In life, we meet new people every day not knowing what to expect. Who would have thought one introduction, one conversation, one date, and one kiss could lead to the beginning of spending a lifetime with one another.  Ah Sou and Iris first met in February of 2015, just shortly after Iris moved back home from attending her undergrad at UC Irvine. Iris was invited by her cousin, Ira to an after work group gathering. Ah Sou was also invited to the same social event by his close friend, Sandy. Ira and Sandy were colleagues who had become best of friends. Little did anyone know, Ah Sou and Iris soon found themselves talking and hanging out together. As the night came to an end, they said their goodbyes and exchanged contacts. A few weeks later, they went on their first date. Ah Sou took Iris on a hike at the beautiful Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park and had lunch at one of his favorite restaurants named Vientian Café. They shared similar interests and enjoyed each other’s companionship. From then on, they became inseparable. Learning and growing together. Taking time to bond and build their relationship through their love of food and travel, including mini weekend getaways and traveling internationally.

It happened thousands of miles away in Rome, Italy - a night Ah Sou and Iris will never forget.  Ah Sou has envisioned the day to go as planned. After a long day of sightseeing all around Vatican City, Iris decided to relax in the living room while Ah Sou decorated the bedroom with heart shaped rose petals and candles. Then after, he prepared dinner and set the table. He filled two glasses of Europe's finest red wine and assembled the lamb chops and veggies. As Iris approached the dinner table, Ah Sou went down on one knee with the ring on his hand and confessed his love for her. She was astonished and said “YES.” He then reassured Iris that her parents had given him their blessings beforehand. Ah Sou was relieved and overjoyed. They continued with their dinner and enjoyed the rest of the night.  Their Europe trip was filled with joy and excitement. 

WHO ARE THE IU MIEN The Iu Mien people are a Southeast Asian subset of the Yao people, a minority group originally from China. Displaced by the Vietnam War, many settled in the United States from the late 1970s to the mid 1990s. From China, the Iu Mien migrated to Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. The Iu Mien ethnic group is one of several ethnicities that are called “Yao” by the Han Chinese and others. It is an ethnic community that has a long history and deeply rooted in China, and many of them have migrated to many different countries in Asia, Europe and the America. Iu Mien Wedding rituals and customs often varied by region since they have been subsumed into modern culture. In an Iu Mien wedding, freshen up and tea ceremony are considered significant events. It is a formal introduction of the bride and groom as they express respect and gratitude to their families, friends, and guests. FRESHEN UP Traditionally, prior to the tea ceremony at an Iu Mien wedding, the bride and groom will honor and show respect to their parents. They would offer their parents a lukewarm water to wash their face and towel to dry before they start their day. It's a symbolic way of letting go of all the negative energy and gaining positive spirits. The bride and groom then welcome friends and families the same way. In this day and age, water and towel are presented, but families and friends do not need to wash their face. Just pick up a towel as a thank you gift for attending and proceed to the tea ceremony.

TEA CEREMONY In Iu Mien tradition, serving tea when guests come is a very traditional propriety. It is a significant way to show respect. In a wedding, such an act is to show respect and gratitude to parents for all the years of love and care. A tea ceremony also meaningful in many other ways. It's a symbol of purity, stability and fertility. The purity of tea signifies the love is pure and noble; the stability of tea stands for faithful love; the fertility of tea means that the new couple will have many children. Traditionally, the tea ceremony for the groom's family is usually done in the morning, while the ceremony for the bride is always done in the afternoon when the bride and groom have completed the bride's home visit. Today, newlyweds often decide to have just one ceremony for both sides together. The tea ceremony begins when families, friends and guests have arrived and are seated. The bride and groom will then serve tea beginning with the groom's family. Today, tea ceremony begins in the beginning when everyone enters the ceremonial space in which the bride and groom welcome everybody. The bride will then serve tea. Guest drinks tea. After the drinking of tea, gifts for the bride and groom will be presented. If it's your first time attending such a ceremony, you might be worried about what tea ceremony gifts are suitable. Well you really don't have to, since gifts are usually in forms of red envelopes with money that can widely ranges from 50 to 500 USD. The traditional red envelopes are available before the tea ceremony if needed. How much money to put in a red envelope? It's very hard to give an indication of the appropriate amount. It really depends on one’s generosity and willingness. Any amount is appreciated by the bride and groom.

In Filipino traditions, the wedding ceremony proper includes the celebration of an hour-long Mass or religious service. Ceremonial sponsors, witnesses, and participants: The principal wedding sponsors (also termed "godparents"), is often chosen by the betrothed, sometimes on advice of their families. Multiple pairs of godparents are customary, with six godmothers (ninang) and six godfathers (ninong) Ritual objects: Ceremonial paraphernalia in Filipino weddings include the arrhae, the candles, the veils, the cord, and wedding rings. The ring bearer acts as the holder and keeper of the rings until the exchanging of rings is performed, while the coin bearer acts as the holder and keeper of the arrhae until it is offered and given by the groom to his bride. Each pair of godparents are chosen to light the wedding candles, handle the veils, and place the cord. Rings and arrhae: After the exchange of wedding rings by the couple, the groom gives the wedding arrhae to his bride. The arrhae is a symbol of his "monetary gift" to the bride because it is composed of 13 pieces of gold, or silver coins, a "pledge" that the groom is devoted to the welfare and well-being of his wife and future offspring. Candles: One pair of the godparents will light the pair of candles, one on each side of the couple. Many weddings add the ritual of the "unity candle", which signifies the joining of their two families. The couple takes the two lighted candles and together lights a single candle. Veils: The veiling ritual signifies the clothing of the two individuals as one, a long, white, rectangular veil is draped over the shoulder of the groom and above the bride's head; two smaller veils may also be pinned on the groom and bride's shoulders. Cord: After the veiling, the last pair of godparents will then drape the yugal over the shoulders of the couple. The cord is customarily shaped or looped to form the figure "8" which symbolize "everlasting fidelity."

During the wedding reception, it is typical to release a pair of white male and female doves, symbolising marital harmony and peace. These are placed in a cage or receptacle, which can be opened by pulling ribbons or cords or manually opened and released by the couple themselves. After their release from their cage, the person who catches them may take them home to rear as pets. It is also a common practice to have the "Money Dance." This is where the bride and groom dance to slow music while the guests pin money (notes) on the couple. The monetary gift from the dance is a wish that good fortune be "rained" upon them, and is also a means of helping the couple financially as they begin their life together. Tossing the bouquet is for the most part uncommon for the bride to do, though it is increasingly being observed by younger women. Instead, the bride traditionally offers it at a side altar of the church before an image of either the Blessed Virgin Mary or a patron saint, or offers it at the grave of an important relative or ancestor.