REAL WEDDING: SCOTTIE + ROSALIE {A Win-Win Situation}

Their roots were in New Orleans, but fate had them meet in Houston. While Scottie already lived in Houston, Rosalie was only in town for a visit. They weren’t expecting to find true love, but love always finds people when they are not paying attention.

Five years after holding a long distance relationship, with Scottie visiting Rosalie every two weeks, Scottie proposed to Rosalie on the highest point of Hollywood, California. It was not surprise when Rosalie said “yes”!

The couple combined their Vietnamese heritage, love for New Orleans and desire for a French country setting to create their perfect wedding.

Starting out with a Vietnamese tea ceremony, the couple paid respect to their parents, families and ancestors and the groom’s family gave the bride’s family gifts as a form of a dowry in Rosalie’s parents’ home.

“This part was very important to us since we are the first generation to get married in America,” Rosalie says. “Our parents fled from the Vietnam Communist government in 1975 so it was imperative that we held on to any traditions that we still have.”

After the tea ceremony, they had a Catholic ceremony at Holy Name of Jesus Church.

When planning her wedding, Rosalie always dreamed of having an outdoor wedding. While it is difficult to have a Vietnamese food catered outdoors, Rosalie’s wedding planner made her dreams come.

“I told my wedding planner, Diem Le, my vision. She wasted no time in contacting The Plant Gallery to rent trees and ferns. She contacted the best in the floral business, Bella Blooms Floral, to capture this rustic theme and transformed Panda King into the French Country wedding that I dreamed of,” Rosalie says.

Overcoming a long distance relationship and falling more in love with each other each day, Rosalie and Scottie finally were able to begin their happily ever after.

“Nothing in life happens overnight. Our communication skills developed through the distance and the saying was absolutely true: Distance makes the heart grow fonder,” Rosalie says. “That everyone that we cared for, everyone that we loved, was under one roof celebrating with us, it is truly a feeling like no other.”

PHOTOGRAPHER: Marissa Lambert | VIDEOGRAPHER: Chad Dyle, Dyle Films | CEREMONY LOCATION: Holy Name of Jesus Church | OFFICIANT: Lich Nguyen | RECEPTION LOCATION: Panda King Banquet Hall | REHEARSAL DINNER: Mikimoto | BRIDAL GOWN: Maggie Sottero (Jade) from Misora Bridal Boutique | BRIDESMAIDS’ GOWNS: ASOS.com, Nordstrom, and Nordstrom Rack | GROOM/GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Allure from John’s Tuxedos | FLORSIT: Bella Blooms Floral | BAKERY: Chasing Wang | CEREMONY MUSIC: Alleluia Choir | TRANSPORTATION: Big Easy Limos | HAIR + MAKEUP: Cat Vo, AristoCat | WEDDING PLANNER: Diem Le | DECOR RENTALS + LIGHTING: Event Rentals | TREE + FERN RENTAL: The Plant Gallery | CANDLE DECOR: Firefly Ambiance | CATERERS: Panda King + Pink Berry (dessert) | RECEPTION ENTERTAIMENT: Jessica Hong, Christopher Turner (live painting), DJ Millhouse, ENVOG Photo Booth | JEWELER + FAVORS: Kendra Scott | INVITATIONS: KT Printing + Thanh Tram Printing