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\nWhen Julie Nguyen toured the medical school she had just been accepted to in April 2016, she wasn\u2019t expecting to find her person<\/a> in one fell swoop. Julie decided to visit her childhood best friend who attended the institution and came across another student, Miguel Joaquin. \u201cWe met that night, and the rest is, as they say, history<\/a>,\u201d the couple shares.\n<\/p>\n \nEight months later, the duo went on their first date<\/a> to watch a local Michigan theater\u2019s production of Beauty and the Beast<\/em> and sip on cocktails<\/a> at a live jazz lounge. At the cocktail lounge, the pair ended up sitting next to another couple who was celebrating their anniversary<\/a>. \u201c[Julie and I] talked the night away. At the end, they asked how long we had been married and were very surprised to hear we were currently on our first date. We were so happy to share it with them,\u201d Miguel recalls. \u201cWhile walking Julie home, we stopped, and I pretty much professed how perfect the night was and how we should be boyfriend<\/a> and girlfriend.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nAfter two-and-a-half years of dating<\/a>, the duo planned a \u201ctour de Miguel\u201d in honor of the many places Miguel lived while growing up. \u201cI thought proposing<\/a> at the end of the tour would be the perfect plan,\u201d Miguel says. \u201cI would be able to take Julie through my life and tell the numerous stories that fill your head once you experience the nostalgia of your childhood.\u201d The final destination<\/a> was the same spot where Miguel had asked Julie to be his girlfriend<\/a> a few years before. It was a full-circle moment.\n<\/p>\n \nSince the couple started planning their wedding during the pandemic<\/a>, they experienced a lot of uncertainty. At the same time, they were both working in residency, so they struggled to find the time and energy to sufficiently map out the details of their big day. Thanks to their wedding planner, Bryan Finocchio of 33 Munroe<\/a>, they were able to persevere. \u201cWe linked up with Bryan right at the start of the planning process and really just followed his lead on everything,\u201d the couple notes. \u201cWe shared our vision<\/a> with him, and it was essentially a year of email<\/a> chains and phone calls building our perfect weekend together.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nOn August 21, 2022, Julie and Miguel swapped vows in an intimate ceremony with just 20 guests at an Airbnb<\/a> in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. \u201cWe are both extremely family-oriented people and just wanted a weekend that focused on family<\/a> and love without all the frills and stress that can sometimes accompany a big wedding,\u201d the couple explains. Below are the stunning details of their Vietnamese tea ceremony and Western wedding, planned by 33 Munroe<\/a> and photographed by Heather Jowett<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> \nThe couple planned a wedding weekend<\/a> that infused elements of Julie\u2019s Vietnamese heritage, Miguel\u2019s Dominican background, and Western culture. They established their three-day schedule and set the tone of their classic black-and-white<\/a> color palette with an itinerary, which featured a minimalist design and an illustration of their wooded setting.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> \nThe duo kicked off the weekend with a Vietnamese tea ceremony<\/a> as a nod to Julie\u2019s culture. The ritual consisted of lighting<\/a> candles and serving their parents tea as a sign of respect and gratitude. The altar<\/a> exhibited traditional d\u00e9cor painted in red hues, and also featured an unexpected pop of pink, per the bride\u2019s request.\n<\/p>\n Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> \nThe bride and groom both wore custom-made attire for the tea ceremony<\/a>. Julie sported a red long-sleeve tulle<\/a> gown with gold embroidery, pearl-studded heels<\/a>, and a red hat. Miguel donned a navy blue garment covered in colorful circular patterns.