La Venta Inn
La Venta Inn on the hills of Palos Verdes Estates is our wedding place. Hopefully the weather will be this sunny!
January 09, 2007
La Venta Inn on the hills of Palos Verdes Estates is our wedding place. Hopefully the weather will be this sunny!
January 11, 2007
Trying on gowns
At the Isetan department store in Shinjuku
January 12, 2007
Father Kenji
Over donkatsu at Azabu Zuban, Kenji graciously agreed to be our officiant. Kenji and Eric have been close friends for 5 years. He has even been to the Philippines has met more of Eric's family than Myung Jin has. (Thanks Kenji... Aunt Cel says make it epic ;-)
주례를 서주기로한 에릭 친구 켄지 타나카. 에릭이 일본에서 5년간 지내면서 가장 친하게 지낸 친구중 하나. 켄지는 특이하게 미국 주례자격증(?)이 있다. 에릭과 켄지는 오래전부터 켄지가 주례서는 얘기를 농담삼아 했대는데 우리가 정말로 부탁하니까 눈물을 훔쳤다.
January 13, 2007
Directions to La Venta Inn
La Venta Inn
796 Via Del Monte
Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274
TEL (310) 373 - 0123
FAX (310) 791 - 5096
info@laventa.com
www.laventa.com
From the Valley, Santa Monica or West L.A.
405 South, exit Hawthorne Blvd., turn right. Proceed to Pacific Coast Hwy., (approx. 5.5 miles), turn right. At Palos Verdes Blvd. (2.5 miles), turn left. Continue as below*.
From Glendale or Pasadena
110 South, exit Pacific Coast Hwy., turn right. At Palos Verdes Blvd. (approx. 7 miles), turn left. Continue as below*.
From Orange County
405 North, 110 South, exit Pacific Coast Hwy., turn right. At Palos Verdes Blvd. (approx. 7 miles), turn left. Continue as below*.
* When road forks, veer right to Palos Verdes Drive West. Left at Via Corta (first stop sign). Right at Via Del Monte, continue up hill approx. 1 mile, turn left into driveway. As a courtesy to our neighbors, no horn honking please.
Google Maps link to La Venta Inn
January 31, 2007
Printing Invitations
Our wedding invitations are finally finalized after much going back and forth. (Mostly Eric art-directing Myung Jin! But Eric did chip in at the very end and did the last production work...) Annika at De Milo Design, a wonderful letterpress printer we found in South Pasadena is printing our invitations.
February 02, 2007
Meeting at La Venta
Aunt Cel and I went to La Venta last Wednesday to meet with Lauren, our on-site wedding coordinator. This is the 'ballroom' with the dance floor. Lauren (whose grandfather is from the Philippines) asked, 'Do you think there'll be much dancing?' Aunt Cel says, 'Oh yeah, we're Filipino'.
Sitting by the window is Lauren, who was wonderfully patient with our quirky demands, and sitting on the chair is Aunt Cel who was so generous as to accompany me to this and many other places on that day. Many many thanks to both!
February 06, 2007
Invitation on letterpress
Annika of De Milo Letterpress is printing our invitation. Myung Jin 'apprenticed' for three hours.
청첩장 인쇄하기.
February 13, 2007
Civil Marriage
On the way to the LAX Courthouse.
Waiting for the Judge to call us.
Meeting Judge Judy.
Our wedding cake!
Just kidding...
The Judge puts on the "wedding" cassette tape.
And it's over in a flash!
Discussing the legal paperwork.
Our good friend Peter Vanttanathan was our best man + maid of honour + photographer + videographter + witness + cheerleader all rolled into one. Most of the courthouse pictures are courtesy of Peter. Thanks so much Peter!
Husband and wife photo by Peter.
All three of us, courtesy of Judge Judy.
Mission accomplished! Exiting the Courthouse with a copy of marriage certificate.
Outside the Courthouse.
Driving back to our temporary home in LA, Peter and Fiel's guest room.
Eric is happy. ;-)
Peter is smiling?
The view on the way back home.
February 15, 2007
Tasting
New York Food Company, our caterer with La Venta hosted a tasting event.
February 16, 2007
Invites on the way
Back in Tokyo
Myung Jin is back in Tokyo after almost 3 weeks of zipping about in Los Angeles. Much was accomplished, and some are yet to be resolved. Ramon, and Fiel & Peter so graciously provided her with home away from home during this time. Thank you so much guys!
