Our Wedding

Derek & Nathalia

12.26.2022

I finally got around to writing this blog post about what was undoubtedly the most magical day of my life. Derek and I have been together since we were teenagers. Beyond being my soul mate, he is my best friend. We also have a rebellious streak in us and always said we would never get married. We were so secure and happy in relationship we thought, if it ain’t broke - don’t fix it. It just wasn’t something we felt we needed. Once I got pregnant that changed and after years and years of the family asking “when are you going to get married already?” we finally decided to go for it…… in 3 weeks ! No joke. We went from saying we’d never get married, to planning a wedding in 3 weeks. None of it would have been possible without my sister in law, Bosilika, who literally planned the entire thing. I still don’t know how she pulled it off. The entire family rolled up their sleeves and got to work too. We had family fly in from around the world, many of whom where with us all the way up until the night before setting tables and place cards, stuffing gift bags, cooking Christmas dinner…! It was a whirlwind, but the result was a wedding beyond my wildest dreams. The pictures don’t even do it justice, but hopefully you can see a glimpse of how magical it truly was. Beyond all the glitz and glamour, the most meaningful aspect for both of us was how we married both of our cultures and celebrated them throughout the day. We started with a traditional Vietnamese wedding ceremony, followed by an afternoon Jewish/Western wedding under the chuppah, and Spanish rice throwing at the end. We danced the hora and sang “Land Down Under.” My uncle Andy officiated the wedding and highlighted the beautiful blending of our two cultures, and how at the end of the day, we are so similar - we value family and tradition above all else. I can’t wait to share this special day with our children and pass down the many traditions that have been passed to us.

Something Old….

I wore my mother’s wedding dress for the Western ceremony….

and my mother-in-law’s dress for the Eastern Ceremony

Something New…

Birdy Grey dressed my bridal party for our glam time.
We are wearing the Kenny Ruffle Robe in Champagne and Sage

Something Borrowed…

Neil Lane lent me the most exquisite vintage jewels that truly tied everything together.
Shoes by Badgley Mishka
Emerald Engagement Ring: Family Heirloom