I was uber excited last month when Ericha Farrington asked me to come along as second shooter for a traditional Vietnamese wedding. My very first! While it was a an elaborate ceremony I loved the communal feels and the intimacy of it. Bao’s family came to Hong’s home bearing gifts of food and most notably a fully cooked pig. The ceremony took place in the living room with close family gathered around to witness. Hong and Bao exchanged rings and then asked for blessings from their ancestors at their ancestral alter. They performed a short tea ceremony with their parents and then their parents and guests bestowed upon them gifts, blessings, and words of marriage advice.
Then came the food, and tons of it. In fact Hong and Bao had a full meal right after the ceremony and then a 10 course dinner later that night at their reception at Ocean City Restaurant in China town. I came away knowing you are guaranteed to not go hungry at a Vietnamese wedding. This was the first time I came home from a wedding bursting at the seams from food.
Paul - Beautiful images, Nicole.
Love the chocolate fountain shot — they look so worried? Is there enough choc to go around? Should I really have this… the diet…?
Wonderful shooting.
Wydia Blackwell - Omg! Beautiful just as I imagined they would be. I love how the Hong & Bao union came out. Flawless just like all your photography. I just made David look at your wedding photos again with me (for the 20th time! lol!) and he agreed with me when I said that you have such a creative eye. You take the pictures that people would never think of & every since 1 of them comes out stunning. You make the person looking at the picture feel like they’re actually at the wedding. That’s amazing. You are truly gifted, Nicole!!! =D