Luan & Helen’s wedding was a lovely day that took place at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club in San Jose, CA. The rolling hills and stunning views created a romantic setting for their celebration. Alongside their family and friends Luan & Helen designed their dream wedding and it came to life beautifully!
When Luan first met Helen some 8 years ago he nudged his coworker to introduce him. Helen, on the other hand, was early in her career and not really ready for love. They went on a date as friends, but Luan knew she was the one. Helen, took some time to warm up to him but through their many interactions started to see all these great qualities in him- he was family oriented, he was savvy, he was so genuine and he had a group of friends who always said he was the best guy in their group. When it was time to prepare for their wedding, Helen incorporated many elements of their relationship- where the romance marries the practical. She loved that the ceremony was set against the lush green backdrop of Cinnabar, and the mountains made the site feel like it was secluded and in a world of its own, but also attached a large banquet hall with stunning views that could hold her sizable 200 guest count. Blush pink and roses set the theme for the romantic affair. Dancing and laughter filled the air. -Cheri Tran Snaps 
How did you two meet? What were your first impressions of one another? We met in college nearly 10 years ago while volunteering at a healthcare clinic. First impressions Helen: I thought he was a very kind person, easy to talk to. Luan: She’s cute! We didn’t know if we would see each other after that day at the clinic, but we ran into each other again about 3 months later and the rest is history.
Tell us a funny story relating to your wedding day or relationship! Luan: On the wedding day, people are usually pretty nervous about the actual vows or “getting married” part. For me, it was more so the big crowd and lots of eyes. Helen: We’ve always both been very honest people, are both pretty awkward, and not used to being in the spotlight.- On the day of our wedding during our first look – I noticed Luan needed some concealer for a blemish on his face, and he immediately pointed out I had some lettuce stuck in my teeth. Safe to say, we have each other’s backs and found solace in being nervous together.
Describe a hurdle you had to overcome in your relationship or during your wedding planning. In the beginning, it was hard to gauge how much time and effort we’d need to put into the actual planning process. Paired with our indecisiveness, there were definitely times where our planning was stalled or didn’t feel like it was progressing. For example, we toured about 8-10 venues and had to go back a couple times to some locations before we made a final decision.
Any special ways you incorporated your family or family history into your wedding day? Live music is a special and fun part of Helen’s family traditions. We had a live band for the first half of our reception, and many of the singers were family members.
What part of your wedding day was/is most important to you? We have been together for a long time and have been looking forward to getting married pretty much since the early days of our relationship. We couldn’t have pulled off such a special event without the support of all our loved ones. For example, we had a close friend officiate the wedding, another friend helped coordinate the ceremony audio system, others helped put together our dessert table. So one of the biggest aspects that was important to us was having our family and friends feel included and involved throughout the day. In addition to her bridesmaids, Helen had all of her close female family members also join for morning photos and hair & makeup. Luan was able to also share his morning with his closest friends and family members. And Alfie (our puppy) was part of the day!
What was your favorite part about planning your wedding? It was stressful, but our favorite part was probably the last 2 weeks leading up to the big day. We had several close friends come to town and visit us. They helped us with so many last-minute tasks and prep work – from assembling party favors, putting together a seating chart, steaming out our attire, etc. There were a lot of late nights, but we look back on those moments fondly.
What is your favorite thing about each other? Helen: Luan’s has a very calming presence and has a wonderful reassuring smile. He is the rock in our relationship. Luan: Helen’s is a firecracker who adds the spice to our lives.
If you had one piece of advice for other couples, what would it be? Cliché, but communication really is key! Wedding planning will be a hectic journey, but communicating well and being honest with your feelings goes a long way. It’s a fun yet chaotic experience you’ll be able to share with your partner.
Photographer: Cheri Tran Snaps
Venue: Cinnabar Hills Golf Club
Floral Designer: Tasty Petal
Dress Boutique: Still White
Dress Designer: Essense of Australia
Makeup Artist: Beauty by Thao
Men’s Formalwear: Indochino
Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab
Photo Booth: Fikabooth
Getting Ready: Girl & A Serious Dream
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