A Classic, Romantic Wedding in the McKim Courtyard at the Boston Public Library in Massachusetts

To celebrate their marriage, Yi and Song planned a classic summer wedding at the historic Boston Public Library. The couple exchanged vows in front of a fountain in the courtyard of the McKim Building and took advantage of the space's iconic architecture by taking wedding portraits around the legendary Massachusetts library. Given the refined nature of the venue they chose, the couple settled on an elegant, romantic aesthetic for their wedding design as a nice complement. 

"Our wedding at Boston Public Library was truly a dream come true to me," recalls Yi. "Song and I originally planned our wedding in June 2020 in Seattle but had to reschedule due to the pandemic. Eventually, we decided to host it in Boston, where I studied and worked for 8 years prior to moving to Seattle. Luckily it worked out for both me and my husband because almost all our close friends and relatives live in the Northeast. We had a small wedding—considering COVID was surging again in the summer, we invited only about 40 people. The inspiration behind my day was to have an intimate yet classic celebration with our close friends and families. I didn't have a specific theme, but my style was timeless, elegant and romantic."

"Our ceremony and reception were both held at the courtyard of Boston Public Library, as we wanted to have it outdoor for health and safety reasons," says Yi. "The ceremony took place right in front of the fountain in the courtyard that we decorated with a floral-heavy open arch. The open arch was stunningly beautiful. It was a more contemporary structure that allows for a more delicate and airy design. The entire floral design created a very romantic and intimate atmosphere for my wedding," notes Yi. Beyond their ceremony, flowers played a central role in all the decor of the couple's wedding. "My floral designs used soft color transitions and an abundance of seasonal and local blooms to surround the entire venue with the sense of celebration that only flowers can provide. Sweet romantic blooms in dusty blush and peaches were used for my bouquet, creating a soft and ethereal presentation. We also had a floral entrance arrangement in the lobby, where we set aside folded-glass frames showing our engagement photos and various other lifestyle photos. And then we outfit the grand stairway leading up to the second floor of the library with more flower arrangements and candles," says Yi. "For the reception, we used a lot of flowers as well."

The couple's wedding was actually not legally binding since they got married officially two years prior. However, despite that, the couple looks back on the ceremony as their favorite moment from the Boston wedding. "We were actually legally married in Seattle at the courthouse 2 years ago, but we have been longing to have a more proper ceremony and celebration to 'officially' tie the knot," explains Yi. "Though we already said 'I do' 2 years ago, it was still very touching to hear our vows which we wrote ourselves and the declaration of intent at our wedding."