Phoebe and Quang’s intimate wedding celebration in Collingwood

We both worked on Caught by Red Stitch The Actor’s Theatre in 2023

I met Phoebe through a production, and we clicked immediately. Originally from Saigon, she was carving out her niche as an up-and-coming actor in Australia. She had this irresistibly bubbly, chirpy personality—always ready to roll up her sleeves and work hard. And then there was Quang, her fiancé, who came to see her perform one night. My first thought? Wow, they’re total opposites! Phoebe was all energy and enthusiasm, while Quang was the quiet, shy type, always sneaking these warm, affectionate glances at Phoebe like she was the sun and he was just basking in her glow. Watching them together, I couldn’t help but think, “They’re ridiculously cute.”

So, imagine my surprise when, a year later, I got an email from Phoebe asking if I’d be up for MCing at her wedding in Melbourne. She wanted a cosy celebration where friends and colleagues could just have fun. We chatted about the schedule, she shared her vision, and I threw out some ideas for games and the timeline. Then, I got to work with the venue’s event manager to fine-tune everything. Let me just say, I was impressed by how organised and on top of things the venue manager was. They were like the Swiss watch of event planning.

The venue, Aunty Kim’s, offered both catering and beverage packages, so the venue manager handled the venue itself, and I took care of the schedule and coordinated the activities. The couple wanted a laid-back vibe, so the schedule wasn’t jam-packed, and honestly? It worked perfectly. They were the ideal hosts, and their guests totally followed their lead, just relaxing and enjoying themselves. The whole atmosphere was chill, which was exactly what Phoebe and Quang wanted.

But the highlight of the night? Oh, it had to be when we blindfolded Quang and had him search for Phoebe... by feeling each female guest’s right hand. (You read that right.) Quang hesitated a few times, probably overwhelmed by the sea of fingers, and almost made the fatal mistake of picking the wrong hand. You should’ve seen Phoebe’s face when he almost confirmed someone else as his bride—her expression was priceless! She looked like she was ready to hand her ring back. “Is this a sign?” she must’ve been thinking.

In the end, it was a generous, heartfelt, elegant, and intimate evening with Phoebe, Quang, and their guests. I was so honoured to be part of it and honestly felt pretty lucky to be asked to contribute to their beautiful celebration.

Photo Credit: Kai Kin Tan (Citrus7 Photography)