1. Real Weddings

Rita & Dennis: A Formal Wedding in Philadelphia, PA

Rita and Dennis chose a city chic theme with a modern flair for their celebration in Philadelphia. The Bride Rita Kim, 30, consultant The Groom Denni

Rita and Dennis chose a city chic theme with a modern flair for their celebration in Philadelphia. The Bride Rita Kim, 30, consultant The Groom Dennis Zabat, 30, an assistant VP in finance The Date April 2 While visiting a friend in New York City, Rita Kim found herself at a bar where the coordinator of the get-together insisted that the group sit boy-girl-boy-girl. The arrangement worked out fine for Rita, who spent the evening seated next to Dennis Zabat. Rita was entertained all night by Dennis’s stories of growing up in Philadelphia, “ Plus, he had a great dimple,” Rita admits, “ and I have a weakness for nice smiles.” The two built a close friendship and began dating several years later. On a trip to Paris to celebrate Rita’s 30th birthday, Dennis proposed on a bridge spanning the Seine, but was careful to hold onto the ring for Rita -- a self-proclaimed klutz -- until they were safely off the bridge. “I would have been so heartbroken if I had dropped it in the water!” Rita says.

The Rings
The Bridal Bouquet
Rita's six bridesmaids wore different styles of full-length Vera Wang dresses in apple green.
The Couple
The low centerpieces were packed with pink peonies and green hydrangeas in large square vases, each surrounded by four smaller vases filled with the same blooms.
A main attraction was the table displaying green apple candles, which acted as place card holders -- Rita cut leaves from green paper which were printed with each guests’ name and table number.
Rita created a monogram with the letters R and D -- used on the invitations, programs, and favors, among other items -- to pull each element of the wedding together. In fact, even Rita’s shoes were part of the monogram trend: For something blue, Rita attached small blue crystals on the bottom of her shoes in the shape of an R and D, “a small detail that only I knew about,” she says.
Rita wore a strapless white duchesse satin Amsale ball gown with French bustling and a sweep train.
The couple felt it important to include each of their heritages into the wedding (Rita is Korean, Dennis is Filipino). So while the rehearsal dinner took place at a Korean restaurant and included a traditional Korean marriage ceremony, the Catholic ceremony on their wedding day highlighted Filipino traditions, such as exchanging 13 gold coins, and the veil-and-cord ceremony, in which the couple are “lassoed” together to show their infinite bond.
The Reception Decor
The First Dance
The Hair
The three-tier chocolate fudge cake had pink buttercream frosting and a Swiss dot pattern, and it was served with raspberry cream sauce.
Centerpieces came in two varieties: high and low. The high centerpieces were large balls covered with green Prado carnations, which sat atop fluted glass vase. Like the low centerpieces, each was surrounded by four smaller vases filled with flowers. To bring out the color of the table, all of the vases were filled with pink crystals.