We attended a Vietnamese wedding yesterday for a really great young couple!  We've never been to one, and the wedding itself was quite different so we had no clue what to expect (and of course I had NO time to google anything). 

The guest list was around 800 people, but with the recent bus tragedy (families are still in mourning), and Hurricane Ike, only about 650 people were able to make it!  yep....650....

As Xavier, Cameron and I arrived on the floor where the reception was to be held, we were greeted with an awesome array of organization.  Everywhere were HUGE potraits of the happy couple.  The first table we arrived at was a guest book signing.  From there, we were escorted to the check in table, where we were handed our place cards with our table numbers (Cameron was seated at a separate kids table).  From there, we passed down a LONG hallway completely filled with appetizers, punch bowls, an open bar and 2 (that's TWO) HUGE ice sculptured swans (Cameron's eyes were already the size of dinner plates) to arrive at the photo op station where the happy couple posed for professional potraits with all of their guests as they greeted them.  Then our escort took us into the ballroom-past the floor to ceiling traditional lucky bamboo wrapped in white lights surrounding a platform that held a multi-layer cake (at least 8 layers...) to our tables where some of our friends had already been seated (Cameron was alone at his table for now). I picked up a drink from the bar-thinking that would be my one for the night......and some lovely chocolate covered cherries.

This being a Vietnamese restaurant, the tables are round and set up with a huge lazy-susan in the middle and the meal is served family style.  On the lazy susan were bottles of coke and sprite and a beautiful box which held a cognac (which we mistakenly thought was for toasting the couple).  We found out that the cognac was to be sipped between courses to cleanse the palate.......ok, cool-I enjoy a good cognac so I was game. (Now remember-this is a Vietnamese wedding and we were in the dark about their traditions and customs and we certainly didn't want to bring "bad luck" or dishonor to the families.) There were speeches in both Vietnamese and English. Then the families were introduced and then the wedding party.  Bruce and Linh danced one dance together, then the party got down to some serious EATING (no dancing-there was a live band AND some on the spot karaoke but NO DANCING-too weird)

Here's what the menu at a Vietnamese wedding reception looks like:

Fish May & Seafood Soup

(cognac)

Lotus Root Salad w/ Grilled Shrimp

(cognac)

Shrimp Paste w/ Crab Claws

(cognac)

Peking Duck

(cognac)

Salmon wrapped Scallops & Crabmeat

(cognac)

Grilled Pepper Corn Beef

(cognac)

Black Mushrooms w/Snow Pea Leaves

(cognac)

Yang Chow Fried Rice

(cognac)

Tarot Root Pudding

(cognac)

Wedding Cake

Champagne-for toasting the happy couple

Each course is brought out one at a time and you are expected to finish it before they bring out the next dish.  We were completely "roll me out the door and down that staircase" stuffed!  I'm STILL stuffed!  OMG I could live off this meal for the entire winter!!!!!!!

Before the meal, the happy couple cut their cake and took a few more pictures.  Then they were whisked off for the change from their wedding garments (she was just gorgeous!) into traditional Vietnamese wedding garments.  Then they started at one end of the ballroom and one table and with an entourage of about 6 people, they proceeded to go from table to table, greeting each and every guest, take a group photo, they thanked guests individually for attending and stated something that they loved about us or how we had been a gift for them (make note-gifts are NOT brought to Vietnamese weddings-a small card with a monetary donation and general well wishing are tradition).  Then we had to have a representative from our table give our greetings and well wishes back to them (our deacon's wife did us  the honor).  THEN, in an ancient traditional ceremony, we toasted the happy couple (part of their entourage was a gentleman who carried an antique asian tea set used by the couple for toasting).  They went to EVERY table in the ballroom!

This all started at 7pm and we were out of the building by 10:45pm!

Must mention that we had no idea what would be served for dinner so we ate wings from Wingstop before we went.......sometimes we're not the brightest of folks.......

Mental note-if EVER invited to a Vietnamese wedding reception.....fast for at least 30 days prior to attending.....