KB Weddings is a new series that features couples and their beautiful weddings. Whether it be a traditional Korean wedding with richly-hued hanboks, or an offbeat wedding with a quirky theme, we’d love to share your wedding with our readers! Submit here.

From a sweet proposal in Central Park, to an intimate wedding ceremony at Brentwood Presbyterian Church and a “Super Moon”-lit courtyard reception by the Pacific Ocean, Hanna and George were able to celebrate their nuptial affair in just the personal, laid-back atmosphere they had hoped for.

The couple’s festive-themed reception at the Annenberg Beach House perfectly reflected the date of their special event, and thanks to a wonderful team, Hanna was able to turn the all-white flower wedding that she had always envisioned into a charming reality.

Ethan Yang Photography was there to capture Hanna and George’s ideal, low-key wedding.

How and when did you meet? First Impressions?

We like to compare our relationship to “When Harry Met Sally” – we were friends for a long time…and then we weren’t. We first met when I moved to LA from NY in 2005 and were introduced by my cousins. We really were friends for several years, though it’s become a bit of a joke among our friends as to when we actually started dating. As we spent more time together, I guess you could say the attraction was difficult to mask. We like to think when we finally did move forward, it was the right time and for the right reasons.

What was the proposal like?

The proposal really was a surprise. We had planned a trip to NY to celebrate our one year anniversary and my birthday. Two weeks prior to NY, I had been in Japan for work and during that week, unbeknownst to me, George had traveled to see and ask my parents for their blessing. After a busy week of meeting up with friends and visiting old haunts, we headed for a walk in Central Park. It was a beautiful fall day, and all of Manhattan seemed to be at the park. Little did I know George was fervently scoping out quiet places. Finally, we found a small shaded bench tucked away from the crowds…where he got on one knee. It was simple and sweet.(And knowing George, it had a few comical moments.) A proposal in my favorite city. With my favorite guy. Perfection.

George & I were on the same page when it came to planning our wedding – we wanted a simple and intimate affair that reflected both George’s laid-back nature and my affinity for modern aesthetics. We chose May 5th to provide an early summer setting for our nuptials. It was a bonus that it coincided with Children’s Day (어린이날 – which our parents loved) and the festive vibe of Cinco de Mayo. A church ceremony was an absolute must, and Brentwood Presbyterian Church provided just the right feeling of solemnity and intimacy. Once we pictured our guests enjoying beachside cocktails at sunset, an oceanfront reception at the Annenberg Beach House with the Pacific Ocean and palm trees as a backdrop was too much to pass up.

We were very hands-on with all aspects of our wedding, though not being naturally “crafty,” taking on many of the DIY details was definitely challenging. Luckily, we had some very creative friends who helped with ideas and projects along the way. We had ordered a custom stamp of our initials “H&G” and used the monogram as the basis for many of our wedding details including the invitations, programs, place settings, cake, decorations, and thank you cards. I had always envisioned an all-white flower wedding, and some amazing friends helped put together my vision including the bouquets, pew decorations, and the varying layers of flower-filled vases for the reception. The surroundings and date helped inspire various other details. Having the ocean just steps away inspired the incorporation of blues and grays as accent colors. As well, pinwheels were used as place cards to signify fresh summer breezes. Our Spanish-themed menu and all-Mexican beer and sangria bar were obviously influenced by our Cinco de Mayo date.

I never thought I’d be the bride who ends up with a dress completely opposite of what she intended, but that indeed turned out to be the case. I went looking for a sheath (given our beachside soiree), and ended up with a ball gown. I figured it was simple yet elegant, and the silhouette was timeless. Plus the dress had pockets! Other than my sparkly shoes, accessories were at a minimum – vintage pearls, and as a remembrance, my maternal grandmother’s favorite brooch on my bouquet. George kept it simple with a sharp new suit, skinny tie and spiffy oxfords. To keep things low-key I asked my bridesmaids to wear any black dress of their choice. Each of theirbouquets was customized for their favorite white flowers. The groomsmen wore black suits and we provided them with the neckties and socks to tie the looks together.

