Vietnamese Fusion Wedding in New Orleans

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We’re on a roll with another southern wedding.  I hope you’re ready.  New Orleans will always hold a dear place in my  heart.  It’s where I went to high school and today, it’s the destination for Rosaline (“Rosie”) and Andrew’s jazzy escapade.

Rosie, the bride, is also the sister to my one of my high school classmates, so it’s a rare treat to be able to share a wedding that’s got an added personal touch.  That makes two (2) weddings related directly or indirectly to my high school past, that have been on WN since we started in 2009. The other was the very first wedding featured on WN.  Thanks so much to the lovely bride – Rosie for sharing these images.  I’ll let her narrate their lovely story which journeys into the deep south…

Setting: Southern Style Mansion in New Orleans, Louisiana

Heroine/ Hero: Vietnamese American Bride – Rosie and her German American Beau, Andrew

Photographer: Kase and Alli Photography

SCENE 1: THE MANSION

Rosie and Andrew’s wedding tale begins on a grand white porch in the Bayou.  Their engagement story, however, unfolded thousands of miles away in the romantic mist of Northern California:

Andrew proposed to me on Angel Island in San Francisco Bay. It was VERY romantic. We woke up Super Bowl Sunday, and he took me on a scavenger hunt. He gave me four (4) envelopes, each with a different clue, all leading me to the Island. The final clue said “close your eyes”.  When I opened my eyes he was on one knee.  I said yes!  The topping on the cake was that we went back to the shore and watched the Super Bowl and my team (The New Orleans Saints) won!  It was so romantic and then it turned into a fun and festive mood!

WN: What challenges did you face in planning your wedding and how do you feel you overcame those hurdles?

I had a lot of issues planning my wedding. First off, I did it all on my own, with no wedding planner.  So, it was a lot of work.  Secondly, the blending of the two families was such a challenge.  My family is very traditional Vietnamese, and they only wanted a traditional wedding.  I also wanted to blend my New Orleans heritage and also to incorporate my husband’s as well.  Andrew’s family had never experienced anything but a traditional church wedding.  I overcame all of it by praying and knowing that it was our special day and no one really had a say, even if they were contributing financially.  There was a point where I was in tears, trying to please others.  I just had to go with my heart and trust myself.   In the end, the wedding was perfect and no one complained or raised hell the way they did in the planning process.

WN:  How do you feel your wedding  reflected your culture and/or style?

My style and cultural background were all over the place. I incorporated my New Orleans heritage in the old Southern mansion, where we were wed.  We had a second line parade, and it was very New Orleans, but then we had the traditional nine-course Vietnamese dinner and Vietnamese Money Ceremony and I was in my Ao Dai.  I felt like our wedding was so unique. We blended East, West, and South!  

SCENE 1: THE SECOND LINE

One of the experiences I miss the most about New Orleans is the spontaneous burst of music that happens on the street.  These parades (or “Second Lines”) usually involve umbrellas, parasols, handkerchiefs, rags, hats and anything you can wave in the air as you strut, bop and jive along the streets, with a live jazz band leading the way.

WN: What advice would you offer other brides planning their intercultural/ multi-ethnic wedding?

I would say, as hard as it is, take into consideration what the parents on both sides have to say, be polite, and then let it all go.  It is your wedding, and no matter who is contributing what financially or whatever, no one will remember all the little stuff in the end but you.  Sometimes parents or in-laws just want to feel heard, but in the end they won’t notice if some minor thing here or there is your way or not.  It’s more about feeling heard than doing it their way.  My dad was so attached to having this one photographer at the ceremony, but once I talked it over with him and let him know how important my personal photography choice was, he gave in.  It’s just about communication! 

SCENE 3: THE PANDA KING

Cake fondant, a nine-course dinner menu and gorgeous Vietnamese attire:  Just some of the details from the reception.

There are certainly many ways to interpret New Orleans-inspired style, or to pull off heritage-inspired design like this Vietnamese fusion wedding in the Canadian mountains.  Rosie and Andrew’s blend of East – meets West – meets South is yet another avenue for inspiration and definitely a story worth retelling.

Thank you so much to Rosie for sharing your story.

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{CREDITS: Photography – Kase and Alli Photography; Ceremony – Magnolia Mansion; Reception & Catering – Panda King; Florist – Impressionable Designs; Hair & Make Up – Kira Thigpen MUA; Musicians – Dr. Jazz & the New Orleans Sounds; Cake – Diana Cope Designs; Invitations – Olive Invites; Gown – Custom Made; Shoes – Ralph Lauren; Veil – David’s Bridal; Suit – Men’s Warehouse; Bridal Party – David’s Bridal; Event design – Bride}