Kids are welcome at the Vietnamese Tea Ceremony and Welcome Party. For our ceremony and reception at the Shinola Hotel, we politely request an adults only wedding. We understand this won’t work for everyone, so please know that we respect your RSVP decision either way!
Yes, we will have complementary valet at the Shinola. Please use the entrance at 1435 Farmer Street. Make sure to mention you are here for the wedding to make sure your valet is covered. If valet is full, you can park at the Z Lot Garage or any of the other nearby garages.
Guests can begin arriving at 5:00PM and will be welcomed with a drink on their way in! The ceremony will start promptly at 5:30PM.
We do not have a wedding party, so feel free to wear any color (besides white!) that you'd like.
All of our Friday wedding events are optional! Do not feel obligated to attend the Vietnamese Tea Ceremony or Welcome Party if it doesn't fit your schedule. Please make sure to RSVP for all events so we can get an accurate headcount for food and drinks.
If your invitation included a guest, you are more than welcome to bring a date. Otherwise, we ask that only addressees come to the wedding.
Receiving the bride The procession of the groom’s family is led by specific order; usually the first person will be a man chosen as the representative of the groom's house, followed by the groom's father, the groom, then the rest of his immediate family and close friends. Huge traditional umbrellas are carried and accompany the front of the procession. In the procession, the groom and his family will be bearing elaborately decorated lacquer boxes, covered in red cloth. Inside these boxes are gifts representing the wealth the groom's family will bring to the bride's family. Gifts include: betel, wine, tea, fruit, cakes, a roast pig, and jewelry for the bride. Usually, the number of gift boxes varies from 6 or 8, but never 7 or 9 which is seen as bad luck. Upon arriving at the bride's home, gifts are presented. After each gift of food is accepted by the bride's parents, the groom then receives permission to greet the bride, who is finally brought out. Asking permission of the bride's ancestors The ceremony begins in front of the ancestor altar in the bride’s home. The bride and groom will kneel down in front of the altar and burn incense sticks, asking permission from the bride's ancestors to bless their marriage and their future family. Afterwards, the couple will turn and bow to their parents giving thanks for raising and protecting them. The bride and groom will then bow to each other. Tea, candle ceremony, and speeches The bride and groom will serve tea (or wine) to their parents. Each parent will then give advice about marriage and family to the couple. A candle ceremony will follow, symbolizing the joining of the bride and groom and their families. The gift boxes filled with jewelry that were brought by the groom's family will be opened by the groom’s mother who will then put each piece on the bride for good fortune. The bride and groom will then be presented with small red envelopes containing money from close family members.