A Springtimeless Classic Modern wedding theme.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
We are Nathan and Trâm, a young Vietnamese couple building our life in tech in the San Francisco Bay Area. Nathan is a graphic designer turned software engineer with a DJ heart, while Trâm dives deep into payroll data analysis. One of us sees structure, the other sees creativity—we’re opposites that just click. Same roots, different branches. We don’t just work together, we balance each other out.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
We met at Nathan’s housewarming party and accidentally paired up in the Catan board game. From settling lands on a board to building a life together—same team, bigger game.
The first impression is on a frame. Trâm had been searching for the perfect travel map frame but couldn’t find one—until I saw Nathan’s MOMA Magic Map frame on the first night we met. “Hey, I have been looking for this”, – Trâm thought.
When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?
Nathan drove us to a viewpoint of the Golden Gate Bridge on one of our first dates, enjoying the night. We were just vibing, asking random questions to get to know each other, and we realized we were filling in each other’s answers since we shared the same favorite things and perspectives.
Our wedding was celebrated at Golden Gate Club, with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge to celebrate the night
Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. (theme, key styling elements, florals, colour palettes etc.).
A Springtimeless Classic Modern wedding theme.
The wedding is like a mini wild garden in the middle of a big city. Like a first step into the spring season, remind everyone of the meaning of the Vietnamese Tet holiday spirit: a pause in nature to admire and a pause in the rush of hustling in a big city, with quality time with family + friends. We’re trying to make a timeless wedding. Therefore, minimalistic and classic details were chosen. As memories stay forever, we prioritize things that our family members can make to create moments among our family and friends. The wedding invitation card was designed by the groom. Pre-wedding photoshoots were by the bride’s dad and our best friend. The groom’s sister makes the dresses for the bridesmaids. Our good friends also play DJ dance sessions and an acoustic music band.
What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).
It’s a combination of all details to bring a spring modern classic wedding spirit: wedding invitations, fonts, favors, signature cocktails, cake, and especially florals. The grass and floral arrangements are designed to be understated yet sophisticated, with small, simple arrangements placed in small glass vases, and are purposefully minimalistic to align with the overall theme of natural beauty and elegance. Main Color Theme: Olive Green, Lemon Sorbet, 5% Blush, 5% Light Purple. Combining a serene and romantic atmosphere that is deeply rooted in nature with a focus on minimalist elegance. Daisy represents a signal of spring when stepping into a forest, Pennycress represents a wild plant, Calla Lily is a touch of modernity with its tall shape, and Lily of the Valley bridal bouquet, which has been used in British royal weddings over time, represents loyalty and faithfulness.
What did you enjoy most about the planning process and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?
We bought a 2-year calendar frame to note all of our wedding activities schedule, not only to support our wedding planning but also to record our wedding planning journey. We try to accommodate all wedding activities with our family members and friends. It’s great looking at the frame and remembering the moments with each person as we were getting ready for the big day. We want to enjoy not only the wedding date but also the whole planning journey.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?
The ceremony outfits are a mix of classic and modern. The bride’s gown has a square neckline and mermaid shape, combining timeless elegance with a modern touch. Pair it with white funky pumps from Loewe, known for their famous leather and stylish vibe. The groom goes for an Acne Studios suit, black design with a wide cut, going with a pair of Prada classic loafers, giving a modern twist on a classic look. It’s the kind of combo that’ll still look fine 30 years from now.
For the reception party, we both wore pieces by Vietnamese designers. The groom got a suit from Friset Studios with a bold, funky cut, while the bride wore a silk dress with butterfly wing details by Nguyen Hoang Tu, who is famous for his sophisticated and simple design.
What was one, or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).
For our two-day celebration, we focused on crafting a seamless timeline and ensuring clear communication with everyone involved. By determining which events had fixed or flexible timings and identifying potential risks in advance, we were able to build a solid plan. Staying connected with our wedding coordinator, photographer, and DJ/MC played a key role in bringing our vision to life. Their proactive communication helped us keep everything on track, ensuring the event unfolded as smoothly as we had hoped.
Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?
One of the most memorable aspects of our wedding was having friends and family from all over the world make the journey to celebrate with us, especially having the bride’s family travel all the way from Vietnam to join us on our special day. For many, it was their first time visiting the U.S, and they had the opportunity to reconnect with relatives they hadn’t seen in over a decade. While managing family accommodations and wedding preparations at the same time was undeniably stressful, it turned out to be one of the best decisions we made, creating unforgettable memories not just for us but for everyone involved.
A particularly heartwarming moment came when three of my nephews took on the role of ring bearers, with my youngest nephew, Allen, a 2-year-old boy, stealing the show. To ensure he made it down the aisle with the ring, Nathan secretly tucked a small lollipop in his pocket as an attraction for him. But when the time came, the young man had other plans—he decided to join the flower girls instead, leaving his two brothers to walk down the aisle with the rings. In the end, it all came together beautifully. Allen, dressed in a crisp white suit matching the flower girls, looked adorable, and his brothers, equally charming in their matching outfits. It looks like it had been planned, but it wasn’t.
BRIDE Trâm Bui, @adabuii GROOM Nathan Pham, @nathanpham CEREMONY LOCATION Mission Santa Clara de Asís RECEPTION LOCATION The Golden Gate Club at the Presidio PHOTOGRAPHER ViVo Photography, @vivophotography28 STYLIST By the Bride PLANNER Kaitlyn of Wedgewood Golden Gate Club, @wedgewood.goldengateclub FLORIST Angella Floral Design, @angellafloraldesign ENTERTAINMENT Co Band SF, @cobandsf CATERING Wedgewood Golden Gate Club, @wedgewood.goldengateclub CAKE Mazzetti’s Bakery, @mazzettis_bakery STATIONERY & SIGNAGE By the couple RINGS Yadav Diamonds & Jewelry, @yadavjewelry BRIDE’S CEREMONY GOWN Esme by Anne Barge, @annebarge via Kinsley Couture Bridal, @kinsleycouturebridal BRIDE’S CEREMONY SHOES Pump – Loewe, @loewe BRIDE’S CEREMONY BOUQUET Lily of the Valley – Angella Floral Design, @angellafloraldesign BRIDE’S RECEPTION GOWN Purity by Nguyen Hoang Tu, @nguyenhoangtuofficial BRIDE’S RECEPTION SHOES Pump & Boots – Loewe, @loewe BRIDE’S RECEPTION FUR JACKET Danielle Guizio, @danielleguizio BRIDE’S RECEPTION BOUQUET Calla Lillies – Angella Floral Design, @angellafloraldesign BRIDE’S RECEPTION ACCESSORIES Sunglasses – Maison Margiela, @maisonmargiela x Gentle Monster, @gentlemonster HAIR & MAKEUP Chien & Buffle, @chienbufflemakeup GROOM’S CEREMONY SUIT Acne Studios, @acnestudios GROOM’S CEREMONY SHOES Rick Owens, @rickowensonline GROOM’S CEREMONY ACCESSORIES Belt – Lord John Grey, @lordjohngrey_official GROOM’S RECEPTION SUIT Friset Studios, @frisetstudios GROOM’S RECEPTION SHOES Chocolate Brushed Leather Loafers – Prada, @prada GROOM’S RECEPTION ACCESSORIES Necklace – Justine Clenquet, @justineclenquet; Belt – Dior, @dior; Sunglasses – Maison Margiela, @maisonmargiela x Gentle Monster, @gentlemonster GROOM’S HAIR & MAKEUP Chien & Buffle, @chienbufflemakeup BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES Made by the Groom’s sister