The wedding day revealed one blessing after another. Literally the clouds parted and it was a perfectly warm and sunny day. As an added delight, we had the “Super Moon” shining down on our courtyard reception in the evening. Our wonderful bridal party and team of friends and vendors helped bring everything together to ensure George and I could freely enjoy our day. And most of all, we said our “I do’s” and then celebrated amidst the people we love the most (including friends and family who traveled across the country).

Any advice for newly-engaged couples?

Really decide what works for you – for your budget and as a couple. Don’t worry so much about details that no one will know is missing but you. I felt the pressure of make my wedding “the most unique and special event ever”…but realistically I just had to focus on making it our own. Your family and friends will be there to celebrate you as a couple – not their parting favors or how their napkins are folded. What everyone will remember are all the tears, laughs and hugs shared. Oh. And maybe the cake.

Hanna and George, and thanks for sharing your wedding with us!

Photography: Ethan Yang Photography / Venue: Brentwood Presbyterian Church, Annenberg Beach House (Marion Davies Guest House) / Catering: GOE Catering / Wedding Cake: Susiecakes / Day of Coordinator: Jennifer Shin, SAVVY / DJ: Derrick Cho / Dress: Priscilla of Boston / Suit: Ermenegildo Zegna / Hair, Makeup: Sung Park & Team

KB Weddings is a new series that features couples and their beautiful weddings. Whether it be a traditional Korean wedding with richly-hued hanboks, or an offbeat wedding with a quirky theme, we’d love to share your wedding with our readers! Submit here.

When Julie first met Dan, she thought he was such a catch and immediately thought of which one of her friends she could set him up with. At the time, little did she know that they were destined to be with each other!

Photographed by Ethan Yang Photography, Julie and Dan’s wedding was picture-perfect at the Montecito Country Club in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA.Dan and I first met when I was living in Washington DC. He was traveling through the city while on a road trip with his two best friends. We were introduced by one of his traveling buddies who had been a long time friend of mine. We kept in touch, but since we lived on separate coasts it became more and more infrequent. After about two years, I decided I needed a change and found myself moving to LA. After he got wind of this, he immediately volunteered to be my tour guide. After spending one day together in LA, we fell for each other and have been inseparable since.I’m very particular so as you can imagine, finding a dress was near impossible. After countless searches, I still couldn’t find “the one”. I either loved the top or bottom of a dress, but never both, so I had my dress custom-made. The result was my dream dress. I couldn’t imagine being married in anything else.

The weekend was supposed to be a quick trip to San Francisco to ring in the New Year with Dan’s friends. Dan wanted to take me on a tour of the city since it was my first time in San Francisco and casually mentioned Golden Gate Park. I was extremely reluctant; it was cold, rainy and miserable. He played it cool by suggesting that we could try something else, but he made the argument that I shouldn’t let the rain ruin my first trip to SF. I loved his enthusiasm so I agreed.

When we pulled into Golden Gate Park, I was so happy we went. Even with the drizzling rain, it was beautiful there. As soon as we got out of the cab, the skies cleared and the rain stopped. I guess God was doing Dan a favor. We started walking around taking pictures of the beautiful scenery when Dan stopped me in front of the Zen Garden, grabbed my hands, got on his knee, and proposed. It was perfect. After ten minutes, the rain started up again and we ran for cover. As soon as we walked out of the park, a taxi pulled up. Once again, the timing couldn’t have been better. After our private romantic lunch at Murray Circle, we were greeted by all of his friends with a huge bottle of champagne!The Montecito Country Club in Santa Barbara offered the perfect backdrop for our wedding. One of our top priorities was for it to be a fun, scenic destination for our guests. We had friends and family flying in from all parts of the world, so we wanted to make sure they really enjoyed their stay. It is also where Dan and I spent our first weekend getaway, and it had grown to be one of our favorite towns. The interior space showcased huge wrought iron chandeliers in every room. The mix of the traditional Spanish style architecture, and the flowy white draping, pink flowers and amber lighting created a perfectly romantic, intimate feel. For details, I wanted a vintage look with modern twists. There were bundles of pink hydrangeas, garden roses and dahlias were adorned with succulents, displayed in vintage silver vessels. I’m a girly girl who loves pink, so that was a must for the flowers.The best advice I received was to schedule specific times during the day to regroup with your new husband or wife and let the moment sink in. I was warned that the day of your wedding would fly by. If you don’t stop and take mental pictures, you will not remember a thing. Now looking back, the times when Dan and I took a quiet moment to pull ourselves aside, scan the crowd, and give each other a kiss are exactly what stands out in my memory.

