Hong and Mike’s wedding was a wonderful celebration of different cultures. Both from Vietnamese families, they begun the day with a traditional tea ceremony at their parents’ homes, asking for the blessing of ancestors and receiving words of wisdom from relatives.

Hong and her bridesmaids wore the Vietnamese ao dai, a national costume that dates back to the 18th century, while Mike and his family presented gifts of fruit and jewellery in lacquered red boxes.

The ceremony itself, in Bexley’s historic Hall Place & Gardens (a listed Tudor house built in 1537), returned us to English heritage with a complete change of location, costume and culture.

Finally, it was back to the traditions of the East for a Chinese wedding banquet, with course after course of popular dishes and delicacies shared in an infectiously boisterous atmosphere. Lively, hospitable and full of spirit, it was immensely memorable and fun to photograph.