I always love having opportunity of shooting cultural weddings. Finding a photographer for Chinese weddings is how a lot of couples begin their search. If you are looking for a photographer that has experience photographing traditions drawn from China, Singapore, or Taiwan, I’m your girl!
I met with the bride last year and was so excited to be hired to photograph the wedding as I know she had looked into several wedding photographers. She had originally found me from The Knot. Since Charlotte and Mike both travel frequently for work, we did a lot of communication via email regarding the details of the wedding day and her photography plans and ideas. Charlotte is from Singapore and her family spoke Mandarin, while Mike’s family spoke Cantonese, so we had three languages being spoken in the hotel suite! Everyone was having a blast, and this wedding in particular had some especially fun parts to photograph. Before tea, the groom was quizzed by bride’s friends and family and had to partake in humorous demands before the mother of the bride released her daughter to the groom. I witnessed some hilarious games that took place before their pretty tea ceremony.
I asked Charlotte about some of the details of her wedding day and she said:
The Chinese tea ceremony was requested by my mom. Basically it is a way for us to thank our families for raising us. The groom comes to the bride’s house to collect the bride. But the bride’s friends and family will try and block the groom and his men. The groom will have to go a series of games to prove his love for the bride. At the end, the girls will negotiate a price for the bride. Usually the number ends in 99. So $299, $399, etc.
When the groom claims the bride, they are supposed to go to the groom’s family to do the tea ceremony. Then they return to the bride’s family to do the tea ceremony. We did it all in the same room to save time!
Mike and I are so laid back, so we wanted fun pictures. Mike requested the lakefront shots and I like indoor shots and vintage looking locales, so Union Station was awesome! I love the look and feel of your photos! Very different from the others I have seen and very imaginative! That was ultimately the reason why we picked you!
after their wedding, the bride and groom headed to Curaçao for their honeymoon where they went to explore the island’s shores via scuba diving.
婚礼摄影师在芝加哥
中文和粤语的新娘和新郎Chinese wedding by Boston photographer Heather Parker
The bride purchased adorable containers for the wedding rings which were inscribed with to have and to hold.
The bride’s mother watched over over the groom during some lighthearted games.
The groom answered questions regarding his new bride.
This bride and groom were a very easy-going couple – they joked around a lot and had a blast all day!
Two families came together during a tea ceremony overlooking famous Michigan Avenue. They had one of the best hotel suites I have ever photographed in.
The bride follows tradition and takes tea to present to the families.
I heard someone mutter that some of the tea had some wasabi in it!
The groom leaves the room before the bride changes into a white wedding gown.
A simple bouquet of flowers to matched quite an elegant gown.
The groom waits in the hotel lobby for a scheduled “first look” as the bride descended down a grand glowing staircase.
We took a limo to Museum Cmpus and played a little game of trust over Lake Michigan.
The iconic Chicago skyline is in the distance as the groom holds on tight to his bride.
It was a bit chilly for outdoor photos so we happily we went to Union Station after museum campus. she had prepared for inclement weather by buying a photo permit in advance for union station so that we would have no issues if we needed to use the location as a setting for her wedding photos.
The groom looked dapper at Union Station, don’t you think?
We wrapped up our 90 minute photo shoot by heading back to Michigan Ave and the bride and groom were cuffed by a Chicago cop (all in good fun of course!).
The newlyweds had beautiful rings which I photographed on the stem of a tulip.
Cocktail hour…
What a cute nephew and a proud father!
Here are some of the wedding reception details including favors, cupcake centerpieces, and an overall theme of red – the color of happiness.
and a heartfelt toast…
A cake cutting and a cake smoosh followed by a smooch.
Guests were having a great time.
Charlotte’s matron of honor was just as fun as she, and raised the bar on the dance floor getting everyone going!
The bride and groom were a very fun laid-back couple to work with, and definitely know how to throw a party!
Wedding ceremony & reception: Marriott
Alterations on white gown: Ms. Couture
Alterations on qi pao/chengosam: Oriental Fine Tailor
If you would like to see more Asian weddings including Chinese weddings, Taiwanese weddings, Korean weddings and other similar weddings please check out:
Milly and Ross W Hotel wedding
Jo and Rich’s Ivy Room Chicago wedding
John and Panle Le Meridien weddin in Cambridge
Pei-Chi Claire and Andrew’s wedding at OceanCliff in Newport