\n<\/p>\n Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> \nAfter the Vietnamese ceremony, the pair celebrated over dinner on the deck outside of their Airbnb<\/a> venue with their loved ones. The duo and their guests sat on ghost chairs at one long wooden table, which they had lined with white votive candles<\/a> and red single-stem flowers in bud vases. Lucite<\/a> chargers, black napkins, and black flatware comprised the understated place settings<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> \nFor her special day, Julie wore her hair down in loose curls and settled on a natural makeup look<\/a>. \u201cI essentially just wanted to look like an elevated version of myself,\u201d the bride illustrates. She finished off her beauty prep with a French manicure and a spritz of Chanel Coco Mademoiselle<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> \nJulie stunned in a long-sleeve<\/a> crepe trumpet dress with a bateau neckline and a cowl back. After trying on countless wedding dresses during back-to-back appointments<\/a> and not finding anything she loved, Julie felt defeated. At her last appointment of the day, she found this dress<\/a>. How did she know it was the one? \u201cMy dad started crying the moment I came out in it,\u201d she remembers. The bride accessorized with diamond and pearl drop earrings from BHLDN<\/a>, a gold ring from her parents, and a cathedral-length veil.\n<\/p>\n Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> \nMiguel looked dapper in all black for the big day. He rocked a black Vera Wang<\/a> tuxedo from Men\u2019s Wearhouse<\/a>, a black dress shirt, and a black bow tie. He paired his ensemble with a gold Cuban link chain that Julie gave him as a wedding gift.\n<\/p>\n Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> \nThe duo swapped vows in front of a round arbor<\/a> adorned with white blooms and greenery<\/a>. Ghost chairs were scattered across the lawn and faced the altar.\n<\/p>\n Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> \nJulie and her father walked down the aisle<\/a> while a live string trio played \u201cCan\u2019t Help Falling in Love\u201d by Elvis Presley. A bouquet of white hydrangea<\/a>, orchids, ranunculus, and dahlia paired with silver dollar eucalyptus and Italian ruscus also accompanied her procession.\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> \nThe bride and groom personalized their ceremony by writing their own vows<\/a>. They also selected a special reading, \u201cOn Marriage\u201d by Kahlil Gibran.\n<\/p>\n Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> \nThe happy couple exited the ceremony to their string trio\u2019s rendition of \u201cHoly\u201d by Justin Bieber<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> \nAfter the ceremony, the newlyweds captured the moment by snapping portraits<\/a> in the nearby forest.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> We wanted a place that was intimate and felt like home that we could share with our families for the entire weekend.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> \nFor reception number two, the pair went back to their Airbnb’s<\/a> deck. \u201cWe wanted a place that was intimate and felt like home<\/a> that we could share with our families for the entire weekend,\u201d they say of their venue. They hosted their celebratory dinner at another banquet table, but this time, they had it wrapped in white linens<\/a>. A runner of white votive candles and floral arrangements of hydrangea, ranunculus, sweet pea, and roses captured a similar minimalist<\/a> aesthetic.\n<\/p>\n Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> \nEach place setting<\/a> had black napkins tucked underneath acrylic chargers, which were affixed with simple menu cards and a white orchid<\/a>. Black flatware bordered the setup.\n<\/p>\n Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> \nThe couple served tapas with local ingredients for their special meal. \u201cWe had the caterer completely surprise us with the menu<\/a>,\u201d they say. \u201cWe just shared our vision with her that we wanted multiple small plate courses, and she took it from there.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> \nAfter dinner, the couple listened to speeches<\/a> from their friends and family. They even shared a few words with their guests.\n<\/p>\n Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> \nJulie and Miguel swayed to \u201cStay With You\u201d by John Legend for their first dance<\/a> as newlyweds.\n<\/p>\n Photo by Heather Jowett<\/a><\/p>\n <\/span> \nThe couple spent the rest of the evening having a dance<\/a> party full of salsa and merengue with their loved ones. They even finished off the evening with a dip in the pool. Looking back on their big day, Julie and Miguel couldn\u2019t have imagined anything more picture-perfect. Even though planning a wedding was stressful, the duo overcame every difficulty by leaning on one another. \u201cTry to communicate<\/a> with your partner as much as possible,\u201d they share. \u201cBeing committed to tackling the wedding planning<\/a> process together, no matter how big or small the issue, will go a long way.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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