Jeremiah + Wen by Briars Atlas - Together Journal

We wanted to have a small, intimate location that represents and shows elements of a bygone era.

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

We are both photographers in the wedding industry and have also been documenting love for quite some time. We love getting lost in new places, where time melts into the moment, and we relish and savour whatever the five senses can keep; the rest we snap and preserve our version of it. We especially love the great outdoors, where the vastness of nature humbles the traveller; there is nothing more humbling than a gigantic slab of frozen mountainside sandwiched between the golden sunrise and the cornea. You get to really see the beauty of it all. We also really love post-war vintage Americana, from the fashions of a long-lost era to the pastel colours and designs of a time when the pallets were bolder and simpler. Old-fashioned things that were built to outlast the user. Jeremiah especially loves vintage military aviation pieces, from clothing to the designs and the polished metals and rivets of the 40s and 50s. Wen just loves Lavender purple, if you can paint it purple, she will love it. That aside, we both love to travel from the snow-capped mountains of the Dolomites to the legendary Mount Fuji; we love travelling! We love nature, and most of all, we love making people cry! I am always up for hiking up mountains, into secluded waterfalls, and basking in that 100% photosynthesis air, the leaves changing colours with the season, the water reacting to the ever-changing angle of the sun.

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

We both met at an event and have been friends, then colleagues, then partners(professionally) for the longest time, and now finally partners of the highest level. I find that the first impressions we have for each other may greatly differ from each other, if you were to ask me (jeremiah) i would say that she is true, in the entirety of the word true. A true friend that has my interests in mind most of the time more than me. A true person who does let me take easy routes for the things I love.

Wen: (forgive the English as it is not her first language) I met him through a company that I worked at the time. When I first met him, he was wearing some old man shirt and loose pants, did not care of his image at all. He was a weird guy.

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

For us, we can’t pinpoint a time; I guess the long hours spent together, starting with work and then travelling for work, have slowly and gradually melted the roles together, a sense of comfort and companionship that crept its way into the daily living and conquering the stresses of life. Bit by bit, it gives a true sense of comfort, knowing that each other is around, and it brings a sense of peace. And with that peace comes a bond that has been built, tested and tested with many challenges we have chosen to partake in together. We always try to be sanguine about taking travel challenges together, and that has melded our mindsets to further compensate for each other’s shortcomings. There is no click moment in time when we realise something but finally see something that was always there. We sometimes get lost searching for what we already have, and sometimes, we must train ourselves to believe and see what taking chances and trusting can really show us.

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

We are Asian, hahaha; nope, there wasn’t any; we just mutually agreed. It was more of a time that aligned everything, probably something divine or pre-destined. We realised that there is a time for everything, and the best time is always now. A weird and beautiful amalgamation of agreements that led to what we may define as fate. If we were to pinpoint a point close to a proposal, it would be when we both were visiting our friends at LNR Stories. Naturally, we sat down and decided and talked about various ideas and designs for rings that would look nice. Went through the gems selection with the mindset of what ifs or what nots, googling for hours and sketching on crazy elements. I ended the session with them telling us it could all be done, and we looked at each other and nodded, and I said, “So this is it, huh?”.

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

As we both adore pre-war & post-war Americana. We wanted to have a small, intimate location that represents and shows elements of a bygone era. And then Wen found the Waratah Post office, a place that ticks all the boxes. An actual vintage post office with large windows for all that amazing light, overlooking that amazing landscape and its own waterfall. The details inside the Waratah post office we feel is second to none, the authenticity and honesty of the items displayed and used are of period. It’s basically the perfect set-up for everything we were looking for: the wooden floors, period interior, and glass doors. It is easily one of the most beautiful places to remain. Coupled with the fact that there’s a roadhouse down the road that is built and maintained and functional with the aesthetics of the 60s, large wooden panels with glows from fridges, pegboard shelves and most importantly, non-digital pumps with flippy numbers! Lastly, the place is within driving distance of Cradle Mountain! Road trip and seeing the great outdoors, roadside coffee, and soundtracks! Cradle Mountain is Cradle Mountain; it’s amazingly majestic! We feel that the Waratah Post office really provided us with the Trifecta of vintage and nature, and we brought people! Hard to beat. A small town where everything is within walking distance! And we chanced upon the hotel behind us that housed some WW2 British RAF airmen!

What was one element you were happy to splurge on?

