When ex-MTV Asia VJ Choy got engaged to her sweetheart Michael Tanujaya in New York's Central Park, she fell in love with the idea of tying the knot in the great outdoors. So they decided on New South Wales, Australia to hold a daytime church ceremony followed by a countryside dinner at Mavis's Kitchen and Cabins in Mount Warning.
Dressed in a smart-casual pale grey suit by Azabu Tailor from Tokyo, Michael waited for his gorgeous bride at the altar. Flanked by both her fathers, the bride walked down the aisle in a mermaid gown with pleated tulle from Legends by Romona Keveza. That evening the couple threw a rustic vintage-themed wedding for 115 guests at Mavis's Kitchen and Cabins in Mt Warning.
Choy's wedding planners from Sugar and Spice made full use of the natural elements of the venue, from the pond to the barn, to give it a relaxed vintage-garden setting. They worked with a colour palette of soft pinks, peaches and hints of turquoise, and dressed up the venue with a 1950s vinyl player to spin old records, old picture frames and an old sewing machine (which reminds Choy of her late grandmother) to decorate the reception table.
During cocktail hour, guest sprawled on a grassy knoll by the pond decorated with old couches, picnic blankets and wine barrels. For the after-party venue, they utilised the barn next door and added bales of hay, lots of festoon and fairy lights draped on the wooden beams for that magical feel. With the help of Choy's bestie and florist, Justin Koh from Fleurlicious, the venue was awash with Colombian roses, rose sprays and fresh peonies displayed in planter boxes, recycled bottles and brass vases.
At dinner, they tucked into a hearty meat lover's spread of pork belly and Greek-styled lamb with rosemary salted potatoes and organic salads followed by delicious rosewater pavlovas, cheesecake and a naked wedding cake. In-between speeches, Choy's twin sister May, screened a surprise video presentation of the newly-weds' courtship, a Happy music video of friends from all over the world, and performed Abba's I Had A Dream.
As a surprise for Michael, Choy got the decorators to section off an area in the barn and turn it into a men's-only den called the Groom's Room. It was set up like a gentleman's lounge with antique chairs, desks and red drapes complete with whiskey, cigars and two beautiful barmaids. "It was my wedding gift to him. I figured since the wedding is almost always about the bride, I wanted to do something just for him and his boys to enjoy," she adds.
.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }
