A fairytale wedding combining Chinese and Swedish traditions

Who are you?

Nancy Zhang & Yi Zhang

How did you meet?

We’ve known each other as acquaintances since secondary school, but it wasn’t until we met again at Stockholm University that love began to blossom between us. We have many mutual friends who introduced us to each other, and a shared course several years later marked the start of our journey.

How did the proposal go?

The proposal was neither spectacular nor unique, but very simple. Yi proposed with a few friends and acquaintances as witnesses on Riddarholmskajen, using the clichéd routine: down on one knee, ring in hand, and a few lovely words. 

What rings did you choose?

We were stuck together in China at the start of the pandemic and took the opportunity to order a pair of bespoke rings from a friend’s jewellery shop there. Yi chose a simple, understated ring, and Nancy chose a simple ring featuring a crown and a white diamond. Both are in white gold, with our initials engraved on the inside of the rings.

When you started planning, what was the first thing you decided on?

The very first thing we decided on was the venue and setting we wanted for our wedding, as well as hiring a wedding planner to help with the wedding planning; and here we highly recommend Mariella Rietschel and her team from WeddingPlanner Stockholm, who helped us immensely throughout the whole wedding journey. 

Did you have a list of priorities, i.e. what was most important to you? 

The venue, the setting and the weather were the most important things for us. We wanted a secluded spot near the water, away from the city centre and with nature in the background. 

How long did it take you to plan your wedding?

Our wedding took an exceptionally long time to plan due to the pandemic. Nothing could really be finalised because the restrictions in place were an obstacle to the wedding we had in mind. In total, it took over two years, with a one-year hiatus whilst we waited for the restrictions to be eased. Most of the arrangements were finalised in the last six months before the wedding, once the restrictions had been eased. 

What were your thoughts on the wedding budget?

The wedding budget was set right from the start, but had to be adjusted continuously as we gained a better understanding of what things actually cost, as well as what our wishes might cost.  

Where did the wedding ceremony and reception take place?

Skytteholm Manor, Ekerö

What was your favourite memory of the day/weekend?

The wedding ceremony was the absolute highlight for us.

Did you organise any activities for the guests?

We’d organised a little welcome committee where guests could take photos and save them using a couple of instant cameras. Between the various events, there was time for guests to mingle over canapés and drinks. The evening concluded with dinner and a party with an open bar.

How would you best describe your wedding?  

Our wedding was everything we’d ever hoped for. Everything was almost perfect, from the ceremony to the reception. All the suppliers we’d hired understood our vision and exceeded our expectations in their work. The guest list consisted largely of relatives of Chinese background, and we were concerned about the potential culture clash that might arise when we chose to follow a more Swedish schedule. We therefore selected a couple of people to help the wedding planner coordinate the guests’ attendance, and everyone behaved impeccably. We were also in luck as the weather had changed from heavy rain in the days leading up to the wedding to sunny and almost cloudless on our wedding day. The venue was exactly what we’d hoped for, and the entire schedule could be accommodated within Skytteholm Manor, so there were virtually no logistical problems.

What was on the wedding menu? 

Starter: Cured and baked mountain char, chives, pickled cucumber, pickled red onion, trout roe, toasted rye bread, cress

Main course: Whole roast fillet of beef, potato cake with matured cheese, bunched carrots, green asparagus, onions, red wine sauce and herb & garlic butter

Dessert: Strawberry ice cream, mazarin and lemon sponge, strawberry slices, crispy almonds and marinated strawberries

Coffee & After-dinner drinks (whisky and cognac)

Red wine from Chianti, Italy, and white Chardonnay from France were served with the meal, as well as non-alcoholic options for white and red wine.

Snack: The classic sausage and bread with Skagen.

Is food something you place a lot of importance on?  

Good food is a must that we both prioritise highly. Partly because of Yi’s involvement in the restaurant industry, and partly because of our cultural background, which sees a meal as an important social gathering for family, relatives and friends. The food for our wedding therefore needed to meet a certain standard, but not be too extravagant so as to make the food the centrepiece – rather, it should be more familiar.  

Top tip for planning a wedding?

Set a budget early on and adjust your expectations or the budget once you’ve found out more about the wedding market. All the details, big and small, that need to be planned can take the focus away from the most important part of the wedding, which is the bride and groom getting married. So be prepared to be really selfish and make sure it really is your day, with the focus on you as a couple, whilst the details are merely the backdrop. Hiring a wedding planner makes the planning and execution so much easier.

Is there anything you wish you’d done differently? 

In our case, it was almost perfect. The only thing we would have done differently, if it had been possible, is to invite friends and family from China who were unable to attend because the pandemic restrictions hadn’t been fully lifted. 

Any dos and don’ts you can share?

Do’s: Whatever your mood, always tell each other you love one another at bedtime. Small moments together spice up everyday life, whilst big moments together create unforgettable memories. It’s important to support one another in hard times and have fun in good times.

When it comes to weddings: Plan as well as you can to ensure the day goes smoothly, and enjoy the day. Ask friends and acquaintances for help to lighten the load on the wedding day.

Don’ts: Don’t keep problems to yourself for too long; instead, communicate with each other to find a solution. If a row breaks out, don’t keep stubbornly holding your ground; instead, take a step back and come back to the issue to find common ground and a solution. Don’t prioritise other people’s opinions over your partner’s, as it’s you two who need to stand together as a team.

When it comes to weddings: don’t get too hung up on the small details. 

What did you wear? Which brand or designer did you choose? 

Nancy’s outfit: The dresses, tiara and veil from AMOURROSE Changsha in China. Shoes from Jimmy Choo. 

Yi’s outfit: A three-piece bespoke suit from Lund & Lund, a white shirt from Eton, shoes from Crockett & Jones, and a tie from Ralph Lauren.

PHOTOS//KRISTIN ANDERSSON PHOTOGRAPHY

Was there a dress code for the guests?

The dress code we chose was a suit and, preferably, light colours for dresses. The closest equivalent is probably ‘cocktail attire’.

Anything else you’d like to share with us? 

A wedding is just a milestone in a couple’s relationship, and the most important thing is to get to know each other well in everyday life, because life after the wedding consists solely of everyday life, and it’s important that both of you can enjoy the little and big things that happen day to day.

We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank all our loved ones who shared this wonderful day with us, as well as all the staff and contractors who helped out and created a fantastic memory for us. 

Photographer: Kristin Andersson – Kickifotograf

Videographer: Kevin Peng, Jingman Li & Xuechao Wei – Pm.Studio

Wedding planner: Mariella Rietschel – WeddingPlanner Stockholm

Florist: Johan Munters – Floristkompaniet

Venue: Skytteholm Manor, Ekerö

Hair & Make-up: Dylan – Panda Studio

DJ: Simon Matsuyama