Thanks Julie and Dan for sharing your wedding with us!

Photography: Ethan Yang Photography / Venue: Montecito Country Club, Santa Barbara, CA / Dress: ShinBu Wedding / Hair, Makeup: Jessica Lee / Day of Coordinator: Donna Romani / Flowers, Lighting, Décor: Ambient Events / DJ: AMS Entertainment

Korean Food USA is a new series that showcases Korean and Korean-inspired eateries all around the nation.

CHAM Korean Bistro in Pasadena, CA puts a modern American twist on popular Korean dishes. “CHAM” directly translates into “meal for the workers,” but at this bistro, “CHAM” embodies its philosophy of providing “well-prepared meals for a healthy mind and body.” As a result, CHAM doesn’t use any MSG or high fructose corn syrup.

CHAM’s menu is broken down into general categories of dishes (i.e. salad, noodles, bibimbap, etc) from which you can choose one that suit your tastes. Deliciously distinctive dishes on CHAM’s menu include their BBQ + garden platters and tofu pockets.

CHAM’s BBQ + garden platters are loose interpretations of the traditional Korean ssam. Here, you can have your choice of seven BBQ options (we recommend the seared ahi and kalbi bbq). The garden platters come with buckwheat noodles and an array of vegetables, which include butter lettuce, radish pickles, and sesame leaves.

Tofu pockets are stuffed with sweet rice and topped with your choice of pickled seaweed, spicy tuna (highly recommended!), blue crab, and arugula & radish. At only $1.50 each, CHAM’s tofu pockets are highly addictive, and it’s hard to just stop at one.

CHAM’s menu is also vegetarian-conscious and lists vegetarian options for many of its dishes. Some vegetarian favorites are the watermelon arugula salad, crispy spicy rice cakes, and California bibimbap with seared tofu.

With clean presentations and inventive dishes, CHAM is a great option for those looking to experience Korean food in a casual and contemporary setting.

Tip: Mention that you have AAA membership and get 10% off your bill!

CHAM Korean Bistro
851 Cordova St.
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 792-2474
www.chamkoreanbistro.com

[Photos: Cham]

Korean Food USA is a new series that showcases Korean and Korean-inspired eateries all around the nation.

With a Korean mayor running for Congress and its first ever Korean Cultural Festival this Saturday (1/14), Irvine, CA is quickly growing into a cultural hub for young Korean Americans in Orange County. More and more Korean Americans are moving into this residential haven for its great schools and safe streets, and in turn, Korean food has become a popular choice of dining for Koreans and non-Koreans alike.

Emerging from the rest of the competition is Kaya Restaurant. With a “mom and pop shop” atmosphere, Kaya brings back memories of home-cooked meals. The décor has a 1950s Korea feel to it with wooden dividers and Korean script paneling. Its service is friendly and borderline motherly; waitresses often come around with advice of which banchan is especially good for the day.

Some might trivialize the role of banchan in a Korean meal, but Kaya shows that having great banchan can be reason enough to come back for an encore. Kaya has amazing banchan like gamja jorim (braised potatoes), pajeon (fried pancake with green onions), and oi muchim (cucumber kimchi). The waitresses are more than happy to refill your banchan so feel free to ask for more!

Kaya’s menu has a wide range of Korean dishes, but where Kaya shines the most is in its soontofu. Its soontofu is much thicker with more robust flavors, which contrasts well with its silky smooth tofu. The dumpings in Kaya’s mandu soontofu are homemade and helps even out the spiciness of the stew. Other customer favorites include yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) and yukheo dolsot bibimbap (bibimbap with sliced raw beef in a hot stone pot).

Conveniently located right off of the 5 freeway, Kaya is a great option for those living in Orange County who are craving authentic Korean food but don’t want to make the trip up to L.A.

Kaya Restaurant
14120 Culver Dr. Ste. G
Irvine, CA 92604
(949) 726-9424