Photography: Perpixel Photo :: Photos taken by: James Hong
Venue :: Muckenthaler Mansion | Catering/cake :: Colette’s
Little did these former elementary school classmates know they would
grow up to be husband and wife. At their school-themed wedding, the
pair recaptured their school days with all sorts of nostalgic details
based on their affection for vintage items.
In lieu of bouquets, each of Minhee's bridesmaids carried a custom-made
satin handbags by Lauren Merkin with a prom-worthy white carnation
corsage and striped ribbon pinned to the front.
In keeping with the school theme, letterpress invitations, maps and
reply cards were printed on vintage notebook paper by Minhee's company,
Paper + Cup. Attendance reports asked guests to indicate who was
coming. All the components slipped inside a small manilla folder
printed with the couple's names and address label peek through the
outer envelope. A brown paper favor bag contained custom school supplies including a handmade journal.
Vintage lunch trays were for guest to collect their dinner
cafeteria-style. The wooden utensils were hot-stamped with the couple's
names, and paper napkins were rubber stamped with the date. Each guest's place was outlined in chalk on a roll of black paper. Red
artist's tape secured the corners to the tablecloth and single-flower
arrangements rested in milk bottles, lattes bowls and ceramic tumblers.
Votive candles illuminated paper bags trimmed with scalloping shears.
The bride and groom's parents stood with the couple for a formal
portrait. The mothers each wore a hanbok, which is a traditional Korean
dress. Self-adhesive photo corners were attached to the pages of a vintage
accounting book in advance so guests could easily slip pictures into
place. A table by the board held extra film and cameras, plus the guest book
and pens for attendees to write messages next to their pictures.
The newlyweds sampled the wedding cake decorated with sugar daisies.
Minhee and Truman hold hands and enjoy a moment together at the reception.
Wedding sources for Minhee and Truman's wedding in Fullerton, California:
Reception Venue: Fullerton Arboretum
Wedding planner: Sally Lee of Sallee Designs
Cake: Beverly's Best Bakery | Stationery: Paper + Cup Design
Wooden utensils: Paper + Cup Design | Wedding gown: Angel Sanchez
Bridesmaid gowns: Aspeed Design | Bridesmaid handbags: Lauren Merkin
Groom's attire: Paul Smith | Photography: Meg Smith
:: See more photos from Minhee and Truman's Wedding ::
From Martha Stewart Weddings
Featured is a gorgeous “Gossip Girl Inspired” Bridal Shower created by event planner Carolyn Chen of The Special Day. The details of this party are absolutely fabulous… from the fluffy pink peony arrangements and aubergine ruffle placemats (swoon!) to the lovely guests who were all decked out in black & white “Upper East Side Chic” to match the party’s color palette & style!
This look would also translate beautifully for a wedding or other extra-special occasion or dinner party! Read on for tons of gorgeous eye candy and more party details, as told by Carolyn…
*****
“Inspired by the Gossip Girl show (since this is one of the bride’s ultimate favorite TV shows), and also because the bride is originally from New York, we created her bridal shower with an Upper East Side flair, fit for a shower that Blaire Waldorf would host.
The invitations were simple & elegant – and we asked all the ladies to dress in black or whites, Upper East Side Chic, and accessorize.
For those that were not as familiar with the Gossip Girl show or “Upper East Side Chic” we showed fashion inspiration boards of what Blaire Waldorf would wear including accessories – especially head bands, handbags, shoes. When the ladies arrived, they were asked to pick a head band, which also doubled as their party favor. The head bands were of various styles with gems, feathers, embroidery, etc.
The color palette was very Chanel – black & white, with accents of aubergine & pink.
We were deciding between using Casablanca Lilies for the main florals since the Bride’s name is Lily, and also in the show “Lily Bass” loves Casablanca Lillies, or to have Blaire Waldorf’s favorite flowers – peonies.
We ended up going with fluffy pink peonies with containers dressed in a velvety purple wrap & ribbon made to look like a flower.
The tablescape was accessorized with various heights of pillar candles & glass holders, votives adorned with ribbon, and crystal like standing chandeliers.
Long tables were draped in a ivory white and set with with aubergine ruffle placemats & rhinestone-bedecked charger base plates.
For the bride’s chair, we chose a bustled ivory chair cover resembling a wedding dress.”
Scroll down for details on the yummy food & drinks that the ladies were treated to, as well as the (non-cheesy!) bridal shower activities they participated in, as told by event designer Carolyn Chen…
*****
ON THE MENU
• Caprese Skewers with Marinated Mozzarella, Basil and Tomatoes
• Traditional Waldorf Salad (a la Blaire Waldorf)
• Turkey Salad on Baby Brioche with Bacon and Roasted Roma Tomatoes
• Mini Crabcake Sliders
• Roast Beef, Blue Cheese and Pear Tea Sandwiches
• Egg Salad with Dill and Cucumber
• Blueberry and Cheddar-Chive Scones
• Preserves, Butter, Lemon Curd & Honey
*****
DESSERTS:
• Coconut Cream Pies
• Espresso Macarons with Chocolate Ganache
• Petit Fours with Preserves and Swiss Buttercream
• Individual Strawberry Cheesecakes
*****
DRINKS:
• Melon-Mint Water, Cucumber Water and Raspberry Lemonade served in glass apothecary beverage jar dispensers
• Hot Tea & Coffee
• Mix-ins: Cream, Sugar, Honey, & Lemon Wedges
*****
Activities:
“Fun activities for the shower included “Spice of Life”
game in which the ladies were put into teams and had to determine the
names of all of the spices – sort of a spin to “smell the baby food”
like you would play at baby showers.
