Vivian and Bayu’s winery wedding proves that a large guest count, strong cultural traditions, and a fashion-forward aesthetic can coexist without visual chaos. When it came to planning, Vivian sums it up simply. The goal was making sure everyone left saying, “that was a frigging fun wedding!” Despite being a fall wedding in Melbourne, the day felt summer-led, with orchid-driven details, a Chinese tea ceremony, and crisp imagery by Citrus 7 Photography.
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Style: Refined, Modern, Romantic
Time of planning: 1 year
Number of guests: 250
Setting: Winery
Season: Fall
Vivian and Bayu met fourteen years ago, back when they were slightly nerdy high schoolers who bonded over movies, TV shows, video games, and shared interests. Their relationship slowly evolved through friendship, long shifts at a wedding catering company, and Bayu’s now-legendary habit of driving Vivian home after late-night work.
They started dating in 2014, moved through early adulthood together, and eventually fell into a shared love of travel. After nine years of dating, Bayu proposed during their second trip to Japan, under a cherry blossom tree in Hakone. It felt perfectly on-brand for a couple who had grown up together.
Chinese Tea Ceremony
The day began with a Chinese tea ceremony at Vivian’s father’s home. Traditionally, this ritual is the moment a marriage is formally acknowledged within the family. Tea is served to elders first, following a clear hierarchy based on age and kinship, and in return, the couple receives blessings and symbolic gifts. It’s a ceremony reinforcing the idea that marriage is not only a union of two people but an integration into a wider family lineage.
Although Bayu is not Chinese, his close relatives participated fully, making the ceremony feel shared rather than symbolic. Serving tea to more than twenty couples stretched the timeline, which is typical for this tradition and part of its logic.
The ceremony naturally shifted into a backyard lunch catered by Vivian’s father’s restaurants, turning tradition into hospitality. The spicy fried chicken became an unexpected highlight, one that Bayu’s friends still bring up long after the wedding. From there, the couple made their way to Balgownie Estate, their accommodation and getting-ready location.
Bride's Morning & Fashion
Vivian approached her bridal look with a very clear brief: refined, elegant, and absolutely not over-the-top. Comfort mattered, but confidence mattered even more.
She wore the Geiranger gown, sourced from Raffaele Ciuca Bridal Armadale, paired with Lark White Satin shoes by Bared, chosen specifically because the day started at 4:30 a.m. Diamond earrings from Chow Sang Sang completed the look, while Jo Malone English Pear and Sweet Pea became her signature scent for the day.
Makeup by Jane Kingsavanh of Makeup by Jane leaned into a classic soft-glam direction, while Pearly Hairstylist styled a romantic up-do with loose curls that held up through heat, hugs, and a very full dance floor.
The bouquet became a standout detail. It combined nudes, pastel peaches, apricots, and light greens, with orchids, anthuriums, hydrangeas, roses, and amaranthus, creating movement without noise.
Groom’s Fashion
Bayu opted for a tuxedo by InStitchu, styled clean and unfussy. Custom engraved cufflinks marked the day and matched his groomsmen, while a Rolex Explorer II, gifted by his in-laws.
The couple chose matching engraved fragrances, with Bayu wearing Jo Malone Cypress & Grapevine. His approach to the look was intentional. It was about showing up as the best version of himself, not just for the photos, but for the moment itself.
Ceremony
The main ceremony took place on the lawn in front of the winery. Styled and designed by Lettuce & Co, with florals supplied by Sassafras Floral, the ceremony setup balanced soft romantic blooms with the strong architectural language. Delicate, orchid-forward arrangements and pastel-toned florals were set against a contemporary arbour built from clean, vertical lines, echoing the striped rhythm of the building.
“Walking down the aisle — so overwhelmed with emotions. Seeing everyone I love being in one place and celebrating me and Bayu’s love. Walking towards Bayu with my arms around my dad. I was so grateful and felt so so loved.”
With temperatures climbing, white parasols were prepared for guests, quickly becoming a practical solution and a striking visual element. The ceremony itself was modern in tone, with I Get to Love You by Ruelle performed live by The Russell’s, grounding the moment in something intimate and unforced.
