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

KAs@Work is a new series that profiles Korean Americans and their jobs. Want to share what you do, or know of people with interesting jobs? Get in touch.

Yul Kwon, most famous for winning Survivor: Cook Islands in 2006, has already had more than the average person’s share of life experiences. Still, he aspires to become a sort of modern Renaissance man, constantly seeking new career opportunities in varying industries.

Now, Yul, who admits to having “career ADD,” adds the title of “TV host” to his extensive resume with his new shows, LinkAsia and PBS’s America Revealed. Read on to hear Yul talk about his new projects, parenthood, and his thoughts on the role of Asian Americans in the media.

When we showcased your 2009 wedding in our KB Weddings series, your daughter was about to turn one. How has life changed since becoming a father? How do you balance parenthood with your active work schedule?

I guess the biggest change in my life is that I get a lot less sleep, but being a father is an amazing experience. Genevie is the apple of my eye even if she doesn’t seem to regard me as an authority so much as a means of transportation. I think she thinks I’m a glorified Sherpa. Balancing family with work is tough though. I started filming my PBS series, America Revealed, soon after she was born so I spent a lot of the first year of her life on the road. Every time I came back home, I’d be stunned at how much she’d grown. But on the bright side, when I’m home, I get to spend a lot of time with her. I’m hoping that the quality time we spend together makes up for the periodic absences.

You’ve practiced law, worked for Google, worked as Deputy Chief of the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Bureau, and also appeared and won Survivor: Cook Islands back in 2006. What drives you to constantly search for positions in varying industries?

I’ve always felt that it was important to challenge myself by putting myself into different situations that would force me to grow. By nature, I tend to be more fearful of risk and uncertainty, and I’ve learned through the course of my life that I have to constantly keep on pushing myself out of my comfort zone or else I’ll withdraw into a shell. I also really believe in having diverse experiences in order to grow as a person and to broaden your skill sets. I’ve always admired the ideal of the polymath or Renaissance Man, which is a notion that seems to have fallen out of favor in today’s world of narrow specialization.

You’re now the host of LinkAsia and PBS’s America Revealed. What can you tell us about your new career path on television?

It’s still really kind of surprising to me that I ended up on television. I was the last person I’d ever imagine in the media given how shy and introverted I was growing up. I still don’t really think of myself as someone who is naturally suited for TV, but I feel lucky to have these opportunities that don’t come often to people in our community. I don’t feel a desire to be on television for its own sake, but mass media is still the most effective platform for engaging people and informing their views. As long as I keep finding opportunities to use media to make a difference, I’d love to continue in this path. Otherwise, I may have to give in to my parents by going back to school and getting my Ph.D. Although, I think that ship has already sailed.

Yul at La Tomatina en Reno, the largest tomato fight in the U.S.

America Revealed premiered last Wednesday (4/11). What are some things that viewers can expect to learn from the show?

American Revealed is a new series that reveals America’s fascination with thongs, bikinis, and Speedos. Just kidding. It’s actually about the hidden systems and networks that we all depend on everyday but don’t really understand how they work as well as what happens when they don’t work. Over four weeks, we explore four different systems – food, transportation, energy, and manufacturing. It sounds like it could be dry, but believe me, it’s a fascinating and highly visual experience. We use some out-of-the-world aerial photography, computer animation, GPS technology, and other stunts to bring these topics to life in a way you’ve never seen before. It’s like visual eye-candy.

Are there any particular stories that really stood out during your journey?

My favorite story was about the urban farmer in Detroit named Will Gardner. He is a young African American man who decided to learn horticulture and plant crops in abandoned lots in his inner-city neighborhood. Detroit has been hit particularly hard by the economic downturn, and many areas of the city have been abandoned. Many inner-city residents can’t get access to healthy foods because the major grocery chains and supermarkets won’t open in their neighborhoods. So there’s been a grass-roots revolution where people like Will are taking it upon themselves to grow the produce that their communities need. He’s an amazing guy and is someone who also tries to use gardening to teach kids in his community a better way to live.

