Singaporebrides | Real Weddings
September 2024
Debbie and Johnson’s Intimate Wedding Affair at Artemis Grill And Sky Bar
One and a half years after meeting on a dating app, Debbie and Johnson were engaged after an impromptu proposal in Australia.
Debbie, 30, Art Director, and Johnson, 33, Project Manager, are both introverts that met on a dating app. Knowing that they wouldn’t feel comfortable with a boisterous and grand affair, the couple was able to create a wedding that fit their personalities perfectly. With their eyes set on Artemis Grill & Sky Bar as their wedding venue, Debbie and Johnson then went on to design their dream wedding, some by themselves!
Tell us about how you met
Like how most modern love stories begin, we met on a dating app! From the beginning, we were both intentional and clear about the kind of life partner we were looking for, and we got all the hard ultimatum questions out of the way on the first date (kids, religion, money, etc). Things moved quickly but naturally, and we were engaged one and a half years after meeting each other. When you know, you know.
What was the proposal like?
Johnson: It happened in Australia, somewhere along Great Ocean Road. The exact location was largely unplanned. In fact, I wasn’t sure I was going to propose during the trip, as my grandmother had just passed away a few weeks before we travelled. But my family members encouraged me to propose to Debbie and I decided to bring the engagement ring with me, just in case. It was really at the spur of the moment when I felt that the time was right and that this was it. I pretended to take a photo by setting up the camera, and got down on one knee and proposed. The spontaneity added a little magic to that important moment!
What was your wedding day like?
Debbie: We knew we wanted it to be intimate and relaxed. I’m a creative at my day job, so I knew I wanted to design everything possible, from the welcome signs, to the seating chart, to the menus and place cards and more.
Thankfully, we have very supportive parents, so we were able to do away with some things like the gate–crashing and yum seng, things we knew we would not have enjoyed as introverts. We had the opportunity to plan and curate every moment as we saw fit. We wanted our guests to feel like they were just enjoying a meal with us and having fun. We chose Artemis Grill and Sky Bar for our lunch reception as we loved the way the afternoon light filled the restaurant beautifully. There was also an outdoor garden area where we could hold our solemnisation (thankfully it was sunny on the actual day and we were able to proceed!).
Our photographer, Eugene from Bottled Groove Photography, captured the small and big moments of the day perfectly, whether it was our nephews being playful during the solemnisation, or when we said our private vows. If there’s one tip we can share, it is to pick the wedding photographer of your dreams, because the collection of photos will continue to bring back cherished memories long after the event is over.
It was a year of planning the biggest day of our lives, and while we’re glad it’s over, we’ll always look back fondly on how our friends and family (and vendors) came together to celebrate our union.
SingaporeBrides has an extensive directory of vendors, which we trawled through a lot when we first started the planning process. We also learned about some Chinese traditions through their articles, which was really helpful! The Real Weddings column also served as inspiration for us in crafting our perfect day.
What was the most memorable moment of your wedding?
Johnson: The small window of time when I was in the restaurant’s bridal room, when only Debbie, the make up artist and our close friends were there. I just felt so at peace, resting in the room while Debbie was doing her touch ups. The moment felt like it was just us at our wedding.
Debbie: When we said our private vows to each other in the outdoor garden, while the rest of the guests were having their main course. While we had already said our vows publicly during the solemnisation, this was a chance for us to dive deep and share some words that were just for us. It was such a surreal moment, and I really felt the gravity of the moment, marking the first day of the rest of our shared life together.
Vendor details
The Size of the Wedding: 122
The Cost of the Wedding: $35,000
The Venue: Artemis Grill & Sky Bar
The Wedding Day Photographer: Bottled Groove Photography
The Gown: Stitch by Stitch Co.
The Bride’s Shoes: Forever Soles
The Suit: The Gentlemen’s Atelier
The Groom’s Shoes: Pedro
The Engagement Ring: Artemis Rings
The Wedding Bands: Fujimori Kajita
The Hairstylist and Makeup Artist: Eileen from Beauty Without Filter
The Wedding Cake: Edith Patisserie
The Florist: Elin W Design
The Wedding Planner: Us :)
The Pre-Wedding Photographer: Bottled Groove Photography
The Wedding Invitations and Stationery: Designed by the bride
The Wedding Favours: Artemis Grill and Sky Bar
The Solemniser: Mr Francis Ng
Did you use SingaporeBrides to plan your wedding: Yes
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