Brian + Sara (Traditional Ceremony)
Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about our blog! We know we’ve been neglecting this blog for a while now (our apologies), but this summer’s been quite the busy one for us. We’ve been so busy traveling/photographing/editing/meeting with couples that we haven’t set much time aside for full sets. In saying all this, I’ve finally found some free time to put together my favorite images from Brian and Sara’s wedding ceremony from earlier this summer.
Both of Brian and Sara’s wedding ceremonies have been exciting, intimate, and completely different. Their first ceremony, which took place a week earlier, included a very detailed set of traditional Korean wedding practices. In this set, it was a whole new party. Brian and Sara chose the Somerset Hills Hotel for their wedding reception, which was a gorgeous venue inside and out. Since Brian hails from the midwest, their reception included a Boot Scootin’ Boogie Line Dance (led by the Bride and Groom + the wedding party, later joined by the whole crowd), and a cowboy hat toss. Best of all, the song selection for the night included a lot of country music (a music genre I really like, for those who don’t know). Enjoy this latest set. JT
Brian + Sara (Korean Wedding Ceremony)
I’m excited to write that Brian + Sara are the first couple I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with three times in the span of three months. As you may recall, their gorgeous spring engagement session took place in Princeton. Before we knew it, time flew and I joined them for two separate wedding ceremonies. (Did you see the teasers here or here?). The first of the two ceremonies, as shown below, was a traditional Korean Wedding Ceremony.
If you ask anyone who knows me well, you’ll learn that I love witnessing and experiencing different cultural practices/traditions, because I really believe that there is so much depth and history rooted within cultural celebrations. From what I’ve learned, it’s actually not too common that marrying couples conduct a full out Korean Ceremony nowadays. This made the experience all the more fascinating to me.
First off, the attire was amazingly colorful and intricate. Within the actual marriage ceremony, there was a lot of tea drinking, exchanging of bows, and other things I wish I could have interpreted (unfortunately, I don’t speak Korean). Afterwards, the bowing ceremony took place. Since Brian and Sara were purposely not informed about the structure of the ceremony, this made everything a little more relaxed, unpredictable & fun to watch.
At one point, Brian’s parents were instructed to toss a handful of dried dates towards the bride and groom. However many dates that the b&g caught on a piece of fabric, this number would symbolize how many children they would have together. This was definitely one of my favorite moments.
Brian + Sara Engagement
On the morning of their engagement session, Jon got to Princeton University a half-hour early to do a little more exploring of the campus. While wandering around the Theological Seminary, he kept hearing brief spurts of TAP TAP TAP, then a pause, then more TAP TAP TAPs. He soon realized the sounds were coming from atop a tree– a woodpecker in search of it’s early morning breakfast (See photo #1). What a cool way to start the morning!
Not long after, Brian and Sara arrived and Jon’s attention was reverted to bigger and better things. Princeton is a great place to take couples because the opportunities for photos are endless. Many buildings on campus are known for their High Victorian Gothic style of architecture. Since it was spring time, the trees and the flowers were all showing off their vibrant colors.
Here’s a super-quick listing of where we went & what cool things took place (photos ordered accordingly):
a. The woodpecker (can’t start off a photo blog without something scenery-related)
b. Speer Library- Brian spent many hours hitting the books as a student, and we also revisited the very place where he asked Sara to marry him!
c. Outdoor garden area of Speer Library- doors were locked, but we got access via the outer gates
d. Awesome gothic architecture around the general Princeton campus
e. “The Chapel” as stated on Princeton’s official maps.
Sunlight + Red stainglass windows = awesome red lighting
f. Magnolia trees had just shed their petals, making for some cool downward-looking photos
g. Very cool tunnel on campus
h. (Downtown) Small World Coffee – Brian and Sara’s official “first date” spot
i. (Downtown) Halo Pub – This great little ice cream & dessert nook is where we ended our engagement session. Ironically, I asked why Brian was covering his face and Sara replied, “He’s getting camera shy.” Moments later, it seemed to be contagious. (photos to prove it!)
