Singaporebrides | Photography
May 2017
Gayle and Marc’s Bohemian Backyard Wedding at Wheeler’s Estate
Lovebirds Gayle and Marc sealed their love with a vow in a beautiful celebration at the dreamy Wheeler’s Estate.
Musicians Gayle Nerva, 27, and Marc Lian, 28, were friends for five years before mutual admiration and respect for one another eventually blossomed into love for the young couple. After a sweet and cosy proposal at home, Gayle and Marc tied the knot in a beautiful bohemian wedding with plenty of DIY touches on 16 February 2017 at the romantic Wheeler’s Estate.
How did the two of you meet?
Gayle: We met in 2010, through a mutual music friend. Since both of us were musicians and singers, we had that in common and would hang out as music friends
Marc and I were really platonic friends for a while before we started dating in 2015. We’ve collaborated on some music before but it wasn’t until that year that we started interacting with each other one on one. I had asked Marc to help me with some of my own music, and I guess we just at the right place and the right time, that we started chatting everyday, and meeting up often.
It was quite a slow climb to us finally figuring out what we meant to each other because I think we were worried about losing or affecting our friendship.
What drew you to each other? What’s one of the things you love most about your partner?
We have always had a mutual respect for one another and admired each other’s talent. I have always admired Marc from the very beginning. I thought he was incredibly talented and I just loved his music, and what he was doing with his music career. It was just so inspiring and it made me so happy to see such talent in our industry here in Singapore.
What I love about us is that, we may be like night and day, but we really complement each other. Marc is very patient and kind, and he really teaches me how to slow down and be more calm. I love that he is so filial, I love that he is very driven and hardworking and stays humble.
Share with us what your proposal was like.
The proposal! So, it was a regular evening where I was getting ready for bed, and Marc and I were looking at apartments online, to buy or rent. I got up to go to the bathroom, and when I came back to the room, Marc asked “what do you think about this one?”, as if asking me to check out an apartment. He turned the laptop to my direction and on the screen, he had written “WILL YOU MARRY ME?”. At first, I was like, “wait, what?”, feeling quite puzzled. I thought he was just being funny or something. And then he closed the laptop to reveal the ring behind it.
It was very sweet. He knows I don’t like loud proposals, so this was just so perfect cause it was unexpected and intimate. Oh, and I was in my PJs!
What was your wedding planning journey like?
I decided that I was going to plan the wedding myself, and DIY a lot of the things. It was really nice because I found out that I really enjoy doing it. Marc kept asking me to get a planner, but I just thought, if I can do it myself, why not?! So, I sewed my own wedding dress and sourced on Carousell for a couple of items. I even visited different venues to check them out. It was really interesting actually.
My biggest challenge was definitely my wedding dress. It’s actually my mother’s wedding dress from 1985. I had to unpick the entire dress and start from scratch almost. I added a new layer to the dress, and lace, and had to cut out individual lace pieces to attach to the new layer. The dress took forever! I had made it too long, and then I had to cut and redo the bottom all over again. It was a nightmare. So many times while I was working on it I kept thinking “OH MY GOD, why am I doing this? I should just buy one”. But I’m really glad I got it done in the end.
For the most part, my wedding planning was relatively smooth sailing. I have really awesome friends and they all chipped in so much. The Fabulous Baker Boy gave me a wedding cake as a wedding present, so the cake was settled super fast. My friend and colleague Kayly Loh from Bucket Full Of Roses helped out with the décor and flowers together with another one of my friend and colleague, Silver Ang. It turns out all three of us really enjoy doing this!
Any reason for picking a bohemian wedding theme?
I wanted to keep everything down to earth, and simple, so we went with a rustic bohemian theme. I wanted to keep it very comfortable and cosy, so I did away with the champagne popping and dress changes and bride and groom entrances and things like that. The wedding reception was a buffet, so everyone would get a chance to move around and feel free and easy, like a house party slash backyard wedding.
I sourced online for carpets to line the aisle for our solemnisation and the dining area,and instead of a traditional wedding arch, I constructed a wedding teepee out of long wooden sticks that I had bought from a construction site. To complete the bohemian look, I searched for antique looking cake tiered plates and glass bottles, collected aluminium cans for the flower centerpieces and made dreamcatchers for our photobooth. To top it off, I borrowed fairylights for that extra romantic vibe.