February 19, 2007
Flower dress for flower girls
Our flower girls are Eric's niece Lauren, and Myung Jin's friend's daughter Nicole. We guessed their sizes and bought these dresses made of green silk and organza in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Luckily, they fit!
March 04, 2007
Blast from the past!
We're digging up old photos to project on our wedding. Myung Jin at age one - a wobbly beginning!
A wedding before
More golden finds from the old photos box. Some 30-plus years ago, Myung Jin's parents were wed in Daegu, South Korea.
Myung Jin's mother walks down the aisle with her father.
At the alter
Ring exchange
Extended family photo
In "hanbok" after the wedding
March 09, 2007
Then and now
Myung Jin munching on ice cream, at around age 5 in Hong kong, with brother Taek, age 3.
Many many years later... Myung Jin about to munch on ice cream, at Al Gelato in Los Angeles, with partner in crime, Fiel.
Eric in white
Those in the know, know this is a rare sight indeed!
March 10, 2007
Shopping at Insadong
S-TA-BUK-S-CO-FFEE in Korean. We started off our morning at Starbucks at Insadong, the antique street in Seoul, where we are going to find wedding favours.
Insadong street scene.
Brightly coloured tourist trinkets spill out onto the sidewalk.
Myung Jin's cousin Yoo Yun helps her browse.
Store front
Snow falls on a "hanbok" installation at Ssamzie, a popular Insadong shopping mall.
Yoo Yun with wishing tree.
Our find of the day: miniature Korean meal magnets! All five dishes - grilled fish, kimchi, tofu stew, steamed white rice, and fried egg, are individual magnets! YUMMY... but NOT our wedding favour!
March 11, 2007
Our second date
Night time in Columbus, morning in Tokyo.
The very first date
Our first date was on April 10, 2006, on iChat. Eric was in Tokyo, and Myung Jin was in Columbus. There were many firsts that March and April; first phone call, first text chat, first video chat, first 'in-person' date, etc. We decided to call this one our first date because it's the first time we saw each other in 5 years.
Myung Jin is in the middle of packing up to go back to Seoul, hence the mess behind her.
March 12, 2007
Floats for fountain
We tested our floating candles in our bathroom sink. They're pretty!
March 14, 2007
Jack
Our great friend Jack Peng left us too suddenly and too early. If we were not meant to have him in person, we hope he be with us in spirit, at our wedding and in our lives throughout. These are pictures from a party for Jack, one month ago in Los Angeles.
Jack presides over the party.
The party was full of people who were in Jack's life. It was lively, and almost fun, the way Jack would have liked.
Eric with brother Ramon
Myung Jin and Eric
Eric and Fiel
Eric with friend Sun
March 15, 2007
From Icheon
Icheon is a city about one hour south of Seoul. For centuries, it's been known for its delicious rice and beautiful pottery. That's where Myung Jin and her father headed to last Thursday afternoon, in search of gifts for the wedding guests.
Getting off the highway.
Myung Jin's father is on the phone, getting directions.
Countyside road, on the way there.
We found the place finally, in the middle of rice field.
It's a family business; father, son, and daughter work on it.
Where they are made.
March 20, 2007
Nothing's changed
Eric's favourite Myung Jin photos.
Age one at Seoul Children's Park.
April 04, 2007
Strategic planning and sushi with Kenji
Dinner with Kenji, our officiant, at our neighbourhood sushi place. Eric doesn't eat sushi so he dined on eggs and yam noodle. We discussed our ceremony - we which is going to involve letter readings and flower givings... Hopefully it won't be a tearful one. Myung Jin's brother who happens to be a professional interpreter, is going to translate the ceremony to Korean.
April 08, 2007
Brothers Cruz
Mum Cruz
Old photo of Eric's mother at her wedding in the Philippines.
April 11, 2007
Decisions decisions...
Flowers were blooming at La Venta when Myung Jin went for a meeting.
Picking linen colors...
April 12, 2007
Instamatics
Back in February, at the office of Luis Ramirez to whom we hand-delivered our first invitation. We look forward to seeing you and your wife at the wedding Luis!
May 04, 2007
The Wedding
It's over! It was a beautiful day on April 22. It started to shower as soon as the ceremony was over. Myung Jin's father says it's a sign of luck and prosperity.
More photos to follow, but these are some from Peggy.