America Revealed, Episode 1: Yul with urban farmer Will Gardner

Did your definition or perception of “America” or of an “American” change while filming the show?

It did. I spent most of my life in larger metropolitan areas on the coasts where there is typically a lot more diversity, especially in terms of Asian Americans. While filming America Revealed, we went to more than 25 states, many of which I’d never visited before, including the Deep South, the Midwest heartland, and parts of Alaska. Some of these areas don’t have many Asian Americans, and it was eye opening to meet people for whom talking to an Asian American (much less an Asian American TV host) was a relatively novel experience.

On one hand, it was inspiring to meet people from so many different walks of life and backgrounds who all held this abiding belief and pride in being American.  On the other hand, it also underscored the fact that we still have a while to go in terms of overcoming the perpetual “foreigner” stereotype. Although everyone was friendly and welcoming, I still got a lot of questions like, “Where are you from? No, where are you really from?” A couple of times, I even got complimented on how well I spoke English. They were even more impressed when I told them that I’d only been studying English for a year.

For me, experiences like these reaffirmed my decision to host this show. One of the reasons I decided to take on this project is that, as far as I know, this is the first national series about America that will be hosted by an Asian American man, let alone a Korean American man. My hope is that by seeing someone like me hosting a show like America Revealed, more people outside our community will see us, first and foremost, as Americans rather than as foreigners.

Tell us a little about LinkAsia and how it differs from other news outlets.

LinkAsia tries to fill a gap that isn’t being met by commercial news organizations in America. Events and trends in Asia tend to receive only the most superficial news coverage, and it’s often filtered through a U.S.-centric lens. We cover Asia starting with the premise that Asia is and will increasingly become one of the most important regions of the world and a key driver of global developments. We try to provide more insightful coverage of Asia by offering unfiltered news from mainstream Asian news broadcasters as well as the latest buzz on social media. This is supplemented by original contributions from reporters out in the field as well as interviews with policy experts. All told, what LinkAsia provides is a pulse into Asia that you couldn’t get anywhere else unless you lived there.

Asia consists of a very large number of nations that carry starkly different policies and perspectives. How does LinkAsia maintain a fair (re)presentation of incidents or issues that involve countries in Asia on opposite sides?

That’s always the challenge especially in the context of a weekly half-hour show. Our approach is to try to present both sides whenever possible so that the audience can see for itself how news outlets in different countries will report on the same issue. For example, in a dispute between China and Japan, we might show how the state-run Chinese broadcaster CCTV reports on the incident followed by a story by the Japanese broadcaster NHK.

Who are some guests you’d love to meet and interview? What are some issues you’d love to tackle on your show?

We’ve been able to bring on some great interviewees for the show including policy experts, reporters, activists, academics, and others. I’d love to eventually start interviewing the policymakers in these countries as well as some of our own. Interviewing someone like Aung San Suu Kyi or Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would be a dream. In terms of issues, we’ve covered the whole gamut, from politics and economics to culture and entertainment. At this point, there aren’t any specific issues I’m hoping to tackle since we usually cover the topics I think we should. But it would be great, I think, to have more in-depth discussions and roundtables and more long-form investigative reporting that allows us to go deeper into complex issues.

We wouldn’t be surprised to hear that in a couple years you’d be working on something new. What are some types of projects you’re interested in getting involved with?

Is it that obvious that I have career ADD? I hope my parents don’t read this. In terms of my future, I can’t really say for sure what I’ll be doing. As long as I keep finding opportunities to use media in a way that I feel is impactful and makes a difference, I’d love to continue along this trajectory. I’d also be keen to do something that I haven’t done before but have always wanted to do which is to start a company. But most of all, I’m hoping that within a couple of years, my biggest project will be taking care of Baby Number 2.

Follow Yul Kwon on Facebook or Twitter.
America Revealed airs on Wednesdays at 10/9c on PBS. Watch Episode 1 on America’s “Food Machine” online.
LinkAsia airs Fridays at 6:30 p.m. PT/9:30 p.m. ET on LinkTV as well as streams online.

