I met Emily and Linh for the first time over Skype since they both lived just outside of Seattle and were planning their December wedding long distance. Even though we were separated by 1100 miles, we could all feel that not only were we a good fit for each other, but this wedding was going to be off the hook! They had been to too many boring weddings and wanted nothing more than to see their three distinct groups of their friends and family have a great time together. Linh said their group would be divided into the older family members who don’t dance, their friends who will drink and might dance, and the younger cousins who love to dance. If I could get them at least talking to each other, that would be a win for him.
It’s been a while since I’ve done a Vietnamese wedding, and I love seeing some of the old traditions kept alive. Immediately following the Grand Entrance and First Dance, Emily’s uncle Kien came up and did an address of welcome in Vietnamese. During the meal, Emily and Linh visited their tables collecting gifts, thanking their guests, and of course toasting to everyone’s health. While that was going on, the staff at the Warner Center Marriott snuck out the most amazing Ice Cream Bar, and the young and young-at-heart wasted no time building their frozen masterpieces. The dancing kicked off and, much to their surprise, EVERYONE came out to join them. I have to shout out the wild tables: Five, Six, and even Eight (who bribed me to say and write this) for really igniting the energy both during dinner and dancing!
After a few “American” formalities like the cake cutting and a bouquet toss, it was time for the after party to kick in. Linh loved all kinds of music and shared his favorite playlists with me early on. The crowd grooved to old school and current hip-hop, 80s and 90s pop, and even some obscure remixes specially requested by Linh. As the night went on, the music drove the crowd wild, and when it was finally time to say goodnight, the guests who were left made the most amazing interactive Circle of Love I have seen in a long time…singing along, waiving their hands up in the air, and even hugging it out while Frankie Vallie’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” played. The only thing that could beat that was the late night taco bar the Marriott set-up for the last of the partygoers.
Dave’s recommended vendors from this wedding included:
- Warner Center Marriott and the Hidden Hills Room. A very unique ballroom unlike anything I’ve seen in a while. – https://www.marriott.com/hotels/event-planning/wedding-planning/laxwc-warner-center-marriott-woodland-hills/