Josh + Jerry’s Tea Ceremony
I have been trying to figure out a way to include all of my favourite photos from Josh and Jerry’s wedding into one post. You see, there are quite a few and I was worried that if I put them all into one long post your computer would crash! So I give you Josh and Jerry part one – the tea ceremony. The tea ceremony happened before the traditional wedding we know, and is a big part of Jerry’s Vietnamese/Chinese culture. I love how giving it is, from groom to bride, and bride to groom, from the couple to their parents and families. Even the children have a role. I love how respectful it is. I haven’t had a chance to talk to Jerry about all the little things that happen in the ceremony and what each one means but I thought I would show you my favourite parts from the day.
The wedding day started for Jason at about 7.30am with the boys but the girls would have started much, much earlier.
After photographs the boys are off – on their way, with Josh’s parents and a whole PIG (yes, you read that right) to seek Jerry’s hand in marriage. Josh cuts a very fine figure so I’m hoping he is successful but we’ll have to wait and see!!
Jerry has two gowns for the day – this first one is the traditional Vietnamese red dress. She looks so lovely, waiting for Josh to arrive…
The altar is prepared and the family are now waiting. Josh has to convince them too that he is Jerry’s perfect match!
Josh finally arrives and is met by one of the family members bearing tea to drink. An offering is also made. (How cute is this family member!!! I am a sucker for a child in a waistcoat and tie!)
That there is a whole PIG!!! Now that is what I call a gift (I mean, if I wasn’t a vegetarian…) How spectacular!!
Now that Josh has been allowed in he has to show Jerry that he is worthy. He makes an offering to the bridesmaids asking for Jerry’s hand…
but they are not convinced. They ask what else he has to offer her and he says his strong hands… (I am glad I wasn’t there because I would have burst into tears. How beautiful and romantic!)
Jerry accepts!!
The incense is lit…
A blessing is sought…
And tea is served to each family member.
It is such a beautiful and traditional ceremony. I wish I had something like that on my wedding day. I tell you, if Jason offered me his strong hands…I would have melted!!! I promise to get the second part to you guys next week.
Nothing But a Birthday
I wasn’t sure about doing this post because I am so far behind on my blogging schedule that I celebrated my birthday two weeks ago and am only now able to blog about it. But, you know, I realised that I have been so busy blogging weddings and portraits and engagements that I have lost my way a little. Although this blog was always designed to be a showcase for Jason’s work – I also wanted it to “pull back the curtain” so to speak, to show you all a little about us, who we are and what we spend our non-working time doing. (The lack of non-working tyle posts is probably because we haven’t had much non-working time, but hey – who can complain a out that?) Therefore I promise that I will do a few more posts about food and fun – not just all work, work WORK! My birthday falls in between my mother’s birthday, Jason’s birthday and Mother’s Day so it is really just a two week long festive of eating and drinking. (Not so good for the waistline and needless to say I am now paying for it. Really, is there nothing worse than not being able to do up your jeans??) Jason loves a birthday celebration (as long as it’s not his own – he is a total birthday grinch!) and most of the time it is an over-the-top day of appointments and experiences and food. But this year I really just wanted to putter about, doing pretty much nothing. You see, even though we work together every day, we don’t actually get to spend much chilled out time together so sometimes it is just nice to do what most couples do, hang out aimlessly. Here is my day of nothing…
First stop – Pearl Cafe…I have spoken previously about my love of their cheesecake but there was none on offer so we went with something smaller…
Chocolate cherry slice. And yes, for breakfast – don’t judge me. It was seriously good. That and one of my presents from Jason…the ring not the slice!
Obligatory birthday shot. Moving on…
Right next door to Pearl Cafe is one of my favourite stores, Miss Mouse. They are actually moving now to an online store so I wanted to see what stock was left and say goodbye.
It was here that I found the perfect red nail polish – my all time favourite – MonSooner or Later by OPI.
We then walked down the road to the little second hand furniture stores in Woolloongabba. I really want a bigger sideboard for our living room so why not try our luck?
Jason doesn’t quite understand my love of West German pottery but I’m sure he’ll come around – eventually.
No joy with the sideboard I’m afraid but I was feeling a little hungry by this stage and Jason really wanted me to have cake (or, um, him to have cake) so we thought “let’s head over the James Street to Jocelyn Provisions for a touch more sugar”.
Both chocolate and…
And vanilla. I really am straining to get that sucker in aren’t I? And about now you are starting to understand why my jeans won’t fit. Thank goodness for stretch denim!
Taken while trying to walk off the calories just consumed.
I’m trying to find the perfect dress to my friend’s wedding this year so we quickly popped in to EP by Easton Pearson to have a look. I loved the straw on the ground.
Finally home to a homemade pizza dinner and a glass of pinot. All in all one of the best birthdays I’ve had yet. Now if I could only get Jason to enjoy his we could have one more day like this…
Gaya + Nishanthi Engagement Portrait
Jason and I were out on our daily walk with Crinkle and stumbled upon this beautiful, old tree, situated in a tiny park overlooking the city. Amazing that, after 6 years of living in our neighbourhood, this was the only time we have ever seen this tree and park. Sometimes it makes you think about all those things you have missed while looking for something else. Something else that you thought would make you happy but probably didn’t. It made me think about how this has likely happened to so many people, especially in their relationships. You just never know what kind of amazingness lies just around the corner, right in your neighbourhood, up a hill and under a big fig tree.
