Kayla & Christopher’s Tea Ceremony
Welcome to the Mâm & Co. blog! We are the sisters and co-founders behind Mâm & Co., and we are so excited to finally launch this space. Our mission is to elevate the decor for beautiful and meaningful Tea Ceremonies - whether they are Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, or any other beautiful culture.
Our story began with a wedding. Specifically, my own!
The Schedule
When I planned my wedding, my sister and I knew the ceremony needed to be a core event in the celebration. It's a day of deep respect, where the groom’s family formally asks for the bride's hand and gifts are exchanged. We were determined to honor tradition while making the decor feel sophisticated and personal.
The day started early - but we made sure to leave enough leeway for delays to ensure it was stress free!
Arrival
We made sure our guests arrived at 8:00AM, where they could enjoy coffee from a cart onsite, and get comfortable with each other and the environment.
Procession
At 8:30AM, the groom, his family, and his friends began making their way to the front door of the house, where the bridesmaids were waiting with traditional games for the groom to “prove his worth!”. Such fun!
The games in included:
Shaking ping pong balls out of a tissue box strapped to the groom & groomsmens’ waist.
Finding green beans in a jar of coffee beans (fun fact - the groom (Kayla’s husband) is colourblind so he delegated well!).
100 push ups.
Popping balloons without using your hands.
Formal Welcome
After the games were over, the groom and groomsmen brought the traditional Mâm Quả (gift trays) into the house, offering them to the bridesmaids and gaining entry.
Once the groom and his party settled, I descended with my mum to greet the groom, and the rest of his party.
The Ceremony
Once everyone was in the house, we began the formal ceremony, where we first paid respect to our ancestors, served tea to our elders, and they then gave us words of wisdom, blessings, red envelopes, and wished us the best for our future.
The Banquet
After the formal ceremony finished, everyone headed to the kitchen area where we had set up food, cutlery and drinks for everyone to enjoy.
Styling the Day
We grounded our styling in the vibrant, auspicious colours of red and gold, perfectly complementing the traditional Áo Dài we wore.
The Welcoming Entrance
The entrance sets the tone for the entire event. We used oversized red and white florals and traditional red lanterns to create a festive, celebratory entryway. This is where the energy of the day starts!
Styling Tip: For a ceremony taking place at home, focus heavily on the doorway. It serves as your main photo backdrop for the procession and the formal family photos.
The Procession and the Attire
The procession was full of laughter and high energy! The groom's party brang the Mâm Quả (gift trays) and, thankfully, Christopher and his groomsmen were up for some fun door games. For the attire, the traditional red Áo Dài for the couple was a must. We styled the bridesmaids in elegant, soft pink Áo Dài for a modern, cohesive look, and the groomsmen wore classic suits to bring a modern touch to the ceremony.
Styling Tip: Use your cultural attire to inform your decor colour palette. The deep red and black of the men's suits and the soft pink of the bridesmaids' dresses naturally guided our floral and linen choices.
The Ancestral Altar
The Ancestral Altar is where the couple honors their family lineage and pays respect to those who came before. We used a rich, traditional red cloth and framed the ancestral photo with opulent red and white florals, overflowing with fruit - a symbol of prosperity. The cake and gifts (like the wine and betel leaves) were carefully arranged to ensure the highest respect and symmetry.
Culture Fact: The incense and incense burners are a core, meaningful part of the decor because of their cultural significance: the smoke symbolises the ascent of our prayers and thanks to our ancestors.
The Aftermath
The sheer joy and pride we felt in designing this ceremony - from the smallest detail on the altar to the grand entrance - led directly to the creation of Mâm & Co.
“Mâm” in Vietnamese refers to the traditional tray, central to all ceremonies. Mâm & Co is our promise to help you create a tea ceremony that is deeply rooted in your specific cultural tradition, but styled with your unique taste and modern sophistication.
We believe your tea ceremony should be stunning, memorable and a beautiful tribute to your culture. Whether you are honoring Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, or other traditions, Mâm & Co. is here to bring that vision to life.
Thank you for embarking with us on this journey. We can’t wait to share more tips, cultural fun facts, and decor inspiration for ceremonies with you!
