Intimate Garden Wedding with a Pool Splash

These micro weddings created this year as a result of the pandemic have our hearts! Such sweet moments created with family nearby, and proof that through adversity love is forged – often the more difficulties that are faced the sweeter the end result! Hannah and Won had a beautiful garden wedding filled with all the details and people that matter so much to them – and then ended with a splash in the pool! We love hearing what they wrote about each other, and their words of wisdom! This is one to read in it’s entirety …

from the photographer: “Hannah and Won are a charismatic couple who navigated the pandemic with grace and celebrated their marriage with an intimate wedding ceremony over the reflection pool at Meadowlark 1939 Private Estate. Valuing people over material things and experiences over comfort, they ended their wedding day with a romantic jump into the garden pool!

Featuring an all-white floral arch by Design House of Flowers, Louis Vitton Shoes and mauve letterpress invitations, this wedding has inspiration to boot. But the heart of the day came from Hannah and Won’s love for their family and friends.

When it comes to showing appreciation, Hannah and Won go above and beyond. They believe in the act of giving. And knowing them personally and professionally, I will confidently confirm that they hold two of the kindest souls in the world. Throughout their wedding day, they shared gifts with their loved ones and made each guest feel special and significant to their relationship.

The palette of white and green set in the gardens of an English-inspired Private Estate south of Atlanta created a romantic, timeless atmosphere for guests. Design House of Flowers created an iconic floral arch and pillars to frame the ceremony at the end of the reflection pool. It was the perfect complimentary accent to the backdrop of Meadowlark 1939’s gardens.”

How did you two meet and what was your first impression?

Our parents have known each other through business for over 30 years, but we didn’t mean until about 5 years ago when Hannah joined in on a business meeting. Both of our parents loved the idea of us being together and suggested we go on a date. I think we both didn’t love the idea of being set up, but when we exchanged numbers, we were texting CONSTANTLY! We went on our first date, and it was instant from there! I guess parents know what they’re talking about sometimes!

What’s a funny story about your wedding day?

When we were searching for a new venue for our micro-ceremony, we instantly fell in love with Meadowlark 1939 and knew we found the perfect spot around the lap pool! One thing led to another during the planning process, and it was brought up initially as a joke, “What do you think about jumping into the pool after the wedding?” We laughed, brushed it off, and then thought, “You know what? What better way to wash off the stench that was COVID wedding planning?” We ran the idea through our venue, wedding photographer and videographer, and they were so pumped for it! Wonho and I thought it would be so much fun, until the moment our bodies hit the water, and realized it was freezing! We have hilarious photos of Instagram vs. Reality, and it was so worth it!

What was your biggest hurdle in wedding planning?

I don’t think there is a single person who hasn’t been affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. As a 2020 bride planning a wedding that was originally set for 300 guests on May 30th, it was truly challenging. As our wedding date kept creeping up on us, we knew two things: we needed to do our part in keeping our family and friends safe, and we wanted to get married. We decided to postpone our big wedding for later in the year, and proceeded with our “mini-ceremony” on our original date. None of this would have been possible without the love and support from our amazing family, friends, and incredible vendors. It was truly everything we didn’t even know we wanted. Now what we expected or planned for, but it was perfect!

Any special way you incorporated family or family history?

Both of our respective parents are first generation South Koreans, and we celebrated our heritage by having our moms wear the traditional ‘hanbok’ to our ceremony. Typically, the mother of the bride wears lighter pink shades, and the mother of the groom wears blue shades! We think they coordinated the colors beautifully and we’re so happy they had an occasion to wear them together!

What part of your wedding day was the most important to you?

The forefront of all our wedding decision making process was family. We both come from close knit families, and we wanted to be as inclusive and intimate as possible. It was much more doable with our smaller guest count and free flowing timeline because typically on wedding days, it’s really important that we stick to the schedule as things can quickly get out of hand. But our amazing photographer, Laura, let us go through the day at our own pace, naturally as they were happening. The bride’s father was diagnosed with Stage 3 renal cell cancer this year, and it was important that we shared as many memories together as possible. We initially didn’t think we would have time for a father/daughter first look, but Laura was able to squeeze it in last minute. It’s one of my most favorite moments from that day, and a moment I will treasure for the rest of my life.

