Minh-Anh and Yong | Kansas City Wedding at St. James Parish Midtown

Get comfy, folks. This is gonna be a long one. Minh-Anh and Yong tied the knot [a few times, actually] on a recent beautiful spring day in KC. The day started out with the traditional Vietnamese Tea Ceremony at the bride's family home. We have shot a few of these ceremonies, but we never tire of them. There are so many beautiful traditions and special moments shared between family members, as two families become one.

After that ceremony concluded, the couple changed clothes and prepared for the Korean Tea Ceremony, or Pyebaek [Paebaek]. Here, Minh-Anh offered dates and chestnuts - symbols of children - to Yong's parents, while sitting at a low table filled with other symbolic offerings. His parents offered tea in return, and as a final gesture, they threw the dates and chestnuts at the bride, who tried to catch them in her large wedding skirt. She and Yong were pros! Lots of future children, perhaps?

Finally, the couple prepared for round three, by changing into their American wedding clothes, for a traditional Catholic ceremony. After some fun portraits around town, everyone headed to the Mark Twain Ballroom for a stunning reception to celebrate the new Mr. and Mrs.!

What a beautiful day it was to celebrate a beautiful couple. And a hearty "thank you" goes out to our friend and colleague Josh Solar, for shooting with us on this special day. Congratulations Minh-Anh and Yong. We wish you many many years of happiness!!!