Tell us a little about yourselves!
Phong and I met during our third year of optometry school in Texas. We have a lot in common both being optometrists, but also we enjoy cooking, camping, and traveling together.
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
We love traveling, camping together, and exploring National Parks. We wanted to go somewhere we had never been before and landed on Yosemite. Everything from the ceremony location to meeting vendors in person was a surprise to us on our wedding day and it was so magical from one moment to the next!
How many guests did you have?
43 guests, including 38 adults and 5 children.
Tell us about your outfits.
We really wanted to wear something that was classic and timeless. I saw Sarah Seven on Instagram and knew I was going to be a Sarah Seven bride – Viv was chic and classic with a sassy vibe. For Phong, he wanted something neutral, but different from his groomsmen. He went with a flannel material for a more natural look.
We found our Ao Dais from a shop on Etsy while searching for our reception outfits – we loved the details, but wanted to keep a classic feel from our ceremony outfits.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
The most important aspect was to have an intimate, romantic day that felt like us while being surrounded by our family and close friends. We wanted an adventure and Yosemite delivers that.
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
It was important to us to incorporate Phong’s Vietnamese heritage. We changed into traditional Vietnamese wedding clothes called Ao Dai for part of our reception to celebrate.
Any tips for couples getting married, particularly during the pandemic?
Our best advice is to focus on the things that are important to you and your partner. Whether that is being surrounded by your guests or choosing your dream location, and trust your vendors with the other details. Our wedding planner, Jennifer with An Occasion Events helped make our wedding day a dream and so smooth – she was essential in planning the timeline and other details. Years later, it is the memories that you and your partner make on your wedding day that will be most important, so prioritize the best you can.
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
All of our vendors were amazing and so special to us. We had never been to Yosemite or met any of our vendors in person, and somehow, we managed to arrange the best team.
Our first and best decision of our wedding, besides choosing to marry each other, was choosing Emily Klarer to be our photographer. I found Emily on Instagram - her photos just felt real and that’s what we wanted. We hopped on Facetime with her and the rest was history – her passion for what she does shines!
We are especially grateful to Emerald at Autocamp Yosemite for helping us coordinate our guest lodging and reception space, to Alyssa with Braided Blonde Locks for making me feel absolutely beautiful, and to Madison Rhoton our videographer who captured the sweetest moments for us and curated the most beautiful video.
DJ Phon is one of Phong’s closest friends and we are so grateful that he was willing to celebrate and work at the same time with us! He is way too cool for us considering he has performed with Justin Bieber, Tiesto, and Marshmello.
Photographer : Emily Klarer Photography @emilyklarerphotography | Videographer : Madison Rhoton Video @madstuhh | Ceremony Location : Cathedral Beach, Yosemite National Park, CA | Reception Location : Autocamp Yosemite, CA @autocamp | Celebrant : Bride’s Brother. | Entertainment : DJ Phon @djphon | Planning + Flora : An Occasion Events @anoccasion | Hire : Standard Event Rentals | HMUA : Braided Blonde Locks @braidedblondelocks | Catering, Beverages + Cake: Lila and Sage @lilaandsage | Stationery : Bride’s Mother | Megan's Dress + Veil : Sarah Seven @sarahseven from Blue Bridal Boutique @bluebridalaustin of Austin | Phong's Suit : Suit Supply @suitsupply + TopMan @nordstrom | Reception Outfits : Ao Dai from Etsy @aodai.chidau | Engagement Ring : Robbins Brothers @robbinsbrothers. | Wedding Rings : Cartier @cartier + Stephanie Gottlieb @stephaniegottlieb | Shoes : Loeffler Randall @loefflerrandall (Bride). + Suit Supply @suitsupply (Groom) | Bride’s Earrings : Stephanie Gottlieb @stephaniegottlieb | Wedding Party Attire : Mumu Weddings @mumuweddings + The Black Tux @theblacktux