Modern Cambodian Wedding Inspiration

I love Lisa and Edgar's stylish and modern Cambodian wedding. Contemporary Khmer weddings are rare so the couple's avant-garde take on Khmer weddings is very refreshing. Coordinated by Masterpiece wedding and photography by the insanely talented Lindsey Tropf.

Beautiful Reception and Ceremony space for their outdoor western ceremony.

The personalized details on their wedding invites added a special touch

For more pictures and details about Lisa and Edgar's big day, click here and here.

A Cultural Affair

Is it me or is there a lack of diversity on wedding websites? There doesn't seem to be too many inspiration boards or weddings that celebrate multi-ethnicity, culture and global style for the modern bride. I mean who doesn't love the sensual and robust colors of a Mexican wedding, the tranquil elements of a Zen inspired Japanese ceremony, and the unique traditions of a South African wedding? I know I'm not the only bride out there who craves color and ethnic flavor. And what I really want to see is more articles dedicated to planning a wedding that blends traditions in original ways to personalize the day. I mean it is hard enough to plan a wedding with one set of traditions, imagine having to incorporate two sets? So it would be wonderful to get more insight into the whole planning process because as an Asian American bride, more specifically Cambodian-Chinese, I find it challenging to plan a wedding when I have certain questions about wording my bi-lingual invites or need help finding specialty vendors. I also hope wedding websites like Style Me Pretty will feature more global inspiration. Maybe tread away from the land of Laura Ashley and take a trip to Culture Planet.

Family Style

Long before family style receptions became a trend. This type of marriage between a sit down dinner and buffet was common in Asian weddings. It is still the most popular choice for couples who want to keep with custom. Dishes served at the wedding usually have special symbolisms like happiness, fertility and longevity. The number of courses served is also significant. At Chinese wedding banquets eight dishes are served not including the dessert. In Chinese, the word “eight” sounds like “good luck.” Cambodian weddings serve seven-twelve dishes including dessert. Dishes like fried rice, shark fin soup, crispy fish in hunan sauce and roast duck are some favorite entrees. Traditional desserts like fresh fruit, bite size desserts or tapioca pudding with coconut are real sweet treats for the guests.

Family Style meals are appealing for another reason too. They are less expensive than a formal 3 course sit down dinner. It's great for both an indoor or outdoor reception. The set-up exudes a very relaxed and casual ambiance where guests can feel free to carry on a conversation over food. This helps set a friendly mood among strangers, allowing guests to socialize as though they are really partaking of a warm and hearty family dinner. It makes the reception look welcoming and intimate. The idea is to make them feel like they are just at home enjoying a casual yet elegant meal with friends or relatives.

Escort Cards

My love for origami is simple. You can take an ordinary piece of paper and turn it into your vision of extraordinary. As one of my favorite past times, I knew I had to incorporate origami into my wedding. Well ta da! Origami crane escort cards! Unlike the above inspiration pictures, I will string mine with clear thread and attach a crystal at the bottom. They will be hung on a manzanita tree. The new issue of Brides has a better picture of my version of origami crane escorts. I will DIY the manzanita tree at a later time and post the results up for interested brides.

Favor Ideas: Lucky Bamboo

Known for centuries as Lucky Bamboo, the plant is not a bamboo at all (botanical name: Dracaena) but a resilient member of the lily family that grows in the dark, tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia and Africa. Lucky Bamboo is very popular especially in Asian households. These relatively inexpensive plants are easy to care for and add to the Asian theme wedding. Priced at $2.50 it is very budget friendly.