Natalie & Joe met in high school, but started dating years later. Their relationship finally took the next step overlooking the city of DC at sunset, at a beautiful hotel in Dupont Circle. From there they planned a stunning, multicultural wedding with traditional Vietnamese cultures and modern Christian wedding themes woven together. The entire day ended with over 400 guests (yowsa!) attending a 10-course meal in Arlington, VA.

The couple used many details from their ancestry, gifts from their parents & grandparents, and then used a ton of local, Arlington VA wedding vendors to complete the rest of the day! A special thanks to Jalapeno Photography for submitting this beautiful Northern Virginia wedding to us!

Natalie & Joe’s Traditional Vietnamese, Meets Modern, Local Northern Virginia Wedding

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

Vendors:

Hair Stylist:  The Studeo, Sadira Vintage Do’s & Make-up| Event Designer:  Local Sixteen| Favors and Gifts:  LCI Paper Company| Floral Designer:  Wegmans Flowers, The Grower’s Box| Reception Venue:  China Garden| Invitation Designer:  Song Viet Invitations| Dress Store:  David’s Bridal| DJ:  MAXIMUM VOLUME PRODUCTIONS, DJ MiggL| Ceremony Location:  Queen of Apostles| Lighting:  DJ MAX POWERS| Makeup Artist:  The Studeo| Shoes:  Bagdley Mischka| Jewelry:  Neiman Marcus| Tuxedo and Mens Attire:  Men’s Warehouse| Bridesmaid Dresses:  Ao Dai Vinh, BCBG| Bakery:  The Bakeshop
DIY or Handmade Goods Designer:  NoviaArtesana, 2chicsthatbelieve| Submitted: Two Bright Lights

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

I kind of love that the couple chose to get ready together – so low key

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

Click inside for the rest of Natalie & Joe’s Traditional Vietnamese, Meets Modern & Local Arlington VA wedding!

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

From the bride:

For our wedding, all the bridesmaids wore traditional Vietnamese dresses, known in Vietnamese as Ao Dai. I wore an ivory lace dress and long hand-sewn veil that was made in Vietnam by the same designer of the bridesmaids’ dresses.

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

After the church ceremony we headed to my grandmother’s house for traditional Vietnamese tea ceremony. I changed into a dark pink Ao Dai, and my husband put on a traditional Vietnamese wedding garment as well.

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

We followed traditional practice: the groom’s family came to the bride’s family’s home with gifts, and the bridesmaids receive the gifts while I watched from a window.

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

Inside, the family altar was decorated in red covered with sweets, foods and photos of our ancestors. My father guided us in the blessing and helped us light the incense as we bow in honor of our ancestors asking for their blessings.

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

Lastly, nearly 400 of our guests attended our reception! We celebrated with a 10-course meal that consisted of duck, filet mignon, and lobster. It is Vietnamese wedding tradition for the bride and groom to go to each table thanking guests for being a part of their day.

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

The toast was especially personal because my mom presented me with her vintage sequined dress, it was the first expensive dresses she purchased years after her arrival to America at the end of the Vietnam War. It was a couture dress hand-made by a designer in Hong Kong. She had only worn it once many years ago. Each sequin, and crystal was applied by hand, and I could feel the weight of the dress as I put it on. As I stepped out I could hear the ooohs and ahhhs from all the guests. The dress was truly one of a kind.

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

vietnamese local arlington virginia northern VA weddings blog

Congratulations Natalie & Joe! Thank you for sharing your beautiful Vietnamese, meets Modern Northern Virginia wedding with us! A special thanks again to Jalapeno Photography & Two Bright Lights for making this feature possible.

 

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8 comments

  1. What a gorgeous day for a gorgeous couple!!! I love her dress, the story of her mother’s sequined dress, and her flowers (Wegmans’s really?!)

  2. I am in love with this entire story. Gorgeous does not even begin to describe the photos, wedding and couple. Thank you for sharing it with us.

  3. Yes! They put up the Kung Fu Joe picture!! Best wedding I’ve had the pleasure of attending! Love you both – hope to see you this summer!

  4. Yes, Wegmans! Specifically Flor the main florist of the Wegmans in Ashburn, VA! Since I had just moved to Wyoming, I did it all long distance by phone & email. I sent Flor what I wanted using examples I found online, along with specific flowers & colors. Paid the day of pick up. The flowers turned out even more beautiful then the example pics I sent for a fraction of the cost of a fancy florist! They made it sooooo easy! However, I knew they were good bcs they did my aunt’s bouquet for her wedding a few years before.

  5. Can I ask where they got the wedding altar stuff (the banner, the candle stands, the trays, etc ….) I’m in NoVA and am having difficulty sourcing these items for my own upcoming wedding. Saw a website out of Australia that has them, but they do not ship to the US. Please help :) Thanks so much! :)

  6. Congratulations Natalie & Joe for your wedding I wish you guys the very best in your wedding. You guys wedding is so beautiful in an American-Vietnamese style. Thank you for sharing your special day with us. The venue is so beautiful with the uplighting and music by DJ Max Powers great. I’ve seen Max Powers perform at several events in the past, he is the best at what he does. Good job Max.

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