When Maria and Jeff made a choice to postpone their 2020 wedding, they knew they had a lot of work to do. The original wedding guest list was 500 people. These two were able to cut it down to 100! As an NYC wedding photographer, I’ve heard this story time and time again. Each intimate wedding I shot in 2020 was forced to pivot and reimagine their wedding day. Every time I arrive, I am wowed by how resilient my brides and grooms are!
Planning a Church Wedding
St. Pius X Church is a huge part of Maria’s family history. Members of this church sponsored her maternal grandparents, aunts and uncles, and extended family when they all fled Vietnam from the war. St. Pius was also where Maria learned how to read and write in Vietnamese during Sunday school. Maria’s dad became a deacon around 2012 and is now part of the clergy at St. Pius. Clearly, it was a very special place to host their wedding ceremony. In their original wedding plan, the two were even going to host a post-ceremony luncheon at the church for Maria’s mother and her guests.
The luncheon and reception were, unfortunately, canceled to reduce the risk of spreading COVID19. By canceling the luncheon and evening receptions, they cut the guest list down to 100 guests for the wedding ceremony. It was also mandatory that everyone wore masks and social distance within the church. Like many, Maria and Jeff were able to live stream the wedding. This way, their friends, family, and coworkers could attend online and not miss out on their vows! Although they didn’t have a traditional tea ceremony, Maria and Jeff still wanted to take pictures with the Áo dài they’d had custom made. Jeff appreciated the Vietnamese tradition and also had an Áo Dài made!
Reducing the Guestlist
As all brides and grooms, it was important to the couple to have a wedding photographer. Because they canceled the luncheon and reception, they were able to have their wedding photographer at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden! The Dallas Arboretum is breathtaking, with multiple gardens over 66-acres. Once we arrived, Maria and Jeff did a cake cutting and their first dance. The two provided a light lunch for their bridal party and family members in attendance.
Maria and Jeff said the easiest part for them was knowing they were going to get married and begin their married life together. While they would have preferred to have all the pomp on a “normal” wedding day, they were willing to wait for all the partying until next year. Their family and friends’ mutual understanding of the changes made them feel much better about the decisions they made. Masks and a lack of hugs couldn’t damper the enthusiasm or their family’s support for the nuptials. Given the year all of us had, it was nice to see and participate in such a positive outlook!
