Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Wedding Day

Wedding

Regency at Dominion Valley

Reception

Our Wedding

We went to the same high school, but Anthony was a grade above me. We had some classes together, but we weren't really friends, more like classmates/acquaintances. He was always the lead for class plays; I was always one of the supporting characters. He wasn't really on my radar. Little did I know that he would end up being a lead character in my life supporting me and I supporting him.&nbsp;

&nbsp;I clearly remember my sister asking me if I would date someone from high school and I definitely said no. If anything I would find someone in college to date.&nbsp;During&nbsp;the summer before I headed off to college, we started meeting more in group settings.&nbsp;Something about him really drew me in.&nbsp;He was funny and smiley, always brimming with confidence.&nbsp;&nbsp;We met up more during winter and spring breaks and we just clicked. He took me out for my birthday and asked me out the very next day. We eventually went to the same college so technically I did date someone from college; he just also happened to be from my high school too.&nbsp;

This was the start of our journey together.&nbsp;He always dragged me to the chapel to pray, pulled me out of my comfort zone, and pushed me to better myself. He also pushed my buttons a lot, annoyed me, fought with me, and made me so irritated it made me wonder sometimes why we were even dating. But he loves me, flaws and all, he&nbsp;makes me laugh, he supports me through my decisions, goes on adventures with me, does pilates with me even though he doesn't want to, and so much more.&nbsp;&nbsp;4ish years later&nbsp;and here I am&nbsp;getting married to someone who wasn't even on my radar. God works in mysterious ways.&nbsp;

Bride's Point of View 

We met in High School at Holy Family Academy, but we were not in the same friend groups. I was friends with her older sister, Thao, who is the maid of honor. It is through that friendship with Thao that I got to know T. There is one day in late 2014,&nbsp;I&nbsp;remember clearly when I was over at the Phan home to hang out with Thao, that I noticed T a bit differently! She was back from college in Pennsylvania and she&nbsp;made a great joke and it made me laugh a lot! It was&nbsp;after that, I thought to myself, "She's kinda cute!" From then on, I had a crush on T!For a few months, I made more of a point to get to know T and become her friend. I Skype called her frequently, while she was at St. Vincent's College. On St. Valentine's Day of 2015, I sent her flowers to start to show my feelings. This romantic gesture went right over her head! Eventually she figured it out. I asked her out on some dates and took her out for her birthday. The next day, on Easter Sunday, I asked if she would like to be my girlfriend, and she said yes!Over the 3.5 years we have been dating, we have fallen completely in love. We have grown as a couple&nbsp;as well as individuals. We have challenged each other and laughed together. She became my best friend and I became hers. We know each others struggles and strengths. We know how to fight and how to forgive. We know how to relax and how to have a great time. She is always there for me! She is a great listener! She is the Love of My Life! On August 15th 2018, she became My Future Wife!! &lt;3God has put us together and has called us to spend the rest of our lives together in Marriage! I have never felt more blessed than to have T next to me as my partner for the rest of our lives together!&nbsp; She has made me a better person and has made me a better child of God! I pray that I do the same for her for the rest of our lives together!&nbsp;Thank you&nbsp;ever loving&nbsp;God!

Groom's Point of View

Our Story

Details

Beautiful sister of the bride and cake baker! She has put up with the bride's trouble-making&nbsp;her entire life and is helping her with her big day.

Fun Fact: She makes amazing pastries and yet is still so small. Never trust a skinny baker does not apply to her!&nbsp;

How We Met: She knew I was coming before I even knew of my existence. Was my presence welcomed? Probably not for the first half of my life because we fought non-stop. We are the best of friends now and I couldn't imagine a life without her!&nbsp;

Thao Phan

My&nbsp;favorite&nbsp;(only)&nbsp;brother!&nbsp;Being&nbsp;1.5&nbsp;years&nbsp;apart&nbsp;meant,&nbsp;we&nbsp;grew&nbsp;up&nbsp;together.&nbsp;He&nbsp;was&nbsp;my&nbsp;partner&nbsp;in&nbsp;crime&nbsp;and&nbsp;greatest&nbsp;rival!&nbsp;Now&nbsp;that&nbsp;we&nbsp;are&nbsp;adults(ish),&nbsp;we&nbsp;still&nbsp;goof&nbsp;off&nbsp;and&nbsp;have&nbsp;fun,&nbsp;even&nbsp;though&nbsp;we&nbsp;live&nbsp;far&nbsp;apart!

