:)This was our first tea ceremony, and Paul and I were so excited about it! It’s a really fun Chinese tradition that involves humiliation, cash, elaborate outfits, feats of strength, and eggrolls for breakfast. Honestly, I don’t know why westerners haven’t adopted this.
Here’s how it goes. Annie gets ready in the back room with her bridesmaids and family like most brides. Only instead of putting on her white dress, she wears a traditional red outfit with tons of gorgeous beading.
Then John, his groomsmen, and his family approach Annie’s parents house bearing fruit, etc and the bridesmaids stop him at the door. The girls then require that the guys perform several tasks to prove their worth, strength, wealth, and so on. These are awesome and Annie’s girls were so great at “protecting” her. John and his men performed a song (with multiple harmonies!), did some killer push ups, and finally paid the girls off with cash. Yes, cash. Pretty much the best bridesmaid gig ever, right?
Meanwhile, Annie waits in the back room listening to the craziness happening outside. After the negotiations are over and John has proven himself, the bridesmaids let the men into the house, and Annie is walked into the front room to greet her soon to be husband.
Then comes the tea! Annie and John serve tea to every married family member, at which point the family member gives them advice, blessings, and a little gift in a fancy envelope.
We had so much fun learning this custom and we’re looking forward to shooting one more this summer. Plus, Annie and John and their families are so wonderful and welcoming! Such a great celebration!
More to come from Annie and John’s wedding soon!
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Morgan and Tyler got married at one of our favorite venues: The Scripps Aquarium Seaside Forum. They live in a city where Amy and I spent some of our favorite times: New York. And, after meeting them for a picnic and engagement session in Balboa Park, we knew that we were just going to love this couple. Their wedding, organized by Melissa at I Do Weddings, was really beautiful. It was such a pleasure to witness how much that Morgan and Tyler are cared for by their friends and family. What a special day…
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The boys started the day by watching a World Cup soccer match. The match in question (Ghana vs. Uruguay), was fantastic. It included one of the most dramatic finales to a sporting event that I’ve ever seen. Or, actually, not seen. As a huge sports fan, it took everything in me to get these shots of Tyler and the guys witnessing the exciting finish to the match instead of jumping up and down with them.
After the game was over, they headed off to the park to play a little soccer themselves.
Meanwhile, Morgan and her girls were busy being glamorous and getting ready for the wedding.
Venue: Scripps Seaside Forum
Coordinator: Melissa Brand of I Do Weddings
Florist: Fleur de Leigh
Caterer/Cake: The French Gourmet
Videographer: Roldan Productions
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It was hard to miss Morgan’s bridal suite at the Hotel Parisi as I could hear Ke$ha playing from the stairs. I smiled, walked in and was immediately handed a glass of champagne. These girls know how to party, they know how to work it in front of a camera, but most of all these girls know how to love on their friend. And they definitely deserve their own blog post! As I walked around the suite looking for bridal details, I spotted a pair of glittering black pumps. Then a pair of super strappy stillettos…
More photos from Morgan and Tyler’s beautiful wedding at the Scripps Seaside Forum are coming soon!
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