{"id":193616,"date":"2015-01-14T13:00:24","date_gmt":"2015-01-14T02:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/au\/real-weddings\/technology-opens-gates-for-outdoor-wedding-of-xiaowen-stephen\/"},"modified":"2022-03-16T16:24:35","modified_gmt":"2022-03-16T05:24:35","slug":"technology-opens-gates-for-outdoor-wedding-of-xiaowen-stephen","status":"publish","type":"au-real-wedding","link":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/real-weddings\/technology-opens-gates-for-outdoor-wedding-of-xiaowen-stephen\/","title":{"rendered":"Technology opens gates for outdoor wedding of Xiaowen &amp; Stephen"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"lead\">Separated by thousands of kilometres, it was 500 emails that brought together Xiaowen Lei and Stephen Cox.<\/p>\n<p>They met through a mutual friends and built a connection over a few years while Xiaowen was living in China and Stephen, Australia. Communication wasn\u2019t easy to begin with, however!\u2019 \u201cStephen sent me a birthday wish over Facebook,\u201d explains Xiaowen, 38. \u201cBut I couldn\u2019t reply to the message because China blocks Facebook.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But emails began and then after Stephen, 43, paid Xiaowen a visit in China, they began using a web chat application. \u201cWe exchanged photos to show our daily life, voice messages and later on, video calls,\u201d the bride says.<\/p>\n<p>After meeting her family and friends at a later date, Stephen popped the question! \u201cIn June, 2014 Stephen came to China to collect me. He passed drinking tests set by my friends,\u201d Xiaowen laughs. \u201cIt\u2019s kind of a Chinese tradition that a man has to pass a drinking test to be able to take his bride away.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>They were married with an outdoor wedding on October 26, 2014 in Brisbane\u2019s Newstead Park. \u201cChampagne gold sashes used for both ceremony and reception connected the two venues,\u201d says Xiaowen.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-69904\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_024.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_024\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-69901\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_021.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_021\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-69902\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_022.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_022\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-69947 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_002.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_002\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" title=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-69943 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_SBS_026.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_SBS_026\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" title=\"\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-69914\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_034.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_034\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Xiaowen&#8217;s gown was a gift from a close friend.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-69949\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_004.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_004\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-69948\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_003.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_003\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-69873\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_005.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_005\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-69921 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_SBS_004.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_SBS_004\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" title=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-69922 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_SBS_005.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_SBS_005\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" title=\"\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-69886\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_010.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_010\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-69888\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_011.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_011\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;It was a pleasant sunny &#8211; but windy &#8211; day in Brisbane when we married,&#8221; says Xiaowen.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-69881\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_008.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_008\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-69884\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_009.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_009\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-69890\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_013.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_013\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-69897\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_017.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_017\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The colour theme was purple and white, fitting for the surrounding Jacaranda trees.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-69908\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_028.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_028\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-69899\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_019.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_019\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-69912\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_032.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_032\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-69940 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_SBS_023.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_SBS_023\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" title=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-69936 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_SBS_019.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_SBS_019\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" title=\"\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-69946\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_001.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_001\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;Don\u2019t try to construct a perfect wedding day but instead try your best to create a fun and relaxing day for you and your guests,&#8221; Xiaowen says to brides-to-be.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-69916\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_036.jpg\" alt=\"Xiaowen_Stephen_Outdoor-Wedding_036\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p>Photos by <a title=\"Tania&#039;s Photography\" href=\"http:\/\/www.taniasphotography.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Tania&#8217;s Photography.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":112722,"parent":0,"template":"","au_real_wedding_category":[6854],"au_real_wedding_tag":[7115,7121,7139,7145,7808],"au_real_wedding_style":[9003],"au_real_wedding_location":[9056,9024],"au_real_wedding_setting":[9014],"au_real_wedding_colour":[10581],"au_real_wedding_competition":[],"class_list":["post-193616","au-real-wedding","type-au-real-wedding","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","au_real_wedding_category-6854","au_real_wedding_tag-outdoor-wedding","au_real_wedding_tag-park-wedding","au_real_wedding_tag-purple-wedding-2","au_real_wedding_tag-real-weddings","au_real_wedding_tag-tanias-photography","au_real_wedding_style-modern","au_real_wedding_location-brisbane","au_real_wedding_location-qld","au_real_wedding_setting-garden-chapel","au_real_wedding_colour-purple-wedding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au-real-wedding\/193616","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au-real-wedding"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/au-real-wedding"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au-real-wedding\/193616\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/112722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=193616"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"au_real_wedding_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au_real_wedding_category?post=193616"},{"taxonomy":"au_real_wedding_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au_real_wedding_tag?post=193616"},{"taxonomy":"au_real_wedding_style","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au_real_wedding_style?post=193616"},{"taxonomy":"au_real_wedding_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au_real_wedding_location?post=193616"},{"taxonomy":"au_real_wedding_setting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au_real_wedding_setting?post=193616"},{"taxonomy":"au_real_wedding_colour","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au_real_wedding_colour?post=193616"},{"taxonomy":"au_real_wedding_competition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au_real_wedding_competition?post=193616"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}