We also tried to be as bohemian as we could with our dressing. I opted for braids and flowers in my hair, made flower crowns for my bridesmaids and flower girls, while Marc rolled up his sleeves to showcase his Sailor jerry styled tattoos.
Was it love at first sight when you first saw Wheeler’s Estate?
Wheeler’s Estate is such a beautiful venue! I think I fell in love with it when I first saw it. Actually, it was my parents who suggested it to us! They live in the vicinity and my brother goes to school at Seletar airbase, so they had heard about it when it first opened.
There was just something about Wheeler’s Estate that felt right. It felt like home and once we tried the food, we were sold. They also have a really good service staff team as well. And the owners are very welcoming.
What was your wedding day like?
I was up in the wee hours that morning to make flower crowns and Marc’s boutonniere, and packed all the things that needed to be brought to Wheeler’s Estate. I went to bed after and had about three hours of sleep, I think.
My friends and family helped with the moving of the props and the setting up of the venue while I was rushing to help out, get ready and take photos before our solemnisation was due to start. But, as you know, delays are to be expected during a wedding. Seconds before I had to walk down the aisle, one of my bridesmaids accidentally stepped on the back of my dress and it ripped. Luckily, I brought along a sewing kit and was able to patch it up before we set off.
It was crazy and hectic in the beginning, but it all worked out in the end. It was beautiful and a really fun wedding.
Did your family and friends enjoy the venue and celebration?
I think everyone had a great time! A lot of them said that it was such a free and easy wedding, unlike others they’ve been to. They really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere, and how there was no set timetable or restrictions. It was just very beautiful and comfortable. We actually only had the venue until 10:30pm but everyone stayed past midnight and didn’t want leave.
Do you have one most memorable moment from your wedding day?
There were so many so its difficult to choose! I loved that my father sang as I walked down the aisle with my mother, and I loved that I got to sing with my husband! Eating our wedding cake was very memorable too, because it was the only ting we ate that day! Also, singing ‘Bohemian Rapsody’ so loudly with our families during our reception was way too much fun.
Any advice you’d like to share with brides-to-be planning their wedding?
Planning your wedding on your own might be a lot of work, but I think it can be really fun and enjoyable too! You just need to keep a clear notebook of what you want, and have enough hands to help you put it together on the day of the wedding. Make sure you list down all the things you are bringing to the wedding, and get someone to be in charge when it comes time to bring back everything. Tearing down your set-up might get a little messy, so if you lose a couple of things, that’s to be expected.
Delegate tasks to your friends, and be clear so they all know how they can best help you.Prepare extra tokens of appreciation just in case, and have someone you trust help you with distributing it out as you may not have time to give them out yourselves.
Also, make a list of things you’d like your photographer to capture! I forgot to do this and we forgot to take a shot with my bridesmaids. Thankfully, Andri has a really good eye, and captured many lovely moments from the night.
Oh, last but not least, make sure you have an emergency kit with sewing materials, hair spray, brushes, pins, safety pins, ribbons, nail clippers, first aid and other necessities. Sometimes you don’t know what could happen and you might need these things. I, for one, am so glad I brought my needle and thread along!
The Venue: Wheeler’s Estate
The Size of Wedding: Approximately 120 Guests
The Cost of Wedding: Approximately $16,000
The Photographer: Andri Tei Photography
The Wedding Gown: Gayle’s mother’s wedding gown
The Wedding Shoes: Far East Plaza
The Groom’s Suit: Zara
The Groom’s Shoes: Dr. Martins
The Wedding Rings: Custom PopRing by Emi Peng from Etsy
The Bridesmaids’ Outfits: Tailor-made by maid of honor Lily
Hair and Makeup: Hair by Prep ; Makeup by Gayle
The Wedding Cake: The Fabulous Baker Boy
The Wedding Florist: Bucket Full of Roses
The Solemniser: Jean Tan Gwek Lynn
The Wedding Stylist: Gayle and Bucket Full of Roses
The Wedding Photobooth: DIY
The Wedding Car: BTS.sg
The Wedding Stationery: DIY by Gayle, Edited and Printed by Prinks Design
The Wedding Planning: Gayle
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