Kim & David I Vietnamese Tea Ceremony I Phoenix, Arizona
In traditional Vietnamese culture, the tea ceremony IS the wedding, and typically includes the exchange of several symbolic gifts and receiving blessings from the bride’s and groom’s families. I have been to a few tea ceremonies in my day, and all have been full of special details, vibrant colors, celebratory moods, and lots of delicious food!
In the Asian culture, the bride and groom are not just getting married to each other, but are marrying their spouse’s families too. If you’re Asian or have Asian friends, you’re probably used to seeing multiple generations living in the same household. :)
Kim’s and David’s tea ceremony served as their betrothal union since their wedding is in a couple of weeks. The tea ceremony started inside, in front of an alter adorned with photos of Kim’s ancestors to honor them, as well as other meaningful decorations.
During the tea ceremony, Kim and David asked each other’s parents to accept their union and the union of their families. David poured tea and served it to his and the bride’s parents. The bride is usually gifted with beautiful gold jewelry, and Kim was no exception - LOVED the pieces she received.
It was an honor to photograph Kim’s and David’s special day and bear witness to the families coming together to celebrate their union. I LOVED the traditional attire (ao dai) worn by the wedding party, especially the bride's dress!
Enjoy some of the photos from the tea ceremony! I had a great time photographing this special occasion for Kim and David, and wish them all the happiness in the world.
