his and hers
your and mine... ours

Isn’t the blending of “two” into “one” what getting married is all about? When Victoria Wang and Ben Schroeder set about planning their January wedding in Tucson, honoring the backgrounds of both partners was what made the celebration unique.

As a Chinese American, Victoria wanted to incorporate as many Chinese traditions into the wedding as possible. The couple selected a unifying motif for their invitation, menu and favors. Appropriately, they chose the Chinese double happiness character, thusly named because each half is the standard character for happiness. “It also represents the wish for the newlyweds to have happiness together,” explains Victoria.

Red figures prominently in Chinese weddings because the color signifies love, joy, luck and prosperity. This color was featured throughout the wedding and reception décor, from the black magic roses in the centerpieces to the stunning orchids hanging from Chinese parasols suspended from the ceiling. Red was also incorporated into a champagne-based signature cocktail named the “Red Hot Bride.” And the wedding cake? Red velvet, of course.

Also traditional in China is a series of wardrobe changes for the bride. Victoria’s three-gown ensemble included two gowns for the ceremony
and reception, and a red custom-made “chi-pao” dress for dancing.

The wedding was not based solely on Chinese tradition, however. Recognizing what a catch she made in her husband, the bride made certain to honor his background as well. The reception table names reflected the groom’s passion for baseball. Guests could be seated in “Left Field,” or “Home Plate,” for example. On the wedding day, the Wisconsinborn groom was surprised with a groom’s cake that featured a baseball with a Milwaukee Brewer’s logo

Ceremony / Reception location:
Saguaro Buttes

Photographer:
Jim Reed Photographic Designs

Videographer:
Beyond Video

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