Date7 February 2026DescriptionI first met Jenny while connecting with local organisations for this project. She works with ACON Westie, supporting LGBTQI+ people across Western Sydney, and we spoke openly about tradition, authenticity, and the slow, hopeful journey toward acceptance within family. We kept trying to find time to meet and photograph her portrait, but it never quite worked out. On the very last day of the project, everything came together when I was generously invited to attend her cousin Harry and Linda’s Vietnamese tea ceremony on the morning of their wedding.
The day began at the bride’s family home, with the groom’s family arriving in procession, carrying ornate trays of gifts, including a whole roast pig. Before Harry could greet Linda, he and his groomsmen were put through playful challenges in the blazing summer heat, from push-ups and teamwork games to guessing zoomed-in details of the bride’s smile and eyes. Inside the crowded living room, generations gathered to light incense and candles for ancestors, exchange gifts, and honour cultural traditions. A short drive later, the couple served tea to elders at the groom’s home, receiving red envelopes, wisdom, and warm blessings in return. Surrounded by vibrant reds, blues, and golds, lush fruit offerings, music, chatter, and laughter, the morning felt chaotic and joyful in the way family gatherings often are. Centred around ritual and affection, the morning ended with everyone sitting down together to eat, before changing into wedding attire for the celebration still to come.
- Chloë Nour, February 2026PhotographerChloë NourNotesThese photographs are part of the 2025 City Photographer project.
Details
Image ColourColourTypeDigitalCopyrightPartial restriction. Please contact Fairfield City Heritage Services for image use.AcknowledgementChloë Nour 2025 Fairfield City Photographer. Image courtesy of Fairfield City Heritage Collection.
