Real New England Weddings: Young Won & Todd Brennan
July 8, 2008
The Hedgebound Estate, Truro
Photograph by Brittany Blando
If you think planning one wedding is tough, try two. Architecture student Young Won and her husband-to-be, Todd Brennan, decided to incorporate Korean traditions into their Outer Cape celebration. That turned out to be more difficult than either thought: “It’s a dying art,” says Won. “Many Koreans today aren’t really following traditions.” After cobbling together guidelines and gear from a variety of sources (including a consultant in New York who specializes in Korean ceremonies, plus costumes rented and driven up from Washington, D.C., by an uncle), the Cambridge couple pulled it off. But not without a little humor. The groom’s parents threw chestnuts and jujube fruit at the couple to signify how many children they’ll have. “They didn’t know when to stop,” Won says with a laugh. “We’re going to have 30 daughters and 15 sons!”
Photograph by Brittany Blando
Young and Todd met at chef Ken Oringer’s restaurant, Clio, where she hostessed. The couple eyed each other for two years before Todd found an excuse to approach her.
Photograph by Brittany Blando
Born in Seoul and raised in Cambridge, Young sought to pay homage to both cultures.
Photograph by Brittany Blando
Young sketched the cake herself, then hired Orleans-based Cottage Street Bakery to make it a reality.
Photograph by Brittany Blando
Todd admires his bride.
Photograph by Brittany Blando
The wedding’s jewel-toned palette included iridescent pinks.
Photograph by Brittany Blando
The small affair involved only the couple’s immediate families.
Photograph by Brittany Blando
Young and Todd dated for four years before exchanging rings.
Photograph by Brittany Blando
The Korean ceremony, called Paebaek, took place the day after the Western one.
The File
Gown: Yumi Katsura, Designer Loft, 212-944-9013, designerloftnyc.com
Tuxedo: Dolce & Gabbana, Barneys New York, Copley Place, Boston, 617-385-3300, barneys.com
Cake: Cottage Street Bakery, 508-255-2821, cottagestreetbakery.com
Menswear: Calvin Klein pinstripe suits, calvinklein.com
Caterer: Terra Luna, 508-487-1019, theterraluna.com
Flowers: Flowers by Mary, Provincetown, 508-487-2007, flowersbymaryprovincetown.com
Hair: Michelle Begnoche, Irmgard’s Salon & Spa, 401-658-3700, irmgards.com
Makeup: Tavi De La Rosa, Shu Uemura, 617-247-3500, shuuemura-usa.com