emotions aside, the aesthetic of both the ceremony and reception were so distinctive, fresh, and included both antique and modern trends. the ceremony was held at the First Congregational Church in Downtown L.A., a very European-style old church built of stone and stained glass windows. part of the reason I loved it so much was because it was reminiscent - it reminded me of the churches in Prague. with a classy white dress and seven bridesmaids and groomsmen in pink and pink ties, respectively, the ceremony really emanated a clean and fresh modern take inside an archaic stone building.
it was so endearing to see my uncle walk Chrissy down the aisle. her dress was simple in color, but it well-played a modern take on a vintage idea: a stream of white flowers subtly cascading diagonally around her dress. in the age of shorter dresses in weddings, it was just really exquisite to see.
there were so many tears during the ceremony - especially when Chrissy and Paul gave both their parents hugs right before the conclusion. they both cried, as did their parents (and much of the audience), which spoke to me and reminded me of the significance of the moment. for the audience and witnesses, it was another day, another nice wedding to go to. for these two people, it was the first day together as a family.
afterwards, the reception was held at the Wilshire Grand Hotel nearby, also in downtown. it was a nice quick break between the two realms of emotion - driving around downtown might be a little daunting especially for a beginning driver like me, but it's so fun to take in all the views of the skyscrapers, shops, and people.
during the interim period as everyone waited for the bridesmaids, groomsmen, and bride and groom to appear, hors d'oeuvres and champagne was served - and in abundance, too! (it's always a bit of a letdown to stand in a line only to see empty plates and bowls on a table). this was definitely one of the plus sides of the wedding - not because I am so dedicated to having my appetizer before a meal, but because it shows how much thought and effort the planners put in the making of the wedding ceremony and reception.
when the doors to the ballroom opened, everybody found a small name card with a number indicating which table to sit at. naturally, I was sat at table fifteen - with my cousins. now two of my cousins - Stephanie and Jonathan (three including Chrissy, but that's a little self-explanatory) - were missing from the table because they were in the wedding, as they are Chrissy's younger siblings. I'm closest to these two (three) on my dad's side, so instead of talking with them I was able to reconnect with my older cousins, most of whom have their own kids (thanks for making me a cool aunt!).
the reception was a blast and seemed completely perfect and flawless. the MC was hilarious and there were tons of fun activities. of the 300+ guests, the majority was Chrissy's friends - singles and couples in their late 20's - so naturally the games, jokes, activities, and dancing followed suit. the DJ played really fun music. when we first entered the ballroom, it was almost magical (a word I rarely use) to see the huge room filled with white, fresh pink and green, clean real floral decorations, complete glassware and silverware, and a table stage for those in the wedding and the huge dance floor - while The Temper Trap's "Sweet Disposition" played as we all walked in.
there was a candy bar and photobooth in addition to the MC's dance contests going on. for almost the entire night, the DJ played great music - very modern top 40 pop songs for dancing, and tons of Michael Buble (Chrissy's favorite). the toasts (being that there were 14 bridesmaids and groomsmen, there was clearly going to be more than one toast) were also very endearing and heartfelt each. Chrissy's best friend Evelyn also announced the time that Chrissy sat next to Michael Buble, not knowing who he was yet, on a plane and talked to him about life, music, and his mother. my personal favorite toast of the four was Stephanie's (Chrissy's younger sister) - a toast and speech in the form of a song, well sung while she also played the guitar.
it was a beautiful night, and I will never forget it. I could not be happier to have been at the wedding, I could not be more content with Chrissy and Paul both, I could not be more grateful to be a part of this family.
another reason I loved everything so much, besides the fact that it was one of my closest cousin's marriage, was the perfection in creating a genuinely fun reception - something hard to do for younger people - while in tandem following Korean customs at the ceremony. it was incredible that they pulled everything off so well, and I only hope to have a wedding as breathtaking and as unforgettable as theirs.
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