Elegant Waterside Wedding in Sydney

Today’s feature blends Western and Chinese wedding traditions, with waterside views, vibrant pops of red and gold, and a strong DIY focus. Anita & Steve’s wedding was all they could have dreamed and more, captured by the talented Ash from Love Pixels.

After the right swipe on Hinge, Anita and Steve started chatting on the app. Soon after, they organised their first date at Leichhardt Baywalk, the perfect spot for Steve to run in an emergency… “Later, Steve revealed his strategy for the Baywalk was that if the date was a dud, he could ditch the coffee and literally run from the date. This never happened. In fact, Steve walked Anita to her car and, soon after (about 30 minutes), messaged to say how much he enjoyed the date and that he would like to see her again. From there, the romance only blossomed,” Anita shared.

Making sure they were on the same page when it came to the ring, Anita and Steve went ring shopping together. As the jeweller asked when the ring would be needed, Steve said the third quarter of 2024, supposedly ruining the surprise for Anita. What she didn’t know was that he had his own surprise up his sleeve! “Steve proposed in May 2024, i.e. ahead of the 3rd quarter. He did this in the presence of my mum and dad on a family trip to New Zealand,” Anita shared.

“He chose the picturesque Bob’s Cove in Queenstown to take the knee and complete the proposal. Disguising the occasion as a means to make a vlog, setting up the camera/tripod on the nearby bank of Bob’s Cove.”

For the Western wedding, Steve chose to wear a beige linen three-piece suit with a bow tie and brown boat shoes – perfect for their waterside ceremony. His wedding party wore matching linen suits, but without the bow tie. “The overall aim was for a more relaxed feel to the attire, which was representative of us.”

Anita wanted something more traditional for the Western ceremony, opting for a romantic tulle vibe from Brides Of Beecroft. “The experience was a daunting one. The plan was to purchase a dress while on a trip to China. However, the fit was not great after being altered and shipped to Sydney. So I had to get another dress made in Sydney a few months out from the wedding,” she explained.

Her wedding party wore a beautiful collection of lemon yellow satin dresses in various styles.

Lamel Weddings took care of everything, flowers and decor, bringing Anita’s beachy dreams to life.

With breathtaking waterside views, Long Reef Gold Club was the perfect venue for Anita and Steve’s Western ceremony. “The beauty of it is very much weather dependent. In the days leading up to the wedding, Sydney was experiencing torrential rain and wind. But miraculously, the rain stopped, and clouds passed the evening before the wedding.”

Ash from Love Pixels captured this waterside wedding alongside Anita and Steve, and they couldn’t have dreamed of a better photographer. “Ash is actually a close friend of Steve’s – our friendship goes back years, starting on the Oztag field. Having him as our photographer made the day feel extra special, and he captured every moment of our Western and Chinese ceremony beautifully. From the chaos and laughter of the door games to the heartfelt moments of serving tea to our elders, and all the little details in between, Ash had an incredible eye for detail,” Steve shared.

“What stood out most is his experience and preparation – he came in with shots pre-planned in his head, which really shines through in the photos we received. On top of that, Ash’s ability to seamlessly switch between English, Mandarin, and Cantonese was such a gift. It made coordinating with our families and orchestrating group photos smooth and stress-free, allowing us to just enjoy the moment while he worked his magic. Beyond the wedding day itself, his professionalism was second to none. From the very first enquiry, Ash was attentive and responsive, taking on board our suggestions and considerations. He checked in with us a few days before to make sure we were all aligned on how the day would run, which gave us so much peace of mind. His calm, confident approach carried right through, and it’s clear he genuinely cares about his couples and their experience.”

If Anita and Steve had to leave one piece of advice for those planning their own special days, it would be this: “Enjoy the journey! The whole journey – from enquiring, visiting locations, choosing photo locations, trying on outfits, tasting the food, to taking photos, being tired and receiving everyone’s love.”

The Chinese tea ceremony was held at Anita’s family’s home, which is typical for this type of event. They later moved the party to dinner at The Eighty Chinese Restaurant.

Steve was attracted to a more red, dominant outfit for the Chinese ceremony, featuring a stunning gold dragon. “In Chinese culture, the dragon is symbolic of power, good fortune, and strength, which Steve believes are some of the important traits to a happy marriage and what he promises to Anita.”

Like her Western ceremony outfit, Anita’s Chinese tea ceremony attire was steeped in tradition. She wore a beautiful red, gold, and white outfit, paired perfectly with extravagant jewellery, including her hair pieces, bracelets, and necklace. “All the items were sourced and made in China, which were hand-selected on a trip to China in 2024,” she explained.

“The experience of the Chinese tea ceremony was all that it was expected to be and more. From the attire, front-of-house decorations, in-house decorations, and the tea ceremony backdrop itself. The Chinese tea ceremony has a great balance of formalities, customs, traditions and fun (especially with the door games).”

The most meaningful part of their two ceremonies was the Chinese tea ceremony itself. “It was a moment rich in symbolism, respect, and family connection. Serving tea to our elders in order of seniority felt incredibly grounding, reminding us of the generations before us and the values we want to carry forward into our marriage. We also incorporated traditional elements, such as the double-happiness symbol and red decor throughout, to honour prosperity, love, and unity. While we didn’t use family heirlooms, the ceremony itself felt like a living heirloom – a tradition passed down through time, and one we were proud to continue.”

Fresh flowers weren’t used for the tea ceremony or dinner; however, they incorporated fake red flowers in the backdrop to add vibrancy. “Our tea ceremony was a beautiful blend of tradition and elegance, designed to feel both meaningful and visually striking. The maroon double-happiness symbol, styled backdrop, and florals set the scene for a moment that honoured our heritage while remaining timeless and refined. We wanted the atmosphere to be warm, vibrant, and full of joy. From the fun of the door games to the heartfelt act of serving tea, it was a chance to celebrate love, family, and culture in a way that felt truly special,” they explained.

When it came to bringing their Chinese tea ceremony to life, Anita and Steve embraced DIY, and later created their brand (find them here!) to help other couples bring their own tea ceremony to life. “Every single detail was created by us. From designing and setting up the tea ceremony backdrop to styling the front of the house with a bold double-happiness sign on the garage, a giant pink balloon on the front steps, and flowing red drapery, it was hands-on. It was a labour of love, and it gave us the chance to truly personalise every corner of the celebration,” they shared.

“Inside the home, we carried the same energy through with a red hallway carpet, hanging ceiling charms, and wall decor that tied everything together. While it was a lot of work, it made the space feel incredibly special and unique to us – a backdrop not just for the ceremony itself, but for memories we’ll cherish for a lifetime.”

The top five things that made this waterside, traditional wedding so special for Steve and Anita included:

“1. Our Chinese tea ceremony: A meaningful tradition that allowed us to honour our families and celebrate generations of love and respect.

2. The red tea ceremony backdrop, with the illuminated double-happiness sign, created a striking focal point that perfectly captured the day’s significance.

3. DIY touches: Every detail we crafted ourselves, from front-of-house decor to in-house styling, made the day feel truly personal and unique.

4. Laughter and fun during the door games: Seeing our friends and family enjoying themselves and the playful energy before the ceremony added so much joy and warmth.

5. Our photographer, Ash (Love Pixels): His professionalism, preparation, and ability to capture every moment – from chaos to calm – ensured we could relive every memory beautifully.”