I have a few. Oli @ briarsatlas – The best splurge we believe so, amazing time stopper! One of the best money can and can’t buy! I have been a fan since my earlier dabbles in the art, and through the amazing breakthrough of the internet, we had the chance to be inspired by Oli’s works. From his pre-film days to the evolution and devolution back to film, we were always in awe of his slices of moments. Nothing could be more valuable than the slices of moments when the grey matter fails, it’s a beautiful reminder of a moment in time that was, immortalized with that Kodak goodness. The colours and the uniqueness of the kodak, added with Olis magic spice and countless mouse abuse, blend into masterpieces with us inside. We might need to recategorize it as not a splurge but a necessity. An amazing experience that would repeat in a heartbeat! And Oli is an amazing guy to have around if that helps!

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

Jeremiah’s Outfit

Blouse & Dress: Therefore, the suit Jeremiah is wearing is an updated design of pilots of that era. Commonly known as the Ike jacket, it was issued to airmen Prewar till post-war for the allies. The shorter jacket, better known as the battle blouse design, is unique to that era, paired with suspenders and high-waisted pants, also known as the battle dress. These design cues were chosen because they help to change the ratio and height perception of the wearer. Changed the modern ratio of clothes from a 50 top 50 bottom to a more 70 bottom and 30 top, a false perception that I have longer legs. This play and vintage cut of clothing were deeply inspired by my collections of actually issued uniforms from airmen from the RAF and USAF from the 40s and 50s. Materials were also selected base on the modifications made, as these were designed for colder seasons, the materials were of a wool blend, the way the thicker material and tighter weave folds and creates shape is truly unique. Since this was going to be a strictly summer build, the need for different materials was sourced. On one of our trips to Tokyo, we chanced upon a vendor specializing in traditionally weaved and dyed indigo fabrics. The Jacket is constructed of the thicker Dungaree type weave with a persimmon marbling; the usage of dark indigo and light indigo threads contrasted with a direct, almost gold thread that intersects the 3 produces a shim of orange mixed into the otherwise dark jacket. The pants is consturcted of an indigo textured dyed japanese cotton, dimples and waves on the pants reflect of the sunlight so it appears that the pants are of a darker shade in some areas than some. The shirt is also designed based on the ones issued in that era, with a bit more of a looser cut and a removable button on the collar. It is also made with unbleached Japanese woven cotton. An amalgamation of ideas that marries what I love. Vintage, Japanese craftsmanship, postwar Americana!

Tie: The tie was custom made of a darker weave of the indigo fabric with a Borro handstitched pattern.

Suspenders: Actual RAF-issued vintage surplus light-blue

Ring: The ring is designed and crafted by LnR Stories, a custom story-driven bespoke fine jewellery maker. The design of the entire ring is crafted in silver (useful against werewolves), and the entire layout is based on a turbine engine of a polished USAF B17 turbine engine. The exposed rivets tend to be a representation of Wen, smaller in size but crucial in keeping the whole of me intact. Without her, I would be just sheets of metal without a strong purpose. The triangle enamel is designed to be pointing away from the wearer so that it points to Wen.

Boutonniere: The boutonniere, designed with a mix of delicate flowers and hand-sewn accents, includes a subtle hint of purple pearl that mirrors the earrings. This symbolizes the bond between us and serves as a gentle reminder for him to always cherish her sister’s heart. ( which is me, my heart ) (it is made by Wen’s second sister)

Wen’s Outfit

Dress: People who know me are aware of my obsession with anything purple, especially the colour lavender. I decided long ago that my wedding dress and accessories would all be in lavender, without a doubt. I’m so lucky to have sisters who can help make my dream a reality: my older sister is a gown designer, and my second sister is a makeup artist who also creates handmade pieces for brides.

When I discussed my vision with them, my older sister came up with a design for my dress that features a flowy and airy long train made from a combination of chiffon and organza, creating a uniquely romantic look. The bodice has pleated details and off-shoulder flounce sleeves made from layered chiffon, which will help conceal my broad shoulders. There’s also a detachable flounce skirt with a cathedral train length that adds a dramatic effect, accentuating my waistline. Additionally, a detachable corset piece made of cotton, adorned with hand-sewn silk ribbons in lavender, creates a nostalgic feel.

Accessories, Headband & Earring: For my accessories, my second sister crafted a headband featuring over 100 hand-sculpted blooms, each flower reflecting the beauty of nature and painted in various shades of purple to evoke a sense of whimsy and charm. Complementing the headband are earrings featuring natural purple pearls, which perfectly match my vibrant spirit. These pearls symbolize not just beauty but also the deep connections we cherish.

Ring: There will be times when the surrounding noise gets so loud that the current around me is so rapid that I feel like losing myself. I used to be afraid, but ever since you came along,