Unique dragon and phoenix wedding gate

"The profession chooses the person."

It was a joke, but it was true what Dong shared with us when recounting his arduous yet joyful journey into the craft of making dragons and phoenixes from flowers, leaves, and fruits. Starting as a young man passionate about cooking, then moving on to carpentry and orchid arranging, Phan Van Dong has experienced many ups and downs before finding his life's purpose.

Dong shared: "I got into this profession with my first wedding tray, which I made for my best friend's wedding. After a lot of effort and ups and downs, I realized that making dragon and phoenix wedding trays had become a passion without me even noticing."

Without any formal training, but with a keen sense of aesthetics and a relentless pursuit of knowledge, modern dragon and phoenix wedding trays have become the trademark of this young man born in the 1990s. On average, Phan Van Dong makes 20-30 dragon and phoenix wedding trays each month. During peak months, the number doubles, or even more. "During those times, I only sleep 2-3 hours a day. It's hard work, but in return, I earn a good income and complete beautiful dragon and phoenix wedding trays for my clients, contributing to making the wedding more beautiful and solemn. That's a joy that's hard to measure," Dong confided.

With his skills, students from all over have come to Dong to learn the craft. Besides students from within the province, the largest number come from Quang Nam, Da Nang, Quang Tri, Quang Binh, and some even travel from Hanoi to Hue to study. Nguyen Huong, a young woman from Dak Lak, shared: “I want to pursue the profession of making wedding trays, so I came to Hue to learn from Mr. Dong. Mr. Dong's dragon and phoenix designs are modern, constantly updated, and very trendy, making them popular with young people. Although it's a bit far, because of my passion for the craft, I want to keep learning so I can pursue this dream.”

The majestic wedding gate

Building on the success of his dragon and phoenix wedding trays, Phan Van Dong set himself a bigger goal: creating majestic and unique dragon and phoenix wedding gates inspired by traditional Western Vietnamese wedding arches.

The young man said: “Previously, dragon and phoenix wedding arches were characteristic products of weddings in the Mekong Delta. But over time, these arches have gradually been replaced by iron frames and artificial flowers. In Hue, too, wedding arches decorated with coconut leaves or natural materials have almost disappeared. Therefore, I want to create truly beautiful and majestic dragon and phoenix wedding arches, bringing a simple yet elegant beauty to many couples on their special day.”

Made from materials such as betel nuts, chili peppers, okra, pandan leaves, and Calimero chrysanthemums, Phan Van Dong typically spends a whole week completing a dragon and phoenix wedding arch. Dong said: “To create the dragon and phoenix shapes, besides the basic structure, it requires dozens of kilograms of flowers, leaves, and various fruits and vegetables. Of that, the rough design and shaping takes three days, and the remaining days are used to perfect each detail.”

Due to the use of natural materials, in addition to ensuring the freshness of the flowers, leaves, and fruits, Phan Van Dong must also ensure the curves and contours, as well as fully express the majestic and imposing demeanor of the dragon and phoenix. “Therefore, besides experience, making a wedding arch requires the craftsman's intense concentration on every small detail. Only then can the distinctive features, from the dragon's scales and the phoenix's wings to the dragon's and phoenix's eyes, be fully expressed, while still maintaining harmony and grace when viewed as a whole,” Phan Van Dong explained.

Bao Hung (Gia Hoi ward), a customer who chose Dong's dragon and phoenix wedding arch for his special day, shared: “Through social media, I learned about Dong's dragon and phoenix wedding arch design service. Because I really liked it, I chose this wedding arch for my big day. When the wedding arch was completed, not only both families but also the guests were especially delighted and impressed by the fresh and majestic beauty of this wedding arch.”

Besides creating beautiful and unique wedding arches, Phan Van Dong also shares his passion for the craft with others who share the same interest. Currently, this young man manages a fan page dedicated to learning how to make wedding trays and flowers, with over 43,000 members. This is a place where members share experiences, learn new things, and spread their love and enthusiasm for the craft of making dragon and phoenix wedding trays.

Source