The wedding story.
Vi and I have known one another since the early days of undergrad at UT Austin, so you can understand why ten years later, it was such a joy for me when she asked me to be her photographer. Of course, that wasn't the original plan. Vi and Jeremy's wedding was tumultuous, to say the least. We all remember what happened in 2020, right? Well, after being rescheduled three times amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and relocated from San Francisco to Austin, they finally tied the knot and I was elated to have been present as their photographer.
Despite the challenges these two faced, their wedding in Austin, Texas was a beautiful and memorable event. It was a packed day. The wedding featured a traditional Vietnamese tea ceremony followed by a Catholic mass, and the reception was a joyous celebration filled with love and laughter.
THE Vietnamese Tea Ceremony.
The tea ceremony is a beautiful and meaningful tradition that holds a special place in many Vietnamese weddings. In Vietnam, it usually takes place one month before the actual wedding day and is considered an official announcement that a wedding will soon take place. In America, you'll often see couples holding onto this tradition the day before or during the day of their wedding.
The tea ceremony, or Đám Hỏi, is a way for the couple to pay respect to their elders and ancestors, and to express their gratitude and appreciation for the guidance and support of their families. During the ceremony, the couple serves tea to their elders, starting with the oldest and most respected members of the family. The tea is served in small cups, with the couple kneeling before each elder to present the tea and offer their respects. At this time, family members have their chance to present gifts and give words of encouragement to the couple.
As a photographer, it's always a privilege to capture these beautiful traditions, especially when there are such extravagant and unique decorations. One of the most iconic symbols of a Đám Hỏi is the traditional attire - the áo dài, worn by both the bride and groom and their wedding parties. My favorite part was seeing this cultural tradition shared with friends and families from different backgrounds. Jeremy and his side of the family are Filipino, and the wedding party was composed of friends of different ethnicities.
THE WEATHER challengeS.
Of course, there's no such thing as a perfect wedding no matter how hard you strive for one. We're used to Mother Nature's cruel games here in Texas. The days leading up to the wedding featured bright, sunny weather with temperatures in the 70's, but as the day approached, the temperature dropped dramatically. On the actual wedding day, we had 35 degree temperatures with 30 MPH wind. As you can imagine, this made it a bit difficult to get the outdoor shots we had planned, but the bride and groom trusted my quickness and expertise and we were able to take some amazing photos despite the tough weather. Of course, I'm grateful for my friendship with the bride that allowed me to give some tough love and words of encouragement to brave the weather.
After the tea ceremony, we had a brief interlude before the wedding mass, which took place at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Cedar Park, TX, and finally a gorgeous reception at Barr Mansion.
Overall, it was a beautiful and memorable day, and I was honored to be able to capture the special moments of my friend's wedding. The tea ceremony was a highlight of the day, and it was a privilege to witness and photograph this tradition. Despite the challenges we faced, we were able to persevere and create beautiful images that the couple will cherish for a lifetime.
THE vENDORS.
Venue: Barr Mansion | @barrmansion
Florals: Forsythia Florals | @forsythiaflorals
Hair and makeup: Hair & Makeup With Nicole | @nicolegmakeupartist
Touch ups: @brightlikeneonlights
Dress: Janene's Bridal | @janenesbridal
Bridal ao dai: Ao Dai Bao Han | @aodaibaohan
Suit: Indochino Weddings | @indochinoweddings
DJ&MC: Madley's Mobile DJ Solutions | @madleymobiledj
