june 18, 2022

When Madeline reached out to us eighteen months before her wedding and described her culture and wedding vision, our hearts immediately exploded with excitement. We knew her wedding journey would be one to remember forever, and it certainly was! Never having shot a traditional Vietnamese wedding before, Madeline graciously trusted that we would not only learn about her culture, but photograph her wedding in a way that would give honor to her culture. Between our teacher in Madeline, coordination from Caroline Ply Events and our willingness to learn, we all worked together to create and capture the most gorgeous summer wedding at the US Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, Arkansas. 

bridals

Madeline chose to shoot her bridals at the Arkansas State Capitol building, since it would provide a clean, elegant and architectural look, matching the overall aesthetic of her wedding. We absolutely loved her traditional Vietnamese wedding dress, particularly the way the red popped against the white of the interior!

tea ceremony

The first major event of the wedding day was the traditional tea ceremony. All of Madeline and Jhade's family gathered together at Madeline's parents' home to partake in the festivities. Jhade and his family walked to her parents' home bearing gifts, and once the gifts were received by the Madeline's family, her parents officially accepted Jhade's request of Madeline's hand in marriage. The couple would then serve tea to each family member in attendance, and receive gifts from each household.

the wedding

Madeline and Jhade's wedding day couldn't have been a more perfect mixture of culture, timeless elements and modern flare! Their palette of black, white, gold and green was the perfect color story for encapsulating a classic feel, while still incorporating bright cultural colors, like Madeline's traditional bright red dress. The simple, yet stunning, architecture and design of the reception venue not only provided a beautiful canvas for the many details, but contributed to the overall aesthetic of the day so wonderfully. The entire back wall of the venue is glass, which allowed the dreamy summer sunset to become the backdrop of Madeline and Jhade's cake cutting. Immediately after cutting the cake, these two spun into their beautifully choreographed dance, which felt like something from a classic romance film. Our favorite event of the entire day occurred at the reception, when the newlyweds ran from table to table greeting guests and playing the game each table had created for the couple. Each table presented a gift for the couple, but the only way to receive the gift was to play the game; no matter how silly it might have been! Madeline and Jhade impressed us from the beginning of our relationship, not for their attention to detail and their standard of excellence, but because of their genuine humility and desire to serve and honor others. 

words from madeline

"C&E were everything that I wanted in wedding photographers and more. Something that stood out to me was how diverse their portfolio is. They have experience with all types of couples, backgrounds and cultures. I love how they are detail oriented, consistent, and professional. C&E are creative yet traditional, and they took the most timeless pictures on our wedding day. I put a lot of thought into details, and to have a photography team that puts in equally enough effort to capture it all was amazing. Everything from the ceremonies to the reception, all the way to how my hair was tucked or how my bow was flipped, etc. Their style is something that meshed and clicked with me from the beginning. C&E's photography tells a romantic and elegant story that uses light and color, and these images will always be "in style". They are great coaches - I appreciated how they take the time to actually show you how they want you to pose, and then encourage you during the session. This made me feel more comfortable in front of the camera and I felt like we were just having fun. Pictures last forever and I am so thankful that we had C&E to capture our special day." 

words from jhade

"Cameron and Elizabeth to me are a dynamic duo in photography. Their attention to detail and ability to make you feel confident within sessions helped bring out me and my wife's best self in our engagement and wedding pictures. Their instructions and guidance during sessions made it feel like I was naturally posing, which I struggled with before meeting them. I am thankful for Cameron and Elizabeth and would highly recommend them for couples looking to capture their special moments."

vendors

Photography / Cameron and Elizabeth Photography (@cameronandelizabeth)
Videography / NP Production 
Coordinator / Caroline Ply Events (@carolineplyevents)
Reception Venue / U.S. Marshals Museum 
Ceremony Venue / St Pauls United Methodist Church
Florals / L Designs (@ldesignsbylisa)
Stationery / Minted (@minted)
Calligraphy / Yours Truly by Diana 
Hair / Kay Chanthavong (@kayhairandmakeup)
MUA / Madison Domenick (makeupwith_madz)
Rentals / Eventology (@eventology)
Dancefloor / Dancenhance Entertainment (@dancenhance)
DJ / Brock Entertainment (@brockentertainment)
Photobooth / BrightBooths (@brightboothsphotobooth)
Bar Service / we.r.the.bomb.tnt (@we.r.the.bomb.tnt)
Catering / Asian Cuisine 
Gown / Unveiled Bridal Collection (@unveiledlittlerock)
Reception Gown / Always & Forever (@alwaysforevergirl)
Bridesmaids Dresses / David's Bridal
Tuxedos / THE BLACK TUX
Rings / Blakeman's Fine Jewelry, Diamonds Direct