Interesting Fact: I want to open up an Asian/Italian/Hispanic/American Fusion Omelette & Crepe based restaurant.

How We Met: Sometime between birth and the age of reason, I realized that you were going to be one of my best friends for life whether I liked it or&nbsp;not.

Nick

Amazing&nbsp;childhood&nbsp;friend&nbsp;who&nbsp;contributed&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;trouble-making!&nbsp;

Fun Fact:&nbsp;She&nbsp;loves&nbsp;gaming&nbsp;with&nbsp;international&nbsp;friends&nbsp;and&nbsp;was&nbsp;born&nbsp;in&nbsp;Germany!&nbsp;

How We Met: She probably met me before I even knew it. We were neighbors and childhood friends. We no longer live next door to each other, but that doesn't stop us from our shenanigans!&nbsp;

Cherelle

We have been best buddies since 5th grade! I've known him since before he knew how to talk to people! LOL! Through football, studies, and college, our friendship has only grown! Mostly through online gaming :)

Interesting&nbsp;Fact:&nbsp;I can eat enough food for 2 normal people in one sitting.How We Met:&nbsp;5th grade, when I was a new shy kid and he just walked up and started talking to me!

Trajan

I've&nbsp;also&nbsp;known&nbsp;this&nbsp;dude&nbsp;since&nbsp;my&nbsp;high&nbsp;school&nbsp;days!&nbsp;We&nbsp;love&nbsp;to&nbsp;goof&nbsp;off&nbsp;and&nbsp;just&nbsp;chill!&nbsp;He&nbsp;is&nbsp;another&nbsp;one&nbsp;I&nbsp;have&nbsp;gotten&nbsp;closer&nbsp;to&nbsp;since&nbsp;leaving&nbsp;HFA!&nbsp;Mostly&nbsp;through&nbsp;online&nbsp;gaming&nbsp;:)Interesting&nbsp;Fact:&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;top&nbsp;10&nbsp;on&nbsp;my&nbsp;high&nbsp;school&nbsp;class.How&nbsp;We&nbsp;Met:&nbsp;Sometime&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;7th&nbsp;grade&nbsp;I&nbsp;met&nbsp;Anthony,&nbsp;so&nbsp;it&nbsp;has&nbsp;been&nbsp;a&nbsp;decade!

Agustin

A&nbsp;humorous&nbsp;friend&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;bride&nbsp;since&nbsp;elementary&nbsp;school&nbsp;who&nbsp;loved&nbsp;pig&nbsp;themed&nbsp;things&nbsp;and&nbsp;running!&nbsp;

Fun Fact:&nbsp;She&nbsp;was&nbsp;fast&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;track&nbsp;but&nbsp;slow&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;road.&nbsp;She's&nbsp;never&nbsp;gotten&nbsp;a&nbsp;speeding&nbsp;ticket!

