Kathryn & Yin Zhet

11/22/2020

Wedding Venue

Personal Residence: brother's 4-acre estate in Oxford, Florida, just outside of The Villages.

Bride shows off celestial bridal headpiece

Styled by co-owner, Roberta, Kathryn was able to tie her final wedding look together. The Bridal Finery helped her turn a veil into a cape to match her celestial gown. Finished off with Maria Elena accessories, including her head piece that she later states was her favorite! Kathryn had the perfect vision of what she wanted for her wedding day look & we were so happy to help with the finishing touches! To read more about Kathryn’s celestial Florida estate wedding, keep scrolling!

Vendors & Their Instagram Handles :

Catering: @arthurscatering
Planner: @blueribbonweddings
Photographer: @28northphotography
Videography: @kejproductions
Lighting: @getlitpro
Rentals: @orlandoweddingandpartyrentals
Stationey, Calligraphy, & Signage: @andimejia.co
Florist: @eventsbyinbloom
Cake & Desserts: @lepetitsweet
Mini Donuts & Poptarts: @ilovebuttermilk
Bride's Dress: @bhldn
Bride's Jewlery & Veil: @thebridalfinery
Hair & Makeup: @acbeautyteam and @juliana.makeuphair
Popcorn: @thepopcornfactory

How did you & Yin Zhet?

Yin Zhet and I met through a remote language learning program. He was interested in practicing English and I was interested in learning Mandarin. At the time, I had a job offer as an English teacher in Beijing, China. Based on our language preferences, we were paired together.

Where was your first date?

My first date with Yin Zhet was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and took place nearly three years after Yin Zhet and I initially met. Most of our dates have been fairly standard, but all of them have involved traveling thousands of miles to see each other. On our first date, Yin Zhet met me at the airport and took me straight to a movie theater to see the latest Star Wars movie. If I am being honest, I don't remember a single second of that movie. I just remember the relief and excitement I felt of finally being in the same space as Yin Zhet.

Our first date started a tradition that would carry through for every future opportunity we had to visit each other. Any time I travelled to a new country to see Yin Zhet and his family, we would go straight from the airport to a movie theater. It didn't matter what we saw; it only mattered that we were seeing it together.

Groom gets ready for private Florida Estate Wedding

How did Yin Zhet propose?

Our proposal, like every other aspect of our relationship, was unconventional. It wasn't grand. It wasn't planned. I don't even know who officially proposed. We sort of fell into our engagement.

In November, 2019, Yin Zhet travelled to Florida to spend time with me and my family. He had planned on staying for three months, which sounded like a lot of time. It wasn't. In those three months, my entire family grew to love him just as much as I did . We couldn't imagine him leaving and, thankfully, he felt the same way. He has been with us ever since.

What was your wedding dress shopping experience like?

The actual purchase of my wedding dress was stress free and simple. While browsing at dress styles online, I found and immediately fell in love with a dress on BHLDN. I liked it so much I bought it in two colors!

My experience purchasing accessories was equally effortless. I hadn't thought much about accessories, but I knew I wanted to highlight the celestial aspect of my dress. Everyone at the Bridal Finery was so helpful and enthusiastic. Prior to my appointment, Roberta asked for me to send her a picture of my dress and anything else influencing my design choices. She invited me to visit their showroom during a trunk show with a designer who had created many celestial inspired pieces. My appointment was short, but only because Roberta knew exactly what to show me.

What celestial bridal accessory was your favorite?

It is so difficult to choose, but if I had to pick one I would say my headpiece. It was subtle and complemented my dress perfectly. It created an explosion of stars on my head and made me feel like a princess. I dreaded having to take it off at the end of the night.

shop Kathryn's Accessories here

Bride & Groom married under tree at private Florida Estate Wedding

What did you love most about your private Florida estate wedding?

What I loved most about having my wedding at my brother's home was that it was a place that already held so much meaning for me and my family. When my family gathers, it is typically there. I feel so honored to have been able to add my wedding to a long list of cherished family memories and know that whenever I visit my brother's home I will be reminded of how it was transformed into a starry celebration of Yin Zhet's and I's love for each other an our families.

Decor for Private Florida Estate Wedding

What is one thing you wish you knew before you started wedding planning?

What a godsend Katie and Blue Ribbon Weddings would be. I felt paralyzed by my options and had no idea where to start when I first began planning my wedding. Katie kept me calm and organized throughout the entire planning process and actually made wedding planning a joyful experience. She also introduced me to some of the kindest and most talented people I've had the pleasure of meeting.

If I could afford afford them, I would hire Blue Ribbon Weddings to plan my life.

How would you describe the overall feel of your wedding?

Our wedding was a celebration of the joining of our two families. Yin Zhet and I are not accustomed to being the center of attention, even for our wedding. We wanted the day to be about us and our relationships with those we love. Over the years, Yin Zhet's family has become just as important to me as Yin Zhet himself. They have welcomed me into their family and made me feel like one of their own.

Bride and Groom cut wedding cake at celestial wedding

What wedding planning advice do you have for other brides?

1. Trust your feelings;
2. Focus on what makes you happy; and
3. Hire a wedding planner to bring your vision to life and a photographer to capture it.

You will spend months planning a day that will feel like seconds of your life. Your wedding will be a blur. While you may not have the opportunity to see and appreciate all of those little details the day of, they will be forever memorialized in your photographs.

Floral at Celestial Wedding on Private Florida Estate

Where will your honeymoon be?

We will not be having a honeymoon, but we will be having a Part 2 of our wedding once travel opens up and we are able to fly over to Kuala Lumpur and celebrate with Yin Zhet's family. I can't wait to spend time with them and experience their traditions.

What are you enjoying most about newlywed life?

Turning my focus from our wedding to each other. While we may not have done anything exciting after the wedding or travelled anywhere exotic, I appreciate the simplicity of our life. I am so thankful to wake up each day with the comfort of knowing I am married to Yin Zhet.

Bride and groom pose on trail at their private Florida Estate Wedding

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Kathryn wears celestial Maria elena accessories to her private florida estate wedding