Photo: Heather Waraksa Photography
Ask Kerry Nguyen and Philson Yim when they first met, and the couple may disagree. The bride believes they crossed paths when she crashed Philson's 26th birthday party—the groom insists they'd met earlier, though he struggles to name the specific time and place.
Yet, as Reverend William Mercer told the 150 guests who gathered to witness them wed on April 21, 2012, it would be years before the couple would meet again either way. "This time, Kerry was crashing his friend's birthday party," the reverend said during the ceremony at Skylight One Hanson in Brooklyn, New York. "Philson remembers this meeting, perhaps because it was the first time they were both single at the same time."
When the party's crowd thinned, Kerry and Hilson moved on to—and closed down—a karaoke bar before meeting for a cup of coffee later that morning. "They've been together ever since," the reverend says.
Photo: Heather Waraksa Photography
The couple chose Skylight One Hanson because "we wanted to have a short-and-simple civil ceremony, and to quickly move to the fun celebration," the bride says. The landmark location gave the couple a combination of "art deco features, mosaics, chandeliers and columns," and a significant amount of space that "could easily be divided to create three different experiences."
From their seats on Chivari chairs complete with coordinating rose-gold cushions, guests could gaze at two robust pink cherry blossom trees that flanked the ceremony stage. Above their heads floated a lattice of greens and cone-shaped candle holders.
Photo: Heather Waraksa Photography
Kerry donned a sophisticated trumpet gown—a silk and crystal creation by Matthew Christopher that featured floral embroidery and a chapel-length train—and elegant ivory Manolo Blahnik shoes. The bride's attire "matched the look of the venue," she says, and echoed the couple's 1920's wedding inspiration.
Photo: Heather Waraksa Photography
The groom's traditional bow-tie tuxedo was purchased at Hugo Boss in New York City's Columbus Circle.
Photo: Heather Waraksa Photography
"I love calla lilies," Kerry explains, "but I wanted a full and round bouquet." Floral designer Melarosa added peach roses and white ranunculus to the bride's bouquet to "achieve the desired shape." The bouquet was "bedazzled," the bride says, with amber and citrine-colored glass.
Photo: Heather Waraksa Photography
The bride's high school best friend and only bridesmaid wore a knee-length gold Belsoie gown, and carried a smaller version of the bride's bouquet. "I actually decided on the bridesmaid's bouquet first and then asked that mine be bigger, whiter and bedazzled," the bride says.
Photo: Heather Waraksa Photography
Kerry's niece's—2 year old Lila Green and 6 year old Sarah Green—wore full-skirted Marmelatta dresses and carried gold-rimmed glass votive holders filled with rose petals.
Photo: Heather Waraksa Photography
Kerry and Philson gave a nod to their Vietnamese and Korean backgrounds at their reception, serving a three-course menu of hamachi crudo, kal bi jim and ficelles, and take-to-go banh mi that doubled as guests' favors.
Photo: Heather Waraksa Photography
A mix of high and low centerpieces made of peach-hued blooms dotted tables covered in luxurious pink linens and sheer overlays.
Photo: Heather Waraksa Photography
Once a bank, the Skylight One Hanson comes complete with both opulent marble rooms and "ugly overheard fluorescent lights and Plexiglas dividers around the [former] teller windows," the bride says. Event planning duo A.a.B. Creates camouflaged the building's built-in fixtures with creative floral arrangements, including test tubes filled with full blossoms.
Photo: Heather Waraksa Photography
The couple's five-tier wedding cake was adorned with cascading peach and pink flowers. Each tier alternated with equally enticing flavors—orange blossom with ginger butter cream, and dark chocolate with mocha butter cream.
Photo: Heather Waraksa Photography
Kerry and Philson will leave for a late honeymoon in December and "be back for the holidays," the bride says.
—Jillian Kramer
Venue: Skylight One Hanson || Wedding Planner: Always a Bridesmaid || Stationery: Always a Bridesmaid || Floral Designer: Melarosa || Party Rentals: Party Rental Ltd. || Caterer: Creative Edge Parties || Cake Designer: Nine Cakes || Ceremony Music: Sumar Orchestras and Entertainment || Reception Music: The Elements || Bridal Gown: Matthew Christopher || Groom's Suit: Hugo Boss || Bridesmaid's Dress: Belsoie || Photography: Heather Waraksa Photography