Real Bride: Thien & Adam

OUR STORY 

Couple’s names:

Adam Lush & Thien Nguyen

Wedding date:

18 September 2021

Our engagement story:

We didn’t have a big engagement. I’m a very private person, and Adam knows I really like low-key things. It was right before Christmas, and I was in the house cooking and doing the usual house chores. Adam came up the stairs, had me move towards the living room where our tree was and proposed. Of course I said yes!

Our love story:

Adam’s brother is married to my sister and we met at their wedding in 2013. We hit it off right away and started dating long distance. Within in a year, Adam moved down to DC with me and we bought a house. A few years later here we are, married and living in the second home that we own. 

 

FASHION NOTES 

Bride's wedding outfit: 

Monique top & Delia skirt

What it means to be a Catherine Deane Bride: 

I felt so special in the gown, like a princess! I think it means being a trendy, yet very classy bride, who’s willing to be a little adventurous. 

Falling in love with my Catherine Deane wedding gown:

I love the two-piece wedding gown, I saw the pearl details and scalloped bottom on the Monique top and immediately fell in love with it. The Delia skirt was simply gorgeous with so much movement and flow. I felt like I step out of the Art Deco period in history, a character from the Great Gatsby. 

  

WEDDING DETAILS 

Our wedding venue:

We had the wedding at the historic Carlyle House in Old Town Alexandria. The house is a Georgian-style home and used to be a Union hospital for wounded soldiers during the Civil War. Because we had a micro wedding, Carrie, our wedding photographer, spent most of the time taking pictures of the ceremony and our families. 

We flew to Cannon Beach Oregon two days later to have our wedding portraits taken by the renowned photographer Erich McVey. He shoots mostly on film and I’m a huge admirer of his work. Cannon Beach has so many different scenes all in one place. As you can see from the pictures there are beaches, dunes, rock structures, and forests. We felt that backdrop really represented us as a couple because we are an outdoorsy adventurous couple who loves to travel. 

Our wedding style 

Our wedding style was very minimalist, but leaned towards the Art deco style, with a touch of fall in the florals. 

Our photographer 

We had two wedding photographers! Carrie is a Charlottesville Virginia photographer, she shoots both film and digital images. She took photos of our micro ceremony. Erich McVey is a wedding photographer that shoots on film.

Our honeymoon destination 

For our honeymoon, we travelled to Kauai, Hawaii for a week. We spent the time hiking, biking, and sailing. We had so much fun! The island was gorgeous, lush, and full of greenery. 

My most memorable moment: 

The most memorable moment was when Adam read his vows. They were so honest and heartfelt, he had the family laughing and crying all at the same time. 

The funniest moments of the day: 

One of the funniest moments was when my nephews (4 and 2 years old) decided to walk up the aisle and present the rings when they felt like it. It wasn’t time for it, but we adjusted and did the ring exchange shortly after they walked up. 

 

VENDOR LOVING 

Wedding Outfit: Monique top & Delia skirt 

Wedding Venue: The Carlyle House and Cannon Beach, Oregon

Photographer: Carrie Coleman and Eric McVey 

Florist: The Enchanted Florist and Artistic Flowers  

MUAH artist: Virginia: Gina Pham and Anny Chow Bridal & Andy Cane 

Groom's suit: Gibson London 

Wedding rings: Cartier and Brilliant Earth