[Photos: (wedding photo) Kenny Kim, Jeff Ross/PBS, America Revealed, LinkAsia]

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

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.

Sleek modern taste with a hint of whimsy. That’s how we would describe Sun-a and Brian’s wedding at the Westmount Country Club in New Jersey.

Accented with nuances of purples and rich pinks, their wedding was beautiful. From personalized invitations and name cards to individual cupcakes in lieu of a wedding cake, Sun-a and Brian showed that putting in hard work can produce great results.

Check out the pair’s stunning wedding photos captured by Ethan Yang Photography.

What was the proposal like?

Brian: For me, the proposal was something that needed to be memorable and individually special for Sun-a. She had mentioned that she wanted to celebrate her engagement with her friends and family as well as hinted how special it would be to get engaged on her birthday in October. After secretly meeting with her parents for their permission and arduously picking out the simplest and brightest diamond, I planned to show her a video of our lives before dating, while dating, and ending with a future picture our hopeful wedding day, all in the form of arts-n-crafts figures and stop-motion.

Brian: On the day of her birthday, we started the day with a relaxing spa and massage followed by a formal lunch in the City at a historic restaurant. Afterwards, we ventured to her brothers’ condo, which had a built-in movie theatre and watched one of her favorite movies The Wizard of Oz. When she asked if there was anything else, I told her there was one more thing. I anxiously tried to set up the video on the big screen but to no avail, nervously pacing back and forth with the ring behind her chair. We had to watch the engagement video on the computer! Another thing she wanted was to have the engagement taped so I gave her an HD video camera as a birthday gift and proceeded to record the engagement unbeknownst to her. She did not initially understand the meaning of the wedding picture at the end of the video. It wasn’t until I was on bended knee and asking her to marry me that she finally understood the purpose of the video and said yes. After some more tears, she met her closest friends and family who were waiting to celebrate that special day with her.

Sun-a: For my bridal party, I wanted to make sure they felt comfortable and looked amazing. So, instead of dressing the bridal party in traditional attire, we thought outside the box. My vision from the beginning was to dress the bridesmaids in a two-piece outfit. Think more sweet and less stuffy in terms of style and fabric. We ended up picking a scalloped lace skirt in the prettiest blush pink color and a light silk camisole.

Weddings can be similar and repetitive, and there’s is nothing wrong with that, but we decided to pay attention to the subtle details to make it our own. We wanted to create a whimsical environment where our guests could feel warm and even fall in love all over again. We wanted to not only focus on us and our union, but also celebrate love in general. It was important to us that our venue was cozy and intimate. We loved the fire place at the Westmount Country Club and that the back wall had windows from the ceiling to the floor, which let in a lot of sunlight. It was the first venue we looked at and immediately fell in love.

Sun-a: For our reception, we didn’t want to be separated from our loved ones by being seated at a sweetheart table. We wanted to be immersed in the party and be totally accessible all night. Luckily, our florist was gracious enough to put together a few rectangular tables that were big enough to seat us, our entire bridal party of ten, and all of their dates. It was by far one of the best decisions we made.

Advice for newly-engaged couples?

Sun-a: This first bit of advice is that after the securing the big things – venue, food, photographer, music, etc., there are many little things that will need to be decided and taken care of so remember to enjoy this time as well. The engagement period is the time to plan and prepare a wedding, but being engaged is also a part of a couple’s engagement that is different, unique, and special. It is a transitional time – the honeymoon before the honeymoon, a period of excitement of renewed joy of a loving relationship.

Furthermore, as busy as the wedding planning can become, do not forget about each other. As necessary as it is to please everyone else, a wedding is also a momentous celebration of a committed and joyful relationship. It is the one party that a couple can have that is dedicated solely to each other. The wedding day is not the end, but the beginning of marriage. As our pastor astutely reminded us, the promise of “I do” made on the weeding day is not for that day, but for the eternal days that follow.