Myung Jin's dad walking her down the aisle. On the left are flower girl Nicole, bridesmaids Soojin and Eunkyung. Under the gazebo are Taek, Myung Jin's brother and interpreter of the evening, and Kenji, our dandy officient. We stood under the gazebo decorated with bourganvillea.
Eric reads his letter to Myung Jin.
Ceremony over... the exit!
May 11, 2007
From Dad Song's camera
Entrance to La Venta was full of colorful flowers.
The four Cruz brothers with Dad Cruz.
In the back garden of La Venta where we took the family photos.
With Myung Jin's Parents.
With all parents.
With Myung Jin's family who flew all the way to Los Angeles from Korea.
With Cruz family. Lauren is crying. ;-)
The reception tables are ready. The wedding favours from Korea are on each chair.
The fountain with floating candles. The evening turned out to be rainy so we didn't get a chance to light the candles. They still look pretty though!
Family outing
The Song family flew into Los Angeles four days before the wedding. Myung Jin and Eric had a chance to take them around the town. At a beach side pancake house in Manhattan Beach, close to where we were staying.
예식 며칠전에 엘에이에 오신 부모님을 모시고 해변 근처에 있는 팬케이크 집에서.
Dad Song's spy cam action.
아빠의 몰래 카메라.
We also went to our newly discovered, newly favourite breakfast place Amadine in Brentwood. (Not on a same day)
오믈렛과 프렌치 토스트를 맛있게하는 '아마딘'에서.
Dad Song is impressed by the size of coffee cups in America!
커피잔 크기에 감탄!
May 13, 2007
Family dinners
Four days before the wedding Eric's mum family and Myung Jin's family met for the first time over Spanish dinner at La Paella in Beverly Hills.
에릭 어머니 가족들과 스페니쉬 식사. 에릭네는 마드리드에 몇년 살았었다.
Eric with Myung Jin's brother Taek, and his brothers Michael and Angelo.
택승이, 에릭 동생 마이클, 에릭, 에릭 형 앤젤로.
Sisters Alyssa and Melissa.
에릭 여동생 알리사와 맬리사.
The Song family met Eric's dad family at Torafuku, a Japanese restaurant in Santa Monica. The dads are exchanging gifts to each other's family. The mums look on. The brothers Taek and Ramon face the camera.
에릭 아버지 가족과는 일식당에서 만났다. 정상회담같은 포즈.
Angelo's wife Lily and Eric's sister Kristina.
에릭 형 앤젤로 부인인 릴리와 여동생 크리스티나.
May 14, 2007
Scenes from the wedding
Kristina and Jamie were at the entrance, helping us recieve the guests with sign-in book and programs.
입구에서 하객들을 받은 크리스티나와 제이미.
The gift basket is decorated with Bourgainvillea.
선물 바스켓.
The watery-eyed flower girl Lauren gets the wreath.
울다만 로렌에게 화관을 씌우다.
The guests are seated, facing the view of the Pacific ocean,
기다리는 하객들. 한쪽으론 태평양이 보이고
and the city of Los Angeles.
한쪽으론 엘에이 시내가 보인다.
Flower girl Nicole enters carrying the ceramic ducks with our wedding bands. A species of duck mate for life - hence it has traditionally been a symbol of marriage in Korea.
꽃순이 지윤 입장. 뒤에서 사진찍는 준환오빠. 우리 반지를 담은 오리모양의 도자기를 두손 가득 들었다.
Kenji and Eric at the alter.
기다리는 멋쟁이 주례 켄지와 필리핀 전통의상을 입은 에릭.
Myung Jin enters with dad. We like this photo taken from behind.
입장하는 모습을 뒤에서 찍은 이 사진이 정말 마음에 든다.
The true star of the evening
The true star of the evening was not the bride nor the groom, but the bride's brother Taek. Taek impressed everyone with his height, his handsomeness ;-), his friendliness, and his impeccable British accent. He was not only the interpreter for the Korean and English language speakers, but he was also the masterful facilitator of programs of that evening.
During the days leading up to the wedding, to our (happy) surprise, he developed deep bonds with our families and was intrumental in bringing all of us together. This wedding would not have been as magical without him.
Thanks Kay for this great photo!
신랑 신부보다 더 인기많았던 멋진 내 동생 택승이. 전문 동시통역사인 택승이가 예식을 통역을 해주고 사회를 한국어와 영어로 너무나 멋있게 봐주었다. 에릭 가족들과도 친해져서 미국오면 초대받은 곳이 많다.
