Khatu Ho & Darren Wong

September 9, 2012
The Crane Estate
Ipswich, Massachusetts

Photographs by Callaway Gable

Darren Wong and Khatu Ho’s gorgeous outdoor wedding almost didn’t happen. In the week leading up to the main event, all of the weather reports promised rain—and as the couple drove up to the Crane Estate, in Ipswich, the day before their nuptials, it was pouring so hard “you could barely even see through the windshield,” Darren remembers. Thankfully, the clouds parted in time for a stunning celebration that married their heritages (Khatu is Vietnamese; Darren is Chinese) with the bride’s flair for fashion.

Khatu, a stylist and blogger, made clothing a big part of the celebration, donning an elaborately beaded dress from Vietnam for the traditional Asian tea ceremony, and an elegant Vera Wang gown for the American ceremony. Darren—who frequently models menswear for Khatu’s website—showed off a bright pair of socks from Barneys. “I just wanted everything to look classic and retain everything that showed off our personalities,” Khatu says. “Sometimes people can forget who they are when they are planning a wedding. I didn’t want to conform to any standard.”

Khatu’s mother ordered the handmade dress for the tea ceremony.

The first of the couple’s two ceremonies was a modified traditional tea ceremony that reflected their Asian heritage.

The bride wore dramatic heels—including this studded Valentino pair—throughout the day.

The groom showed off his style with striped socks from Barneys.

The picturesque Crane Estate was the perfect setting for an outdoor ceremony. “As soon as I got out of the car to visit it, I turned around and gasped and knew that was it,” Khatu says.

Masks and other photo props were passed out at the reception.

The elegant cake echoed the couple’s “white wedding” theme.

Centerpieces of varying heights decorated the tables.

The couple affixed decals of their silhouettes to cornhole boards from Dick’s Sporting Goods.

THE FILE

Tea-Ceremony Dress: Custom-made in Vietnam
American-Ceremony Dress: Vera Wang Boston
Bride’s Shoes: Valentino (both ceremonies) and Christian Louboutin (reception)
Bridesmaid Dresses: BCBG
DJ: DJ Raffi Music & Lighting Productions
Caterer: Vinwood Caterers
Cake: Konditor Meister
Lighting: Design Light Co.
Flowers: Flouer
Videographer: Long Haul Films
Makeup: Lisa Chy Makeup
Rings: Long’s Jewelers

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