Thanks Sun-a and Brian for sharing your special day with us!

Photography: Ethan Yang Photography / Venue: The Westmount Country Club / Make-up/Hair: Amy Chin / Dress: Vera Wang

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.

Planning a wedding is always stressful, but just imagine planning two weddings in two different countries! Haram and Hong Jin did just that, and the result was beautiful. Haram and Hong found that great balance between honoring Korean tradition and keeping their own personal preferences.

Photographed by the one and only Kenny Kim, check out how a romance that spanned two continents finally came together on May 22, 2011 at The Rookery Chicago.

How Hong and Harem met…

Hong and I first met in May 2010. I was working as an English instructor in Korea, and Hong was visiting to check out business opportunities. A common friend introduced us, and we always hung out with a group of friends. The day before he had to go back to Chicago, he formally asked me out, promising me that he’ll come back in a month if I said yes. In exactly a month later, he came back to be with me. When he came back to Korea for me, I realized he was a man of his word. We dated officially after, and we soon realized that we were meant to be together.

The proposal…

The proposal was surprisingly very Korean. By that I mean, Hong formally asked my parents for my hand in marriage and got their blessing. Then, his mother came to Korea for a Sang Gyun Rye, a traditional formal meeting of both families where they decide the details of the wedding such as when it will be, who will pay for what, and etc. The wedding date was actually set before his formal proposal to me! On October 17th, 2010, after a dinner at the Signature Room at the John Hancock Observatory, we went on a very romantic carriage ride at Michigan Avenue. He popped out the ring and said, “Let’s live happily forever,” and of course, I said “Yes.”

The wedding in Chicago was a dream come true all over again since Hong and I had already tied the knot in Korea for our Korean family members and guests. To be honest, the wedding in Korea was more of a formality, and we didn’t really get to enjoy ourselves; more than 800 guests attended, and we didn’t even get to meet and greet most of them! That’s why Hong and I really wanted a intimate and personal wedding in the States that truly celebrated our nuptials.

We decided to have another ceremony in Chicago at The Rookery, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. Everyone really liked our wedding favors, which were towels embroidered with our wedding date and our names- yes, it was very Korean, but very practical :]  Couple weeks after our ceremony, we went to go watch Transformers 3 and the Rookery showed up, and we were like, “Hey, we got married there!”

Advice for newly engaged couples?

PLAN AHEAD! Planning a wedding is no joke, and planning two weddings taught us how to work together and plan ahead. Be very firm about RSVP dates. Most Korean people seem to apply the “Korean time” rule with even invitation, and it can get very frustrating to deal with last minute can/cannot attends. But most importantly, enjoy each moment! In the end, you’re going to look back and realize that all the emails, guest listings, stamp lickings, and double and triple checks were all worth it because your wedding day was just perfect.

Big thanks to Hong and Haram for sharing your wedding with us!

Photography: Kenny Kim of Kenny Kim Photography / Ceremony: The Rookery Chicago / Makeup & Hair: Park Jun Beauty Lab / Dress and Head Piece: Ms. Hong-Sil Lim / Flowers: Mrs. Myonsil Lee of Bill’s Grove Florist / Catering: Jewell Catering / Cake: Jerome Ketzback of Laury’s Bakery

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.

Pops of pretty purple, a symbolic butterfly release (it’s supposed to represent a couple’s evolving relationship, among many other things), kimbab and kimchi hors d’oeuvres, and a playful cake in the shape of an antique beer pitcher. Plenty of details went into Ashley and Jeff’s wedding at the Barn at Boone’s Dam in Bloomsburg, PA.

Captured by Carden’s Photography, Ashley and Jeff’s wedding on June 3rd 2011 was nothing short of amazing. Plus, the goofy duo totally swept us off our feet with their “Border Brews” cake. Cheers!

Big thanks to Ashley and Jeff for sharing their wedding with us!

Photography: Carden’s Photography / Venue: The Barn at Boone’s Dam

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.