“Placing the wedding ring on my now wife’s hand and hearing the celebrant pronounce us husband and wife. This was the moment that hit the hardest and will forever be a memory that I will never forget.”
Moments Together
After the ceremony, guests moved into cocktail hour while the day kept its pace. Vivian and Bayu didn’t do signature cocktails, but they did keep one thing very personal, Viv’s dad’s favourite shot, Moutai, making its rounds. The cocktail hour also included a live oyster shucking bar, a crowd favourite the couple were genuinely glad they added.
While guests settled into cocktail hour, Kai Tan of Citrus 7 Photography took Vivian and Bayu for portraits around the winery and vineyard. Vivian’s airy gown did half the work with the fabric caught the sun. The other, more deliberate part belonged to Kai, whose instinctive vision and experience picked up those fleeting moments on the fly, turning them into something precise and lasting.
Vivian also wrote that the sunset became one of the most unforgettable parts of the day, the kind of golden hour that pulls everyone outside without needing an announcement. The couple took full advantage of it for photos, and it gave the story a natural high point before the night moved on.
Decor & Reception
The reception at Levantine Hill Estate followed the same sharp vision as the ceremony. Working closely with the planner, the couple leaned into a look that felt intentional. Florals stayed in a soft, muted blush tones, gentle greens, designed to sit against the winery’s bold architecture instead of competing with it.
Ceremony florals were reused throughout the space, with the arbour reappearing behind the bridal table, turning the entire setup into one continuous visual story. Stationery and table details were kept minimal, letting space, light, and structure lead.
One of the most talked-about details of the day were wrapped florals and vases waiting to be taken home. It landed as a genuinely thoughtful gesture, a way to say thank you, and at the same time a smart, no-waste, sustainable idea that gave the flowers a second life beyond the day.
The floral thread continued into dessert. Instead of ending with the decor, it quietly evolved into the cake itself: a three-tier white fondant design finished with soft white orchids, echoing the ceremony and reception florals rather than competing with them. Sliced and boxed on the night, the cake was sent home with guests, extending the same floral idea one step further, thoughtful, cohesive, and very intentional.
Music carried the night from emotional to chaotic in the best way. Close friend DJ Davy Wong took over, moonboot and all, after breaking his foot just days earlier. The first dance to Only Hope by Switchfoot eased everyone in before the energy flipped completely. A surprise live violin set by Dario changed the room instantly, Taylor Swift covers, tables climbed, dance floor packed.
Mid-reception, a same-day edit video played, pulling everyone back into the story of the day. Moments from the Chinese tea ceremony, door games, and the aisle walk unfolded on screen, pausing the room before the night picked up again.
Speeches followed naturally, beginning with Vivian’s father, continuing with her siblings, and landing with Bayu’s brother, who first delivered heartfelt words before reappearing later in the night dressed as Sailor Moon, perfectly summing up the night’s mix of emotion, humour, and zero overthinking.
Advice from the couple:
• Bayu: Planning a wedding is not easy.. It takes a lot of patience and effort to organise, but the memories are worth every moment.
• Viv: To all the brides-to-be — if you’re stressing as much as I did, trust me, once the day arrives, every little worry will melt away. Take it slow, soak it all in, and stay present. The day will fly by faster than you can imagine, and it will feel like a beautiful dream.
PHOTOGRAPHER Citrus7 Photography | VIDEOGRAPHER Aldin Ortinez | WEDDING STYLIST Lettuce & Co | VENUE Levantine Hill Estate | FLORALS Sassafras Floral | MUAH Makeup by Jane, Velvet Thi, Pearly Hairstylist | BRIDAL GOWN Raffaele Ciuca Bridal | GROOM & GROOMSMEN SUITS InStitchu | CELEBRANT Celebrations by Rosalie | MC Nikki Zhao | DJ Davy Wong | LIVE CEREMONY MUSIC The Russell’s | PHOTOBOOTH Cherish Photobooth | LIVE VIOLIN Dario Violin
