Dad makes surprising choice as he walks daughter down the aisle
An Aussie bride’s father has made a surprising decision about walking his daughter down the aisle, stopping halfway and letting her carry on without him.
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After meeting at a football fan day where they were both working in 2018, this Kedron couple celebrated their wedding with two ceremonies that celebrated their cultural backgrounds.
A Chinese tea ceremony was held at the bride Nancy Hsu’s family home in Macgregor on March 13 followed by a full western ceremony and reception, which included nods to groom Andy Allan’s heritage, with 88 guests at Summergrove Estate at Carool in northern NSW on March 16.
“Andy’s family are from England (mum) and Scotland (dad), and my family are from Taiwan (dad), Chinese Timorese (stepdad) and China (mum and stepmum), and the entire day/week was just such a beautiful international melting pot of cultures coming together,” Nancy says.
“We held a tea ceremony where Andy’s family participated, and on our wedding day, Andy’s family wore traditional Scottish tartan, specifically from their family clan, MacGilvray. Andy’s dad wore a kilt, his sister a sash, and Andy had the MacGilvray tartan as his pocket square.”
How did you choose your wedding venue?
We were on the Tweed Coast for a friend’s wedding and booked in to see Summergrove Estate the next day. The venue was beautiful – we wanted one that could host ceremony, reception and had its own catering. Our co-ordinator in the lead up and on the day, Leeanda, was an absolute legend.
What would you spend more or less on?
In the lead up, there were definitely moments we questioned whether we spent too much on various parts but on the day itself, the best day of our lives, with the happiness of having all of our family and friends around having a great time, it really is just all worth it.
How did you choose your wedding dress?
Nancy: When I went to Made With Love studio in Albion I chose four or five styles I thought would suit me, and the sales assistant asked if I wanted her to choose a “wildcard” for me. I said yes, why not! When I tried on the wildcard dress (Hendrix), I knew it was “the one”.
Any unique details about your wedding?
A unique, beautiful moment was my two fathers walking me down the aisle – they previously had not had a relationship. My dad walked me halfway down, then handed me to my stepdad who walked me the rest of the way. My dad had suggested this, in order of how they had come into my life and supported me as a father figure.
What was the standout moment?
The ceremony and how beautifully our celebrant Jac (Jac Moore at Moore Celebrations) told our story, so seamlessly creating a relaxed and joyful environment to bring our friends and family together to celebrate us.
What was a wedding non-negotiable?
A quality DJ! A DJ makes or breaks dance floor vibes, and there was no one else except Aaron!
Best wedding gift?
Our wedding cake. Beautiful and tirelessly made and gifted to us by my bridesmaid Maddy Lee (Coastal Cakes by Maddy). The entire experience was so thoughtful and personalised to us! It was a rich chocolate cake with a light coffee icing.
What would you do differently?
There may have been small things we could have done differently, as with any event day, but none of it would have changed the feeling of the day and the overall lavender haze euphoria. No little mix ups or deviations from the plans could have taken away from how incredible and happy the day was.
Top wedding hack?
I’m a bit of a type A personality, so Google sheets and schedules down to the minute were my jam! Ha ha. The infamous spreadsheet was shared with me by a colleague as soon as she heard I was engaged, and I’ve since shared it with three other couples planning their wedding. I found people are just so willing to help, and it’s such a lovely experience. Everyone we surround ourselves with is just so beautiful as well, and so much of what we loved were bits and pieces of all different weddings and events we’d been to. We didn’t reinvent the wheel, but copy and pasted what we loved and made it our own.
Best advice for other couples planning a wedding?
People told us how fast the day goes. It does! Take a moment to take it all in, but also be true to who you are as a couple. We love to love on our friends and family, and we invested time in spending time with our guests and having everyone feel included and part of the day, hoping that if there was nothing else our guests remembered about the day, they remembered the feeling of the day – a mixture of love celebrations and a really, really great time!
The Bride
Nancy Hsu
Profession Associate marketing director, CRM & Loyalty – Frankie4
Parents Amy Sun mother, Kevin stepfather, Robert Hsu father, Serena Lu stepmother
Bridesmaids Elizabeth Hsu maid of honour, Tuyen Tran, Anita Tam, Maddy Lee
Dress Made With Love Bridal; reception mini dress: Sarah Seven
Shoes Frankie4
Hair Cherry She at Wedding Dream Services
Make-up Sarah Thong
Flowers & styling Harper Arrow
Engagement ring & wedding bands Diamondport Jewellers
The Groom
Andy Allan
Profession General manager, Game Development, Referees, Clubs & Community – Football Queensland
Parents Jayne Allan and Will Allan
Groomsmen Scott Hamilton and Rob Cunningham co-best man, Andy Le and Zac Sertori
Suit Merlai Italian Tailors
Entertainment Acoustic musician: Elliott Hahn at JANDA Events; DJ Aaron Maybus
Videographer Connor Bowness
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