is with them from dress fitting and makeup all the way to the selecting of photos, so communication is not a problem.
PHOTOs courtesy of TI-AMO KOREA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY BY OBRA MAESTRA
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PHOTOGRAPHERS
KANAGAWA BY ROMP Photography
around japan
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nara BY mark2 yeung PHOTOGRAPHY
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yamanashi BY avior pictures
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KYOTO THROUGH THE EYES OF 37 FRAMES
KYOTO TOKYO
Photographers
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racey Taylor and Dee Green of 37 Frames Photography are two very talented (and award-winning!) photographers who are based in Japan. Their passion for what they do, combined
with their outstanding skills, continuously deliver extraordinary images that tug at our heartstrings. It would be impossible to feature everything so we decided to highlight some of their work in Kyoto, which is possibly one of the most romantic and beautiful places in the world. Where are you originally from and why did you choose Japan? We are originally from Australia and have lived in Japan for some 16 years. My background (Dee) is in journalism; Trace’s in visual arts. We are passionate about all things Japan. Japan is endlessly fascinating, especially its weddings. From the intricate layers of priceless kimonos, where the bride always carries a dagger, to grooms on roofs, stoic emotion (no matter the occasion), couples bursting out of giant balloons, historical shrines and emcees who magically reappear as geishas, we know we will never see it all. Whether it is a traditional Japanese wedding, a more Western-inspired one or a fusion of both, plus the nijikai to end (the second reception for close friends, where the couple can really celebrate), Japanese weddings are ethereal and elegant, tinged with moments so powerful and rituals so meaningful that we can only imagine the complexity. And they can also be a lot of fun, which we adore. Do you have problems communicating with the locals or do both of you speak Japanese? We have a wonderful support team – fully bilingual hair and makeup artists and a wonderful Japanese assistant. Communication is never a problem. We travel worldwide for our beautiful clients, so we never concern ourselves with language – there is always a way, and of course, photography is its own amazing language.
Photographers
In your opinion, where is the most beautiful and picturesque place in Japan, and why? Japan has so many incredible places, from those that are secret and off the beaten track to the famous and well known. We adore Kyoto, Tohoku, the Aomori coast and Hokkaido, as well as Tokyo’s eclectic urban sprawl. Where do your clients usually come from? Honestly, worldwide. We have a lot of clients this year from Asia, such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam and India, as well as some from as far away as Norway and the US. And of course, from Japan. We adore the variety and the fact that we get to share our love of Japan with our clients. So it’s not just about the shooting but also about creating a real, meaningful and memorable story. They may book us first in Japan for the bridal portraits, then we’ll document their actual wedding in their own country or somewhere else. We find that our clients love having their story told in the same beautiful style.
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Photographers
DAY 1
KIYOMIZU-DERA Don’t miss this iconic UNESCO World Heritage site, and be sure to find the Jishu Shrine “Love Stones” and Otowa Waterfall. Walk directly up to Kiyomizu-dera so that you can enjoy the walk down the steep and busy lanes of shops at Higashiyama.
GION SHIRAKAWA A night at Gion Shirakawa is a must to fully experience Kyoto’s rich culture. The lanes of bars and restaurants, and the beauty of the different seasons will leave you breathless.
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DOWNLOAD ITINERARY FOR KYOTO HERE
DAY 2
ARASHIYAMA A beautiful journey that starts with the Sagano Romantic Train, moves on to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and ends with a stroll to the Togetsu-kyo Bridge. One of the most romantic walks ever.
KINKAKU-JI There is really nothing quite like the Golden Pavilion and its top two floors that are completely covered in gold leaf. With a beautiful garden accompanying it, this pavilion is truly worth a trip.
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Kyoto’s Must-Eat And Must-See List
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yoto is possibly one of the most romantic places in the world. Here, 37 Frames gives
us some inside tips: 01 GION SHIRAKAWA Gion is beautiful in any season, and the exclusive restaurants that line the quaint riverside are amazing. Head there in the late afternoon after a walk through Pontocho, and you just might be rewarded with a fleeting glimpse of a real geisha or maiko on their way to evening appointments. 02 Ume no Hana We also love the restaurant Ume no Hana for a special occasion. It has beautiful private rooms and specialises in Tofu Kaiseki cuisine. 03 Mr. Young Men Yes, that’s really the name! It’s comfort food, a cosy hole-in-the-wall restaurant serving Okonomiyaki. With dishes like Disco Men, how could you not try it?
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Best Season To Visit Japan
Japan’s quintessential four seasons guarantee a varied and special experience at any time of the year. Spring and fall are certainly our peak seasons, and we sometimes book out almost a year in advance. So if you are thinking of taking your photos during these seasons, you’ll need plenty of time to plan and book. The cherry blossoms (sakura) are spectacular, and the fall colours (koyo) are simply breathtaking. Expect crowds – which is why we plan custom experiences for all our clients based on the best light and a time of day with fewer people. Winter can be magical in the snow. Summer tends to be a little slower for us, especially for weddings, as kimonos are so hot and heavy. We tend to get more bridal portrait appointments in Okinawa or Hokkaido (gorgeous flower season!) during this time.
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2011
Great T
When the tsunami struck in 2011, many foreigners left Japan. Why did the both of you choose to stay? Japan is our home. Prior to 2011 we had been so lucky in our life and business, and things were going along so smoothly. Japan gave us a platform to showcase the beauty and exoticness of Japanese weddings to the world. And we were in no way ready to give up on that. Immediately following the earthquake, we had more than eight months of cancellations overnight, which translated to 16 months before bookings came back. This forced us to deeply consider what we wanted to do. We had two choices: give up or give it our all. Perhaps in an effort to selfishly ignore our own situation, and because we had time, we decided to do some volunteer and documentary work in the tsunami zone less then one week after the disaster. And it changed everything for us. The resilience and strength of the local people was overwhelming, even after all they had lost and been through. Over and over we heard that the best thing we could do for Japan was to work hard and never give up. We took this to heart and it has steered our course ever since. This has never resonated more: ‘When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.’
Tohoku Earthquake
Photo by Iyao photography
LAST FRAME
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