Thierry Cam
Our good friend and photographer Thierry took some photos too.
에릭 친구 중 (쪼-금 유명한) 사진작가도 와서 "예술적"인 사진을 찍어주었다. 대부분의 사람들은 너무 스냅샷 같다고 불만이다. 따로 정식 사진작가가 있었기 때문에 이런 물렁물렁한 사진들도 좋다.
May 22, 2007
The Maids
Myung Jin's bridesmaids (who are actually "matrons" ;-) Soojin and Eunkyung flew in from Pittsburgh and Seattle respectively.
피츠버그와 시애틀에서 엘에이까지 뫄준 내 친구 수진이와 은경이. 이쁘다!
We can't remember what we were laughing at!
Ever-prepared Eunkyung had some Kleenex ready for Myung Jin.
준비한 티슈를 건네주는 은경이.
May 24, 2007
The Cake
We designed the wedding cake to match our invitation. The Wedding Lladro was gift from Eric's sisters Melissa, Alyssa, and brother Michael.
The Dance
Eric's dad and Tita Malou showed us the dance steps the night before the wedding.
전날밤 에릭 부모님께 15분 레슨받은 실력을 선보이다 - 역시 좀 모자랐다... ^^
The View over Los Angeles
The evening started at 5 pm and ended at 11 pm.
야경. 5시에 시작해서 밤 11시에 마쳤다.
May 28, 2007
Happy Birthday Mum
A few days after the wedding, April 27th was mum's birthday. Before she left for Williamsburg we went to Saladang, Eric's favourite Thai restuarant in Los Angeles to celebrate.
Angelo took picture of us infront of Saladang. From left are Lily, Myung Jin, Lauren, Eric, Aunt Susan, Melissa, Mum, Uncle Danny.
At Grandpa Cruz
We visited Eric's grandfather's grave at Apple Valley two days after the wedding. Some flowers from the wedding were already there.
May 29, 2007
Honeymoon in Maui
We went to Maui for the honeymoon. It was sunny, cloudy, and windy all at the same time.
신혼여행은 마우이에서. 태평양 한가운데 섬이라 그런지 날씨가 맑은 가운데 구름도 많고 바람도 정말 많이 불었다.
Nature Galore
At the Waleakea National Park.
국립공원의 풍경.
With Kenji
Kenji checks up on us in Maui. Just kidding - we are all here for our friends Sumi and Satch's wedding.
우리를 따라 마우이까지 온 주례 켄지....는 아니고, 사실은 마우이에서 또 다른 결혼식을 주례하기 위해 왔다.
Kenji and sunset at Lahaina.
석양을 바라보는 켄지의 뒷모습.
Sunrise at Haleakea
We got at up 3 am to drive up the mountain to see the sunrise. At 10,023 feet pre-sunglight, it was freezing even though it was Hawaii! But it was worth every shattering teeth.
3055 미터 높이의 할레아키아 산으로 일출을 보러갔다. 춥긴했지만 일출은 정말 장관이었다.
Bird's eye view
Right after we climbed down the mountain from viewing the sunrise, we got on a helicopter and flew over it. It was quite a sight! Even though it was sunny at clear on the side we started out from, it was windy and drizzly once we got past the mountain. The last leg of the ride was a little bit bumpy... The view was beautiful, but it ended just in time.
마우이섬을 둘러보는 헬리콥터를 탔다. 마우이섬은 제주도와 비슷해 날씨가 변화무쌍하다. 섬 한가운데에 있는 산을 넘어가니 그쪽에선 비가 보슬보슬내리고 있었다. 덕분에 좀 멀미를...
May 30, 2007
Sumi and Satch
May 4th was our friends Sumi and Satch's wedding at a beautiful location in Maui overlooking the ocean.
친구 결혼식이 마우이에서 있은것이 우리가 마우이로 신혼여행을 간 이유중 하나다. 장소가 장소니 만큼 하와이 분위기가 듬뿍담긴 결혼식이었다.
Alohas are abundant on the guests' outifts.
This is Kenji's second officiant duty in two weeks.
The happy bride and groom exit.
Everybody went barefoot during the ceremony.
With Wieden people.
Our table cards at the reception.
Molokini Snorkeling
Kenji, Tomoko, and us went snorkeling to a small island off of Maui.
몰로키니 섬으로 스노클링하러 갔다. 보트로 약 40분 거리.
Off we go! It was about 40-minute boat ride.
