Real Wedding | Dingdi + Minh | August 4, 2023

Dingdi and Minh tied the knot in a breathtaking Summer ceremony at The Laurel. Join us in reliving the magic of their special day, complete with all the stunning details, including not one, not two, but three gorgeous wedding dresses!

We met in the summer of 2017 working at an aerospace company. From the day I saw her, I knew I had to talk to her. After a few weeks of getting to know each other, I had an opportunity to ask Dingdi out. Our first date was shopping for a car as Dingdi needed a new car after her accident. I offered to take her to look to a few dealerships and she took me up on it. And the rest is history.

Getting ready there at the venue was great. The rooms were very spacious and had everything we needed to get ready in comfort. The rooms were beautifully decorated and had comfortable seating and temperature. There were various drinks including champagne ready for us to drink in case we were thirsty and to celebrate.

Dingdi: Our first look and first dance were my favorite moments of the day. Even now, thinking about the moment I saw Minh for the first time on the day of still gives me butterflies. Our first dance was the moment I forgot about the rest of the world and all I knew was Minh smiling at me, and I felt like I was on cloud nine.

Minh: Seeing Dingdi walk down the aisle in the chapel is an image that has stuck with me. The decorated chapel, the music, and our families being there made it an unforgettable moment. Our first dance in the reception hall is another moment that stands out to me, it was like we were our own world.

We wanted a wedding that was intimate, rustic, with greenery. We were hoping to find a venue that had a chapel and reception hall in one venue. We also wanted a venue that was central to DFW. Obviously, we were also looking for a location that is beautiful and unique. The Laurel checked all those boxes.

We loved taking pictures out in the chapel and out on the lawn. The chapel was just gorgeous and made such a great location. The lawn and flowers were well kept and very green despite the Texas heat.

Looking back, what words would you use to describe the day?

Elegant, Magical, Intimate.

Minh designed all the stationery for the wedding from the signage to the menus. We love ice cream and having the vendor “Melt Ice Cream” serving scooped on site was a fun add on. For our wedding favors, we picked chocolates from “Kate Weiser” as it was where we went to for dessert on our first date.

We loved the hors d'oeuvres, especially the brisket cones and the pork belly. The main courses, teriyaki chicken and miso glazed salmon, were exactly how we wanted. Our custom mocktails were so unique and beautifully reflected our personality. All our guests said they really enjoyed the food, both appetizers and the main dishes. Many of them said they had more than one plate. They also really enjoyed the string quartet (Forte Strings) for our ceremony.

Our first dance was magical. When the reception lights were dimmed and the music started, the candles flickered in the back like stars, it was like we were in our own world. We are so grateful to have had a team that could make that happen.

The Laurel definitely was instrumental in making our wedding day possible. The catering and the staff, especially London, were key to that day. Having London and our wedding planner, Anna Williams, took a weight off our shoulders. Our florist, Sage Fine Flowers decorated the venue beautifully. And our photographers “Two Pair”, and videographer “Epic Photos and Films” captured the day perfectly. Our makeup artist, Mary Vu played a huge role in making Dingdi feel so confident and look so elegant!

Don’t worry about everything going perfectly. Enjoy the planning process and don’t let it stress you out. The wedding day will go by so fast so make sure you enjoy every single second of it.
Also, when looking for vendors, try to communicate with them in person or at least on the phone rather than just emailing them. Picking the vendors that you connect well with will make a huge difference in the planning process which is key to a successful execution for the day of.