Bride ideas for a creative soul
As top model Sheena Liam prepares to say ‘I do’, she shares her upcoming wedding plans.
IT IS certainly not an understatement when top Malaysian model Sheena Liam announces (with a smiling emoji): “We are having a wedding year!”
From an unconventional proposal last year to an upcoming church wedding in Lithuania and a year-end Chinese ceremony in Malaysia, it is indeed shaping up to be a love-filled fest for Liam and renowned Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic.
Liam, 27, and Zacharevic, 31, recently registered their marriage in a simple ceremony in Lithuania. They announced the happy occasion on their respective Instagram accounts on July 14.
In the post that was geo-tagged Vilnius (the capital of Lithuania), Liam sported the Essex dress, a pistachio green lace number by New York designer Sandy Liang.
“For the church wedding in September, my family and friends will be flying out to Luthuania, as will Ernest’s for the Malaysian one in December. We have friends from all over the world so it will be nice for everyone to meet,” explains Liam, who was the first Malaysian to win Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 2 in 2014.
In regard to the bridesmaids and best men, it will be a combination of their cousins and high school friends.
The couple got engaged in July 2017, after dating for three years. Zacharevic’s proposal to Liam was via a giant billboard in Lithuania where the two were attending a friend’s wedding at that time.
The billboard by Zacharevic – who received worldwide acclaim in 2012 after creating street art murals in Penang (including Children On A Bicycle and Boy On A Bike) – said “Marry me Sheena”. His Instagram caption “Way too tacky and far too small to express how I feel, but I think @sheenaliam got the idea” was followed by the hashtag #shesaidcan.
Where her wedding dresses are concerned, Liam says: “I have a combination. My grandmother bought my kwa from Beijing, and I have a Zac Posen.
“I am also embroidering a dress by hand,” adds Liam, who has gained recognition as an embroidery artist.
Her main dress will be by a top bridal designer, whose name is synonymous with exclusive, exquisite wedding gowns.
“Celest Thoi is surprising me with a dress; I literally tried on everything in her studio and told her to do anything she wants. I know I will love it regardless!” enthuses Liam.
“Sheena wanted a gown that can be converted into different looks,” says Singapore-born, Malaysia-based designer Thoi, whose studio is located in The Gardens Mall, Kuala Lumpur. “So, we designed her a lace embroidered flare gown with tulle overlay that can tie into different looks.”
In terms of inspiration, Thoi muses: “I was inspired by the venue she’s getting married in. Lithuania exudes a rustic feel with dreamy overtones.” She adds: “I reckon they are the cutest couple! Both are very creative and artistic, so they make an amazing pair.”
Asked about the couple’s post-wedding honeymoon plans, Liam says in jest: “I honestly don’t know – we travel so much, I just want to stay in bed and rest.”
And where will the globe-trotting couple stay as newlyweds?
“We have no definite plans. We’ve talked about it and our work is literally everywhere, so it makes no sense to stay in one city and take out a lease or mortgage on a place,” concludes Liam, who is presently based in the United States.