YJ + Pitt by Keryn Sweeney - Together Journal

We envisioned a classic and timeless day—elegant, intimate, and full of charm.

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

We’re both Optometrists, originally from Korea and grew up in New Zealand. We moved to Perth for work and have built a beautiful life together with our fur baby Luna. Outside of examining eyes, I have always loved fashion and being creative. We’re creatures of routine—early risers who love working out and starting the day with good vibes. Our weeks are full but balanced, and we make time for the things that matter most: each other, our people, and good food. We both love discovering new restaurants, hosting dinners, and travelling when we can. Our shared values are simple—intention, kindness, and quality over quantity.

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

We met at university, studying Optometry. We caught the same bus most days, and over time those commutes turned into conversations. We have been together for ten years so it feels so cringe to think about first impressions! My first impression of him was that he was funny and thoughtful. Pitt says he was drawn to how driven I was—and that I had a beautiful smile.

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. (theme, key styling elements, florals,
colour palettes etc.).

We envisioned a classic and timeless day—elegant, intimate, and full of charm. My inspiration was an old European courtyard: romantic but not overly ornate. The French café captured that perfectly, it had the effortless beauty we were looking for. Our colour palette centred around white, ivory, verdant green, and touches of black for contrast. We leaned into tonal styling, with white florals and lush greenery to soften the space. One of my favourite details was the long linen welcome sign we had draped over the concrete courtyard wall—it added movement and set the tone as guests arrived. I also loved the personalized silk bows, tied around each wine glass -they looked beautiful. Shoutout to Naomi and Sam who helped us with this on the day!

What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).

The floral arrangement Michele created around the fireplace was my absolute favourite—it was exactly what I had envisioned. Full of layered ivory blooms and soft greenery. Just before we were seated for the reception, the afternoon light streamed through the reception space. It added this soft, golden warmth that made everything feel even more romantic. We kept the tables minimal and intentional—white tablecloths, our custom printed menus, and delicate white florals that added elegance without clutter. One detail I really loved was the personalised bows tied around each guest’s wine glass. Each one had their name printed on it, and it brought a sense of uniqueness and fun while still feeling polished. The ruffle layered tablecloth we had for our signing was stunning, Keryn captured this beautifully and it looked like something out of a fairytale.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

We wanted to enjoy the process and treated it like a creative project. We focused on how we wanted the day to feel—intimate, joyful, and beautifully unhurried. We knew we didn’t want anything that felt overly staged or trendy. Our main advice: be kind to each other. Prioritise what matters to you and let go of the rest. You don’t need everything to be perfect, just meaningful. Trust your vendors—they’re experts for a reason. And on the day, try to be present. It really does go by in a blur, so make space to take it all in.

Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?

I don’t think I could have asked for a better team. I always knew Michele Coomey had to be my wedding florist, I admire her work and adore her style and eye. Keryn did an incredible job of capturing our special day. She made us feel really comfortable and we had so much fun! The team at French Cafe was phenomenal- everything flowed really well on the day, stress free. Our celebrant Carla felt like our long lost Italian Auntie. We clicked instantly and we had so many guests commenting on what an amazing celebrant she was. Last but not least, our makeup and hair artist Yuyu jin Li! It’s not often a makeup artist perfects your vision. I still dream about my makeup from the big day.

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

We both wanted to look like ourselves and be comfortable. My wedding dress was from Arha—simple and elegant with beautiful tailoring. I paired it with my Mother of Pearl Alhambra Van Cleef & Arpels earrings and Roger Vivier heels. Later in the evening, I threw on a white oversized blazer—something I’ve always loved to add a bit of edge. A secret- the blazer allowed me to unzip my dress a bit so I could eat comfortably! [This bride is serious about her food] Pitt’s normal style is also very simple and effortless. He wore a navy suit by Time Homme and shoes from Burwick. Clean, tailored, and timeless.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

We had our wedding bands and my engagement ring custom made by a jeweller back in Perth. My style is always elegant and timeless. I chose a round solitaire diamond with a yellow gold setting as my engagement ring and a classic diamond wedding band.

What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).

Good champagne and good food were non-negotiables for us. It’s what we both enjoy, and we wanted our guests to feel that same sense of celebration. We opened plenty of Louis Roederer on the night- perhaps too many! Florals were another priority. Michele created arrangements that were elegant, sculptural, and beautifully layered—nothing felt overdone.. We also allowed ourselves to invest in a few special accessories. I wore Roger Vivier heels that I absolutely adore and will definitely wear again. They are classic without being overly bridal. Everything we chose to spend a little more on added to the overall atmosphere—elevated, intimate, and true to us.

Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?

Reading our vows was one of the most special moments. It felt like we were in our own little world and reminded us what the day was truly about. Another moment I’ll never forget was just before our walk back down the aisle. Our celebrant Carla told us to pause and turn around to look at our guests. I’m so glad she did. That hit me—being away in Australia, I thought, when will I ever have all my loved ones together like this again? Seeing all their faces—smiling, teary, laughing—it was emotional in the best way. It made everything feel so full.