Vietnamese Wedding, Santa Clara, CA, 1988
Linh, who has lived all but three of her nineteen years in America, while respecting customs of the land of her birth, eschews wearing the traditional dress known as "ao dai." She chooses to be married in a western wedding gown with many flounces. A friend curls her hair into ringlets.
Katrina Thomas's notes: Under a special act of Congress, refugees from Vietnam were first admitted to the U.S. after the fall of Saigon in April 1975. They included ethnic Chinese, Eurasians and Amerasians born there, most of whom are Christian. Vietnamese have settled largely in Texas, and in California, the state in which I photograph them. Weddings start at the bride's house with a formal introduction of the two families, followed by bestowing jewelry on her by the bridegroom's family, and progress to the bridegroom's house to honor his family. In their home country, their own customs were influenced previously by French culture so that couples here adapt rapidly to American ways. The ethnic nuptial rite has been superseded by the Christian rite or a Buddhist blessing.
Thomas, Katrina (photographer)
1988
1 photograph : black-and-white
reformatted digital
North and Central America--United States--California--Alameda--Santa Clara
BMC-M59
Photographer's categories: Dressing and veiling , Bride , Bridal apparel , Traditional apparel
BMC-M59_63-08