New Orleans Wedding Photographer | Sonny and Thu
A while back, I got the chance to shoot this amazing wedding with Hung Nguyen of Media Elite Studios. And it was my very FIRST Vietnamese wedding. If you know me, you know I love wedding traditions that are significant. Vietnamese weddings are FULL of significance. It was so much fun to photograph Sonny and Thu–Hung. And everyone in the wedding party were so sweet and accommodating and willing to introduce me to all of the fascinating traditions of their culture (as well as offering to feed me ALL day long. A girl can’t argue with that, can she?).
After everyone was done getting ready that morning. Thu was presented to Sonny in a traditional tea ceremony at the home of a family member. Tea ceremonies involve the presenting of gifts to the bride’s family by the groom. After which the bride is presented to the groom for a formal greeting. Then together they light incense at an altar dedicated to the bride’s ancestors, asking for blessing. There are speeches performed by family, and toasts made, and it’s such a beautiful tradition. I’m so glad I was able to be a part of it for these two.
From the tea ceremony, we broke for lunch before the Catholic wedding ceremony at Mary Queen of Vietnam. I loved the moment right before Thu headed down the aisle. When she reached out to hold her father’s hand for just a moment, before she began her procession toward Sonny.
One thing I learned about Vietnamese ceremonies is that it’s desirable to have as many priests performing the rites as possible. So it was very interesting to see all of the priests lined up performing the blessing and communion. This made for a pretty lengthy ceremony, and one particular little boy in the back decided to take a nap though the latter half of things, which I–of course–found pretty funny, and had to photograph.
Once the ceremony was over (fun fact–traditional Vietnamese couples do not kiss at the end of their I-do’s!), we headed to the reception at Ba Mien, which was–let me tell you–one of the most interesting and ornate receptions I’ve ever attended. In a tradition known as the Tour of Tables, the bride and groom visit each guest table in turn–at which point an elected head of the table (usually an elder) gives a short speech to the couple, and presents them with a gift–after which everyone toasts the new Mr. and Mrs.
Sonny and Thu had LOTS of friends and family show up to celebrate their union, so I was able to photograph many sweet and meaningful toasts to the two.
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