The Wedding That Was Always Meant to Be | Gabrielle & Aaron
Photos credit: @theonlookers.co
Some love stories begin with certainty. Others unfold slowly, returning at just the right moments until everything finally falls into place.
Gabrielle and Aaron’s story is one of the latter.
They first matched on a dating app in 2017. They chatted for a while before drifting apart as life carried them in different directions. Somehow though, they kept finding their way back to each other.
Years later, when they finally decided to meet for coffee, neither expected that such a simple moment would stay with them. Gabrielle had joked that she would greet Aaron with a hug when they met. He did not think she was serious until she walked straight up and wrapped him in a full embrace.
It was a small moment, but one that Gabrielle still remembers clearly. For the first time, she felt an unexpected sense of safety with someone she had only known through messages.
That coffee date stretched into hours of conversation, where they spoke honestly about who they were, what they valued, and the kind of relationship they hoped to build.
Seven years later, that conversation had grown into a life they were ready to celebrate together.
A Vision Inspired by Timeless Elegance
Gabrielle had saved an image of a wedding before she was engaged, not knowing then how much it would shape the vision for her own day.
She had come across the wedding of local singer Charlene Su and was instantly drawn to its blend of classic romance, vintage influence, and effortless elegance. Silk textures, pearls, and soft florals created a look that felt refined yet relaxed.
Curious about how such a thoughtful celebration had come together, Gabrielle looked up the planner behind the wedding. That was how Gabrielle and Aaron eventually discovered Tricia, the founder of The Modern Matrimony Collective, who had planned Charlene’s wedding.
As time passed and Gabrielle and Aaron soon began planning their own celebration, that moment of inspiration quietly came full circle as Charlene Su’s wedding planner was now planning their wedding.
With just a few Pinterest references and Gabrielle’s vision of silk, pearls, and muted florals, the design direction began to take shape.
The couple leaned into a palette of neutrals and understated tones, allowing the venue and atmosphere of the day to shine while adding subtle vintage touches through ribbons and pearl details.
A Venue Above the City
Gabrielle first discovered 1-Atico through a wedding vlog and instantly fell in love with the view.
When Aaron visited the venue with her, he understood immediately.
Perched high above Orchard Road, the venue offered sweeping skyline views and an atmosphere that felt elegant without the formality of a traditional banquet. It reflected exactly what Gabrielle and Aaron had envisioned. A celebration that felt elevated, intimate, and slightly more relaxed.
The location also carried personal meaning. Ion Orchard had been one of their regular date spots throughout their relationship, making the venue feel even more special.
Within days of visiting, they secured their date and never looked back.
A Morning Filled with Laughter
As the long-awaited day finally arrived, the celebrations began the way many Singapore weddings do. With laughter, excitement, and a lively morning surrounded by close friends.
Aaron arrived with his groomsmen ready to prove just how much he deserved his bride, while Gabrielle watched the games unfold from inside the villa bedroom.
The atmosphere was filled with laughter, cheers, and the kind of playful chaos that only close friends can create.
The challenges struck the perfect balance between embarrassing, heartfelt, and hilarious. One of Gabrielle’s only non-negotiables during planning was that Aaron and his groomsmen perform the now infamous “Manchild” dance by Sabrina Carpenter. What followed was a performance that had everyone laughing from the moment the music started.
Beyond the games themselves, the morning set the tone for the rest of the day. It was joyful, relaxed, and full of the kind of energy that comes from being surrounded by the friends who know you best.
Eventually, after completing the challenges and earning his way through the games, Aaron finally made his way to Gabrielle, marking the beginning of the day’s celebrations.
A Meaningful Ceremony at Wesley Methodist Church
From the laughter of the morning, the day gently shifted into a quieter and more meaningful moment as Gabrielle and Aaron prepared for their wedding ceremony at Wesley Methodist Church.
Their faith had quietly shaped many parts of their journey together. It was through volunteering at a church Christmas event that they reconnected with Pastor Adrian, someone Gabrielle had known since her youth ministry days. During that conversation, he gently asked why they had not yet considered taking their church’s marriage preparation course.
That question stayed with them.
Around the same time, the couple had been planning a move to Australia for Gabrielle’s postgraduate studies, with Aaron preparing to follow her there. When Gabrielle’s mother shared that she hoped they would at least solemnise their marriage before living together overseas, the idea of moving their timeline forward began to take shape.
One evening, while talking about a Disney cruise Aaron had booked for early 2026, Gabrielle jokingly suggested it could become their honeymoon.
