What was special about the first time the bride and groom saw each other?
I truly love it when a bride and groom opt for a First Look. It’s such a beautiful and quiet moment for just the two of them, when the rest of the day can be a wonderful whirlwind! Trang and Alex chose a private First Look in the intimate courtyard at 5eleven, and it was perfect. There were tears (on both sides), beautiful gifts exchanged (from the same shop!), and personal vows shared. It was a gorgeous and authentic beginning to this black tie 5eleven Palafox wedding, which will always be one of my favorites!
How did the parent’s react upon seeing their son/daughter?
All of the parents were incredibly kind and clearly so happy to see Trang and Alex tie the knot! Trang’s mother in particular was just the sweetest – she had tears in her eyes almost every time I looked her way, but they were overshadowed by the smile that was ALWAYS there.
What was unique about the bride and groom’s attire?
Both Trang and Alex looked incredibly stylish – and they did it twice! Trang wore a romantic and ethereal Eddy K gown for her black tie 5eleven Palafox wedding, and Alex looked absolutely perfect in his classic tuxedo. However, as a surprise during the reception, they snuck upstairs and changed into traditional Vietnamese ao dais – and so did their entire wedding party! That’s right – the bridesmaids and groomsmen had second outfits as well, and they followed Trang and Alex back into the clear-top tent to the sounds of their guests cheering! It was clearly so meaningful to Trang to honor her Vietnamese family traditions, and you could see that it was equally important to Alex. It was truly beautiful.
Were there any unique traditions that made the reception or ceremony memorable?
Dragon dancers!! After changing into their ao dais and re-entering the reception, Trang and Alex surprised their guests when the most incredible dragon dancers entered for an amazing performance! I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the giant dragons (each manned by two dancers working together to move the “dragon”) exceeded my expectation, and I know the wedding guests surely felt the same.
