Lena and Tan first crossed paths in Austin, Texas when a mutual friend invited him to join a boat day on Lake Travis. Tan already planned to be in town for a car show that weekend, but he had no idea that a spontaneous weekend trip would lead him to meeting his future wife. When Lena met Tan, the first thing she noticed was his fully modded 4Runner and she immediately asked about his outdoor adventures. Before everyone parted ways, Tan managed to get her phone number by offering to send a video from the night before, and from that moment on, the rest was history. Four years later, their relationship has been filled with laughter, travel, and a shared love for national parks, camping, cooking at home, and learning new hobbies together like climbing, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Their Dallas wedding at Hall of Lights, captured by Jamie Park Photo and planned with the help of Michelle Phu Events, reflected everything that the couple loves and everything that makes them who they are.
Color palette: burgundy & sage
Guests received formal invitations in burgundy and sage complete with a velvet bow.
Moody florals: burgundy bouquet
Lena carried a dripping burgundy bouquet by Iam Styling USA accented with luxe deep pink and white orchids.
On trend: textured boutonnieres
Instead of opting for a more traditional single flower boutonniere, Tan and his groomsmen wore textured, dripping boutonnieres in green and burgundy to match the bouquets.
Silk & sage bridesmaid dresses
The bridesmaids wore sage green floor-length gowns in a variety of styles.
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Unique floral detail: grasses
The ceremony arrangements were equally as bold as the bouquets with deep burgundy tropical flowers set amidst carefully selected grasses and accented with deep purple cala lilies.
Wedding motif: NOLA!
Because Lena is from New Orleans, the design incorporated subtle and meaningful NOLA elements. Guests were greeted with playful touches like a bar sign that read “Let Us Bayou a Drink.” The menu featured New Orleans inspired favorites including a beignet bus, along with Asian influenced dishes like crawfish fried rice to honor their heritage. Since they both love the outdoors, organic floral pieces were intentionally used to bring nature indoors, creating a warm, textured, and inviting space.
The day is in the details
The colors, matchbooks, florals, textures, and silhouettes all came to life with beautiful pinspot lighting that enhanced each thoughtful detail, while the placement of furniture and soft draping added depth and dimension, making the space feel truly one of a kind.
Dinner service: food stations
Dinner service was one of the most memorable parts of the evening. Rather than a traditional seated dinner, the couple opted for thoughtfully curated food stations that felt interactive and personal. Guests enjoyed a meat carving station, a pasta station, and a fried rice station, along with a plated soup course. To keep everyone comfortable while waiting their turn to visit each station, passed hors d\’oeuvres circulated throughout the room, adding a fun and elevated touch.
An unexpected jiu-jitsu moment
And of course, the night would not have been complete without a playful Jiu-Jitsu moment on the dance floor, a perfect nod to one of their shared passions.
After-the-fact advice from the couple
“Enjoy the little moments. Make time to thank everyone who made your day special and effortless. It goes by quickly and it is okay to cry because those emotions validate that you made the right choices. Take a few minutes alone with your partner to appreciate every detail and look around the room at your favorite people. Make them feel seen and loved.”