That was the moment everything clicked.
What began as a passing thought quickly turned into a one year journey toward marriage.
Inside the sanctuary of Wesley Methodist Church, the atmosphere felt calm and deeply meaningful. Surrounded by family and close friends, the ceremony was filled with quiet anticipation, warm smiles, and moments of reflection.
As Gabrielle walked down the aisle and the two stood before their loved ones, the years that had led them there seemed to settle into that single moment.
For Gabrielle and Aaron, exchanging their vows in the church was not just the start of the wedding day. It was the heart of it.
Personal Style and Thoughtful Details
Gabrielle’s bridal style reflected the same understated elegance that defined the wedding.
She had initially chosen a classic Vera Wang gown, but about a month before the wedding she tried on the Floure gown just for fun and instantly fell in love.
With its basque waist corset and playful bubble hem, it struck the perfect balance between vintage inspiration and modern style. She describes it as the first dress that truly felt like herself.
For the wedding party, Gabrielle and Aaron chose neutral tones of brown and tan. The palette created a cohesive look while allowing each bridesmaid and groomsman to choose a style they felt comfortable in.
Together, the different tones blended beautifully and complemented the warm, neutral aesthetic of the celebration.
Music That Told Their Story
Music played an important role throughout the celebration.
Gabrielle and Aaron curated their wedding playlist together, filling it with songs tied to different chapters of their lives. Some were childhood favourites, others reflected moments from their seven year relationship, and a few were chosen in honour of loved ones, including Elvis for Gabrielle’s grandmother.
Together, they carefully arranged the playlist so it flowed naturally with the rhythm of the evening. Each song was intentionally placed to match the atmosphere of the moment, from guest arrivals and cocktails to dinner service and the livelier energy later in the night.
It became more than just background music. It quietly told the story of their relationship.
Meaningful Touches Woven Throughout the Day
Many of the couple’s favourite memories came from the personal touches woven into their celebration.
One was the snack bar inspired by melonpan from their very first trip together. When they struggled to find the right bakery in Singapore, their planning team managed to source the perfect shiopan supplier.
Music was another deeply personal element, but so were the speeches from the people closest to them. Their best man and man of honour shared stories that reflected years of friendship and memories together.
Even their beloved dogs found a way to be part of the celebration, appearing on customised drink labels and joining for photos thanks to their dog sitter making a special trip to the venue.
These thoughtful details made the day feel unmistakably theirs.
A Planning Journey Built on Trust
Planning the wedding began with excitement but soon became overwhelming.
Between guest lists, invitations, timelines, and navigating family expectations, Gabrielle found herself feeling increasingly stressed. Aaron was working long hours, and Gabrielle naturally carried the details of planning.
Bringing in a planner quickly became one of the most grounding decisions they made.
Instead of feeling like an endless checklist of tasks, planning slowly transformed into a series of thoughtful conversations. Each step was broken down into manageable pieces, from refining their design direction to sourcing vendors who truly suited their personalities.
What stood out most for Gabrielle and Aaron was how personal the process became.
Planning meetings often felt less like formal check-ins and more like conversations with someone who genuinely understood what they were trying to create. Whether it was brainstorming gatecrash games, navigating family expectations, or simply offering reassurance when things felt overwhelming, they always felt supported.
By the time the wedding day arrived, it no longer felt like working with a vendor.
It felt like having trusted friends guiding them through one of the most meaningful days of their lives.
The Moments That Stayed With Them
When Gabrielle and Aaron reflect on their wedding day, the moments that stay with them most are often the quiet ones.
The car rides between locations where they sang along to their favourite songs. The laughter with their wedding party just before the celebrations began. Watching their friends enjoy the food, the speeches, and the atmosphere they had spent months planning.
Seeing the joy on the faces of the people they love made every effort worthwhile.
For them, the wedding was never about creating something perfect.
It was about creating a space where their story could be celebrated by the people who had walked alongside them through the years.
And when a wedding is planned with that kind of intention, the result becomes something far more meaningful than a beautiful event. It becomes a memory that continues to live long after the day itself.
Planning Your Own Wedding
If you are beginning your own wedding planning journey and hoping to create a celebration that feels deeply personal and thoughtfully designed, working with the right planning team can make all the difference.
At The Modern Matrimony Co., every wedding begins with the couple’s story. From shaping the design direction to guiding each step of the planning process, the goal is always the same. To create a wedding day that feels calm, meaningful, and unmistakably yours.
If that is the kind of experience you are hoping for, we would love to hear your story.