A Stylish Cinco de Mayo Wedding Infused With Chinese Traditions
There was a mariachi band, a taco station, and a tea ceremony.
Photography by Pat Furey
Want your wedding to be equal parts Philly, family-oriented and fun? Take notes from this Glen Foerd on the Delaware wedding photographed by Pat Furey. The Big Day had everything we love about the City of Brotherly Love — LOVE Park gift bags filled with Tastykakes, Peanut Chews and Herr’s chips — plus Chinese traditions inspired by the groom’s heritage as well as a lively mariachi band and a taco station that played into the Cinco de Mayo date.
It’s the holiday season, a special time for everyone — especially Christine Gorman and Paul Yingsoen Chan. She, a vice president at Starz, and he, a vice president at MGM Studios, met during a DreamWorks Animation holiday party in Los Angeles in December 2015 and became immediately attached. “We had so much to talk about and instantly bonded over both being East Coast transplants,” Christine says. They spent the next several years enjoying LA together, where they currently reside.
The pair went on their first date on a Tuesday night to a local Italian restaurant, “the dark red and white checkerboard tablecloth kind,” Christine remembers. Paul proved to be a gentleman, holding the door for her, and they talked and laughed all night — then shared their first kiss before dessert. They made sure to schedule their next date before going their separate ways.
Paul proposed to Christine in 2018, but not without a hiccup. The couple was due to head to New York City for President’s Day weekend (Paul planned to propose on the trip), but the night before their flight, Christine wound up with an ear infection that caused them to cancel.
Luckily, Paul was able to reschedule the whole trip for the following week. One night in the Big Apple, he took Christine on a walk through Washington Square Park and popped the question. Nearby musicians began playing “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” and she said yes. They celebrated afterward at a restaurant where both of their parents were waiting.
This past Cinco de Mayo, Christine and Paul wed at Glen Foerd on the Delaware, surrounded by 200 guests. Before the ceremony, they had a private tea ceremony with both families. At the ceremony, Christine and Paul each had a sister co-officiate the wedding. Playing into Cinco de Mayo, the pair hired a mariachi band that surprised guests and started playing as the couple was pronounced husband and wife.
Asian traditions also influenced the Big Day: Fortune cookies with custom messages were given out as wedding favors; Paul’s sister decorated the Glen Foerd’s sunroom with traditional Chinese decor; and for their honeymoon, they headed to Japan — Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Okinawa.
THE DETAILS
Photographer: Pat Furey Photography | Venue: Glen Foerd on the Delaware | Planning/Design: Heart & Dash | Florals: Belovely | Catering: Jamie Hollander Gourmet Foods and Catering | Bride’s Gown: Sarah Seven | Bride’s Jacket: Shin Bu Bridal | Hair & Makeup: ONLO | Groom’s Attire: Ralph Lauren Purple Label | Entertainment: Center Stage Entertainment | Invitations: Minted | Transportation: King Limousine | Photo Booth: ShutterBooth
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