Winter Fusion Wedding in Sydney

There’s something about a winter wedding that invites a little boldness, and Annamaria and Narek embraced it wholeheartedly. Their day was vibrant with a citrusy palette of lemons, oranges, and florals that brought warmth to the chilly season, paired with a celebration that honoured both Armenian and Italian roots. Even as torrential rain set in and stayed for the entire day, their moods never dropped. Photographed by Fiona and Bobby, it’s a celebration that was equal parts mindful and fun.

Narek and Annamaria met online, and it took them six months before they could finally meet in person! Clearly, it was worth the wait, as here we are today to talk about their winter fusion wedding.

It was after a nice dinner date out in Sydney, as Narek and Annamaria had stopped under the Harbour Bridge, that he asked that all-mighty question: “Will you marry me?”

Narek wore a classic black tux, perfect for their winter wedding and all the festivities to come.

He had his brother, Saro, as his Best Man, wearing a matching black tuxedo. Annamaria had her cousin and closest friend as her Matron of Honour.

Annamaria wore this incredible Hera Couture gown from Penrith Bridal Centre, complete with long sleeves perfect for the rainy winter weather, floral appliques cascading down the skirt and bodice and a matching veil. “Willow was my consultant, and she was wonderful. She made the experience so special, and I felt welcomed and supported. I had visited other places and was turned off straight away, but Penrith Bridal Centre was amazing from the moment I walked in,” she explained.

The church where they tied the knot is a special part of Narek’s life. “The Armenian Apostolic Church in Chatswood is Narek’s family’s church, and his late mother was a part of the church community. The reception was chosen after we toured a few places and liked what we saw and how open the staff were to our ideas.”

Even as the heavens rained down around them, nothing could have dampened Annamaria and Narek’s day! “The rain was bucketing down, pouring, torrential, hail, thunder, the whole lot, but we were so excited, and everyone was thrilled to be there that we barely even noticed on the day,” they shared.

She walked down the aisle with her brother John, eyes locked on Narek.

Their ceremony was steeped in tradition, complete with a crowning ceremony in front of all their guests.

Sydney Floral Events not only did an incredible job with these flowers, but they are also Narek’s aunt and cousin! “They knew the vibes we were going for and knew how to make it work and look great,” Annamaria shared.

Fiona and Bobby captured this winter fusion wedding alongside Narek and Annamaria, helping the couple relax in front of the camera and smile all day. “They helped us feel at ease and calm and made the whole ‘being photographed’ thing feel less awkward.”

When it came to favourite shots, Annamaria’s either had to be the shot of them cutting their wedding cake by Eden Pasticceria or this incredible shot of the duo standing next to the old-school deli slicer in the wine cellar (one of our personal favourites!).

The party later moved to Miramare Gardens for the reception. “We wanted both cultures to be represented, particularly through the music. We were excited by the florals, the music and the wedding cake. We also wanted a special area in which both of our sets of parents, who have sadly all passed away, could be represented, as they were a big part of our lives, but we also didn’t want it to be a sad moment,” Annamaria shared.

Their bonbonnieres were DIY’d by Annamaria and Narek as a beautiful gift for each guest.

As they entered the reception space, Narek and Annamaria had a blend of Armenian and Italian wedding music. This was one of Narek’s favourite moments of the whole day, saying, “You and how you looked, how happy everyone was and how excited they were, and the look on your face when we walked into the reception, and you saw everything all set up.”

Their first dance was to Elvis Presley’s “I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You”. “It is one of our favourite songs.”

The only thing more exciting to Annamaria and Narek than actually getting married was how excited their guests were to celebrate them at the reception! “The food was delicious and plentiful, the drinks were flowing, and the vibes were vibing. The DJ, Rob-D, was great and everyone was there to party!”

The piece of advice Annamaria wants to leave for couples planning their own weddings would be this: ignore everyone else’s opinions and do what makes you happy! “Everyone has advice like ‘I wouldn’t invite as many people, I would elope, I wouldn’t waste my money on that, blah blah blah’, but in the end it’s your special day and if that’s what you want to do/have, GO FOR IT!”