Photo: Chaz Cruz Photographers
When a mutual friend first introduced Christine Choe and Ted Jeon, he did so on one condition: The pair had to agree to go on no fewer than five dates before they decided whether or not they’d continue the relationship. By the end of the final date, the two knew they’d found something special. In August of 2014, two years after they first met, Ted surprised Christine with a proposal that took her on adventure around New York City, where they live. At the end of the fun-filled day, he was waiting for her with a ring in hand.
The couple knew they didn’t want a drawn out engagement, so they quickly set to work planning a wedding on March 28, 2015 — just seven months after they got engaged. “That year alone we were going to nine other weddings, so we wanted to kick off the season and make sure our friends weren’t fatigued,” Christine says. After touring six venues, they knew 26 Bridge, an industrial-chic venue in Brooklyn, was the spot where they’d exchange vows. With a venue locked in, they went after their next two must-have vendors: Wedding planner Jove Meyer Events dreamed up the design and photographer Chaz Cruz Photographers made sure to document every gorgeous memory of this early spring celebration.
Christine looked undeniably gorgeous in her Reem Acra wedding dress. “Reem Acra has the unique ability to craft simple and classic yet intricately detailed and elegant gowns,” the bride says. “My dress was incredibly comfortable and light, but also sophisticated and chic, which was a hard balance for me to find when looking. I loved everything about it, particularly how easy it was to dance in!”
The detailed back was a total winner, and the bride showed off the ornate lacework with a soft updo complete with an embellished hairpin. Her romantic bouquet was comprised of roses, lisanthus, anemones, clematis, and greenery.
Ted went custom for his navy blue suit, which he paired with a rose boutonniere, brown shoes, and turtle cufflinks. “He already owned those cufflinks,” the bride says. “We’ve always joked that if we were animals I’d be a bunny because I like to get things done and am very active, and he would be a turtle since he’s slower paced. He wore them because I wanted him to, really. They’re very him!”
After a first look, Christine and Ted ducked away for photos around the neighborhood and invited their bridesmaids and groomsmen to join them for the fun. Christine’s eight attendants, which included her former roommates and friends from childhood and college, wore dresses they chose for themselves in shades of blush. Like the bride’s bouquet, bridesmaids’ arrangements included springy mixes of anemones, roses, and greenery.
Ted’s groomsmen all wore matching navy suits and their own animal cufflinks.
One of the main reasons the couple selected 26 Bridge was that the venue encapsulated both the bride and the groom’s unique styles. “Ted is a bit more modern and clean and I’m a little more rustic,” the bride says. “I wouldn’t have minded getting married in a barn, but he wanted a hotel, so we needed something in the middle. 26 Bridge was a good mix of wood and metal, and everything felt clean and well kept.” With gorgeous hardwood floors, high ceilings, and enough room to host the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception on-site, Christine and Ted knew they found their space.
But that doesn’t mean booking the property came without its challenges. The biggest hurdle they had to overcome was coming up with a logical flow for the day. Enter Jove Meyer, who the bride says was instrumental in making the large room work for the day. “We were having a hard time visualizing how it would work because we knew we wanted a band and long farm tables, but didn’t have the choice of moving the bar, so there were variables that were locked in,” says Christine. Jove’s solution was to set up the ceremony in the middle of the room, with table-pre set at the front of the space. “I was worried that they would look weird but it helped to frame the aisle. There was a huge ‘wow’ moment when you entered the space.”
The bride’s mother walked her down the aisle, which had been illuminated by hanging café lights. The couple hung gauzy white fabric and a few trailing vines as their altar. The ceremony was officiated by the same friend that first introduced the couple, and included traditional Christian vows along with readings from Christine and Ted’s friends.
Cocktail hour was held in an adjoining space, where guests enjoyed the couple’s two signature drinks — a Manhattan and a Moscow Mule. There, everyone signed the couple’s unique take on a guest book, which asked friends and family to leave messages on signs related to their future. Everyone gave name suggestions for the couple’s first child and their best pieces of advice for the newlyweds.
Before entering the reception, guests were challenged by self-proclaimed “math geek” Christine to complete an equation in order to find their seating assignment. “The key was to make it interesting but not too hard, keeping in mind most folks would be a drink or two in before it was time to take their seats!” the bride says.
Once back inside, everyone sat at long tables set below lush arrangements of hanging greenery. “Jove was the brains behind the hanging vines above the dinner tables,” says the bride. “It completely transformed the warehouse feel into a warmer and cozier environment.” The newlyweds skipped linens for their farm tables, allowing the rustic wood to shine.
A variety of different centerpieces were used on each table, further warming up the industrial interior. “It wasn’t quite spring yet outside, so we wanted the tables to look warm and cozy,” says the bride. Lisianthus, roses, peonies, and greenery were arranged in an array of different colors, giving every seat it’s own unique view.
At the end of each table, the groom’s sisters surprised Christine and Ted with mini white mailboxes, which guests filled with advice for the couple they wrote on vintage post cards they found sprinkled between centerpieces. The thoughtful siblings have been mailing the newlyweds a stack of cards every week since the wedding. A favorite came from the groom’s uncle, who claimed he quit his job to make it to the party!
When the couple made their big entrance for their first dance, guests noted that Christine had swapped her elegant gown for a fun knee-length number. And it was a good thing she did: The duo had been practicing a choreographed swing dance to “You Make My Dreams Come True” by Hall and Oates, and she wanted to showcase her fancy moves. “It’s such a happy song that represented how we felt about being officially married,” she says.
But don’t think she abandoned her gorgeous Reem Acra wedding dress altogether! Once the dance was done, she snuck off to put her lacey look back on.
Dinner was a three-course family-style meal that included dan dan noodles, sushi rice, hanger steak, and Chilean sea bass. Then, for dessert, everyone dug into an assortment of different doughnuts from the couple’s favorite local bakery.
The night closed out with a glow stick exit, and the couple set off on a honeymoon to New Zealand the very next day. “In the end, it’s all worth it,” the bride says. “Even the silly little details!”
Ceremony & Reception Venue: 26 Bridge || Wedding Planner: Jove Meyer Events || Bride’s Wedding Dress: Reem Acra || Groom’s Attire: Acustom Apparel || Floral Design: A.P. Bio || Catering: Real Food Catering || Doughnuts: Dough || Photographer: Chaz Cruz Photographers
Did you love this Brooklyn bash? Then get inspired by another couple’s New York City wedding, seen below.