Several years ago, when visiting a friend’s home, I was invited to sign their family’s guest book. For years they had been collecting their guests’ notes, signatures, addresses, and occasional photos in a guest book in their family room.

When I was searching for the wedding guest book for our friends and family to sign as they …

The tent at night? Absolutely gorgeous. Perfect backdrop for our toasts to start off the party.

[My sister and cousin introduce us and the family members, in English and Cantonese!]

It was really important to me that people close to us did the introductions. I thought it would be much more personal, more familial, and I’m thankful that my sister and cousin …

As we were finishing up our portraits some of our guests were already starting to arrive!  Before they found their seats they were greeted by our thumbprint-tree guest book.

Going with the thumbprint tree was sort of a last-minute decision.  After seeing them all over the blogosphere I sorta fell in love with it!  Not to mention it went perfectly with …

The State of Texas and City of Dallas has given us permission to get married! We got our marriage license last week and like most things, we made it harder than it should have been. Dallas prefers you to go online and complete the application which Jeremy completed for us. He calls and asks for my social and city of …

Because we had our wedding in a church, and a church with lots of rules at that, much of our ceremony – order of service, traditional vows, prayers – was already set. I didn’t really mind this; I’ve always loved and found comfort in traditions. Where we could put ourselves in the mix was in the readings and especially in …

To help ensure the dance floor was packed, we provided flip-flops with a sign informing guests to take one. This was a huge hit-nearly every woman was wearing them by midnight!

{all photos by Missy Photography unless otherwise noted}

As soon as our first dances were over, the crowd moved in and started dancing.  Our DJ read our guests like a …

Our ceremony was 7 minutes long. I know that it was 7 minutes long because my Uncle recorded it and the entire video lasts 15 minutes. That means that it took longer for everyone to walk down the aisle than it did for the actual ceremony! It was short, sweet, personalized, and our good friend officiated. Perfect.

{One of my sister’s …

Upon entering the atrium after dinner, my husband and I (tried to) cut our cake.  Since we were already serving a vast selection of decadent pastries, our cake was simple and sweet (and delicious, of course).  It was decorated with silver frosting and adorned with a small brass African (Dogon) couple statue that we bought near Timbuktu, Mali.  Not only did …

One of the few trends I was adamant on having at our wedding were long tables, also known as “feasting” or “kings” tables.  It was one of the first trends I came across online soon after I got engaged; one I fell hopelessly in love with, and one I could NOT live without.  Pardon the oxymoron, but I dreamed of …

My bridesmaids and I arrived at the church at 2:30pm, thirty minutes before our ceremony was to start, greeted by hundreds of people lingering around from the previous 1pm wedding (to my great dismay).  My DOC, Katie from Dettagli Weddings (fantastic, by the way), quickly ushered me inside to the bridal suite where I passed the just-married bride along the way.

All …

I’m only sharing these pictures with you because they are hilariously awkward. I mean, I’m glad we have them to remember that we got to eat an amazing mini chocolate and peanut butter cake (thank you Polka Dot Bakeshop!) on our wedding day and that Brian was nice enough not to smush it in my face… but seriously, does …

After the cocktail hour, everyone went inside and ate the amazing meal that the chefs at High Hampton prepared (seriously, one of the best meals I’ve ever had!). After dinner, my dad led off the toasts. His toast was touching and sweet, as was that of my lovely Maid of Honor, Meredith.

See how we are so touched by …