Both Brian and Sara went back to their respective roots (Brian, the Midwest; Sara, Korea) for their stunning weddings at Praise Presbyterian Church, in Somerset, NJ.  Yup, the quirky duo had two weddings—both wonderfully shot by Jonathan R. Tan of Dreamlite Photography—to celebrate their love.

First, Brian and Sara held a traditional Paebaek ceremony, where they proceeded with the tea ritual, exchanging of the bows, throwing of the dates (the more you catch, the more kids you’ll have, as my halmoni says!), and the feast. Following their Paebaek, the couple tied the knot again and had a wild reception at Somerset Hills Hotel, where Brian and Sara donned cowboy hats and whipped out moves to “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.” Two words describe this wedding: Country Seoul.

We had two weddings, a Korean traditional one to celebrate with our church, as Brian was the youth group pastor there, and a Western-style wedding to celebrate with our friends and family. We wanted to bring in both of our cultures to the wedding(s), so during the Western-style wedding we had our wedding party dressed up in cowboy hats and we all did some two-stepping to “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.”

Big thanks to Brian and Sara for sharing their wedding with us!

Photography: Jonathan R. Tan of Dreamlite Photography / Ceremony: Praise Presbyterian Church / Reception: Somerset Hills Hotel

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.

Calvin asked, and Lizz said “Yes,” immediately beginning a long journey of choosing the right venue, dress, cake, photographer, etc, etc. But by the looks of it, it seems like Calvin and Lizz didn’t let the pressure of planning a wedding get the best of them.

Indeed, with the help of their supportive family and friends, the lovely couple found the perfect vendors, including photographer Kenny Kim who worked his wedding wizardry, yet again, for their big day on July 23, 2011 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Mount Prospect, IL.

How and when did you meet?

To keep a long story short, we met at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  We had mutual friends, went to the same church, and even lived in the same dorm (directly above/below each other!) for four years!  We were just friends and respected one another.  We don’t remember our first impressions of one another, but we thought the other person was nice and fun.  :)

Videography by Henry Wu.

Two words come to mind when we think about our wedding: ‘community’ and ‘blessed.’  Although the two words seem completely unrelated to one another, we wholeheartedly believe that the two go hand-in-hand.  From the beginning of our relationship, we have been blessed with a wonderful community of family and friends who supported us in every aspect of our lives, both individually and as a couple.  That support only grew more evident as we prepared for our wedding and marriage.  All the love and support of this amazing community of family and friends—not to mention everyone’s hard work throughout the wedding planning process—came together on our special day!  We are still overwhelmed by all the love and support… we’re so thankful to be blessed with this awesome community.

Elizabeth and Calvin’s advice for newly-engaged couples:

Take it one step at a time.  Never sit down and write a list of all the things you have to do; otherwise, you will be overwhelmed and…cry. Don’t be afraid to ask others for help, because most people really do want to support you in some way.  Be a part of your families’ and friends’ lives (it’s so easy to get lost in all the wedding planning).  And finally, don’t let the wedding become the main focus of your relationship; continuing being friends, love and laugh with each other, spend quality time together (without mentioning the wedding)… continue building your friendship/relationship, because although the wedding is a most important day in both of your lives, it is still one day out of the many you will spend together.  :)

Big thanks to Calvin and Lizz for sharing their wedding with us!

Photography: Kenny Kim Photography / Ceremony: Trinity United Methodist Church / Reception: New Furama Restaurant / Makeup: Mary Yu / Hair: Marissa Julin at The Bridal Beauty Salon / Dress: Here Comes the Bride / Tux: Formally Modern / Floral: A Always Lou’s Florist /  Cake: Eliza Williamson at Swedish Bakery / Videographer: Henry Wu / DJ: Andy Set / Photobooth: Party Booths

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.

Haime and Michael said their “I do’s” on May 14, 2001 at The Graycliff in Moonachie, N.J. But before the main festivities, the smiley pair had a gorgeous photo session at Fort Lee Historic Park, which has a scenic view of the George Washington Bridge. Get ready to swoon!

