Singaporebrides | Photography
August 2016
Elsa and Zachary’s Rustic Woodland Church Wedding
Elsa and Zachary wed in a lovely intimate wedding at the Zion Serangoon Bible Presbyterian Church.
The first time Elsa Kwok, 25, met the love of her life, Zachary, 26, Personal Trainer, was at a farmer’s market in Brisbane as he was waiting for her to vacate a parking lot. That day, he walked away with more than a parking spot for his car. Four years on, the pair of young lovebirds tied the knot in an intimate rustic woodland wedding on 28 May 2016 surrounded by their families and friends, but not before the Spartans came for Elsa in the morning. Here’s a peek at their fun and unique Spartan gatecrash and lovely wedding reception beautifully captured by AndroidsinBoots and The Beautiful Moment Photography.
How did Zachary propose?
Elsa: Zach proposed the day before our third anniversary. After attending a wedding at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, our friends told me they wanted to take more pictures upstairs in the foyer. So, we went up and right as our friend was taking a picture for Zach and I, he knelt down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was really caught by surprise – we just had a big fight that morning about him not putting down the toilet seat!
Afterwards, he said he had reserved a place for us at Whisk & Paddle to celebrate our engagement. When we arrived at the restaurant, the waitress walked up and passed me a bouquet of flowers. When I looked towards the back, there was a long table decorated with flowers, candles and balloons! My family, friends and his family were all there to celebrate the day with us. It was truly special and meant so much to me.
What was your wedding planning like?
We had about a year and a half long engagement, so that gave us plenty of time to plan our wedding. It was quite a breeze because I knew exactly who I wanted to engage for my hair and makeup and our wedding photography, videography and so on. Since I approached them early, I had no trouble booking them! The biggest challenge was managing the guest list but I guess at the end of the day, those who really wanted to be there was there!
Was there a wedding theme?
Yes! It was rustic woodland botanical style. Ideally, I would have loved for our wedding to have been in a barn or next to a mountain or in the woods. Realistically, Singapore doesn’t have the weather or the scenery for it. So, the decision for the theme was pretty straightforward, that is, to bring the outdoors indoors!
We heard the Spartans crashed your wedding! Tell us more about your day!
It was the most fun we’ve ever had. We knew to expect the day to zoom by (advice from many married couples before us), so I think that really helped us savour every moment.
Because Zach is a personal trainer and have always been keen on committing to a healthy lifestyle, we felt it would be a fun idea to choose a theme for the gatecrash that could showcase the product of that. My sisters wore black dresses and took on the persona of “Dog tamers”, this is because many people (including Zach) calls Zach a dog, in a funny way because of the many crazy things he has done. I’m so amazed that my sisters put in so much effort to create a challenging gatecrash for the boys! (it included a web, dog bones, ice and a cage for a cat). If you ask me, they are much better looking than the boys!
A lot of things didn’t go as planned on our wedding day. One major setback was that a heavy thunderstorm and 100% precipitation was forecast for the entire day! It started pouring once the gatecrash began, but honestly it didn’t dampen the spirits of anyone. Looking back, Zach said it added to the fun and spontaneity! And guess what, the rain stopped after the games ended and didn’t rain again until after days after! Even though there were hiccups throughout the day, by God’s grace, everything worked out in the end.
What did your family and friends have to say about your wedding?
We definitely saw heaps of people sobbing away. Everyone said it one of the most emotional and tearful wedding! One aunty even commented that she felt like she was watching a Korean drama – her tears couldn’t stop flowing!
Share with us one special moment from your wedding.
The most special moment to me was when I walked down the aisle and saw Zach. Even though there were so many people around me who were clapping and cheering, I could only see him. I felt this wave of assurance and calmness and I knew he was the one for me. I knew I love him.
The Size of Wedding: 500 guests
The Cost of the Wedding: $15,000
The Venue: Zion Serangoon Bible Presbyterian Church
The Caterer: Elsie’s Kitchen
The Wedding Gown: Grace Loves Lace
The Wedding Shoes: Badgley Mischka
The Groom’s Suit: Benjamin Barker
The Groom’s Shoes: Janson Bootmaker
The Wedding Bands: Citigems
The Hair and Makeup: TangYong Hair & Makeup
The Wedding Flowers: Elsa’s mother, bridesmaids and herself
The Photographer: AndroidsinBoots (gatecrash & ceremony) / The Beautiful Moments Photography (reception area, lunch reception & group shots)
The Videographer: AndroidsinBoots
Want to see your love story featured on SingaporeBrides too? Submit your wedding here!
All content from this article, including images, cannot be reproduced without credits or written permission from SingaporeBrides.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram for the latest article and promotion updates!