Alice and Justin – 25 January 2020
On the first day of the lunar New Year 2020, this couple made this auspicious day extra special. A blend of different cultures and different continents, this love story started all the way in Los Angeles. God’s blessing is truly evident on this lovely couple.
Watch their wedding film below.
[su_vimeo url=”https://vimeo.com/421851400″ width=”800″ height=”600″ title=”Christ Church Claremont Anglican Church – Perth Wedding Film”]
[su_quote cite=”Li Yen, Bridesmaid”]Alice and Justin met at the Dreamcenter, which is a foundation dedicated to finding solutions to homelessness, hunger and things such as lack of education. This beautiful couple that we celebrate tonight felt the individual need to give more and to put their careers on hold to become volunteers at the Dreamcenter. I find it just so fitting that it was at this place of selflessness that Alice was first introduced to Justin.[/su_quote]
Lets hear from the couple themselves:
How did you two meet?
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Justin and I first met in 2014 in Los Angeles when we volunteered at the Dream Centre. Every Saturday a small group of us would walk around Long Beach and assist however we could, be it a yard clean-up, praying for people, or giving out essential food items – we just wanted to show love to the local community. Before I (Alice) left USA after 4 months of volunteering, I added some people to Facebook so that we could maintain contact, Justin was one of those friends, except he didn’t accept my friendship request for FOUR years after the initial request. When we started communicating in 2018 over messenger and text, I had discovered that God had been speaking to him about me and unbeknown to the both us, we had each been single for exactly 12 years, and it was in this ‘suddenly’ moment that God was bringing two people located on opposites ends of the earth, into a colossal collision course of love, marriage and destiny.
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[su_spacer size=”40″]How did he propose?
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In February 2019, I (Justin) had time off work and visited Alice for two weeks in Sydney and Perth. It was my first time to Australia, and I was excited! Getting to see her native country was a real treasure.
I had secretly learned some Mandarin and Cantonese so I could talk with her family. I called her parents while I was still in USA and got their blessing to marry Alice. I told them of my grand plans to propose to her while we were on holiday in Sydney – they shared my excitement and maintained they would not divulge this little secret.
We spent Valentine’s Day at the Sydney Opera House after attending an Opera. It was February 14th 2019 and it was this day that I planned to propose to her. I had been carrying a guitar all day, even as we visited Taronga Zoo and Madame Tussauds. I had secretly learned how to play Bruno Mars, ‘Just The Way You Are’ with the view to sing and play for her as part of the proposal. I had rewritten some of the lyrics and wrote a poem for her. We headed outside the Opera house and I gave her a hug. I did not know this, but as we hugged, she felt the ring in my jacket pocket and figured out I was about to propose. I brought out the guitar and sang my love song to her, the night was going fantastically, and then out of the blue, she whispers, “if you’re thinking of proposing, please don’t do it now.”. Just like in a cartoon, those little dizzy stars started swirling around my head, I’m feeling perplexed and slightly dazed. She reasons with me and tells me not to just yet, since her extended family in Perth were yet to meet me, she’s so logical and practical – I love her! At that point, I told her that I would love her forever and if she wanted me to wait five years until we got married, I would happily do so. I wanted her to know that I was serious about her and I was committed for the long term, I wasn’t upset by her response, I understood where she was coming from and I respected that.
A few days later we flew to Perth and I met her family and friends, the week’s scheduled was packed with daily activities of meets and greets and then on the 23rd of February 2019 she tells me that she has organized her family and friends to come to the house for a party, and she lets me know that should want to propose during this time that I could. I wasn’t sure if she was going to say yes or no, but I jumped at the opportunity.
On the 23rd of February 2019, while in Perth, in front of family and friends, I fell to one knee, with tears in my eyes, I told her that I loved her forever and wanted to spend the rest of my days with her. She too had tears in her eyes, this time she hugged me and whispered, ‘Yes!’.
My darling wife, you make me the happiest man.
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[su_spacer size=”40″]What unique elements or DIY details did you include?
[su_spacer]My family came together to help assemble my wedding invitations. My sister who is a graphic designer, designed our gold ‘AJ’ signature motif which we used for the invites, church booklets, backlit bridal table and dance floor decal.[su_spacer]
[su_spacer size=”40″]What was your favourite moment?
[su_spacer]I loved our Church wedding ceremony! I loved that we were surrounded by God, our family and close friends in this beautiful stone walled church, with a priest who could laugh with us and love with us, and all present to witness the declaration of our vows. [su_spacer]
[su_spacer size=”40″]Tell us about your flowers, your dress, your flavours, your cake, etc.
[su_spacer]I wanted a bouquet with native flowers, but bursting with reds and whites, encased in soft greenery. The men’s buttonhole flowers were white roses with eucalyptus leaves. I designed my dress, and envisioned it to be filled with soft lace and heavy beading. It was backless, but featured intricate lines of beading that cascaded over bare skin. It was tightly fitted over the hips which flared into a three tiered train. My husband just loves chocolate cake, so we definitely had to go with that flavour for our four tiered cake.[su_spacer]
[su_spacer size=”40″]Describe your wedding day in your own words
[su_spacer]It was a day filled with love, laughter, warmth and magic[su_spacer]
[su_spacer size=”40″]What is one piece of advice that you could give brides-to-be?
[su_spacer]Your wedding is for one day, make sure you soak it all in. Your marriage is for your whole life, live each day loving one another as you did on that one day. [su_spacer]
[su_spacer size=”40″]Is there anything else you’d like to share?
[su_spacer]We wanted our wedding day to be memorable for all those that attended. We are who we are because of the people around us, so we not only wanted to celebrate us, but we wanted celebrate our family and friends – our reception was just one big party that celebrated life.[su_spacer]
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Vendors:
Filmmaker: Ben Chan @ Ben Chan Wedding Cinematography
Photographer: Evelyn Tan @ Ring and Veil Photography
Wedding Venue: Christ Church Anglican Church, Claremont
Reception Venue: Crown Towers
Catering: Crown Towers
Music: Matthew Milner @ DJ2U
Transportation and Limo: Bling Limousines Perth
Photobooth: Epic Photobooth Perth
Hotel Accomodation: Crown Towers
Ceremony Decor: Nikki Clark @Lace and Roses
Reception Decor:
Carolyn @ A Flamingo Surprise
Craig @ WedStyle
Iris @ Artistic Greenery
Lara @ Black Label Events