Photographic perfection to a T by Bōm Photography.

Thanks to Haime and Michael for sharing their wedding day with us!

Photography: Bōm Photography / Ceremony and Reception: The Graycliff / Makeup & Hair: Vicky C5

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.

Earl and Mandy met while skydiving at a friend’s birthday party and, after surviving the leap together, they flew to a resort in Bali, where Earl proposed to Mandy after getting his future-in-laws’ blessings.

With their track record you’d expect the adventurous duo to have a wild wedding, but behold, Earl and Mandy had a calm and peaceful wedding ceremony in Chicago, Earl’s hometown, on the morning of July 30, 2011. There to capture the intimate celebration was photographer Kenny Kim.

Our wedding took place on Saturday July 30, 2011, a beautiful afternoon as the sun beamed across the endless blue sky of Chicago, IL.  Beginning bright and early, the bridal party took pictures along the beautiful lake shore trails surrounding the Northwestern University campus.  Following a brief bout with unexpected traffic, we headed to Saints Faith, Hope, and Charity Catholic Parish for our morning ceremony.  This was followed by a reception at Meridian Banquets where we all sang and danced the night away!

What made our nuptials unique?

Mandy: Planning a wedding while living in a different city, let alone one that is a thousand miles away, is not something I would wish upon anyone.  That being said, I think this is what made our nuptials truly unique.  While this did cause a few extra stressful nights, it often brought Earl and I that much closer, solidified as a team to create our dream wedding.

How and when did you meet?

Mandy: If you can believe it, we first met while skydiving at a mutual friend’s birthday outing in Texas. It was the first time either of us had gone skydiving and while we didn’t get a chance to talk much that day, the meeting clearly left an impression!

What was the proposal like?

Earl: I proposed to Mandy at the Nusa Dua Beach Resort in Bali, Indonesia.  We were on our summer vacation with Mandy’s parents and it was my first visit to Mandy’s home country. After checking in and surveying the resort, I stumbled upon a gazebo surrounded by lush trees and a flowing stream of water — I immediately knew that was it.

The following morning, after informing her dad of my plans, we all walked down together for breakfast.  Unable to come up with a plausible reason to excuse ourselves, Mandy’s dad came to the rescue and suggested that we enjoy the beautiful morning and take a stroll around the resort.  I then took the opportunity to show Mandy the gazebo but as we got close, I realized there were groundskeepers everywhere blowing leaves and tending to the grass. So we waited. And waited.  After what felt like eternity, we were alone.  I got down on one knee, eyes swelling with water, and asked her to marry me. Fortunately, she said yes and as they say, the rest is history!

Earl: Early on in planning the wedding, I knew that if there was one thing I wanted, it was to have the wedding in Chicago.  While most of this had to do with my family, the only thing I could think about was having my grandmother there.  Growing up in Chicago, my grandmother took care of my brother and I as my parents tirelessly worked to establish their business and provide for us.  As a result, as soon as Mandy and I were engaged, I prayed constantly that my grandmother would have the strength to attend our wedding.  When it was finally the day of the wedding, my grandmother was seated right in front, lovingly looking upon us as we exchanged our vows.  To this day, I am incredibly grateful for the love and support Mandy showed in understanding my desire to have our wedding in Chicago.

Earl and Mandy’s advice for newly-engaged couples:
Try not to get frustrated with the planning, enjoy the little things, embrace the new, and fall in love every day!

Huge thanks to Earl and Mandy for sharing their wedding with us!

Photography: Kenny Kim Photography / Ceremony: Saints Faith, Hope & Charity Catholic Parish / Reception: Meridian Banquets / Makeup: Nicole Ventura / Hair: Mia Aezaz / Dress: Enzoani / Floral: Wilmette Flowers / Videographer: Chris and Oliver Cinema / Entertainment: Endless Entertainment Chicago / Photobooth: Photobooth Express