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A few weeks ago I got the opportunity to do a bridal session of Hao and Joy, an adorable couple from Singapore.  In June they will be going back to Singapore for their wedding ceremony at a church followed by a lunch reception where they will have a traditional Chinese tea ceremony.  I asked Hao if he would tell me more about it.  Wikipedia explains it well:

In the traditional Chinese marriage ceremony, both the bride and groom kneel in front of their parents and serve them tea. That is a way to express their gratitude. In front of their parents, it is a practice for the married couple to say, “Thanks for bringing us up. Now we are getting married. We owe it all to you.” The parents will usually drink a small portion of the tea and then give them a red envelope, which symbolizes good luck. Another variance is for the to-be daughter-in-law to serve tea to her to-be parents-in-law, symbolizing that she is to become a part of the latter’s family.

Too bad I can’t go along to Singapore and photograph the ceremonies!  But since I can’t, I am satisfied because it was an honor that I got to spend an afternoon with Joy and Hao and all of Joy’s very sweet and helpful friends.  (Thank you, friends!) We had a ton of fun here on the University of Illinois campus. Huge thanks also goes out to Micah, who assisted me for the day.  Micah, you did great and I look forward to future events that we do together.

Once Joy and Hao are back from Singapore, they will reside in Boston.  Joy just got her PhD in Biochemistry and Hao is a doctoral student in Chemistry at Harvard.  Doctors!  What an accomplishment for both!

All my best to you, Joy and Hao!  I have a feeling you are on your way for an adventurous ride together!

Holly Smith, fellow photographer in Champaign, contacted me a few months ago about doing a "Mr. and Mrs. Session" for her and her husband.  I was ecstatic because 1) she is a photographer and SHE picked ME to photograph her and 2) as it turned out, I went to grade school with her husband.  What fun!  So after our date kept getting rescheduled because of bad weather, we finally got a good day in May and it was soooo much fun!!  I hope to do more of these sort of sessions.  All the pressure, stress and hecticness is off both the bride and groom, and the photographer.  I absolutely totally recommend doing one of these with me (or whomever, but of course I hope me, hehe!).  Here are some of my personal faves.    Enjoy!