[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]
The wedding colors were white, mauve pink, peach, light pink, blush, and beige pink.
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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]We envisioned a ceremony nestled within a picturesque garden, with an aisle lined by delicate petals and surrounded by towering trees. We love the sense of magic that comes with hosting an elegant affair surrounded by lush blooms, crawling greenery, fancy finger food, and the soft glow of twinkling lights. We also wanted a venue that can provide a light and whimsical atmosphere, inviting our guests to lose themselves in the beauty of the moment. Our goal was not to simply create just any event, but an experience that captures the essence of our relationship and leaves a lasting impression on all who attend.[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]In the midst of the chaos of Covid lockdowns and riots in Philadelphia, Damien and I decided to escape from the city and enjoy a family picnic out in the suburbs. As we walked around the local park, Damien took my hand and led me to a gazebo sitting on a small hill. As we sat and talked under the shade of a gazebo, I felt an overwhelming feeling of pure bliss and gratitude as my mind started to reflect on our relationship. I was so deep in my thoughts that I didn’t realize he was starting his proposal speech, and before I knew it, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.[/field]
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[board_carousel title=”Getting Ready”]
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[board_carousel title=”Bridal Portraits”]
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[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]
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[board_carousel title=”First Look”]
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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]
While we chose not to have a traditional tea ceremony, I knew I still wanted to honor my heritage and culture somehow. For the morning church ceremony, I wore an ao dai, a traditional Vietnamese dress that is seen as a symbol of beauty and pride among the Vietnamese people. I then paired the dress with its matching headdress, heightening the elegance of the ensemble. For the second ceremony, I went for a more Westernized look that could not be any more opposite than my previous dress. I chose an A-line dress by Justin Alexander with details fitted for any dreamy garden nuptial. The strapless corset top highlighted my neckline and collarbone, while the lace detail and floral appliqué added a feminine, soft look. I topped the look off with a clean, minimalistic cathedral veil. Lastly, I decided to have a third dress for the reception because why the heck not? The piece was from Bronx and Banco, a mini dress with an ostrich feather trim paired with rhinestone-studded heels from Mach & Mach. Now that the formalities were done, I wanted to wear something fun and girly, not to mention it was a thousand times easier to dance in. My husband wore a class black tux from Suitsupply. He wanted to keep the look sleek, classy, and timeless.
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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]We kept our bridal party simple, having only one maid of honor and one best man. The best man had a matching black tux, similar to the groom. The maid of honor dawned a simple champagne slip dress with a cowl neck. [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”][/field]
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[board_carousel title=”Bridal Party”]
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[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]
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[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]Our wedding guestlist was a conglomeration of mixed cultures and ethnic backgrounds, so we made sure the selection of food reflected this also. For cocktail hour, guests were treated to a Mediterranean platter, along with some Korean fried chicken and burger sliders.
For the main course, we wanted to offer some classic American staples that would be familiar to everyone, so we served steak and salmon, along with a fresh and delicious salad. For dessert, we went all out with a dessert table filled with all kinds of sweet treats, along with an ice cream station and a boba bar, providing a range of different options for our guests to indulge in. We ended the night with a ramen bar for the late-night munchies. There was not a single empty stomach that night.
Instead of having specialty drinks, we treated our guests to a full open bar, stocked with local wines and premium liquor. [/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]
The venue was so beautiful that we directed our focus on the florals and less on the decor. Our florist, Azalea from Wild & Behold Florals, did an incredible job of bringing everything we envisioned to life. It was a melody of peonies, ranunculi, and garden roses of all kinds. The large floral arrangements held by pillars and urns framed the aisles and sweetheart table. We wanted to have the evening feel like a whimsical garden soiree.
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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]
Our wedding cake was a simple and elegant three-tiered cake that matched our wedding style. We wanted something that was both beautiful and delicious without being overly flashy or ornate. The cake was accented with our wedding flowers, which added a beautiful touch of color and freshness. The white buttercream icing provided the perfect backdrop for the lush blooms and gave the cake a playful and whimsical feel. The flavors we chose were death by chocolate and banana bread. All of which were made possible by MM Creamery.
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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]
For the ceremony, we brought on Seaside Strings, a string quartet, to play a mix of traditional and contemporary songs. Here, the guests were welcomed to a Bridgerton-esque garden affair. It also was the perfect backdrop to the exchanging of our vows. The reception songs consisted of today’s top radio hits mixed with millennial throwbacks. Guests also had the chance to place in their requested songs.
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[field title=”Special Detail #1″]
We had two ceremonies on the same day! Our first (and official ceremony) was held at the Christ Cathedral, commonly known as the Crystal Cathedral, in Garden Grove, CA. Our faith is important to both us and our families. So we wanted to make sure to incorporate this for our wedding. Glass panels surrounded the cathedral, drawing in streams of light as we became officially married. The second ceremony was held at Calamigos Ranch, a small getaway resort quietly nestled in the center of the Santa Monica Mountains. Though the mass ceremony was beautiful, like many other churches, it came with many restrictions. Here, we were able to have a more fun and relaxed ceremony where we were able to exchange our personal vows. The setting embodied everything I imagined a dreamy garden wedding would be.
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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]My absolute favorite part was exchanging our vows. Throughout the wedding planning, our focus was drawn to working out the nitty-gritty details, mapping out our finances and reviewing lengthy vendor contracts which, at one point, made us forget what this day is really about. When it came to exchanging our vows, nothing else mattered. It was one of the first moments we had that day to ourselves without being shuffled around and being caught up with the wedding day bustle. Also, Damien is not known to be the sentimental type so hearing thought-out words was a real treat. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]
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[board_carousel title=”Couple Portraits”]
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[board_carousel title=”Reception”]
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[board_carousel title=”Wedding Weekend Events”]
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Photography: Angelica Marie Photography | Cinematography: Fun Lovin' Camera | Event Planning: Milk Events | Floral Design: Wild and Behold Florals | Cake: Mr. & Mrs. Creamery | Reception Venue: Calamigos Ranch | Catering: Calamigos Ranch | DJ: Hilo Productions | Beauty: Luong Lasting | Music: Seaside Strings | Photo Booth: Fotobooth + | Rentals: MTB Event Rentals