I went to Houston last weekend to celebrate my third and final wedding this year (you can read about my previous wedding here). I personally know the groom because he was my roommate during COVID. Before I get into the highlights, I just want to share a short message to Robert and Hong (I wish I could have written this in your guy’s wedding book instead of that blurb I wrote in your photobook…)
To Robert and Hong:
Robert – you are one of the kindest and down-to-earth people that I know. You helped me through some of my worst times (physically and job wise) when we lived together. I appreciated some of our deep conversations. I really enjoyed doing silly hot sauce review videos with you. Our chicken wing nights and Smallville marathon were so much fun. I will be forever thankful for those years we lived together.
Hong – when I first met you, you were also so down-to-earth. We just clicked with our shared interest in Korean dramas. You didn’t mind that I called you HP because of a lame computer joke (but also because it was your initials).
I really respect your guys’ resilience and commitment to each other. I was living with Robert when you guys decided to start dating and you guys kept up the long distance for 2-3 years. It was a tough 2-3 years because of COVID.
Your wedding ceremony was beautiful in its simplicity and deeply meaningful. The traditional Catholic elements that made it feel intimate.
Your wedding reception was super fun. While the ceremony marked the union of you two, the reception felt like it was a union and celebration of two different cultures – Mexican and Vietnamese. Everything from the food to the dancing felt special.
Your first dance as husband and wife was absolutely stunning. Lowkey – I might take a page out of your guy’s book if I ever get married myself.
I’m so happy that you guys are now living together and back home. I wish you so much strength, love, and patience for this next chapter in your lives!
Wedding and reception highlights
The wedding and reception were held on Saturday afternoon and evening. I got in Friday night and got a chance to hang out with Robert and Hong before their big day.
A traditional Catholic wedding
The wedding was held at a big Catholic church. It was my first time witnessing a wedding ceremony following Catholic tradition. It definitely felt more formal than any of my previous Christian weddings, but it was nonetheless still intimate.
The wedding officiator spoke 3 languages – Spanish, Vietnamese, and English – during the wedding ceremony. Pretty impressive.
I got this shot of them walking down the aisle. I turned off my phone after this shot because I thought they were done posing, but they ended up doing a super cute kiss. UGH. But this shot still captured their happy moment walking down the aisle as husband and wife 🙂
A LIT reception
This was my first Mexican + Vietnamese wedding that I have attended. All my previous weddings I have attended have been Chinese-themed.
And let me tell you – the reception was LIT.
Amazing first dance
First off, Robert and Hong’s first dance was super wholesome. I already mentioned it in my message to them, but of all the weddings I’ve gone to, their dance was the most electrifying. They had smoke and sparklers go off while they were dancing. I can’t wait to see the professional photos but things looked cinematic.
Multi-cultural reception food!
The food was pretty bomb too. I was looking forward to see what dishes they would serve at the wedding reception. It was mostly Vietnamese food. There was one Mexican dish–chicken mole.
The one thing I was caught off by was the cake cutting. I realized that the guests could cut the cake and serve themselves. I had a little bit because I was stuffed from the dinner.
Shots Shots Shots!
While I was eating, I was also taking shots with everybody at my table and with the groomsman. This was where things started getting crazy. I think I had around four shots at my table. I also had a martini. So make that five drinks.
The best man came to our table and waterfalled what I now think was margarita in my mouth. I was pacing myself during the whole dinner so I okay, but it’s been a while since I’ve had that much alcohol.
I’m gonna be real here for a second – I didn’t expect the Asians in the wedding to drink that much. I was so wrong! Look at this girl! She got thirteen shots for two tables (I think all the people sitting at her table were Vietnamese).
I also caught this beautiful moment of both the groom’s and bride’s family members taking shots together.
The drinking didn’t stop there though. The drinking continued through the night. As I was dancing, shots were going around. I probably had like an additional 2-3 shots. I was okay by the end of the night because I was hydrating after each shot and metabolizing the alcohol pretty quickly with all the dancing I was doing. Speaking of dancing…
Dancing the night away
Wedding reception dances are always fun. I always look forward to the dancing.
The dancing started off with the La Vibora de La Mar or Mexican Sea Snake Dance. It’s where the bride and groom stand on opposite chairs and joins hands to form an arch while family and friends pass under the arch while holding hands and dancing. The groomsmen and bridesmaids make a circle around the bride and groom to protect them from the people dancing.
The goal is for the couple to not break formation by the people dancing through the arch. The people dancing will try and push the couple off the chair.
Robert and Hong never fell. BOOOO. Just kidding.
They ended up tossing Robert in the air a couple of times. Apparently, this is known as el muertito.
I really wanted to join this dance but I couldn’t run on my fractured toe. The dance picks up pace and the guys were running at the end.
After some of the cultural dances finished, there was a quick group photo. There were sparklers again!
After that, the floor was open to everybody for dancing. My fractured toe may have slowed me down , but it didn’t stop me from dancing for a couple of hours. I didn’t understand any of the Mexican music, but I just danced along. I will say…I think Mr. Brightside by The Killers might be my new favorite dance song.
My friend and I left around 11PM. We were exhausted and had an early flight the next day.
We couldn’t find Robert and Hong at the end of the night. Let’s just say Robert may or may not have been wiped out by all the shots. 🙂 And Hong…well I guessed she was with him to make sure he stayed alive.
Congratulations, Robert and Hong! It was truly an honor to be a part of your special day.
I hope both of yall recovered from the reception 🙂
