Summer will soon be upon us and that signals special celebrations like graduations and -- weddings! My wedding reception was a casual-but-elegant garden affair that initially horrified my mother when we announced the plans. Though she later told me that it was much more than she expected, my parents no doubt would have been more comfortable with the standard multi-course Chinese banquet that defines Vietnamese weddings.
If you've been invited to a Vietnamese wedding this summer, here's an Ao Dai Vietnam blog posting on what to expect in terms of timeliness, gifts, food, and music.
Got any tips or experiences to share?
-tvu says
Just attended a good friends wedding this past weekend.
1) Vietnamese (men) drink Martell (cognac) w/ lots of club soda and ice. It's a long night, so pace yourself.
2) Give cash. Average is $100 or more, dependent on how well you know them. The Bride/Groom party will make the rounds to each table. Hand your "gift" envelope to the designated speaker (person that knows the bride/groom more or whom drew the short stick) of the table.
3) Have a glass full of cognac/etc ready for the groom to dr
Lili says
Oh, Andrea
I didn't have the Wedding Banquet either and you would not believe the amount of whining that ensued, mostly from my sister. This was the dialogue:
Her: Why don't you have a banquet????
Me: Because I've been to 50 in my life time and they're all the same. Don't you want to try something different?
Her: But Brunch is just breakfast food! That's so cheap!
People aren't going to give you any money if you don't serve them at least 7 course?
Me: My reception is NOT a fundraiser!
My moth
Lili says
Tips for those attending a Vietnamese wedding for the first time:
- Almost everyone arrives about 1/2+ hour after the set time for the reception to start. My family calls it "Viet Time". Unless you get a note or call that the festivities will start on time.
- If you bring your kids or anyone else, please know that it's proper to give a gift (i.e. money) that's appropriate for the size of your party.
- I would take some ballroom dance lessons. Some of these people are really good dancers. It
Andrea Nguyen says
That is so very true -- everything you've written. The ballroom dancing -- goodness, yes. I've been to a wedding with that too. There was a singer there as well, and videographer with the full lighting set-up. As guests, we were merely props.
My uncle got loaded on a 7-Up and cognac, which he called "Vietnamese wedding ice tea." The drinking is done mostly by men, something that I somewhat resent, but hey, it's custom. The ladies 'don't know how to drink.'
Tori says
Hehe, I've been to a few Vietnamese weddings in Vietnam, but never in the US. Next up is my brother-in-law's wedding (also in Vietnam).
I'm not an expert (my husband is Vn but we got to skip the 300-person wedding in Vn his parents wanted us to have in favor of a small wedding here) but it sounds a little different than my experiences in Vn. There, everyone drinks beer (no cognac, but there was other straight alcohol for some people). And no one dances! It was like, speeches... eating... the
Retro Jordans says
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day. Each shall take the mastery at a pace that their given form and lifestyle can handle.
Sildenafil says
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Doggy
Metro Ethernet says
I've never attended to a vietnamese wedding.. it doesn't seem to be that different from a catholic one (as mine)..
Really interesting..
mbt online says
That was my thought,too.
Red Bottom shoes sale` says
Try it.
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While there is life, there is hope.（
marlon says
Each shall take the mastery at a pace that their given form and lifestyle can handle.
Nickle says
it's already gorgeous looking!! Love your work (and research), you're a true food writer whom I absolutely look up to. 🙂