Vietnamese Weddings
Vietnamese Weddings in Florida and across the United States are an amazing combination of historic and contemporary traditions. Every detail from the Vietnamese Wedding Dress, known as the Ao Dai, to the extensive Vietnamese tea ceremony is a great representation of beauty and richness within the Vietnamese American culture. Vietnamese weddings are some of the specialized weddings we are called upon to photograph throughout Florida and around the world on destination weddings.
The Vietnamese Engagement Ceremony | Dam Hoi
Traditionally, in a Vietnamese wedding, the groom’s mother and father will lead a procession to the bride’s parents home where the groom and his parents will ask for the bride’s hand in marriage. Wedding gifts are carried by family members in even numbers and stored in Mâm Qua, or red tin baskets, and covered with a traditional red cloth. After receiving approval from the brides parents, the groom and his family are invited inside to exchange gifts and proceed with the Vietnamese wedding ceremony.
After several formal introductions, the groom will present gifts to the bride’s parents before receiving permission to see his soon to be bride. The bride will be escorted by her mother, tp meet her groom who will be waiting to greet her with a bouquet of flowers in hand. The bride and groom will then make their way to the Vietnamese alter to begin the traditional Vietnamese tea and candle Ceremony.
The Vietnamese Wedding Tea & Candle Ceremony
The Vietnamese tea Ceremony celebrates the marriage while honoring the family’s ancestors and relatives. This is one of the most compelling and emotional parts of a Vietnamese wedding. This is considered the formal meeting of both families, and when the bride and groom take their vows and exchange their wedding rings. Once the rings have been exchanged, both the bride and groom will serve Green tea or Chrysanthemum tea as a sign of respect, starting with their eldest family members. Afterwards, family members will shower the bride and groom with gifts of money, family jewelry, and advice for a long-lasting marriage. The ceremony ends with the lighting of a big dragon and phoenix candle, symbolizing the fusion of two Vietnamese families.
It is traditional in Vietnamese weddings for the groom to gift a roasted pig to the bride’s family.
The Vietnamese Wedding Attire | Ao Dai
One of the most traditional symbols of a Vietnamese Wedding, is the Vietnamese wedding dress or Ao Dai. The Ao Dai is worn by the bride and groom during the Vietnamese wedding ceremony and during the reception as the couple makes rounds to greet and thank their family and guests. The Ao Dai has a fitted top with floor length panels and a pair of accompanying pants. With Ao Dai, the bride and groom will also wear a circular headdress called a Khan Dong.
The Vietnamese-American Wedding Ceremony
Vietnamese-American couples often hold a separate wedding ceremony after the Vietnamese tea ceremony, so the bride has her opportunity to wear an elegant white dress and the groom wears a traditional tuxedo. The type of wedding depends on the religion of the couple, with a majority of the Vietnamese-American wedding ceremonies being performed in Catholic churches and sometimes a wedding venue.
The Vietnamese Wedding Reception
A Vietnamese wedding reception tends to follow the same format as a typical American wedding reception, with a grand entrance, first dance, parent dances, cake cutting, toasts, games, desserts, dancing, and more.
The Vietnamese Welcome Photos
Welcome photos are very popular among Vietnamese wedding receptions. The bride and groom will be located at the reception entrance to take a photo with each of their guests as they enter the reception. The photos are printed prior to their guest’s departure as a "Thank you" for their love and support on their wedding day.
The Vietnamese Table Visits
Another tradition that takes place at most Vietnamese wedding receptions is the "table visits". As a thank you and show of respect, the bride and groom will visit each table and greet their wedding guests. The closest family and friends will be visited first and a toast will be given for the most important person of each table. It is Vietnamese wedding tradition for guests to give the bride and groom envelopes filled with money at this time. Once the bride and groom have made their rounds, the party officially begins!
About Couture Bridal Photography
Elegant, Romantic and Timeless. We are a group of creative professional photographers in South Florida with a passion for storytelling. Founded in 2008, our studio has been recognized as the best wedding photographers in Florida, Fort Lauderdale and South Florida by various publications, websites, and groups.