Briar + Shay by Poet Pictures - Together Journal

I envisioned my wedding looking like a vintage ’90s movie shot on film, similar to the wedding scene in “The Parent Trap.”

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love

My husband Shay and I are both junior doctors who strive to balance our busy careers with our love for family, food, and adventure. Our delightful eight-month-old son, Henry, adds joy to our lives. We cherish cooking Persian dishes together (especially converting them to vegetarian options for Briar), exploring the outdoors on walks and hikes, travelling to new destinations, and sharing meals with friends and family. Our shared passion for food and togetherness inspired us to make our wedding a grand celebration of love and friendship, honouring all those who have shaped us into the couple we are today.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

Briar: Shay and I met at our university’s medical school when he sat next to me in a lecture. My first impression of Shay was that he had the kindest smile and the nicest eyes. We quickly discovered a mutual passion for running, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when everyone was on Strava. 

Shay: I took a seat next to her in a lecture in the hopes of getting to know her, and pretty quickly, I learnt how beautiful she was—inside and out. Though I was pretty nervous to talk to her, luckily, Briar was the one to start a conversation.

When did you first realize that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?

Briar: I realized pretty early on that Shay was the one for me. I had never met someone as kind, intelligent, caring, and thoughtful as he is. I quickly asked him if he would like to move up north with me during COVID restrictions over the summer of 2020 to my family home in Coopers Beach. Thankfully, he loved it up there, and the rest, not to be cliche, is history.

Shay: That mutual passion for running, Briar mentions, wasn’t really mutual. I took it up on a hunch that you were the one for me.

Was there a proposal? Tell us a little about it…

Our proposal story is one that we’ll cherish forever. It happened in May 2022, a complete surprise, even though I had dropped a few hints here and there. Shay had been unable to see his parents for nearly two and a half years, so when the border was set to open, we quickly planned a trip to Dubai to reunite with them.

Shay managed to keep everything a complete surprise. Unbeknownst to me, he had sneakily picked up the engagement ring at the airport. Shay had arranged this in advance and made an excuse to go to the bathroom while we were having a cocktail, using this opportunity to pick up the ring.

In Dubai, we stayed at the stunning Palace Hotel, which overlooks the Burj Khalifa. We had fountain-side views from our hotel suite, yet I still had no inkling of what was to come. Shay told me we were going out for dinner and insisted that I dress up, noting how everyone around there dressed so elegantly. He suggested I wear the new dress I had bought for graduation, so I did.

As we walked into the lobby, Shay began to say the most heartfelt things about our relationship, mentioning how much he loved getting to know me and how magical the past two and a half years had been together. We then walked onto a beautiful balcony at sunset, adorned with stunning decorations. I thought it was a lovely surprise from his family. But as I turned around, there was Shay on one knee, and I couldn’t contain my excitement. I started saying “yes” before he even had the chance to ask.

What was one element you were happy to splurge on?

Surprisingly not too much of a splurge – our one special element for our wedding: the music. I had always envisioned walking down the aisle to a violin rendition of Pachelbel’s Canon in D, followed by Lana Del Rey’s “Say Yes to Heaven” for the signing song, and finally, Natalie Cole’s “This Will Be an Everlasting Love” as we walked back down the aisle—all played on the violin. Marvin brought this vision to life, creating an incredible moment with his electric violin, complete with a backing track that made it even more special. He also played beautiful music during the cocktail hour, adding to the magic of the day.

If we had to pick a splurge – I envisioned my wedding looking like a vintage ’90s movie shot on film, similar to the wedding scene in “The Parent Trap.” I had a very specific aesthetic in mind, and Ophelia from Poet Pictures brought all my photography dreams to life. These are the photographs we will treasure forever.

Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?

A very stressful yet hilarious moment on our wedding day occurred when Shay accidentally forgot the rings. Though reminded about it earlier in the day, about five minutes before we were to walk down the aisle, the best man came into the waiting room and asked, “Do you have the rings?” – well, no, that was Shay’s one job. Our wedding coordinator took over and had one of our good friends rush back to retrieve them. Unfortunately, he went to the wrong house and ended up rummaging through the neighbour’s bedroom before realizing his mistake by looking out the window and seeing the other house.

Thankfully, everything was sorted out within 15 minutes, and the show went on with our guests none-the-wiser. The rings arrived just as the bridesmaids started walking down the aisle. While Shay found the situation stressful, I remained calm, knowing we could use our engagement rings if necessary. And if this was the only blip in the day, then we were truly lucky. Ultimately, it all worked out and now serves as a hilarious tale that adds to the fun of our wedding day.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story? The history of the ceremony dress…

When I envisioned my wedding dress, I had a clear image in mind that reflected my personal style. I’ve always loved wearing sleeves; even as a little girl, my dresses often featured puffy sleeves like those in Princess movies. For my wedding dress, I wanted beautiful sleeves and a long train. It was important to me that the dress represented my style, something that people would see and think, “That dress couldn’t be any more perfect.”

I wanted to feel like the best version of myself on my wedding day, and I felt my dress captured all of those key elements. I’m incredibly fortunate to have an aunt who is a talented seamstress with over 40 years of experience. She has made all of the wedding dresses for the women in my family, and she created a bespoke, one-of-a-kind piece for me.

The process was amazing. I ordered samples of fabric from different bridal stores across the country and sent them to my aunt. I trusted her expertise to choose the best fabric in an ivory colour that would suit the style of the dress. She picked the most incredible fabric that fell beautifully. The dress fitted like a dream, and I felt absolutely stunning in it on my wedding day.