What is the best thing you’ve learned from each other?

Wonho is truly the most patient and understanding person I know, and I’m not just saying that because I’m his wife. Seriously, ask anybody who knows him. He is characterized and remembered for his willingness to listen to others, and he can make light in the darkest moments. On a daily basis, I watch Wonho in his correspondence to others, and see how he responds with humility and humor instead of vain. He makes it look so easy, and his patience has carried me throughout this entire wedding planning process. Every amazing quality he possesses has been amplified during this stressful planning period, and I believe that if we can make it through this pandemic, we can make it through anything!

The couple was so sweet as to share their vows with us here, in response to us asking what their favorite things about each other were!

My Dearest Wonho,

When we had to change our wedding plans, I promised myself that our day will come. It may look different than we had initially planned, but it will come. And not only will it come, but it will shine all the more brightly and be all the more sweeter because of what we’re walking through now. Because here’s the thing: we are demonstrating what marriage, and what a whole wedding celebration is really all about. Loving someone else more than yourself, no matter the cost. We are living out love, not just as an ideal, but as an action. We are living out sacrificial love. And love that sacrifices for others is the truest, deepest, most perfect love there is. And perfect love, even in the midst of global epidemics, cancelled plans, and changed dreams, always, always perseveres.

I love you because you are endlessly thoughtful, and compassionate and strong. I love you because you love my family and friends just as fiercely as you love your own. Just by being yourself, you have allowed me to heal every broken piece of myself, which in then turned into allowing myself to give wholly to others and become a better partner, a better daughter, a better sister, and a better friend. My cup is overflowing, not just today, but every day because you fill it with love, tenderness, laughter, and the most amazing food. I am truly blessed to be a part of your life, which as of today, becomes our life together, and I will cherish every second spent building a lifetime with you. I promise to encourage your dreams and celebrate the joy of every day with you. I promise to stand by your side through life’s most joyous moments and challenging moments of growth.

From this day forward, I intend to love you, and hold you, and grow very very old with you.

My dearest, Hannah Soobin Son,

My admiration for you started from day one of meeting you at my work. You in your Dr Martens, standing there, just impossible. I felt hopeless when you left that day, because I knew there was something about you but that I’d never be given the chance to discover it. But boy, was I so wrong.

By and by, you texted me, the subject of our conversations being signs of all things. And by and by, I had become utterly enamored by you. By your voice, your laughs, those eyes, that smile. Your gentle gestures and your idiosyncrasies that assemble you. Your invarying thoughtfulness and consideration and your passion and drive to be the best. Also, by your very studious nature and high intelligence. But, what got me, got me was that heart of yours. I wanted to be invited and you opened the doors for me.

Your parents asked the day I sought their blessing: what is your plan with Hannah? and I said to them: that I wanted to make sure you were loved, felt loved, unequivocally. I promise that to them and so to you now. I also promise to grow tall with you, with our waist touching waist and with your hand within mine. I promise to respect you and be understanding of your needs, wants and dreams, equally as my own but also because you deserve everything, you do. I promise to always give you my fullest attention. To be there whenever needed and to be your greatest listener as well as your greatest fan. I promise I will continuously make improvements to myself and to give you the best version of me each day passing. And I promise to be your cornerstone when the weight of the world feels too heavy on your shoulders.

In the short time we’ve been together, we’ve shared joyous memories and at the same time, experienced inexplicable pain and loss – and a tragic pandemic. But we got through it, not completely unscathed but still here, together, stronger than before and if we can survive all that and a pandemic together, I think we’re good.

Dearest, you’ve become my best friend, my partner in life, my forever lover, my pie, and my reason to live. And at last, the universe through its infinite branches has brought us and our beloved family here, warm and unharmed. I am nothing, only utterly grateful for this moment, for you, Hannah Soobin Lee.