Le Gia Tien: the Vietnamese ceremony at home

The Vietnamese wedding begins at home. The groom's family arrives in procession carrying red lacquer boxes of gifts, and is received at the door by the bride's family before anyone approaches the ancestral altar.

Gift boxes come in odd numbers, typically five, seven, or nine, carried by unmarried young relatives in matching ao dai. Contents traditionally include betel leaves and areca nut, tea, wine, a roast pig, fruit, and a cake.

The bride does not appear at the door. She is brought out by her mother after the families exchange greetings, which is why the first ten minutes of photography belong at the doorway, not in the bedroom.

At the altar, the couple lights incense and reports the marriage to the ancestors, then serves tea to parents and elders and receives jewelry and envelopes in return.

Ao dai choices have loosened. Brides wear red with a khan dong headpiece, ivory embroidered silk, or a modern cut in a family color. Order at least four months out if you are commissioning.

Timing note: the home ceremony almost always runs long, and it is usually scheduled at an auspicious hour chosen by an elder. Build a real buffer before the venue call time rather than trimming the ritual.