Guests Enjoyed a 10-Course Traditional Vietnamese Dinner at This Lush Outdoor Wedding in California

Colorful Invites

Christine and Hung's wedding invitations from Minted were printed on thick card stock in an off-white shade with watercolor floral detailing along the edges that resembled the real big-day blooms.

Watercolor Map

The paper set also included a custom hand-drawn map of the venue's zoological garden, which was created by an artist on Etsy.

This Is the Place

They selected Rancho Las Lomas in Silverado, California, as their big-day venue; they fell in love with its Old-World charm. The buildings were updated with salvaged materials and feature hand-painted tile murals from Portugal, stained glass windows, and century-old Pasadena street lamps. Plus, guests were able to visit zoological gardens on the property, featuring tigers, wild cats, birds, reptiles, zebras, and alpacas.

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Not What She Expected

Although Christine thought she wanted a wedding dress with an A-line silhouette with long sleeves, she kept an open mind and fell in love with the draping on an Estee' Couture dress that also had a chapel-length train. She asked the designer to add beaded lace appliqués to the entire ensemble, plus a scalloped lace edge detail. She paired her gown with a veil from BHLDN and Bella Belle embroidered pumps and added to her ensemble's sparkle with a diamond pendant necklace (a gift from Hung's mom) and diamond stud earrings, from her groom.

Pops of Magenta

Bridesmaids donned V-neck maxi dresses—in magenta, to speak to the day's color palette—from Lulus with a banded waist, side slit, and open back. Half of Christine's bridesmaids were pregnant during the planning process, so she wanted to choose a gown that would be comfortable for an expectant mother.

As for the woman of the hour's florals? The bride held a lush hand-bound bouquet in shades of soft pink, berry pink, and deep reds with greenery; flowers included astrantia, butterfly ranunculus, garden roses, majolica, and Veronica white wands. The arrangement was finished with a pink satin ribbon.

The Flower Girls

The couple's flower girls (there were two!) wore burgundy tulle dresses with long sleeves paired with jeweled headbands. Their ring bearer, on the other hand, wore a navy suit to match the groomsmen; a burgundy bow tie connected his look to his counterparts'.

No More Nerves

Christine and Hung shared their first look outside the bride's casita, where they shared vows they wrote for one another. Their promises included the poem "Love" by Ry Croft and an excerpt from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. "We were both nervous and excited—the hard work of planning and re-planning our wedding over the last two years had finally culminated in this moment," Christine remembers. "It was perfect to have that quiet time together before the ceremony. It helped put our nerves at ease."

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The Ceremony Setup

Their ceremony took place underneath oak, palm, and sycamore trees at the venue's open-air theater. The patio, surrounded by botanical gardens, was punched up with burgundy-and-pink florals. Grounded arrangements hugged the last row of chairs along the aisle; large scale bouquets, placed in wicker baskets, lined the altar's steps.

Under the Arch

Florals and candles in clear glass hurricanes added texture to the site of the pair's vow exchange; a large cascading floral arch created a focal point.

The Processional

Christine was accompanied by her brother as she made her way down the aisle. "Moon River" played as the bride made her big-day debut.

Reading Central

Since Christine and Hung had already exchanged vows privately, their ceremony centered around readings; these included "The Art of Marriage" by Wilfred Arlan Peterson and "How Falling in Love Is Like Owning a Dog" by Taylor Mali. Hung's sister, Alexie, got ordained online to officiate the service.

Poolside Cocktail Hour

The cocktail hour took place by the pool, where round tables and high-top stations were covered with white linens. Simple romantic bud arrangements in blue-and-white vases dispersed throughout.

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The Signature Drinks

Hung and Christine's signature drinks were named after their pups; they also served beer, liquor, wine, and Champagne, along with hors d'oeuvres like fried pork and shrimp shumai, salt and pepper calamari, and Malaysian beef satay.

Take a Sip

A colorfully-dressed guest sipped on one of the pair's curated drinks during the interlude.

Globetrotters

The pair's friend, Naomi, designed their globe guest book, which everyone signed on the big day.

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Find Your Seats

Guests found their table numbers on a pink fabric escort display, which was framed by copper and layered with flowers. Larger floral arrangements in wicker baskets were displayed on the ground, alongside hurricane candles.

Patio Reception

The ceremony locale was flipped for the reception; the patio's vintage street lamps and string lights created a warm ambience. A mix of round and rectangular tables were set up for dinner.

Elegant Tabletops

Long tables featured ivory table runners and one large low centerpiece arrangement with two smaller compotes in brass vessels. Round stations were covered in ivory linens and lush centerpieces in brass pedestal bowls and accented by metallic taper candle holders.

Flowers with Depth

The reception's floral palette, rich with burgundy-and-wine blooms, added depth to the magenta-forward colors seen during the earlier half of the event.

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Pops of Blue

Table settings incorporated gold-rimmed plates, brushed gold flatware, blue debutante goblets, and cerulean napkins.

Lovely Lounge

A comfortable lounge area was set up to the side of the main dining space; the vignette was composed of a rose-hued loveseat and ottoman, a blush-and-gray rug, a modern gold coffee table, and linen chairs.

My Sweetheart

Several ceremony arrangements were repurposed for the couple's lush sweetheart table, which featured swags of blooms accented with votive and tea light candles. The table was placed in front of a Juliet balcony, which was looped with greenery to enhance the garden feel.

During the party, Christine and Hung changed into traditional Vietnamese outfits called ao dai. Christine's long split tunic gown in bridal red was designed by Thanh Thuy Ao Dai and worn over trousers; she paired the garment with a traditional hat called a khan van and incorporated a few modern elements into the overall look (she opted for beaded lace appliqués, a sweetheart neckline, and a long train with scalloped lace edges, which spoke to her ceremony gown). Hung's ao dai was navy with gold circular emblem embellishments, which he also paired with a matching khan van hat.

Time to Eat

Each table setting included a translucent vellum menu with a name card attached by gold teardrop clips. The paper foretold of the epic meal to come: a traditional 10-course Vietnamese dinner, which began with a cold house platter and ended with coffee and tea.

By Your Side

Christine and Hung chose Sade's "By Your Side" for their first dance. "We are huge fans of '90s and 2000s R&B," Christine says. "We felt this song brought back the nostalgia of music from this time and really is an anthem to unconditional love."

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The Wedding Cake

A four-tiered round cake featured alternating floral lace piping designs and was displayed on a vintage gold footed pedestal. The lemon raspberry and carrot confection was embellished with florals for a finishing touch.

To couples that are kicking off the wedding-planning process, Christine and Hung recommend investing in a wedding planner. "Susan Dunne helped us navigate the process not just once, but twice amid a pandemic, and we are forever grateful for her help."

Sources

Photography, Anya Kernes
Videography, Tim & Co Productions
Venue, Rancho Las Lomas
Wedding Planning and Event Design, Susan Dunne
Flowers, Mulberry & Moss
Invitations, Minted
Paper Products, Etsy
Escort Display, Paper Cliche
Bride's Gown, Estee' Couture
Bride's Veil, BHDLN
Bride's Shoes, Bella Belle
Bride's Hair and Makeup, Mary Le of Kelly Zhang
Bridesmaids' Dresses, Lulus
Menswear, The Black Tux
Groom's Shoes, ECCO
Vietnamese Ao Dai, Thanh Thuy Ao Dai
Guest Book, World Market
Music, VOX DJs
Catering, Furiwa
Cake, Simply Sweet Cakery
Rentals, Signature Party Rentals; 24Carrots
Transportation, Swoop Transportation
Styling Plates, Simple Things Ceramics
Styling Surface, Locust Collection