Paebaek Korean Ceremony at Salvatore’s Chicago Wedding photography

Elisabeth and Brian’s Wedding day two was a lot sunnier! So we started off with photos at Millennium Park.

Click here to see day one.

Under the bean…I spy a Bride and a Groom 🙂

Carol and I were totally obsessed with Elisabeth’s dress, especially the back of it…it was almost as beautiful as she is.

We also took some photos on Northerly Island, where the rainy ceremony tool place the day before.

The view was incredible, this one’s one of my favorites!!

I love it when Brides wear their hair down, it’s so pretty and romantic.

Brian was so sweet and attentive to Elisabeth all day 🙂

The reception and the Paebaek ceremony was at Salvatore’s Restaurant in Chicago. Here’s a little info on the Korean tradition.

The marriage between a man and a woman represents the joining of two families, rather than the joining of two individuals. The couple will enter together dressed in ceremonial Korean wedding attire. Their parents, the honorees, will be seated in front of a table laden with various edibles and tea (or soju – rice wine). The couple will bow deeply to the honorees, then kneel as one pours tea/soju. Once each honoree drinks the tea/soju, they impart wisdom, advice or a wish for the couple’s future. Finally, the honorees will throw dates (symbolizing girls) and chestnuts (symbolizing boys) which the bride will try to catch in her skirt.’

The detail on the outfits were incredible.

Listening to words of wisdom.

Catching dates and chestnuts.

Eating a date, until it ends in a kiss.

At the end of the ceremony Brian carried Elizabeth around the room. This demonstrates that he is able to support her, and represents the journey to their new home.

Before dinner there were some beautiful speeches.

One of the more fun and unique ideas I’ve seen in a long time!!! They had a tower of Ben&Jerry’s ice cream instead of a cake, the guest loved it!!!

First dance.

Brian’s Grandpa was a huge hit on the dance floor.

Thank you to Laura from Toast & Jam Dj’s for keeping the dance floor full and rocking, if you hire her your wedding will be fun, guaranteed!!!

Some closing thoughts from the groom, thank you Brian for your generosity and your kind words.

1. You are my favorite of all the vendors we worked with.  You aren’t just talented, you are intelligent and professional.  We discussed the possible challenges that might arise during our wedding back in March.  Sure enough, those very challenges presented themselves. You didn’t flinch.  You performed exactly as you said you would when we talked about it a month beforehand.

2. Vogue Fashion did an awesome job organizing and facilitating the ceremony.  They are a full service company.  They set up the ceremony, facilitated it and packed it away.  Elisabeth’s family and friend bought some items for us which we used instead of the rentals.  (The ducks on the table were sent by friends in Korea.  The traditional Korean clothing we wore under our red and blue robes was purchased from Korea as well.  We are going to frame them in glass and hang them in our new home.)
3. The Ben and Jerry’s individual ice creams instead of cake was a big success.
4.  Our guests enjoyed the photo booth.As far as a great moment, I try not to think about things in a comparative way.  I loved our entire wedding.  I experienced each ceremony and the celebration that followed as genuine sharing of emotion and experience.  It felt great to be present with the people we love through the whole weekend.

I think it speaks to our spirit as a couple, and a new family, that the phases of our wedding all shared the same joy, regardless of outside conditions.
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