Three dresses, 350 guests, champagne showers: Brisbane’s couple epic City Hall wedding
It was the perfect wedding event – but the bride has revealed the not-so-secret moment that preceded the big day.
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This couple married in a beautiful, flower-filled ceremony on the lawn at Old Government House and followed up with a reception for 350 guests at Brisbane City Hall.
Kimmie Tran and Bao Pham, who live in Eight Miles Plains, wed on June 22 this year and went all out: the bride had three dresses, a bubble tea cart dispensed drinks in monogrammed cups, there was a lion dance, a traditional tea ceremony the day before and a limitless bar tab.
The pair met on an overseas trip with friends in 2019 and they got together the next year. Their first dance was to Ed Sheeran’s Kiss Me and they will honeymoon in Europe early next year to catch some F1 circuits.
The proposal?
Kimmie: We got engaged in November 2022. Around my birthday my best friend asked me to dinner, I didn’t think much of it as we always have dinner together but leading up to the day she said, “Let’s dress up so we can take photos”. That made me suspicious and I thought they were planning a surprise birthday party. As I was walking into Soko Rooftop for our sunset dinner I remember thinking to myself, “OK, put your game face on to pretend to be surprised”, and, boy was I surprised. There were big, red neon signs saying, “Will you marry me”. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Of course I said yes.
Hen’s night?I had a hen’s trip in Vietnam with some of my closest girlfriends. They went all out and planned everything from matching T-shirts and swimsuits, Vietnam survival kits, a “Tropic like it’s hot” themed party in our villa in Phu Quoc, epic event styling, embarrassing cutouts of my face and a life-size cutout of Bao. They also planned the most beautiful bridal shower back in Brisbane for friends and family who could not make it to Vietnam. It was a rooftop lunch at Lina.
Buck’s night?A small get-together with 40 friends for a weekend at the Gold Coast, involving lots of vodka and Pokemon cards.
How did you choose your wedding venue?
With such a big guest list we were quite limited with options. When we met with Jacinta from Epicure for our site visit of City Hall we knew straight away it was perfect for us. It was the brilliant Alysia who found our ceremony location, all we knew was that we wanted it to be outdoors. It was exactly what we wanted and was the perfect complement to City Hall.
How did you choose your wedding dress? I went to at least half a dozen bridal stores and tried on a ton of dresses but did not love anything. I had a vision which I realised could only be achieved through a custom design. After I met with George Wu I knew he was going to be the one who would dress me for my wedding. After lots of brainstorming we decided I would have an elegant and simple yet dramatic ceremony dress, a sparkly and embellished reception dress that would have the “wow factor” and a cute little, fun party dress. George is a master of his craft.
What thoughts did you have while waiting for Kimmie to walk down the aisle? Super, super nervous while waiting, and as I turned around and saw her walk down the aisle, my heart filled with absolute love and joy. Seeing her for the first time, looking absolutely gorgeous, made me forget about the nerves.
Any unique details about the wedding?
The bridesmaids’ and groomsmens’ entrance was epic. Strobe lights, neon signs, Champagne showers. We had a bubble tea cart – custom cups with our monogram, three flavours of tea, and lots of toppings. This was catered by Sakuraya in Market Square which is a business Kimmie runs with her family. We also had a mosaic wall to go along with our photobooth, which is a wonderful keepsake we plan to frame and put up in our house alongside our live painting by Ashley Bunting. Lion dancing. Traditional tea ceremony the day before.
What was the standout moment?
Kimmie:Standing up on the aisle holding Bao’s hands about to share our vows and then looking into the crowd to see all of my loved ones all in one place and dancing with Dad.
Bao: Walking out into the reception and seeing all of our loved ones there celebrating us.
What was a wedding non-negotiable?Ensuring our friends and family had a good time. In Vietnamese culture food is the centre of any gathering so we made sure that the food was going to be really good and for our friends we had a limitless bar tab.
What would you do differently?
Kimmie: I regret not eating my lobster meal; too busy having too much fun.Bao: Nothing. It was the most perfect day and night and the only regret is that it didn’t last longer.
Best advice for other couples?
You need to book Alysia! She is an absolute godsend. We had a vision and she made it come to life and more! Alysia is genuine, creative, calming and just the most loveliest person ever who genuinely cares so much for all of her couples.
The Bride
Kimmie Tran, 31
Profession Oral health therapist; Sakuraya
Parents Kim Chi Le and Dan Van Tran
Bridesmaids Kylie Truong, Julie Cao, Jiwon Huang, Judy Nguyen, Angeline Tran
Dresses Three custom couture gowns from George Wu Couture
Hair Leigh McCoy
Make-up Linda Tran
Flowers The Blossom Tree Company
Engagement ring Custom made
Wedding planner/stylist Alysia Bridger Events
The Groom
Bao Pham, 37
Profession Founder of Bliss Esports (Esports Organisation) and Fade and Slice Barbers
Parents Ngoc Nguyen, Thien Pham
Groomsmen Duy Dang, Paul Lee, Minh Nguyen, Michael Trinh, Richard Huynh
Suit Institchu
Entertainment Graham Hobson
Transport Tic Tac Tours
Videographer Evernew Studio
Celebrant Amber Gillam
Caterer Epicure
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