After a year of planning, the first time it sank in was when my husband and I sat down at the reception. We held hands, sipped champagne, and looked around—everyone we loved was in one room, laughing and connecting. It felt calm, real, and overwhelming in the best way.

Then came the speeches. One of my bridesmaids said, “I hope you have as much fun growing old with her as we did growing up with her,” and I just broke down. My sister sang Can’t Help Falling in Love, which reminded me so much of our mom. As she sang, I saw her presence again, and my husband kissed my head while I cried.

My maid of honor sang La Vie en Rose in three languages and reminded us she had been with me on the Bali trip where I first met my husband—without her, we may never have crossed paths. And then my dad—serious and quiet—told me he was proud of me. Hearing that, especially from him, meant everything. He ended with Mabuhay—“long live”—and the whole room echoed it back. That moment—listening to everyone’s words, laughing and crying together—was the most grounding part of the night.

How did you know your dress was “the one”?
As a perfectionist, I never thought I’d have a “this is it” moment. But when I tried on Gia by Galia Lahav, it was flawless. Light, airy, romantic, and timeless, the perfect gown for Bali. Even clamped at the back, it felt made for me. When the wind caught the tulle at our reception, it looked like my dress was dancing in the breeze. It was everything I dreamed of.

How did it feel when you put on your dress the day of the wedding? What was everyone’s reaction?
It felt surreal, like I could finally exhale. My bridesmaids cried and said, “It’s so you.” My dad told me I looked beautiful, which said everything. And when I saw my husband’s face at the end of the aisle, I knew it was all worth it.

Would you have done anything differently?
I wish I had started makeup earlier and maybe asked guests to put phones away during the ceremony. But truly, the love we felt from everyone there outweighed everything. If your day is filled with love, you’ve done it right.

What was your favorite part of the wedding to plan?
Dress shopping was magical! Trying gowns with my bridesmaids is a memory I’ll always cherish. I also loved the styling process. As an interior designer, creating the mood boards and seeing it all come to life was incredible. None of it would’ve been possible without Narelle from Global Weddings and Kylie from Enakai Creative. They were my calm, capable team on the ground in Bali, bringing every detail to life.