Esther + Ledum by Wild Romantic Photography - Together Journal

Choosing to splurge on the venue was a deliberate and thoughtful decision that allowed us to transform our dream wedding into a reality.

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

Ledum is the senior development manager of a property development company, and Esther is an Optometrist. It sounds cheesy, but they enjoy the simple things in life: family, friends and good food. Since most of their daring life was long distance, it’s the mundane things we crave the most, making dinner together and binge-watching shows on their very new, very comfy couch.

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

Esther: While having dinner with a friend, I unexpectedly received a call from my mum. She was flustered, having dialled my number by mistake while intending to give it to someone else. Curious, I asked for an explanation. She began, “Remember Suanu, the Nigerian woman I met in Samoa during Medical School a decade ago? Well, she has a brother…” I promptly interjected, “No way!” Yet, she persisted, describing him as a Christian, 6’3″, Civil Engineer, perfectly matching my type. Reluctantly, I conceded, “You may proceed.” Three days later, I received a clever and straightforward text from a man named Ledum. Despite the distance (he was in Sydney, and I was in Melbourne), we arranged a phone call. Little did I know that our two-hour conversation would mark the start of a lifelong journey promised by God.

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

Ledum: My sister, Suanu, surprised me as an effective matchmaker when she introduced me to Esther. Suanu knew Esther through her mother, Vivian, and believed we’d hit it off. Esther’s description piqued my interest—coming from a great family, God-fearing, gorgeous, and genuine. I initially doubted her singleness, but I was wrong. I gave Suanu the go signal to initiate contact, and like in a scene from “Inception,” she mentioned my single status to Vivian, planting the seed. After a calculated three-day wait, I called Esther at the appointed time. From that moment, she not only met but exceeded my expectations. Ironically, I had sworn off long-distance relationships but found myself eagerly embracing it with Esther. The rest is history, as they say…

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

The first time we met in person, Ledum arrived in Melbourne on a red-eye flight. Knowing he would be tired and probably hungry, Esther had made Ledum a little welcome pack. It consisted of some of his favourite snacks, a Red Bull and a bottle of water. Even though it seemed like a small gesture to Esther, Ledum vowed he would marry her from that on.

The day Esther knew he was the one was on their 2nd date. They were sitting on the floor at the Lume exhibition with light displays all around them when the song Gymnopédie No 1 came on. She was admiring how amazing it all was when she looked at Ledum, only to see that he was looking right at her with the most loving look on his face. It was then that she knew he was the one.

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

Ledum’s proposal was a beautiful surprise at King Edward Park in Newcastle, Shepards Hill. Esther had flown in that morning to celebrate her nephew’s upcoming birthday, and Ledum had picked her up from the airport to spend time together before the family gathered. During their drive, they stopped at the park with ocean views and dragonflies. On this sunny day, Ledum suggested practising salsa dancing and recording it to track their progress. With his boom box, they danced until Gymnopédie No. 1 played, the same song that had played when Esther realized Ledum was the one for her. Overwhelmed with emotion, Ledum knelt down and asked for her hand in marriage, bringing tears to Esther’s eyes.

Getting Ready of Esther + Ledum by Wild Romantic Photography

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood or style of your wedding…

We wanted our weddings to be memorable. Our cultural wedding was bold, with gold being the running theme. For the Western wedding, we aimed for both classic, simple and elegant.

What was one element you were happy to splurge on?

One element that brought immense joy and satisfaction was undoubtedly the venue. It wasn’t just a location; it was the heart and soul of our special day, the canvas upon which we would paint the memories of a lifetime. Choosing to splurge on the venue was a deliberate and thoughtful decision that allowed us to transform our dream wedding into a reality.

Esther + Ledum by Wild Romantic Photography

First Look of Esther + Ledum by Wild Romantic Photography

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

My wedding dress saga was a rollercoaster. With limited time for planning, I only tried it on the day before the wedding. The dress arrived late and was completely wrong. Attempts to fix it failed, so we had to order a new one just five days before the big day. Surprisingly calm on the surface, I was probably having a silent breakdown. Luckily, the new dress arrived just in time, and I had my initial and final fitting on the same day. Rushing to the wedding venue for the dress rehearsal, I narrowly avoided walking down the aisle in my little black dress, all thanks to the quick thinking of the team and Christina Rossi.

Wedding Venue at Campbell Point House of Esther + Ledum by Wild Romantic Photography

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?

The pearl detail and detachable sleeves were not initially part of the dress. The seamstress had to “Finesse” my vision. The sleeves especially were a complete risk, we didn’t know if they would stay on or not. But it paid off.