So yeah, this is a little out of order.  Typically I would blog a couple’s engagement photos when – well – they’re still engaged… But you’ll recognize these two from their wedding sneak peek fresh off the press!  You may even remember their “Snow Day” engagement mini-session a few months back.  We met up just days before the wedding to finish up with these fun shots…

And now for the final installment of Thao & Singkham’s wedding!  Their wedding ceremony was intimate and sweet – even having pledged themselves to one another twice before, their vows were full of love and devotion.  It was a joy to witness.

…and then it was time to be whisked away in style to go celebrate the newlyweds!

It was truly a celebration!  I loved the color combinations and the cake was to die for.  There was so much laughter and joy in the room, it was contagious.

Thao & Singkham, it was such a pleasure to follow you through these events – I wish you all the best in the years ahead.  Congratulations!

Having begun the festivities on Friday, I arrived Saturday morning to see Thao preparing for the day ahead.  Two wedding ceremonies and a beautiful reception would fill the day with celebration and love.  Thao was a perfectly calm bride, and a wonderful hostess as well!  She was constantly checking on everyone, myself included, to see if she could get us anything.

For the Vietnamese ceremony, the groom arrives with his groomsmen all bearing bouquets for the ladies.  Singkham was all smiles to see his bride.

The groom must bring 10 friends bearing 10 red trays to be given to 10 friends of the bride before entering the home and beginning the ceremony.  Then the bride and groom’s parents present each of them with a gift to welcome them to the family.

At the end of this ceremony, the bride and groom served tea to each of their parents and then to all of the guests.  I loved how much personal interaction between the bride and groom with their guests was involved in each of those ceremonies!  After a traditional meal was served, it was off to the church for the next ceremony…

Thao & Singkham kicked off my own personal “wedding season” with a bang!  When Thao explained at our consultation that they were planning to have traditional Thai and Vietnamese ceremonies prior to their Catholic ceremony – I was over the moon…  Years ago, I traveled to both Thailand and Vietnam on the same trip and just adored both cultures.  The festivities began Friday morning with a Thai wedding ceremony.  I think what I loved most here was the mix of solemnity and joy that mingled throughout the morning.

During this ceremony, there was a portion that involved everyone in the room surrounding the bride and groom and holding onto strings that were attached to the centerpieces in front of them.  Then everyone took a small portion of string and tied them around their wrists one at a time.  It was beautiful to see so much personal involvement from each guest in wishing the new couple well.

Much more to come from this gorgeous couple!  Up next – the traditional Vietnamese ceremony…