Preparation
W Hotel Macau | Cotai Strip
We started the day quite early and made sure to grab a heavy breakfast, knowing just how hectic everything would be. The night prior, I didn’t get much rest or sleep—maybe because my mind was restless, running through every detail: making sure everything was prepared, praying relentlessly that it wouldn’t rain the next day, and going through my checklist and itinerary for the hundredth time. Or maybe, it was simply the mix of emotions—mainly excitement and nervousness. As we started getting ready and having our makeup done, both Lennon and I began to feel a little queasy from the buildup of nerves.
When we started looking for wedding dresses back in November 2025, I didn’t have any specific expectations or inspirations in mind. All I wanted was something that would make me feel comfortable and complement my body shape. This dress was the last one I tried on, after a dozen others over the course of two days. It was also the first dress that caught my eye when we walked into the shop. Out of the hundreds of dresses we saw, this one stood out with its unique design-there was nothing else quite like it.
The moment I tried it on, it fit perfectly. I just knew: this was the dress. It was the only one that made me feel truly beautiful and in awe of my own skin and body-something I’ve struggled with for years. I didn’t order it right away, though. Unfortunately, it also happened to be the most expensive dress I tried on (now, looking back, it was soooo worth it!). At the time, I couldn’t justify spending that much on something l’d wear for just one day. So I sat on it. For a month, I looked back at photos of me in other dresses-but as the days went by, I kept coming back to this one. I kept envisioning myself in its simple yet elegant corset bodice, flowing skirt, and the delicate strings of pearls around the waist-which happen to be my favorite jewelry to wear. Honestly? It was giving major Vivienne Westwood vibes.
The moment I tried it on, it fit perfectly. I just knew: this was the dress. It was the only one that made me feel truly beautiful and in awe of my own skin and body-something I’ve struggled with for years.
CEREMONY
Our Lady of Carmel Church | Taipa
We arrived at our church ceremony almost 30 minutes late, and everyone was already waiting for us. As soon as we stepped out of the car, we felt quite overwhelmed by the sea of people—it just so happened that on the same day, quite a number of other couples were also in queue to get married at the civil registration hall directly across the church.
Since we arrived feeling tense, we completely forgot everything we'd learned from our church rehearsal. And while I was walking down the aisle, I felt so shy and awkward with everyone looking at me that I'm pretty sure I was almost running to the altar—where I also ended up tripping on my wedding gown!
our dream photoshoot
Even before we got engaged, we already knew that Oak St. Studios would be capturing our wedding day. I first heard about Oak St. back in 2016 from my The LaSallian orgmates during my university days in La Salle, and I’ve been a fan ever since. I’ve been patiently (and not-so-patiently) waiting for the day I could finally book them as our photographers—as their work truly captures what I’ve always envisioned: authentic, documentary, and cinematic storytelling.
We expected the photos to be great, amazing, even. But we were not prepared for just how breathtaking they would turn out. Maika & Jonathan captured every emotion we felt throughout our wedding day, including the beautiful chaos of it all. Working with them felt like catching up with old friends. Throughout the shoot, Lennon and I felt completely at ease and playful (and that’s saying a lot, coming from someone who’s super awkward and camera-shy!). You could really feel their passion for the craft, their creativity, and their attention to even the tiniest details.
It had been raining heavily for the last few days. The night prior, we had to make a quick late-night trip to our reception venue to discuss Plan B should it rain the next day—since we had planned for an outdoor reception. Honestly, I had been quite anxious in the days leading up to the wedding. I had planned the perfect shoot itinerary and reception design, but it seemed like everything would be ruined by the weather.
On the morning of our wedding, it was still raining. I held out hope that it would stop soon. Luckily, the universe was on our side. The rain stopped during our photoshoot and only returned—heavy once again—after all our guests had arrived at the reception venue. We were able to bring my Pinterest moodboard to life!
reception
Hotel Pousada De Coloane | Coloane
We also ended up running late to our reception, which left us rushing and a bit stressed again! Hahaha. Most of our friends and family were able to join us on this special day, even if it meant taking time off work or flying all the way to Macau just to celebrate with us. This post is an appreciation dedicated to everyone in our lives who has guided us and helped us grow, whether independently or as a couple. We are so looking forward to the years ahead and all the memories we'll continue to create with our friends & families.
A labor of love for our guests
When it came time to choose our wedding favors, the decision was a no-brainer-we knew we had to go with our handmade coconut and soy candle blend.
Over the span of two months, we poured each candle by hand, designed the packaging labels and name tags, and packed them one by one. It was such a joy to work on, especially since I got to create custom packaging just for our wedding day-all with the thought of giving something made with love to the people we care about most.
Photos of the candle prep are taken by Thea