How We Met: We met at Holy Family Academy when I transferred there in the 4th grade. We were on the track team together for a little bit and hung out throughout high school! Living on different sides of the state, we try to catch up as much as we can when we can.&nbsp;

Bridget

This&nbsp;dude&nbsp;was&nbsp;one&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;reasons&nbsp;I&nbsp;thoroughly&nbsp;enjoyed&nbsp;my&nbsp;college&nbsp;bible&nbsp;study!&nbsp;From&nbsp;goofing&nbsp;off&nbsp;to&nbsp;random&nbsp;dancing,&nbsp;I&nbsp;always&nbsp;have&nbsp;a&nbsp;good&nbsp;time&nbsp;with&nbsp;Joe!&nbsp;Our&nbsp;friendship&nbsp;grew&nbsp;loads&nbsp;through&nbsp;our&nbsp;"deep"&nbsp;and&nbsp;"vulnerable"&nbsp;conversations!Interesting&nbsp;fact:&nbsp;I&nbsp;don’t&nbsp;know,&nbsp;I&nbsp;can&nbsp;grow&nbsp;a&nbsp;massive&nbsp;beard!How&nbsp;we&nbsp;met:&nbsp;Bible&nbsp;study&nbsp;sophomore&nbsp;year&nbsp;of&nbsp;college.

Joe F.

An amiable&nbsp;friend of the bride who is calm, cool, and collected. She has helped the bride get through the treacherous journey&nbsp;called&nbsp;high school.&nbsp;

Fun Fact: She is the only daughter of&nbsp;a large family!

How We Met: We met at Holy Family Academy in high school! Even though we ended up going to different colleges, we made&nbsp;a point to catch up with each other over the breaks! Its like binge-watching Netflix, except with friends in real life.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Mary

A&nbsp;lovely&nbsp;friend&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;bride&nbsp;who&nbsp;always&nbsp;found&nbsp;herself&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;bride&nbsp;on&nbsp;a&nbsp;bubble&nbsp;tea&nbsp;run.&nbsp;

Fun Fact: She loves to dance and&nbsp;is amazing at making cards and crafts from scratch!



How We Met: We were in the same bible study together! We also went to some salsa classes together and find ourselves on random adventures like getting free books and going to fun houses. We continue to go on bubble tea runs and we will find the motivation to go on real runs eventually.&nbsp;

Stephanie

This giant teddy bear of a man and I met doing Youth Apostles (YAs) stuff together! Our friendship has grown through deep talks, talks about girlfriends, and now talks about our fiancees!

Interesting Fact: Proud owner of 25 mini cows.

How We Met:&nbsp;Youth Apostles annual silent retreat 2018, voted best sharing group that year by numerous semi- professional sources.

Joe N.

The bride's gym buddy and accountability partner. They both eat&nbsp;ice-cream&nbsp; and chocolate&nbsp;together regularly.&nbsp;

Fun Fact: She has huge space in her heart for ballet and chocolate!

How We Met: Clarissa was my bible study leader! We bonded in Christ and at the gym. We try to help each other to be healthy by exercising and even running obstacle course races, but we still like to eat junk together too!

Clarissa

Pete is one&nbsp;heck of an giant&nbsp;athletic&nbsp;Asian! His energy and charisma always pumps me up! When we are not super hype, I love when we get to have deep conversations about life!

Interesting Fact:&nbsp;I have&nbsp;one bottom incisor.



How We Met:&nbsp;We met watching Sword Art Online (SAO).

Pete

An&nbsp;outgoing and adventurous soul&nbsp;who&nbsp;has regularly been referred to as our #1 cheerleader! She loves to travel and dance.&nbsp;

Fun Fact:&nbsp;The most fun/scary thing she has done&nbsp;is jump off a 56 ft cliff in the Philippines!

How We Met: We met at George Mason University and suffered through biology and chemistry courses together! She was my first bible study leader and she also got me to join the salsa club!

Caitlin

Brian is the most genuine and friendly person I have ever met! We bonded over a love of hugs! Brian is know to give many successive hugs in a row, just because he can :) On top of all of this, he is one heck of a spiritual inspiration to me!

Interesting Fact:&nbsp;I have swum in the Amazon river after fishing for Piranha in the same river. Perhaps not my smartest moment, but I survived.

