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Martha Stewart Weddings

Real Weddings

Real Wedding: Sheila and Steve, Costa Mesa, California

  • Sheila and Steve
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    Sheila and Steve

    Sheila and Steve's wedding at the Grand Newport Plaza was the pinnacle of a seven-year courtship that began in 1996 with a casual meeting at a bar in Los Angeles, where they both lived at the time.
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    Invitations

    A cherry blossom motif defines the pink and plum letter-pressed stationery. "The blossoms represent Steve's Japanese culture and the overall beauty we wanted to convey," says Sheila. Some pieces, such as seating cards and programs, are presented in pink vellum envelopes. The program is also bound by a band of rice paper.
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    Boutonnieres

    Boutonnieres made of pink nerines are tied with silk ribbon. Each is pinned to a knot of Mizuhiki cord, created using a Japanesse knotting technique believed to bring the recipient good luck.
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    Ceremony

    Sheila and Steve wed on September 28, 2003, under a shade of palm trees, in the courtyard of the Grand Newport Plaza. The bride made her entrance by descending one of the spiral staircases and meeting her groom at the foot of the other.
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    The Walk

    The bride's father, Jason Yun, escorts his daughter to the altar.
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    Ring Bearer

    Ring bearer Matthew McCarty, 3, carries a silk shantung ring pillow embroidered with cherry blossoms.
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    Groomsmen

    Steve's brothers, John and Ken (second and third from left), are among the groomsmen.
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    Bridesmaids

    Bridesmaids, in Alfred Angelo gowns, hold rose and dahlia bouquets.
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    Bride and Mother

    The bride hugs her mom, Hye Suk Yun.
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    Bridesmaids

    Sheila gathers with a few of her bridesmaids, who hold Asian parasols.
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    Family

    Steve with his mom, Diana Shigekawa.
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    Flower Girl

    Flower girl Sidney Bowe, 3, enjoys some treats. She wears a wreath of roses.
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    Tradition

    Sheila and her mom in their traditional hanbook.
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    Parasol

    Flower girl Tyler Yun, 7, Sheila's niece, wears a garland of roses and holds an Asian parasol, a gift from the maid of honor.
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    Fans

    Two bridesmaids hold Japanese fans, which were handed out to family and special friends before the ceremony.
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    Seating Cards

    Among the rows of seating cards, pink, white and plum-colored symbidium orchids in glass vases rest on a porcelain dish.
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    Guest Book

    For a guest book, the couple followed a Japanese custom by asking guests to tie their sentiments to tree branches with ribbons. Here, branches are adorned with crepe-paper buds and blossoms and placed in a porcelain vase. Expressions like "Prosperity" and "Good Marriage" were written in Korean and Japanese and hung ahead of time to decorate the branches.
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    Tables

    At the reception, the dramatic thirty-foot-long head table is the focal point of the room. It features an eclectic collage of romantic and exotic blooms, reflecting the bride's personality.
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    Favors

    Favors are vanilla and chocolate sandwich cookies. Each cellophane packet is wrapped with a band of Japanese-patterned paper and has a sweet sentiment about marriage tucked inside.
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    Reception

    Sheila and Steve enter the reception hall. The bride wears an orchid lei for the party.
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    Toast

    Steve, Sheila, and her parents make a toast.
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    Guests

    Once the party is underway, the groom dances with the bridesmaids.
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    Cutting the Cake

    The Hawaiian cake is made of guava-, passion fruit-, and lime-flavored layers frosted with whipped cream.
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    Dancing

    The couple share their first dance.
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    Sources

    Location: Grand Newport Plaza, Costa Mesa, CA, 714-997-5871
    Caterer: Turnip Rose Elite Catering
    Flowers: Flower Factory, 213-382-9777
    Brides Dress: "LeNotre," by Vera Wang
    Veil: Fenaroli for Regalia, 212-764-5924
    Cake: King's Hawaiian, 310-530-0050
    Letterpress Invitations and Reply: printed by Soho Letterpress

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