A Colorful Taiwanese-American Fusion Wedding at The Whim in Minneapolis
Tiffany and Kenny's love story began ten years ago in a bustling hospital. Tiffany, a college freshman exploring the world of medicine, reached out to a past mentor, who was now a resident doctor in training, about possible opportunities in the medical field. This person, who happened to be Kenny's mentor, suggested shadowing someone at their hospital. But thanks to a clerical error, Kenny, a researcher doing a gap year before medical school, ended up being the person Tiffany shadowed. Quickly, the two bonded over Dragon Ball Z and their love for food, and eventually had their first date at a science museum.
Over the next seven years, Tiffany and Kenny’s relationship flourished despite the distance between them. Years of FaceTime calls and medical training helped forge their bond even more. "What we’ve found is that it's helpful if both people are equally busy. Also, we felt choosing to pursue our own dreams and actively working to become better versions of ourselves, made us stronger together," Tiffany says. When Kenny finally proposed on a chilly winter day in Boston, he told his bride-to-be they had to rush and catch a performance of The Nutcracker, which Tiffany found strange since it was only two in the afternoon. Despite the abruptness and odd timing, Tiffany agreed. But instead of seeing a ballet, Kenny took Tiffany to the scenic Boston Seaport area, where a hidden proposal photographer captured Kenny getting down on one knee.
From the start, the two knew they wanted their wedding day to reflect their Taiwanese-American heritage. Tiffany says, "Since we're Taiwanese-American, we wanted the overall day to reflect this hyphenated identity—where the decor reflected the Taiwanese and American sides of us." The Whim, an industrial open-concept venue, was the perfect canvas for their cultural-fusion celebration. Though they initially considered a theme focused on white lanterns to play off the venue's aesthetic, Tiffany’s mother advised against it since that had sober connotations in Taiwanese culture. The couple instead leaned into their heritage with warm, festive colors. With red, gold, light pink and cream lanterns hanging overhead and floral installations, the space transformed into a colorful oasis surrounded by the natural lighting coming in though the venue's large windows.
Each detail told a story about their culture. Their seating chart was a playful nod to the Taiwanese "poke-poke boards," similar to advent calendars, where guests discovered their table numbers. "Guests found their name and poked through to find a piece of paper with their table number on it and a small piece of chocolate. For the extra spaces we had in the last board, we labeled those with the word 'luck' and put chocolate, silly fortunes or kept them empty as a fun cocktail hour game for everyone," the bride says.
Food was also a central element, which was a testament to their love for Taiwanese cuisine. "For us, food was the primary way we both connected to this second culture of ours," Tiffany says. Though they decided not to perform a traditional tea ceremony, they incorporated a boba bar with milk tea and fruit tea, since the popular drink originated in Taiwan. Guests also enjoyed a taste of Taiwan with Asian-fusion bites, like braised pork rice, sesame cold noodles and Taiwanese sausage. Their cake even featured the iconic double happiness symbol, along with delicate plum blossoms and lanterns.
When it came time to decide on their wedding fashion, Tiffany and Kenny wanted a bridge between tradition and modernity. Tiffany found a high-neck gown with a delicate tulle skirt, a design she discovered with her mother’s help. To accessorize the look, she adds, "I used the flower pin that was supposed to be pinned to my belt as a hair accessory. The large horsehair trim veil was at the suggestion of my mother, who loved the shape that it gave to my outfit." For the reception, Tiffany changed into a red qipao with a floral motif, a modern take on the traditional Taiwanese bridal look. Kenny chose a beige suit, the color perfect for a spring wedding.
The floral decor was primarily a DIY project, a vibrant mix of red, orange and neutral hues to elevate the white space of the venue. For the bouquet, Tiffany wanted only calla lilies in her arrangement since her mother wished that was what she had when she married her father. "I also saw ideas on Instagram of single flower bouquets for bridesmaids, so each bridesmaid had a different small bouquet consisting of a single flower." The task of the wedding florals was a team effort, according to the bride, and that included spray-painting baby's breath, crafting the installations and having one of their aunties lead the charge on boutonnieres. "Overall, the flowers helped bring more color into the space, and emphasized how blessed Kenny and I to have our support system," she adds.
Their day was filled with unforgettable moments, from their grand floral arch, which doubled as a ceremony and sweetheart table backdrop, to the lively dance floor where they performed a choreographed first dance. The newlyweds even performed a violin and piano duet of Charles Gounod's "Ave Maria" as part of their grand entrance, which was a nod to when Kenny played his rendition of Bach's "Well-Tempered Clavier" when he first met Tiffany's parents to win their approval.
But beyond the decor and the details, what made their wedding truly special was the community feel. "Community lies at the heart of Taiwanese culture, and for us, our people came through, which felt like such a gift," says Tiffany. "What ended up being the most special moment of our wedding day was being able to see the faces of everyone we love gathered together since it was the first time that our entire families were together in one place. The familiar faces of loved ones from different stages of our lives was a scene that neither of us could have dreamed of."
In the end, their wedding wasn’t just a celebration of their love. It was a tribute to their story, their heritage and the community that has shaped them. What's their advice for couples planning their own wedding? "Don’t try to do it all yourself, because you can’t. Take the time to interview various vendors and find people who understand your vision and will work with you to make it happen," the couple says.