Congratulations Shuai and Rong

This beautiful fall day brought us a venue with an amazing view.  The ceremony took place on a rooftop garden, with Shuai and Rong saying their vows under a gorgeous floral arch.  One neat aspect of the ceremony was that it began at exactly 11:16 am on the dot.  The wedding date and time were chosen because they are auspicious in the Chinese culture.    When Shuai arrived at the altar, guests applauded, and they did the same for Rong. 

The reception took place in the ballroom at the top floor of the hotel, with floor to ceiling windows.  We had a beautiful view!  Upon arrival, the guests signed their names on small wooden hearts, which they then dropped into a picture frame that the couple can later hang in their home.  When Rong entered the reception, she had changed out of her Western, white wedding dress, and into a beautiful red satin ballgown.  (Red is a sign of good luck, success, loyalty, honor, and love in the Chinese culture.)  Rong also wore a red and gold headpiece, and she was beautiful!

The tables had floor-length white table cloths, white chair covers, and centerpieces of greenery and white hydrangea.  Each place setting had a favor box holding candies.   During dinner, Rong and Shuai went table to table, toasting with the guests.   They even came to our table, toasting with me and Ferdy.  It was so sweet of them to think of us!  Then, we moved on to the traditional toasts by the Best Man and Maid of Honor.  The cake cutting followed, with the newlyweds cutting in to their three-tiered, stacked cake.  It had grey and white frosting, blended to look almost like marble.  Pieces of edible gold leaf accented the tiers, as well as white flowers.

Instead of a traditional bouquet toss, Rong chose to giver her bouquet to a single friend.  It was so sweet, it left both of them in tears.  Then, Shuai surprised everyone by singing a song to Rong.  He was so good!  After that, the dance floor was open.  Guests danced until it was time to bring the reception to a close.  Rong and Shuai handed gifts to the guests as they left: bottles of wine in a bag decorated with a Chinese symbol.  A guest told me the symbol basically means good luck/happy marriage.  Once the newlyweds said farewell to their guests, they made their exit.  Congratulations Shuai and Rong!

Vendors:

Venue: Moody Gardens Hotel

Photography: Tian Zhan

Videography: Cinematic Saviors