Bride & Groom: Elpiniki and Emmanuel
Gown: Lee Grebenau ‘Bella’ from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Photography: Inlighten Photography
Venue: The Linseed House, The Grounds of Alexandria
Floral: The Grounds Floral by Silvia
Accessories: HR Bridal Accessories
Bridesmaid dresses: Oleg Cassini
Makeup: Simone Forte
Videography: Soda Films
Invites: The Distillery
Hair: Hair by Nala
How did you and your husband meet?
Emmanuel and I met at a friend’s wedding 4 years ago - he knew the groom, and I knew the bride. Despite it being a Greek wedding with a guestlist of 500 people, Emmanuel said he noticed me across the room. He walked over to me, said I looked familiar (a carefully constructed opening line) and the rest was history. He messaged me at midnight after the wedding and we went out on our first date three days late.
How did he propose?
It was the most beautiful, funny and unexpected proposal! Emmanuel had to complete a training course in Singapore for two weeks and surprised me with tickets to join him on the second week. He planned activities and day spa for me to do during the day whilst he was working. The surprise was nearly spoilt as the staff members had decorated my room with petals and streamers before he had even ‘popped the question.’ Lucky, Emmanuel realised the mistake before I entered the room and dragged me downstairs to get another coffee with him. The staff managed to clean up the room before we returned to have a nap. To Emmanuel’s relief and my surprise, he proposed in the evening in a beautifully decorated gazebo at the Singapore Botanical Gardens. He gave the best speech and it was the best day ever.
What was your vision for your wedding day?
We envisioned a romantic, elegant, garden-themed wedding which was fun and full of love. Emmanuel is a singer so the music and entertainment for us was key. On the day, it felt like a fairy tale and was better then we ever expected.
Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?
I looked on Pinterest and Instagram pages for inspiration which had a romantic, industrial slightly rustic and garden vibe. The vendors at the Grounds of Alexandria were amazing, so I really trusted in them and following their guidance with the styling.
What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?
I really wanted a gown that was elegant, feminine, lacey with a leaf design in order to suit the theme of my wedding. As soon as I stepped into HR Bridal room, I noticed my Lee Grebenau dress. I just love the fine leaf embroidery with the beautiful beading. It was the first and the last dress I tried on!
What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?
My wedding event and all the planning happened during COVID-19. We moved our wedding date but surprisingly it was not as stressful as we expected; I had lots of help from my sister, mum and husband to be, and our vendors were so accommodating. Importantly, COVID-19 really put things into perspective for us and we realised the priority was our marriage and we just wanted to start the next chapter of our lives. It was also helpful that my main vendors were booked 8-10 months from the wedding day. However, I am a very last- minute person, so all the other details including my shoes, accessories, centrepieces were organised 2 weeks out. EEK!
What was the biggest decision you had to make?
The biggest decision we had to make was taking the risk to move the wedding day. We had 20 family members from overseas who were planning to attend, including my grandmother. We moved the wedding date from July to November 2020, in the hope that they would be able to make it. We were devastated they could not be there and although we considered moving the date a second time, we had to accept the uncertainty of life.
What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?
The highlight of the wedding day for both of us was the ceremony. I felt so many different emotions and my cheeks were genuinely sore from smiling the whole hour. We were blessed to have the Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church there and we just felt so much love in the room and from a far (as our family were watching from overseas).
Is there anything you would do differently?
In hindsight, I would have organised details of my wedding sooner and taken at least a week or two off before the wedding. You don’t want to feel rushed and you need time to enjoy the wedding planning journey.
Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?
Be open-minded and choose the dress that makes you feel beautiful and comfortable. You will know the dress when you see it on you. And more importantly, don’t look back; there are a lot of beautiful dresses out there but you’ve got to remember yours is the perfect one for you.
The HR bridal team were so lovely and helpful! They showed such enthusiasm in helping me find my perfect dress and I felt supported throughout my wedding journey.
