Vietnamese Wedding, Sacramento, CA, 1989
Item Description
After a ceremonial greeting by two families and the giving of jewelry to Le Anh, the bride, the newlyweds pose next to the bride's family altar. The roast pig will go to the groom's house and next morning if Hung should be dissatisfied with his bride he will send back one ear.
Katrina Thomas's notes: Under a special act of Congress, refugees from Vietnam were first admitted to the U.S. after the fall of Saigon in April 1975. They included ethnic Chinese, Eurasians and Amerasians born there, most of whom are Christian. Vietnamese have settled largely in Texas, and in California, the state in which I photograph them. Weddings start at the bride's house with a formal introduction of the two families, followed by bestowing jewelry on her by the bridegroom's family, and progress to the bridegroom's house to honor his family. In their home country, their own customs were influenced previously by French culture so that couples here adapt rapidly to American ways. The ethnic nuptial rite has been superseded by the Christian rite or a Buddhist blessing.
Photographer's categories: Prenuptial rite , Documentation , Newlyweds , Welcome , Sharing food , Gifts , Bridal jewelry , Traditional apparel , Bride's home , Altar