We come from similar but different cultural backgrounds. I’m a mix of Armenian and English, and Michael’s family is Middle Eastern. Our unique connection is that our families both hail from cities in Israel. Michael works as a startup manager in a state government agency. He’s a real people person. I’m a doctor, still in specialty training – I also love to help people, but in a different way. Our careers and days are quite disparate, but we celebrate our differences.
We love exploring Sydney. An exhibition, a new restaurant, expanding our understanding of classical music through a date night with the symphony. Michael is mad about coffee, and we make it our mission to track down the best coffee, even if that means travelling to Melbourne.
We met through friends but it really kicked off when we started going for walks together along the Bay Walk, a beautiful route around the inner west of Sydney. Those hour-long walks didn’t seem to last long enough! Then Michael took me to play mini golf and his skills sealed the deal. One day Michael came to my apartment with a bunch of flowers and took me on a tour of our favourite cafes and bakeries across Sydney. After that he beat me at mini golf – a replay of our first date. Then we took a ferry to Cockatoo Island and Michael took me to our favourite park by the water for a sunset proposal. He went down on one knee and I cried before apparently yelling “yes” almost before he could finish asking, or so he says. To top it off, he had organised a surprise dinner with our immediate families at one of our favourite restaurants.
We wanted a really classic, elegant wedding. The ceremony was held in a 150-year-old church overlooking Sydney Harbour, with beautiful floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows.The reception had a romantic mood – it was in a converted wool storage warehouse with high ceilings and exposed beams. We chose black linen with colourful candles and flowers, and the table arrangements included fruits with cultural significance, particularly pomegranates which represent eternal life. A fun detail was that our bonbonniere were…bonbons! We love a good pun.
A few weeks before the big day we had a full production session with our families and bridal party to fill them with sugared almonds and terrible jokes. We were blessed to have one of my friends make our magnificent wedding cake – the three tiers once again drew on our heritage; there was lemon and raspberry, date and caramel and a spiced almond cake with rosewater buttercream. It was unbelievably delicious.
Michael’s suit was custom-made, and he chose a polka dot lining for the jacket because it’s my favourite pattern. He also wore his late father’s cufflinks. I had red roses in my bouquet, as homage to my mother’s wedding bouquet. For our first dance we’d taken lessons and practised our hearts out to learn a Viennese Waltz. On the night we were so nervous we forgot the first part of the dance but managed to pull it together. Being married means everything to us. It just feels like the start of a really great adventure
Ceremony Location: Christ Church, Lavender Bay | Photographer + Videographer: Salt Atelier | Styling & Flora: The Marmalade Sky | Wishing Well: Grooms Friend | Celebrant: Rev. Lachlan Edwards | Band: Karnig and Hovig | Bride’s Dress: Catherine R Couture, from Perfect Day Bridal | Veil: Brides of Sydney | Groom’s Suit: Suit Supply | Rings: Made by Isabelle’s uncle | Bride’s Shoes: The White Collection | Bride’s Earrings: MEZI | Hair: Upstyle Girl | Makeup: Sarah-Marie Makeup | Bride’s fragrance: Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf | Groom’s fragrance: Bleu by Chanel | Reception Venue: Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf | DJ + Photobooth: Sound Express | Drummers: Assur Kings Entertainment | Cake: Desserts with Shell | Bridesmaid’s attire: White Runway | Groomsmen’s attire: Ferrari Formalwear & Bridal
