REAL WEDDING:: Monica Kronfel + Le Bui {I DON’T WANT TO WAIT ANYMORE}

::AS SEEN IN THE WINTER 2022/2023 ISSUE OF NOW WEDDINGS MAGAZINE::

Written by: Jessica Burke |  Photos: Sarah Alleman Photography

monica + le’s story

“We met working at West Jefferson Inpatient Rehab together,” says Monica. “Our relationship grew from friendship, and we have now been together since 2018.”

Le proposed in the summer of 2020 while on a family beach trip to Orange Beach. 

“Le did a good job of keeping it a secret,” says Monica. “He tried to throw me off by giving me a book while on the trip that he had custom made that detailed what he loved about me and us as a couple and that he would propose to me when the time was right. He gave it to me just before our families were getting together to take photos on the beach at sunset. When it was our turn to take a photo, he pulled me into a hug and whispered into my ear, ‘You know, I don’t want to wait anymore.’ He got down on one knee while I ugly cried and said ‘yes.’”

the wedding ceremony

The wedding ceremony took place at the Pavilion of Two Sisters in the Botanical Gardens of New Orleans City Park. Monica and Le said “I do” surrounded by family, friends and beautiful flowers.

the wedding theme

“Our overall theme for the wedding was travel, since Le and I love to see new places,” says Monica. “Since Le is Vietnamese and I am Palestinian, we wanted to have aspects of both of our cultures present.”

The wedding favors were little luggage boxes filled with Vietnamese coffee candy for Le, Jordan almonds for Monica and custom M&Ms to represent the two as a couple.

“We followed the Vietnamese tradition of the bride, groom and wedding party going table to table to have a toast at each to the bride and groom while collecting the wedding gifts,” shares Monica. “This was a fun way to greet everyone and as a way of saying thank you for sharing our special day with us. It was also a good way to get everyone feeling good and ready to dance.”

the wedding reception 

Monica and Le danced the night away with their guests, stopping only to indulge in beignets from the Cafe Du Monde beignet truck that made it’s appearance at the entrance of the venue.

::CLICK HERE TO SEE THE WINTER 2022/2023 ISSUE

FEATURING MONICA + LE’S WEDDING::

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