The bride and groom aren't going for anything too formal. Ao dai's (traditional Vietnamese attire) is allowed, but a cocktail dress for women and a well fitted suit for men are safe choices. Out of respect for the bride, please refrain from wearing any white, cream, or ivory dresses.
Guests will be asked upon entry to take photos with the bride and groom. This is done so that there will be photos of everyone in attendance to remember.
Once your picture is taken, you will find a table to sit at. Most tables are unassigned, save for the bride and groom's immediate family, so please sit with people you are most comfortable with! Each table can sit up to 10 people.
In lieu of a registry, the bride and groom humbly ask for guests to honor the Vietnamese tradition of gifting red envelopes, or cards of your well wishes. There will be a card box that will go around during "chào bàn".
"Chào bàn" is the Vietnamese tradition where the bride and groom personally visit and thank each guest at their reception table, often giving toasts and receiving gifts, such as a "lì xì" ("lucky money") that are in red envelopes. This is to express their gratitude for the guests' attendance and well wishes. There is normally a voice recorder to record the speaker for the table, so make sure to be prepared! ;)
The venue, Panda King, is a place that holds many fond memories for the bride and groom. The most important thing being FOOD! Be prepared for an 8-course meal with plenty of options for food! There will be full service at every table where guests will share family style entrees to place onto their own plates. Servers will also be available for drinks.
Unfortunately, there will be no open bar to order drinks. However, a bar is available on the other side of the restaurant to order on your accord. Each table will receive a complimentary bottle of champagne, as well as beer included in the full dinner service.
Enjoy yourself! This is a celebration, so all you need to do is relax, eat, and have fun! There will be lots of cool things and favors for guests at this reception, so we hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed having you there for our special day!