mt + jim // engagement ceremony . raleigh nc

We were so excited to shoot MT & Jim's engagement ceremony this summer! It was our first Vietnamese engagement ceremony, so it was a lot of fun to be a part of this important traditional event leading up to their big day. I really enjoyed getting to learn a little about both the bride's Vietnamese & groom's Taiwanese heritage.

Be sure to check out the slideshow [ here ] for more photos!

A procession of the groom's family carried gifts wrapped in the lucky colors of red & gold as an offering to the bride's family for her hand in marriage.



Betel leaves & Areca nuts, tea, cookies, wine, sweet red rice, & fruit were all traditional gifts used in the ceremony.


After the procession, Jim's family asked MT's family for her hand in marriage & of course they gladly accepted. :) During the tea ceremony, MT & Jim offered tea to their parents in return for their blessings & lots of good advice on how to maintain a happy marriage.




In the meditation room, the couple bowed at the alter & performed an incense offering. They also bowed to their deceased grandparents & ancestors to ask for their blessings to be married.


Loved this series as Jim gave MT her engagement ring. Her face is priceless! :) Wish we had the chance to shoot this exciting moment for all of our couples!





[ Van Hanh Pagoda's Lion Dance Troupe ] did an awesome job on the lion dance! They did all kinds of impressive acrobatics & put on a really fun show.






I am pretty sure MT & Jim are one of the most adorable couples I've ever seen! :)



Their family put a lot of hard work into creating a delicious Vietnamese feast. They did a fantastic job & we really appreciated their hospitality in inviting us to eat the yummy meal with them!



I love how much this family enjoys each other. There were so many smiles & laughs all around during the toasts - and the whole rest of the day for that matter!




This has to be one of the most musically inclined families I've ever been around. We had a blast listening to everyone sing & play guitar.









MT & Jim - thank you again for letting us photograph your special day!

vendors :
rentals . [ Raleigh Classic Party Rentals ]
lion dance . [ Van Hanh Pagoda's Lion Dance Troupe ]

abbie + patrick // wedding . raleigh nc

Abbie & Patrick's wedding was definitely one of the most interesting weddings we've shot to date! :) There were several setbacks over the course of the day, including broken air conditioning in the limo & a fender-bender in the parking lot caused by an unobservant driver who somehow managed to back into a Hummer limo... but despite it all, the day went beautifully & everyone had a fabulous time.

We started off the day at [ Marriott City Center ] downtown. It was a great place for everyone to get dressed, with awesome lighting coming in through the big windows & lots of great decor.






The ceremony was held at the gorgeous [ Sacred Heart Cathedral ] just a few blocks away. Loved the ceilings in this place!



After the ceremony, we stepped outside to get a few shots on the grounds of the church with the newlyweds.







Then we headed into town to take a few photos with Abbie & Patrick's adorable dog, Gus. He was very interested in the camera. :)



The gorgeous bouquets were created by [ Fresh Affairs ]. Loved all the colors they used in the floral arrangements.


The [ Raleigh Rose Garden ] made for another great backdrop for more shots of the bride & groom.



We headed back to the [ hotel ] to freshen up & take advantage of their great lobby for some more shots.





The NC Museum of History was an awesome spot for a reception! Everything was decorated so beautifully & [ Sweet Memories ] did a fantastic job on the cake.





I don't think I've ever been to a wedding where the guests had so much fun on the dance floor - DJ Greg Ramsey with [ Joe Bunn ] kept the singing & dancing going all night long.












Abbie & Patrick, thank you so much for everything! We thoroughly enjoyed being a part of your wedding day! :)

venues :
ceremony . [ Sacred Heart Cathedral ]
reception . [ NC Museum of History ]
hotel . [ Marriott City Center ]

vendors :
florist . Lyn Graves with [ Fresh Affairs ]
dj . Greg Ramsey with [ Joe Bunn DJ ]
caterer . [ Rocky Top Hospitality ]
cake . [ Sweet Memories ]