Surrealist beach wedding that broke with tradition at every turn
Khanh and Đức Lê first met at a friend's house in Boston at a dinner for a group of homewick Vietnamese friends. Khanh offered to cook cơm gà Hội An, Vietnamese central-style chicken rice, as a little taste of home. Since Đức is from Tam Kỳ and Khanh’s family is from Hội An, it felt like the perfect dish to bring people together. From that point on, they started hanging out more and having food adventures, late-night chats, and spontaneous drives, and before they knew it, Khanh's original statement that she'd never get married before 30 melted away. When they began planning the wedding, it was The F Lab, known for their extreme and avant-garde approach to wedding planning, who helped this bride and groom create an otherworldly scene for their beach wedding hosted in Vietnam at New World Hoiana Beach Resort and captured by NukiA Studio.
Destination wedding location: Vietnam
Because Đức is from Tam Kỳ and Khanh's mother's family is from Hội An, Hội An and Đà Nẵng felt like a soft place to land, where the food is good, the sea is close, and time seems to stroll instead of sprint. They weren't necessarily looking for a Pinterest-perfect venue, but they did want somewhere that felt familiar, charming, and quietly special. New World Hoiana Beach Resort was perfect. It didn't feel like a traditional wedding venue and instead felt like a weekend getaway with a special event.
Not just a wedding - an experience
Every guest was either family, or someone who had journeyed with the bride and groom through life. That intimacy shaped everything from the setting and the pacing to the tiniest details woven into the weekend. They didn’t want their loved ones to simply attend a wedding. They wanted them to step inside an experience that was deeply personal and beautifully intentional.
Featured designer: Ines Di Santo
Khanh stunned in the Canto gown by Ines Di Santo. Chosen for its intricate floral appliques, architectural bodice, and full, statement-making skirt, it was a dress that was all about the details.
For the groom: 3-piece velvet
For Đức, they turned to Nu (founder of NukiA) and P. Hance to provide a three-piece velvet tuxedo in deep black with crisp satin lapels. It was an equally statement-making choice that exuded structure and confidence, with just a touch of restraint.
Signature surrealist style
Planning a destination wedding is no easy feat, but for this couple, The F Lab made every detail feel personal and intentional. They didn't just help them plan - they also listened and acted as partners in the whole process. Even with Khanh's fear of floral designs being too “cheesy,” the team managed to surprise her with a concept that felt so "her" - bougainvillea mixed with dry foliage, evoking the soul of Spring, and a personality that was uniquely theirs.
Floating frame & sculptural altar
The beach was the perfect canvas for their ceremony with soft lighting, open skies, and a beautiful backdrop. Guests made their way through green and white frames that appeared to float on the powder-white sand, eventually revealing a sculptural surrealist ceremony installation with an infinite horizon as the backdrop. The F Lab crafted a sculptural altar where a pear stood for the groom’s family and a stylized cloud for the bride’s - a whimsical, heartfelt nod to where they come from, and the perfect backdrop for where they’re headed together.
Blooming bougainvillea installations
As the celebration moved indoors for the dinner reception, the mood shifted from soft and symbolic to lush and lively. Being a spring wedding and right in the season of blooming bougainvillea, Giang Pham, Chi Le, & Uyen Truong of The F Lab brought in dramatic hanging installations of pink and white bougainvillea intertwined with metallic sculpture, adding movement and romance to the space. The design felt wild, effortless, and beautifully alive - like nature had just swept through wearing couture.
Decor motifs: pears and clouds
Pear and cloud motifs made playful appearances on the dinner tables, from mini sculptural elements to fans shaped like floating clouds.
Menus: a play on words
For the menu, the couple used a series of cheeky meal names, including: Foie Ever Yours, Sea's the Love, Shell I Call You My Lob?, Wag-yu Doing in my Heart?, and Lantern Me Be Yours.
Less cake, more chocolate
Even the wedding "cake" turned tradition on its head! The newlyweds opted for a white chocolate fountain instead of a tiered cake so that everyone could enjoy a sweet treat together.
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- Event Planning & Design: The F Lab
- Event Planning & Design: Giang Pham, Chi Le, & Uyen Truong for The F Lab
- Venues: Hoiana Resort & Golf
- Venues: New World Hoiana Beach Resort
- Wedding Photographers: NukiA Studio
- Wedding Films: NukiA Studio
- Groom & His Men: P. Hance Tailoring & Bespoke
- Wedding Dresses: Ines Di Santo
- Shops: Truly Enamoured
- Hair, Makeup & Beauty: Huynh Nguyen
- Paper Goods & Calligraphy: Lin Wedding Paper
- Wedding DJ: Xuan Binh Nguyen