HR Real Bride Novie wearing Elie Saab
“From the first moment I stepped into the store to when I collected the finished dress, Helen, Nicole and Effie created the most effortless experience and helped me find my perfect dress. I felt so confident and fabulous, and I’ll cherish the experience of finding this dress forever. Thank you!”
Bride & Groom: Novie & Thomas
Planning & Styling: Delapan Bali Wedding
Gown: Elie Saab
Bridesmaids dresses: Vivienne Westwood and Erdem
Venue: Khayangan Estate, Bali
Photography and Videography: Pixamore
Catering and drinks: Bali Miracle and Boogaloo
Florals and Décor : Cloris Decoration Bali
Music: Sundaram Strings, Soulfeggio and DJ Bram
How did you and your husband meet?
Thomas and I met on New Year’s Eve 2020! We both live in Singapore, which had just allowed for groups of 8 to gather, and our mutual friend Cecilia invited us both to ring in the new year together. She says it was definitely not a setup, but we are grateful to her anyway for introducing us! Cecilia was our officiant at our wedding, and it felt like a full circle moment.
How did he propose?
Thomas took me on a birthday weekend away to Koh Samui. We both had been working hectic schedules, so although we had discussed getting engaged, I was definitely not expecting it that weekend! Little did I know, Thomas had spent the previous 3 months speaking to my family and designing a ring. He proposed after dinner on the beach, just us two and under the stars with Boyz II Men playing in the background. It was perfect.
What was your vision for your wedding day?
Thomas is from Vienna and I am from Sydney, so our guests were crossing oceans for us, for which we are so grateful. We wanted to give them a memorable weekend getaway, starting with a welcome party on a Friday, the wedding on Saturday, and a brunch and pool party on the Sunday.
Our vision of the location was a garden on a cliff, with endless ocean views. Khayangan Estate is breathtaking and was really the only venue we considered. The brief we gave our team was timeless, elegant and organic – to enhance the beauty of the venue and to make our guests feel like they had been whisked to a floral escape filled with fun, delicious local food and endless French 75s.
Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?
Instagram! We had a clear idea of the look, feel and palette for our wedding, and Instagram was helpful to get ideas on how others made use of their venues and to get décor ideas.
What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?
I chose and bought my dress within an hour of my first visit to Helen’s store. As soon as I stepped in it, that was it! I loved the craftsmanship, the sculptural cut and the drama of the train. It made me feel like the most elegant and confident version of myself.
What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?
We had a dream team in Delapan Bali Wedding and we started planning a year before the big day. Given it was destination wedding, having a planner who had a list of trusted vendors was key. Thomas and I are also quite decisive, so we didn’t really have any meltdowns during the planning process, miraculously. In hindsight, the key things that made for the smooth planning journey was communication with each other and not looking back once a decision was made. Thomas and I constantly checked in with each other to ensure any planning concerns were addressed, and in a way, it made the planning journey fun!
What was the biggest decision you had to make?
Whether to have a wedding at all! We had a civil ceremony about a year before our Bali wedding, which was a very intimate affair with only 15 people. It was such a special day that we wondered if we should have a big wedding in Bali with our extended family and friends. In the end, we figured we wouldn’t have many opportunities to bring our favourite people from each of our eras together in the same room. Once we thought about it like that, it was an easy yes.
What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?
Reading our vows to each other. We had written personal vows which we didn’t hear until the ceremony. Hearing Thomas’ words to me, it felt like we were the only two people there. So special.
Is there anything you would do differently?
It was better than what we could have imagined. We wouldn’t change a thing.
Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?
Although I said Instagram was great for inspiration, it can also be an enemy. It is very easy to get overwhelmed by the content you see online, and everyone has an idea of what you “must have” for your wedding, even if it might not be your style. It is easier said than done, but don’t second guess yourself! It is your wedding, and you know yourself best. Ignore the noise and trust yourself. Also, the guest list is very important! Our guests made the weekend and each of them brought the energy that we could not have planned ourselves.
