The "Iron Lady of Xiluo" Takes a DIY Island-Wide Selfie Wedding Photo Shoot, Reliving Memories from 25 Years Ago When Her Father Held the Camera

Reporter Lin Yuling / Special Report

"Twenty-five years ago, my dad took pictures of me as a child under the Xiluo Bridge; twenty-five years later, my husband took my wedding photos at the same spot. Both are the most important men in my life."Anyone who is married or unmarried knows that taking wedding photos is a massive undertaking—even with a professional photography team, it's still tough. Yet Youyou, known as the "Iron Lady of Xiluo" and living in Yunlin County, astonishingly completed the grueling task of an island-wide selfie wedding shoot with just her husband and their Shiba Inu. Everything—from styling and hair/makeup to scheduling, finding locations, and taking the photos—was done by them. It’s not hard to imagine how exhausting it was. But when Youyou talks about it, it sounds like a lot of fun.

▲Twenty-five years ago, her now-deceased father took photos of Youyou under the Xiluo Bridge. Twenty-five years later, her husband took her wedding photos at the same place. (Photo / Provided by Youyou, the Iron Lady of Xiluo)

Zeng Huiwen (Youyou), 33, and her husband Dai Shicheng had been in a long-term relationship for ten years before getting married on October 10, 2010. Coincidentally, October is also their shared birth month, and the couple believes this date was meant to be. That same year, their Shiba Inu "Corny," whom they had raised since it was young, also turned 10. Dai Shicheng wanted to take their beloved dog on a trip, while Youyou wanted to take wedding photos. So she simply combined both dreams: "Let’s bring Corny along and go on a self-guided island tour, taking our own wedding photos!" They set off during the chilly Spring Festival holiday.

With no helpers, just the two of them, how did they manage to take the photos? Especially with a dog in tow, making accommodation and meals inconvenient. But the resourceful Youyou somehow managed to turn the impossible into the possible.Never one to wear makeup, she learned from sales assistants and did her own hair and makeup. After careful budgeting, she spent NT$12,000 on five second-hand wedding dresses—more cost-effective than renting. Despite constant arguments, the couple overcame every hurdle together. "At first I’d get angry because I was the one planning the whole itinerary—even driving in my bridal gown. But looking back, I realize we couldn’t have done it without him. We’re truly a team."

▲Youyou and her husband took their own wedding photos with their dog Corny, handling everything from styling and hair/makeup to itinerary planning, location scouting, and photo-taking. (Photo / Provided by Youyou)

▲Dai Shicheng (left) had always wanted to take their 10-year-old dog daughter Corny on an island-wide trip. (Photo / Provided by Youyou)

Some of the photos turned out pretty "amateurish"—for instance, at a motel, drinks accidentally got in the frame, white sheets were exposed, hair looked flat, or skirts weren’t properly arranged. Outdoors, reflectors kept blowing away and couldn’t be propped up, leaving faces in shadows. Plus, with too many tourists during the Spring Festival, bystanders inevitably photobombed the shots. Friends even teased the photos: "What kind of wedding photos are these?" "These look more like everyday life pics!" "Are you sure these are for your wedding guests to see?"

▲1. Forgot to put away the drink. 2. Didn’t make it into the shot. 3. White sheet showing. 4. Lying on the ground, forgot to fix the skirt.
5. Forgot to put away the PDA. 6. Hair flat. 7. Eyes closed. 8. Glasses not fixed. Bottom right: Finally passed with barely acceptable quality ^^ (Photo / Provided by Youyou, the Iron Lady of Xiluo)

▲Another NG shot: They tried to create a "bubble bath beauty pool," but after pouring bubble bath... it turned into a "dirty bath." (Photo / Provided by Youyou, the Iron Lady of Xiluo)

▲The couple posing with stiff postures, not exactly romantic or relaxing. (Photo / Provided by Youyou, the Iron Lady of Xiluo)

The overwhelmingly negative feedback from friends and family initially hurt Youyou, but her husband remained unfazed: "We’re not trying to take the kind of pretty wedding photos everyone expects. There’s bound to be a gap in perception." "If 10 out of 2,000 photos turn out good, that’s pretty decent!" Eventually, Youyou had an epiphany.Many people have preconceived notions about weddings and wedding photography, assuming it has to be luxurious and picturesque—even spending huge sums of money. But for her, those kinds of photos aren’t ones she’d often revisit. Instead, the experience of going through hardships with her husband and treating it as a fun challenge felt like co-creating a labor of love. This jointly created masterpiece became a keepsake they often laugh over when flipping through it later—a truly worthwhile memory.

Their 8-day island-wide selfie wedding journey, filled with good food and comfortable stays, only cost NT$20,000. Though they didn’t produce a physical wedding album, Dai Shicheng spent over NT$10,000 on a 24T touchscreen, which they displayed at their wedding venue for guests to enjoy, showcasing the fruits of their DIY travel wedding photoshoot. It was creative and meaningful. But Youyou said the goal wasn’t to save money—it was a challenge and a personal project. Though the photos weren’t as polished as commercial ones, "they have our style!"

▲Youyou and her husband, both alumni of Tamkang University, visited their alma mater and reminisced under the palace lanterns during their trip. (Photo / Provided by Youyou, the Iron Lady of Xiluo)

After completing their island-wide journey, Youyou and her husband ended their trip back in Xiluo, seizing the moment before sunset to take photos under the Xiluo Bridge. The process went surprisingly smoothly—usually, her hair and makeup would take two hours, but that day it only took 30 minutes. She suddenly remembered that her father had once taken photos of her here 25 years ago. "My father passed away very early, and ever since then, I’ve always hoped to have a boyfriend who could take photos for me. I never expected that 25 years later, my husband would take my wedding photos at the same place. Both are the most important men in my life."

The photos of Youyou under the Xiluo Bridge looked especially fresh and graceful, and her husband loved them too. She once wrote about the unspoken connection spanning 25 years on her blog, and after finishing the post, she cried uncontrollably—it was an indescribable feeling. She also realized: "It turns out you don’t have to go far to find beautiful backdrops. Your hometown can be just as stunning and meaningful."

▲With her beloved husband behind the lens, Youyou’s smile back home was even more radiant, evoking emotions across 25 years. (Photo / Provided by Youyou, the Iron Lady of Xiluo)

※ Visit Youyou’s blog:Youyou * A Light Touch of Oxalis

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