the love story (from the beautiful bride)
We met through mutual friends at an OMD concert. Lan had given up alcohol and I had given up red meat for Lent. Lan suggested that after Easter, we’d go out for steak and drinks. He didn’t ask for my number until 4 months after the concert and we went on our first date on August 18th, 2011.
We connected over dinner, questioning each other’s choice on football teams and sharing similar thoughts about the Los Angeles Lakers. He chuckled when he found out that my celebrity crush was Anderson Cooper. We came to find out that we grew up attending the same church and I knew his brothers but had always thought that it was just the three of them in the family; I never knew an older brother existed. Before we knew it, we were the last ones in the restaurant and our dinner had lasted over 3 hours! Closing out the restaurants became a common trend for us during the first 3 months of us dating…along with last minute cancellations from both of us because of our crazy schedules and running our individual businesses. Looking back, I’m surprised we both put up with it.
the romantic proposal
We took a trip to Europe. The days leading up to the trip, Lan was concerned about weather for one of our stops in Italy. We have taken many trips before and had always dealt with any type of weather condition.
On the day of the proposal, we left Pisa early in the morning and took the train to Cinque Terre. Upon arriving at the first village, it was raining and the hiking trail was closed because of the storms and landslides. This was where he had wanted to propose. We grabbed a bite to eat, and waited for the next train to come. The rain started to come down harder as we trotted along from village to village, and I skipped along jumping into puddles, snapping photographs at every corner along the way.
Lan’s Plan B was to to do it at a restaurant at one of the other villages, unfortunately, the restaurant was packed and was unable to seat us. Not knowing that he wanted to do something special, I suggested that we just get pizza at any restaurant and continue forth. He had another restaurant in mind and was determined to find it. Come to find out, a storm years ago had caused it to close down. He gave up, we grabbed pizza for lunch and moved along.
We continued along and we ended up taking a hidden path up to a cliff. We were looking out into the ocean and the waves were crashing in under our feet. He starts his bit saying that the last time he visited, he told himself that when he met the woman of his dreams, he’d want to come back to Cinque Terre with her. I interrupted, looked around, and asked him where this woman was. 🙂
He started it back up again telling that everything fell into place when I came into his life. When he turned me around to face him, he was down on one knee. I told him that it was wet, it’s been raining, get up….etc. He hushed me and said, “Woman, let me do this!” 🙂
I find out later that he had stopped by the house the day before our trip to ask my dad for his blessing and permission. He told his mom the night before we left. Apparently, he had told his friends his plans. My friends and family all speculated that it was going to happen on the trip, but I was certain that although our relationship was serious and he’s the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, wedding plans were at least 2 year away. Boy did I hear a lot of, “We knew it” and “we told you so!” 🙂
Oh, on top of it all, the day he proposed was coincidentally my birthday. 🙂
the wedding day
AnhThu wore these classic and chic ivory Badgley Mischka bridal heels.
Love capturing the details, especially the jewelry
Getting ready to see each other on their wedding day
Their tearjerker first look – these two are so freakin’ cute
Celebrating with their families at their culturally traditional Vietnamese tea ceremony
The flower girl wouldn’t stop looking at and photographing AnhThu. So cute!
Love AnhThu’s beautiful red ao dai
Paying respect to their ancestors
Tears!
Getting ready for their catholic ceremony at St. Boniface in Anaheim
Gorgeous bride in her white wedding ao dai <3
About to walk down the aisle
Always fun to hang out and take a break with the bridal party – SO much fun scarfin’ down burgers at Varsity Burger before we headed to their beautiful wedding reception!
Aren’t they all so cute?! Love these guys.
Party time with their elegant Serra Plaza San Juan Capistrano wedding reception. Love this venue <3
Lego bride and groom wedding cake topper!
AnhThu had a BIG SURPRISE for Lan and his guys – their very own specialty Whiskey & Cigar Bar!
Got to play around with the bridal party and these ADORABLE two cuties – the flower girl and ring bearer <3
Bridal party time!
So in love with capturing romantics with such an in-love couple around Serra Plaza
An emotional father/daughter dance – got tears in my eyes.
Followed by a beautiful in-love first dance between husband and wife
Serra Plaza becomes even more beautiful as the sun sets and evening begins.
It was an amazing party that night.
congratulations
AnhThu and Lan, you got me to cry in our first phone call and especially on your wedding day. Truly, you are so blessed with love for each other but you both are also blessings in the love you share to others. We consider ourselves very blessed to get to know you, capture your love story and celebrate with you on your wedding day. May God richly bless you both in your wonderful future together. Thank you for all the memories and for your friendship. Love you guys!
With our love,
The DPARK Family
vendors
- Serra Plaza Wedding Photographers | D. Park Photography with Associate Adam
- Wedding Planner | Mele Amore
- Getting Ready Venue | Embassy Suites | 400 N. State College Blvd, Orange, CA 92868
- Ceremony Venue | St. Boniface | 120 N. Jass St, Anaheim, CA 92805
- Reception Venue | Serra Plaza | 31920 Del Obispo St, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
- Hair/Makeup | Spa Fuzion
- Video | Cinema Mirage
- Limo | Shooting Star
- Florist | Chez Rose
- Tables/Chair Rentals | Signature Party Rentals
- Officiant | Fr. Nicolas
- Draping | Green Apple
- DJ/Lighting | Hilo Productions
- Caterer | Top Catering
- Photobooth | Little Big Booth
- Bar | Cocktail Concierge
- Cake | Van’s Bakery
want more?
Check out their romantic and stylish Los Angeles engagement here.
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