In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month), we’re sharing a beautiful wedding editorial from Dee Lee Designs featuring a traditional Chinese wedding dress by Jinza Oriental Couture set against the timeless architecture of The Langham Huntington in Pasadena, California.

With the goal of inspiring couples to celebrate their culture and heritage at their nuptials, Dee Lee – event producer and owner of Dee Lee Designs based in Los Angeles, California – teamed up with a group of talented local wedding vendors to create an Asian-inspired editorial celebrating cultural beauty through fashion, meaningful symbolism, and elevated floral design.

Through intentional styling and thoughtful coordination, Dee Lee Designs brought the creative vision to life – honoring tradition with a modern lens. “It was a nod to the past with modern vibes,” Dee Lee shares of the inspiring modern Chinese wedding that would set the perfect tone for incorporating Chinese wedding customs in a real wedding.

"It was a nod to the past with modern vibes."

Starting with a bold invitation suite featuring Chinese characters that represent Double Happiness in bright red (the color of luck) and white, the design began to come to life. Further highlighting the color of luck, the bride’s red shoes with pearl and bow embellishments, as well as her fan and traditional Chinese wedding dress from Jinza Oriental Couture, continued the chic red-and-white color palette with gold accents that honored tradition.

Bridal and couple portraits were taken on the iconic red bridge within the venue’s Japanese Garden, as well as the famous Picture Bridge – a historic landmark with paintings dating back to 1933 that was recently restored on the grounds. Both offered a view of the luxurious hotel’s beautiful springtime cherry blossoms in the distance.

In addition to the bride’s traditional Chinese wedding dress featuring gold embroidery that complemented her dazzling jewelry, a unique bouquet added to her modern, yet traditional look. The florals highlighted shades of ivory, red, and deep burgundy, and an elegant fan created a backdrop for the beautiful blooms.

Inside the ballroom, the fan motif continued with red and gold fan elements paired with bountiful blossoms and burgundy feathers in the towering centerpiece design atop a round table covered in ivory linens and surrounded by oval-back gold chairs. A light pink modern backdrop featuring cherry blossom illustrations and the same Chinese characters seen on the invitation suite that represent Double Happiness created a romantic addition to the bolder table design.

Place settings were marked with calligraphed sleeves for chopsticks and highlighted golden charger plates and red china with a floral motif that complemented the circular menu designs introducing eight courses written in both English letters and Chinese characters, further showcasing a sophisticated blend of multicultural wedding customs and time-honored traditions.

To complete the day, a perfume bar offered a fun, interactive favor for guests to create their own fragrances to commemorate the special celebration.

Whether you're looking for a cultural wedding for your real wedding or a romantic red wedding color palette, look to the inspiring photos from this styled wedding shoot featuring a romantic, modern style that honors culture and tradition.