The Real Life Wedding of Mayumi + Sam

Published 4th May 2023 in ALL Categories, Real Life Wedding

Photos: Kelly Tunney Photographer

With their energy firmly focused on creating a fun celebration with their closest family and friends, Mayumi and Sam were able to truly enjoy planning their wedding together.

A couple that met later in life, their approach to getting married was relatively relaxed. With five children between them ranging from 12 to 24, celebrating their love and bringing together their new blended family was more important to them than a big traditional wedding.

Mayumi + Sam's blended family

Canberra local, Mayumi and Adelaide born Sam, first met each other in January 2018 at the White Rabbit - a bar on Northbourne Avenue in Canberra. They hit it off straightaway.

Four years later, in April 2022 as they were excitedly walking to a performance of Phantom of the Opera, Sam surprised Mayumi with an unexpected proposal. He suddenly stopped on the dark Woolloomooloo wharf and Mayumi remembers a light filling the darkness as he opened the lit jewellery box. The unexpected proposal surprised her, as did the fact that she never noticed him carrying the sizeable jewellery box in his pocket!

When it came to planning their wedding, Mayumi and Sam worked well together. Mayumi confesses that she loves event planning and thrives on lots of “to do” lists. “Closer to the day we split up the wedding action list to get things done,” she says.

While much of their wedding was planned online and through word of mouth, they also visited Your Local Wedding Guide Canberra Expo for ideas and advice. Not only did they find Mayumi’s wedding dress and their celebrant at the expo, but they also won the Major Prize Package! The prizes included an engagement portrait session including all high-resolution files plus a 20-page, 8- inch leather keepsake album valued at $1,800 from A Shot Above the Rest Photography and a neon sign frame & balloon garland hire package valued at $560 from Happy Days Canberra.

Photo above taken by A Shot Above the Rest Photography. A Family Photo from the Photoshoot won by Mayumi + Sam at Your Local Wedding Guide Canberra Expo.

Neon sign frame & balloon garland hire package from Happy Days Canberra, won by Mayumi + Sam at Your Local Wedding Guide Canberra Expo.

Their pre-wedding celebrations included a “non-hens” night enjoyed by Mayumi and her friends – so called because it was not your traditional hens’ night. They also hosted a family dinner the day prior to their wedding to welcome their family who had travelled from interstate. Guests attended their wedding from WA, VIC, QLD, SA and NSW, plus Mayumi’s aunt travelled all the way from Hokkaido, Japan to be there.

When their wedding day finally arrived it was a perfect, mild summer day with temperatures in the mid-20s.

Mayumi remembers how special it was to have her mum walk her down the aisle to Sam, who waited in front of the ‘Knot’ sculpture located at the National Gallery of Australia.

Mayumi + Sam in front of the 'Knot' sculpture.

“It was a beautiful, artistic, grand sculpture – appropriately named to be able to ‘tie the knot’,” she says.

It was the perfect location to be married, with Lake Burley Griffin and the Carillion as the backdrop.

Mayumi + Sam with Lake Burley Griffin in the background.

Their reception was held at QT, a vibrant, hip, modern venue where their 12-year-old son entertained everyone in his role as Master of Ceremonies. Mayumi and Sam also surprised and entertained their guests with a personally choreographed dance! Their daughter, Maddie choreographed it for them.

“It took three months of home rehearsals to learn!” says Mayumi.

“The wedding day was special, and we would not have changed a thing,” she says.

Mayumi + Sam walking towards a sculpture at the National Gallery of Australia.

At the end of the night, Mayumi and Sam retired to their penthouse room which was included in their wedding package at QT. Champagne and a hand-written card welcomed the newlyweds.

Mayumi & Sam’s wedding advice: “Enjoy the wedding planning and don’t let it be stressful. The emphasis is about your next chapter with your husband to be. Things work out on the day and the little things that quite don’t go to plan will be things you can laugh about later.

Details:
WEDDING DATE: 21st January 2023
PHOTOGRAPHER: Kelly Tunney Photographer
GOWN: Affordable Bridal
RINGS: Queen Victoria Building, Sydney
HAIR: Gosssip
MAKEUP: Jacqui Scott
GROOM'S SUIT: Roger Bartholomew
CEREMONY: The National Gallery of Australia
CELEBRANT: Michael Bower
RECEPTION: QT
NUMBER OF GUESTS: 80
MENU: Canapes
ENTERTAINMENT: Nick Rigby
FLOWERS: Peony n Pearl
CAKE: Dessert Jar
BOMBONIERE: A Day to Remember Studio (plantable seed cards)
UNIQUE EXTRAS: Happy Days Canberra (neon sign frame & balloon garland)
WEDDING SONG/DANCE: Flashdance, Pump It, The Time of My Life.

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