In our wetsuits.
Molokini Island is shaped like crecent moon. The inner curve area is the best for snorkeling.
Eric the water seal. 에릭은 물개.
Eric stayed out there for more than an hour and was the last one to get back to the boat.
May 31, 2007
Maui Kamaole
Maui Kamaole, aka Maui Guacamole was our home for the 9-day stay in Maui. We had a nice patio, some stretch of lawn in front of our apartment, and even some ocean view.
At the patio after breakfast.
Red bird is a sign of good luck.
Even a couple of quails came to munch on some breakfast crumbs.
Hair resembles tree leaves.
Drying our sneakers.
The entrance to Maui Kamaole
Our apartment is the third from the left.
Maui Ocean Center
From the aquarium.
Maui Aloha
We went to Maui without any plans. Our only objective was to attend our friends' wedding there, recover from the wedding, and relax; all of which were happily achieved. That we ended up having great fun and adventure, and hang out with Kenji and friends was icing on cake. It turned out to be a perfect honeymoon.
Our favourite spot was a small jacuzzi pool with an old wooden buddha overlooking.
Coconut trees are everywhere.
View of the swimming pool.
At the pool.
Bougainvilleas are everywhere too.
Sunset from our apartment.
June 01, 2007
Grandpa Song
The second weekend after we got back from the honeymoon, we flew to Korea to meet Myung Jin's extended family. Our first stop was at Myung Jin's grandfather in Daegu.
신혼여행 다녀온 두번째 주말에는 서울과 대구에 계신 친척분들께 인사드리러 한국으로 갔다. 우선 대구에 계신 할아버지 산소로.
Eric and Taek put the geraniums by the grave. 에릭과 택승이가 사가지고간 제라니움 꽃을 놓다.
Saying hello to grandpa. 할아버지께 인사.
Family photo. 가족 사진.
할아버지 또 올께요.
Family affair in Daegu
Myung Jin's parents are from Daegu so a lot of her relatives are there. They all came out to meet us.
Myung Jin's two grandmothers. 할머니와 외할머니께서 오셨다.
There were 21 of us. 모두 와주셔셔 감사합니다~
Myung Jin's aunt who came to the wedding, and her husband. 고모와 고모부. 고모는 엘에이까지 오셨다.
Myung Jin's mum and her sister. 엄마와 이모.
Eric pours soju for Myung Jin's uncle. He is becoming too good at it! 소주를 잘 따르는 에릭.
With everyone. 대가족 사진.
With two grandmothers. 할머니, 외할머니 건강하세요~
June 05, 2007
Taek's office
While we were in Seoul, we took a quick detour to Myung Jin's brother Taek's office. Taek's office is not your regular office space. He shares it with three other friends and they have collectively accumulated all the games, comic books, figurines, DVD movies you could ever wish for. And the best part is - the in-house bar and bartender. (Taek is a certified bartender) It's a boy's dream come true!
택승이의 사무실에도 들렸다. 3명의 친구들과 함께 쓰는 사무실에는 만화책, 게임, 영화 등 오락에 관한한 없는것이 없다. 가장 압권은 홈-바. 모두들 놀러와서 떠나기를 싫어하는 곳.
Taek at his desk, surrounded by Japanese comic books. 택승이 책상.
The bar is well stocked! 제법 잘 갖추어진 홈-바.
Taek and his friends. 택승과 친구들.
Seoul gathering
The second gathering in so many days was in Seoul at a nearby Chinese restaurant, with also about 21 members of extended family.
대구에서 모임 다음날에는 서울에서 모임을 가졌다. 근처 방이동의 중국집에서. 대구에서와 똑같은 숫자로, 21명이 모였다.
Korean screen.
It almost feels like a mini-wedding. 마치 결혼식같은 분위기. 모두들 와주셔서 고맙습니다~
We screened the slideshow of wedding photos from our laptop. 결혼식 사진을 노트북에서 슬라이드쇼로 관람.
Family photo. 가족 사진.
Just the two of us. 우리끼리 사진.
June 08, 2007
Home in Tokyo
We've created a new blog at www.songcruz.com/blogtokyo on which we started posting our life in Tokyo, our current home.
We will keep this blog for documenting wedding-related events. Our "official" wedding photos are due in one month - we can't wait!
June 29, 2007
Wedding photos
The "official" wedding photos are here!
April 25, 2008
The Familia
It's been one year...
