Su Zen and Nicholas vowed to spend the rest of their lives together in front of their nearest and dearest at the elegant Sofitel in Kuala Lumpur. Their day was a celebration brimming with love and joy, beautifully captured in photos that show the couple savouring every precious moment.
Su Zen captivated in the Samantha by Jenny Yoo, a timeless crepe fit-and-flare gown with a chic square sweetheart neckline and flattering princess seams. The low scoop back adds a sultry touch, and the covered buttons extending down to the cathedral length train make this gown utterly breathtaking.
Continue scrolling for beautiful images, insights into Su Zen's wedding dress shopping journey, and her advice for brides planning their big day. Enjoy!
What was it that made this particular wedding dress catch your eye and fall in love?
The back buttons were my favourite part of the dress; they accentuated my figure in a way I had not expected. I was always self-conscious about my thighs, which is why I opted for a princess gown, but for the first time in my life, I loved the curve of our thighs.
Tell us about your search for the dress and the experience at Astra Bridal.
When I met Ilyese, I mentioned that I was interested in a princess gown and even showed her a few lacy ones I'd found on TikTok. After trying several, none of them felt quite right. Then Ilyese pulled out a fitted gown (Samantha by Jenny Yoo) - it was not something I thought I would like. But the moment I tried it on, I was sold. I told Ilyese I'd sleep on it, and the next day I knew it was the one. I went to collect the dress with no makeup and in my work-from-home, not-so-cute fit. I remember Ilyese asking me, "Hey! Would you like to take a photo saying I said 'yes to the dress!'?" I was like, "Erm, not today." If it had been any other day where I felt more put together, I would've done it!
Tell us your story, how you both met, and the proposal.
Our story began long before we even realised it was a love story. As kids, we were nothing more than family friends, the kind who saw each other on family vacations and played hide and seek while the adults talked over dinner parties. Those early years were just a prelude to what was yet to come. In our late twenties, life brought us back together with a simple like on an app. It was fate that decided the time was finally right. From the start, he was determined to impress. He opened every door for me, he learnt my favourite flowers and surprised me with them. He downloaded the last season of Modern family and saved it on a USB for me when I mentioned Netflix was missing it. Fast forward a year later, he was planning to propose and asked my dad while we were blueberry picking over the summer. My dad said, "Sure, I guess that's the logical next step to take." One evening, as the sun dipped low in the sky, casting the perfect golden hue, he bent down on our close friends' balcony and proposed. It was a moment that turned our childhood memories into a lifelong love story. We had the most amazing wedding in Malaysia, with the theme Golden Hour and all our closest family and friends celebrating with us.
What was your favourite part of the day?
Our highlight was celebrating with our family and friends. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a realisation that we would never again have all our loved ones gathered in one place. One memory that will forever be etched in my mind is the moment my family waved goodbye from my childhood family home as I left my house to join my groom as part of the ceremony. It was a poignant echo of the day I left Malaysia to migrate to NZ at the age of 8, with my relatives waving goodbye from the departure gates and following me through the windows above. That moment marked the beginning of a beautiful life, and my wedding day brought those feelings full circle, mirroring that same bittersweet farewell.
Tell us about your wedding day as a whole.
The wedding day itself went off without a hitch, thanks to my strong organisational skills. We chose to have our wedding in Malaysia, where the weather is always hot and humid, so we opted for an indoors wedding. The night before, I was so excited that I only managed to fall asleep at 4am - not ideal for a 6am start, but it was what it was. As guests and my bridal party arrived, we kicked off the festivities with the traditional gate-crashing games. My groom and his party had to complete a series of fun challenges to 'earn' their way through the gates, up to my house, and finally to my room. I got to enjoy the entire spectacle from the comfort of my air conditioned room, thanks to my friends who filmed the whole process. When my groom finally reached me, we shared a kiss. The vow ceremony followed and then we got ready for the reception, where I had arranged a hair stylist and makeup artist for my husband. However, he wasn’t used to this and ended up washing off his hair and makeup, then redoing it himself! That was probably the most stressful part of the day, but we quickly moved on. The reception began, and we spent the evening with our loved ones. I wouldn't change a thing about our wedding day - except maybe getting a bit more sleep the night before!
Finally, what is your biggest piece of advice for brides to be?
One of the most important things to plan for your wedding day is setting aside enough time for photos. These aren't just snapshots; they're memories you will cherish forever. Be sure to capture the first look and document the reactions and expressions of your guests. Before reception, when your makeup is fresh and the decor is untouched, take the opportunity to have some beautifully composed shots. These are the ones you'll frame and admire for years to come - a lasting reminder of the day you looked and felt your best. Most importantly, don't fret about the details or if things don't go according to plan - don't be a bridezilla. This is supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life, so don't let anything diminish that.