For individual games, we played “Famous TV Couples” which of course included Chuck & Blaire from Gossip Girl, as well as “How Well Do You Know the Bride” questionnaire.”
:: Credits & Resources ::
Event Design & Planning: The Special Day, Carolyn Chen
Photography: Jan Garcia Photography | Linens: Wildflower Linen
Catering & Desserts: The Dotted Apron | Florals: Mille Fiori
Visit Addy's Website: www.AddyLee.com
* * * * *
Nancy Park of So Happi Together was featured in the e-magzine Utterly Engaged. Take a look at her her event themed "Kitchen Rustic Vintage". The wedding cake topper was a hand rolled paper topper by Nancy. Looking at her pages below, the dream is truly in the details and we love it!
Links: Event Design & Coordinator, Nancy Park of So Happi Together
Photographed by Connie M Chung
Florist: Cesar Haro Custom Floral Design
Cakes/Pastries: Kayla’s Kakes
Stationer: Jane Gahng of Olive Hue Paper Goods
Wedding Attire: Vivian of Tomato Weddings - 323.733.0105
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals – Orange County
Hair: Theresa Huang Makeup and Design
Makeup: Clara Kim Beauty
Credits: Photo by R Wagner Photography.
"Korean
Wedding Customs"
Article by: Shu Shu Costa from the feature
entitled: "Rituals of Bliss"
Like the Chinese, Koreans also exchanged the "eight characters" or "four pillars" to determine if the match was suitable. When that process was over, a local fortune-teller was summoned to see if the couple could live harmoniously. Koreans call this kung-hap. This custom is still important among many older Korean Americans. As the old saying goes, straw sandals are useful only if they fit your feet.
The Engagement
Gifts are an important part of an engagement.
Traditionally, gifts from the groom's side would be delivered on
the eve of the wedding day. With faces blackened with dried squid's
ink and in costume, friends of the groom would parade a box, or
hahm, filled with gifts. As they approached the bride's house, they
would chant, "Hahm for sale, buy a hahm."
Her family would rush out to greet the gift-bearers, enticing them
with money and food. These days, the families are likely to meet
in a restaurant, but gifts--and lots of them--are a must. Some Korean
American families can spend $30,000 to $40,000 on engagement gifts
alone.
The Wedding Outfits
The two dresses worn by the bride were once
the costume of the noble class. The simple lime-green wonsam and
the more elaborate hwarrot, or "flower robe,"
are embroidered with flowers and butterflies. Underneath, she wears
the hanbok, the doll-like traditional dress of Korea. On
the bride's head is a black cap studded with gems. On her feet are
white socks and embroidered shoes. Her makeup is simple, except
for three red circles, yonji konji, the size of nickels.
These circles, traditionally made of red peppers, but now often
drawn on, are supposed to ward off evil spirits. The groom's
faruotsu is also the dress of the nobility. It is made of dark
green damask with auspicious symbols woven in gold. The headdress
is the tall black cap of high-ranking officials made of silk. Traditional
costumes can be rented in Korean dress shops or even some banquet
halls starting around $150.
The Ceremony
Traditionally, the groom would give a live
goose--a symbol of fidelity because it takes only one partner in
its life--to his new mother-in-law as a sign of his faithfulness
to her daughter. Today's Korean families substitute the live goose
with a wooden one called a kirogi. The ceremony takes place
around a table, or teresan, in an area set off by a screen
with images of peonies. The highlight of the ceremony is the sharing
of a special white wine called jung jong. Traditionally,
this wine was poured into cups made from two halves of a gourd grown
by the bride's mother. The bride and groom sip from their separate
cups and then the wine is mixed together, poured once more into
the gourd cups and sipped again. This is kunbere, the wedding vow.
One ritual often seen at Korean American weddings is the peh
beck ceremony. At this ceremony, usually only attended by
family and close friends, the new wife offers her new in-laws gifts
of dried dates and jujubes, symbols of children. They in
turn offer her tea, a subtle but significant gift. At the ceremony's
conclusion, they toss the dates and chestnuts at the bride, and
she tries to catch them in her large skirt.
The Food
The Korean wedding banquet is called kook
soo sang, the "noodle banquet," and can include a
variety of dishes to suit the season. It begins with a toast of
jung jong, a sort of Korean sake, downed quickly like a
shot. The highlight is the meal's namesake, a noodle soup called
kook soo. Wheat noodles are boiled and added to a clear
beef broth, garnished with vegetables and eggs. Here, as in China,
noodles are a wish for a long and happy life. Wedding desserts often
include dok, a sticky rice cake that comes in a number of forms--sweetened,
filled with bean paste, dotted with sesame seeds. Another popular
dessert is yak shik, a sticky rice ball sweetened with brown sugar
and speckled with chestnuts, jujubes, raisins and pine nuts, symbols
of children.
Looking for a sweet and delicious wedding theme? Laduree - Paris just might be what you're looking for. Instead of Tiffany's Blue box and white ribbon theme, follow Laduree's light green theme with gold details. Add a desert table filled with petite fours and french macrons. Maybe follow the Laduree wedding cake and make their famous cone tower cake covered with your favorite flavored macaron. To see more of Laduree, visit the site here.
