The Tea Ceremony

A short explanation

The Tea Ceremony

As part of our wedding celebration, we're honoring a Vietnamese tradition called lễ gia tiên — a tea ceremony that has marked the joining of two families for generations. At its heart, it's a ceremony of gratitude: a formal moment for a couple to give thanks to the family members who raised them, and for two families to come together as one.

Our ceremony will take place at the venue, where both families and all of our guests are invited to gather. To open, nine representatives from each side of our family will step forward and exchange symbolic gifts with one another — a gesture that represents the two families extending goodwill and welcoming one another before the couple's union.

We'll then bow together before a shared altar, honoring both sides of our family tree and asking for the blessing of those who came before us. This altar brings our two families' ancestors together in one place, a quiet nod to the fact that, from this day forward, our histories are intertwined.

The heart of the ceremony comes next: kneeling together, we'll offer tea to our parents and grandparents, one by one, as a gesture of respect and thanks for everything they've given us throughout our lives. In return, our elders will bless us with red envelopes, known as lì xì — a wish for good fortune and prosperity as we begin our life together.

Because this is a destination wedding with a smaller, close-knit guest list, we wanted to open this tradition to everyone who's traveled to celebrate with us, rather than keeping it just among close family. It felt right that a ceremony about gratitude and togetherness should include everyone who means so much to us.

Following the tea ceremony, we'll transition into a more traditional western rehearsal dinner, continuing the celebration into the evening.