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Real Weddings
Vi T Nguyen to Chad Michael Mar
Wedding Date: Sunday, April 25, 2010
Written by Allison Bagley
Vi Nguyen was determined to have orchids at her wedding. She knew the flowers would have special meaning for her father, who grew up with a love for the rare blooms, and for her family, who has a running joke about how he was never able to keep them alive.
Blooming Gallery used abundant white orchids to decorate the church and the reception at Paraiso Maravilla. The bridesmaids’ bouquets included calla lilies, roses and orchids, while the bridal bouquet mixed the same flowers with fragrant stephanotis.
Vi was very happy with her all-white florals, which provided dramatic contrast to the bright colors of her wedding palette.
Celebrations began with a lingerie shower at Hotel ZaZa. The wedding weekend began with a traditional tea ceremony honoring their shared Asian heritage, followed by a traditional Catholic ceremony. At one point, an emotional Vi took the handkerchief from Mike’s tuxedo pocket to dab her tears, eliciting laughter from the crowd of 200 guests.
Afterwards, friends and family celebrated at an elegant reception, where champagne linens from Any Occasion Party Rental complemented the space’s ornate design. “We wanted a very romantic ambience and the room was filled with candles and flowers,” Vi says. “From the time I was little, I knew I wanted something kind of fairytale-like. It was magical.”
A DJ from Extraordinary Entertainment played a mix of country, Top 40, ’80s and classic-rock hits. “It was pretty upbeat and got the whole crowd to come onto the dance floor,” Vi recalls.
Even the couple’s dogs showed enthusiastic support for the newlyweds. Their tiny Chihuahua dressed in a wedding gown, while their Pomeranian wore a tuxedo. “We wanted to incorporate our beloved pets,” says the bride, who joked during her toast that she never thought she would find a man she would love more than her dogs. “Everyone loved them!”
After guests enjoyed dessert from Cakes by Gina, they filled bags from the amply stocked candy bar to take home as favors. Terri Bishop of En Vogue Events helped to execute the entire event, and Clint Shuttlesworth photographed the festivities.
“Spend the money on a planner!” Vi advises brides-to-be. “We started planning on our own, but quickly realized we needed the help of one. That day we didn’t have to worry about anything. If it went wrong, Terri took care of it.”
