1. Real Weddings

Tobi & David: A Red Wedding in Denver, CO

I had to propose at the beginning of the meal, says David, remembering Papillon Cafe, the Denver restaurant where he asked Tobi to marry him. I never

I had to propose at the beginning of the meal, says David, remembering Papillon Cafe, the Denver restaurant where he asked Tobi to marry him. I never would have been able to eat otherwise. The Bride Hee Won Tobi Yum, an interior designer The Groom David Krauss, an engineer The Date April 21 The plan was to celebrate Tobi's birthday over a romantic dinner, but when Dave learned that Hyde Park Jewelers had recently received a shipment of exquisite rubies, he immediately set out to make it a night to remember. With the help of one of Tobi's friends, Dave chose the perfect stone for the engagement ring -- a pigeon's blood red ruby, considered the finest around for their mysteriously bright, rich color. A foot of snow had fallen that afternoon, tempting Tobi to cancel the reservations, but Dave was a man on a mission. Within minutes of arriving at the restaurant, a waiter brought out the ring on a platter surrounded by strawberries and champagne.

The Reception Decor
Just over a year later, the color red resurfaced as a motif on their wedding day, infusing the celebration with vibrance and warmth. A red organza ribbon closure accented the invitations; the flowers combined shades of fuchsia and scarlet; and instead of a traditional white wedding gown, the bride wore lustrous red silk. Tobi's bouquet featured red and chartreuse roses, coxcomb, calla lilies, euphorbia, arabicum, and seeded eucalyptus.
The Ceremony
The Location
Tobi and David cut a tiramisu cake covered with butter cream icing in a harlequin pattern with silver beaded string.
The non-religious ceremony combining both Korean and Jewish traditions took place in front of the fireplace in the parlor of the Grant Humphreys Mansion, followed by a formal dinner set in the mansion’s three rooms. There wasn't much time for dancing, says Tobi, noting that the mansion required them to curb the festivities promptly at 11 p.m. So the newlyweds ended up inviting guests to the Hotel Monaco for after-hours revelry at the bar, and later, to the bridal suite with bottles of wine, where they partied until 2 a.m.
In Eastern culture, red is the color of good luck and prosperity. It was my interpretation of a westernized and modernized traditional Korean wedding dress, explains Tobi, who is of Korean descent and designed the dress herself. Plus, I don't buy into the notion that brides should always wear white, she adds. I wanted to be unconventional. Dangling red, black, and silver beads trimmed the bodice and sleeves, while a long, black sheer overlay with silver embroidery flowed from her shoulders like a regal robe.