Golden sunsets, sparkling Cambodian gowns and jewels, stunning views, and cute alpacas. Today, we checked off our “everything we want in a wedding” checklist that we did not realize we were missing.
Youty & Matt, longtime high school sweethearts, married in a beautiful, lit-up farmhouse in California. The wedding day was meaningful and symbolic, celebrating both groom’s and bride’s customs and traditions with their clothes and ceremony. We’re awestruck by the gold-toned Cambodian dress that sparkles in the California sunshine.
Alongside a host of songs that ode to Youty’s Cambodian origins, The bride’s closest friends stunned her with a Cambodian dance during the reception, which they did for six months via video chat. Hey, the most beautiful wedding tribe you’ve ever seen!
Our Love Story
We first met in 2000, in our junior year of high school, via a mutual friend. Youty first came across Matt’s photo in the summer yearbook and thought he looked adorable, even though she’d never seen him.
The subsequent interactions mainly were a few glances and chats throughout the halls. The first time we met was in the middle of senior year when an acquaintance of ours dropped us off at the movie theater. This led to our first date.
In our annual November trip abroad, we opted to take a multi-city self-guided tour across Europe in 2018. Paris was our fourth destination. After climbing the stairs from the first floor, which is the top of the Eiffel Tower, Matt suggested they sit on a bench in front of it. We sat, gazed at it long, and talked about visiting the Louvre until Matt went silent. It was as if he had stopped breathing. Matt was looking straight ahead before uttering a soft, “Youty, will you marry me?” I did not hear him asking.
The Planning
As people from different backgrounds, Our wedding was intended to reflect two distinct cultures. My name is Cambodian-American, while my partner is Caucasian. Our colors wanted the ceremony to be light and soft and incorporate my most beloved colors: mauve, lavender, and charcoal grey. Some aspects of the tradition should be elegant and effortless. We enjoyed the private outside space, with the rose bushes surrounding the property.
The Dress & Attire
The ceremony was my idea. I wanted all my bridesmaids and myself to wear traditional Cambodian wedding dresses during the wedding ceremony (typically, we’d have between four and eight outfit changes, but I decided to wear one). I believe that the wedding ought to reflect our various cultural backgrounds. The groomsmen and groomsmen were dressed in gray suits that complemented the soft colors that were the theme of our wedding. My dress was changed to white to take golden hour pictures and the reception.
The Venue
Finding the right location was significant for us (even even though it was a bit farther than we’d hoped to travel). We were thrilled that the venue was all-inclusive and easy to contact. The owner of the forum and coordinator provided us with great suggestions on how to book the DJ, photographer, florist, and even desserts. We didn’t have to look globally to find a great deal. We decided to spend a lot on the photographer and flowers.
Favorite Moments
My absolute favorite part was during the blessing of water, where the members of our families came in to share their best wishes and pour water over our hands. I would have liked more time to allow our guests to join in.
Just before the dinner reception, M,y bridesmaids, and I was surprised by the Cambodian welcoming dance tradition part of their toast). They trained for five to six months before the wedding and practiced with each other via video chat online.
Advice to Other Couples
Don’t let yourself get discouraged or doubt what you would like to have to have for your wedding. Make a daily to-do list, keep an Excel spreadsheet to estimate your budget, and discuss it with your family and friends.