How We Met: We became close friends during a service trip&nbsp;my first year at Mason. I was a lost little freshman who just wanted to fit in really. And Anthony was, and really still is, just awesome. He has such confidence, but is also so kind and loving. He had this genuine joy and desire to know me as a friend and that was really touching to me. I don't even know if he realizes how special that is because he seems to have that authentic love for just about everyone he meets.

Brian

We&nbsp;met&nbsp;during&nbsp;my&nbsp;candidacy&nbsp;in&nbsp;Youth&nbsp;Apostles.&nbsp;Ever&nbsp;since,&nbsp;we&nbsp;have&nbsp;grown&nbsp;as&nbsp;close&nbsp;friend&nbsp;by&nbsp;having&nbsp;laughs,&nbsp;holding&nbsp;each&nbsp;other&nbsp;accountable,&nbsp;and&nbsp;encouraging&nbsp;each&nbsp;other&nbsp;to&nbsp;holiness!&nbsp;

Interesting Fact:&nbsp;I&nbsp;cracked my&nbsp;skull during birth.





How We Met: Prolonged exposure in YAs, especially in sharing group where I have&nbsp;learned your DEEPEST, DARKEST, SECRETS ...

Austin

A sassy&nbsp;friend of the bride whose friendship&nbsp;was&nbsp;founded&nbsp;by&nbsp;the mutual love of "A Nightmare Before Christmas".&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fun fact:&nbsp;She is quiet on the outside, which is helpful in some cases because she accidentally set off the fire alarm while making dinner and forced her whole dorm to evacuate the building. She quietly slipped into the crowd and acted like nothing was her doing.&nbsp;

How We Met: Erin was always a familiar face at the George Mason chapel, but I was formerly introduced to her by Anthony. We first bonded over our mutual love of "A Nightmare Before Christmas" and have been friends ever since.

Erin

Wedding Party

Photos

Registry

Q + A

Airbnb is a&nbsp;cheap and alternative&nbsp;option to the traditional hotel. You can rent just a room or an entire house depending!&nbsp;The&nbsp;Ceremony is located&nbsp;in Gainesville, Va and the reception is in Haymarket, Va.

Airbnb

Recommended Airport # 1

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

For your convenience, a room blocking has been reserved at the Hampton Inn Manassas.&nbsp;The group code is "PMW". Rooms are available at $109.00&nbsp;a night. To make a reservation, please call 703-369-1100 and mention "Phan &amp; Mason Wedding" for the discounted rate&nbsp;or follow the "Book a Room" button below.&nbsp;The cut off date for this block is September 05, 2019. You may still book a room with this hotel after this date, but the pricing and availability&nbsp;will vary.

Hampton Inn Manassas

Recommended Airport #2

Dulles International Airport

For your convenience, a room blocking has been reserved at the Fairfax Marriott at Fair Oaks.&nbsp;The group code is "PHMPHMA" for a king room or "PHMPHMB" for a double room. Rooms are available at $91.00&nbsp;a night. To make a reservation, please call 1 - 888 - 236 - 2427 and mention "Phan Mason Wedding" for the discounted rate&nbsp;or follow the "Book a Room" button below.&nbsp;Alternatively, you can go to&nbsp;<a href="www.fairfaxmarriott.com" target="_blank">www.fairfaxmarriott.com</a> and enter it manually.The cut off date for this block is September 13, 2019. You may still book a room with this hotel after this date, but the pricing and availability&nbsp;will vary.

Fairfax Marriott at Fair Oaks

Travel

Shopping center just steps away from the ceremony location! A good place to relax, shop, and walk around.&nbsp;

Virginia Gateway

Eden Center is a&nbsp;Vietnamese&nbsp;strip mall with plenty of restaurants and stores for food and shopping located near Seven Corners in the City of Falls Church.

Eden Center

Washington D.C. is a short drive away. Around the National Mall, are a plethora of monuments and museums, most of which are free!

Tieu Diep & Anthony

Tieu Diep & Anthony

Things to Do

Virginia Gateway

Eden Center

National Mall

Air and Space Museum