There were no brides at these three weddings, but there was no shortage of love as families came together to celebrate and bless the couples’ unions.
Overcoming barriers and prejudice, several male same-sex couples have found lasting love and built the lives they wanted together. Each celebrated their union with a full wedding ceremony and, most importantly, the blessing of both families.
The three stories below offer a glimpse into weddings with “no bride” that were nevertheless warm, complete and filled with love.
Two men tie the knot as families host more than 60 wedding tables
Thai Van Hai, born in 1995 in Thanh Phong Commune, Vinh Long Province, and Nguyen Hung So, born in 1997 in Thanh Hung Commune, An Giang Province, have spent seven years together.
The two met through social media in 2019. Realizing they had found the “missing piece” in each other’s lives, they overcame barriers and prejudice to build a relationship together.
The two men celebrated the wedding they had hoped for. Photo: Courtesy of the couple
Over their seven years as a couple, the two men have weathered many ups and downs, from the difficult early days of establishing their careers to finally seeing their efforts pay off. Even more fortunate was the way both families quietly and naturally embraced their relationship. So’s family, in particular, gave the couple wholehearted support.
In early 2026, they decided to hold a wedding. Their families wanted it too, hoping the couple would have a meaningful milestone to mark the moment they officially became life partners.
So’s family prepared 25 tables for the wedding feast, while Hai’s family hosted 40, inviting relatives and neighbors to share in the celebration. The two grooms were deeply moved when their parents stood before the guests and formally announced their union. To them, that acknowledgment meant more than any beautiful words of congratulations ever could.
The couple now live and work in Ho Chi Minh City.
Two men marry as far more guests arrive than expected
The two men received their families’ blessing for their marriage. Photo: Courtesy of the couple
Ho Tuan Anh, born in 1998 and originally from Ho Chi Minh City, and Pham Van Vuong, born in 2000 and originally from Binh Phuoc, now part of Dong Nai Province, met before either had established a stable career, when both work and life were difficult. For the past eight years, they have remained inseparable, becoming a steadfast source of emotional support for each other.
They met by chance in 2018 while both were working part-time for the same company. Vuong had previously come out to his family. His father said nothing, while his mother sat quietly and cried. Later, during a family death-anniversary gathering, his father told relatives: “Our Vuong will have a husband one day, not a wife.” The remark was his quiet way of acknowledging his son for who he was.
Out of love for both families, the two men have always tried to live responsibly and have taken their relationship especially seriously. From their first meeting and growing affection to their decision to build a lasting life together, they have always treated each other with sincerity.
In March 2026, after eight years together, the couple decided to hold their wedding in Chon Thanh Ward, Dong Nai, where they both work. In late 2025, they had held a traditional family introduction ceremony in Vuong’s hometown.
The wedding drew 360 guests. Their families presented the couple with five taels of gold and a set of jewelry, along with a heartfelt message: “Remember, no matter what happens, your grandparents and parents will always be behind you, watching over you.”
For the couple, their families’ support and trust have been the most precious part of their journey together.
‘Bride-less’ wedding in Vinh Long becomes a social media sensation
The wedding was celebrated with traditional Vietnamese ceremonies. Photo: Courtesy of the couple
The “bride-less” wedding of Nathan Tran, born in 1990 in Vinh Long and now living and working in the US, and Ken Hamill, born in 1983 and an American citizen, previously attracted widespread attention on social media.
Nathan and Ken met at a gym in 2018. What began as mutual admiration for each other’s talent and determination gradually grew into love.
After several years together, the couple moved in together in 2022 and became engaged in Paris in the summer of 2024 following a romantic proposal in front of the Eiffel Tower.
The two men held a wedding in the US in October 2025 before returning to Vinh Long for a traditional Vietnamese wedding ceremony in February 2026.
The celebration featured a full range of Vietnamese wedding traditions, including the ceremonial gift procession, ancestral rites and offering wine to their parents. Ken’s family traveled from the US to Vietnam for the wedding and enthusiastically embraced the experience of Vietnamese wedding culture.
Nathan said the most meaningful gift on his wedding day was having both families there to celebrate and bless their union. For him and Ken, true happiness means building a lasting life together and having that commitment recognized by the people they love.
Vietnamnet.vn
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