Real Wedding – Quynhi & Ben, Melbourne VIC
Elegant, but not extravagant; classy, but no stranger to a party – this was the brief for Quynhi and Ben’s big day.
The groom with an eye for detail, design and DIY was the driving force behind the look and feel of their Victorian State Library love fest.
The celebration seamlessly fused cultural traditions – like a tea ceremony – alongside more modern trends – like a first look – to curate a wedding day that was authentic to the couple.
Scroll on to see how they struck a stylish balance between old and new, meaningful and memorable, captured in contemporary artistry by Maegan Brown Moments.
The meeting.
We found each other on Tinder. Our conversation flowed like no other, and we built banter pretty quickly. It was a no-brainer that Ben had to ask Quynhi out on the perfect dinner date – to which she agreed!
But it wasn’t that simple… Ben had something he needed to tell Quynhi. Something he had been sitting on ever since he swiped right on her familiar face. That big secret was that he actually saw her a week prior in an Officeworks training video that one of his friends also starred in. Ben thought Quynhi was cute, but unfortunately, the video didn’t display names. It seemed like fate when he saw her face once again on Tinder, this time with a name!
But that’s not all to the story…When Ben asked Quynhi what some of her favourite movies and shows were, she quickly shared with him a summary of her favourite documentary series called “Better Man” that she had studied as part of her year nine English class years ago. Ben thought to himself, “She must be joking”. It turns out that Ben starred as a young background extra in the documentary. Who knew Quynhi would be laying eyes on the love of her life and future husband at age 15 in her English class.
The ‘one’.
Ben: If you know, you know…you know? Jokes aside, I knew very early on that Quynhi was something special, and I fell in love very quickly.
Quynhi: By very quickly, he means he said “I love you” in week two! While most girls would probably run, I knew then that I had someone with a big heart who saw me before I learnt to see myself and loved me unconditionally. I also knew Ben was ‘the one’ when he would, time after time, sit patiently at family dinners, nodding with curiosity, as my dad told him the same story for the millionth time.
The proposal.
It was the day we moved into our house. It was a sunny mid-June afternoon. After a busy day running around, moving into our new home and trying to shoo out the removalists, Quynhi was getting ready for the dinner Ben had booked while he quietly laid out the rose petals that led upstairs to the engagement.
The planning.
We had a good two years to plan and with Ben’s background in design, he took full control of organising it all, getting input from the bride at key points. From 3D printing a letterpress machine to make name cards, to chopping timber and pipe to make the welcome signage, it was a real hands-on experience.
Style inspiration.
The vibe we were going for was classy, but no stranger to a party. Elegant but not overly extravagant. Seeing how our particular venue had been used previously helped us envision what we did/didn’t want, while the more styled shoots helped us get into the details of things that we would want to incorporate.
The ceremony.
Our “celebrant” was a close friend who always jokes about being anyone’s best man or maid of honour. We thought we’d take it up a notch and have him right there in the middle.
The outfits.
Ben: I wanted a timeless and minimal suit, so I went with the Alec double-breasted tuxedo and opted for a concealed button shirt, finished with the Fred bow tie.
Quynhi: I wanted a gown that exuded modern sophistication while embracing a soft, ethereal allure. Opting for the T.D.G dress by Newhite, I was captivated by its double-layered design, where a sleek, fitted lining subtly peeks through the billowing pleated tulle skirt, creating a harmonious blend of structure and airiness. The asymmetrical bow bodice, with its artful cutout, added a playful yet refined touch, striking the perfect balance between bold character and timeless elegance.
Favourite moments.
Ben: I was surprised by how overcome with emotion I got during the day. The first look and the ceremony brought many tears to my eyes, but one of my highlights was seeing my grandpa get on the d-floor.
Quynhi: The stillness in the quiet moment I had to myself before walking down the aisle. It was like standing in the morning sun and taking a breath of fresh air. There are not many times in your life where you get to pause, reflect, and then walk into a room full of people who love and support you. I also enjoyed sitting down at our sweetheart table with Ben, sharing our first of many meals together as a married couple.
Meaning of marriage.
Marriage is the shared commitment to each other. To love, support and grow with each other. It is the building on top of the relationship foundations we have created in the years prior; the anticipation and excitement of the journey that is to come.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle: I Choose You – Ryann Darling
Recessional: Never Going to Give You Up – Rick Astley
Reception Entry: Somebody – Boo Seeka
First Dance: Conversations in the Dark – John Legend
Exit Song: Sky Full of Stars – Coldplay
Funny stories/near disasters.
A day before the stationery drop-off date, the Quynhi noticed she misspelt her MOH’s last name and went into extreme panic mode, but our printer, Papermarc, was kind enough to do an emergency same-day printing.
Planning surprises.
Popular vendors like photographers, DJ’s, and hair/make-up artists often book out a year in advance so, if you’ve got your heart set on someone, contact them super early.
Words of wisdom.
It was super helpful to be organised but start early and give yourself room for error as things inevitably do go wrong.
Also start taking notes of things you like when you’re a guest at other people’s weddings. When little things go wrong (and they will!) try not to let it take away from your day. The reality is, nobody else will even notice.
QUYNHI & BENJAMIN’S SUPPLIERS:
We knew exactly what we wanted for our wedding, so it was all about finding the right team to make it happen. Thankfully, we have a talented bunch of friends, many of which helped make our day uniquely ours. We found the remaining suppliers through word of mouth and social media, who all made the day one epic party!
Ceremony & Reception: State Library of Victoria (Ian Potter Queen’s Hall)
Pre-Dinner Drinks: State Library of Victoria (La Trobe Reading Room)
Celebrant: Our close friend, Nick, played the part of “celebrant”.
Photography: Maegan Brown Moments
Videography: Luca Zarik Films
Catering and Styling: Showtime Events Group
Florist: The Curated Details
Hair: Jenn Chan for the bride. Yujin for the groom.
Make-up: Jenifer In
Traditional Dress: Keeping Tradition with phoenix embroidery by the bride.
Ceremony Dress: Newhite from Twelve South Bridal
Veil: Dove Grey Bridal from Twelve South Bridal
Reception dress: Bariano
Rings: VAHÉ Jewellery / David Parums
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Azazie
Suit and Bow Tie: Godwin Charli
Catering (Tea Ceremony): Lucky Cat
Cake: JNtreats
Stationery / Signage: Designed and made by the groom with the exception of welcome signage and menus, which were printed by Papermarc
Entertainment : DJ Emily Gracie for the reception and the bride’s brother Patrick Nguyen Kieu and partner Hridita for pre-dinner drinks.
