I really enjoyed planning Dana and Lanlin’s wedding because they were so much fun and full of creative ideas. Their ceremony was so unique. It incorporated a wine box with a copy of their vows hammered shut inside so if they ever came upon a difficult moment, they can open the box, drink a glass of wine and read their vows to each other. The butterfly release was nothing short of magical which was followed by each member of their bridal party reading an excerpt from Dr. Seuss, All The Place You’ll Go. I made sure to leave time for a lot of different activities they wanted to incorporate. One of them was “kidnapping of the bride” (ritual where the groomsmen try to convince the bridesmaids to give a glimpse of the bride before the wedding) and the traditional Chinese tea ceremony during the reception. My advice for brides and grooms out there is to be creative, have fun with the planning, and don’t be afraid to make it unique!
Like everyone says, the day flew by, and before we knew it, the DJ was playing the last song. Thankfully I took my friends advice and stopped every so often to take a mental snapshot of the excitement around me. Building a puzzle of Chicago with my bridesmaids on the floor of our hotel room ::CLICK:: Stepping into my dress ::CLICK:: Putting the ring on his finger ::CLICK:: By far my favorite snapshot of the day was that moment I turned the corner, my arm locked with my dads, and seeing my “Hoo” wiping away his tears.
!Dana and Lanlin from Hana Malek on Vimeo.