A Retro School-Themed Outdoor Wedding in California

In fourth grade, most boys are more interested in teasing girls than being friends with them. But even at age 9, Truman Cho knew there was something he liked about Minhee Park, his classmate at Laguna Road Elementary School in Fullerton, California. The two stayed friends throughout high school and college but it was not until 1997 (14 years after they first met) that Truman asked Minhee out on a date.

In keeping with the school theme, letterpress invitations, maps and reply cards were printed on vintage notebook paper by Minhee's company, Paper + Cup. Attendance reports asked guests to indicate who was coming. All the components slipped inside a small manilla folder printed with the couple's names and address label peek through the outer envelope.

The wedding party, all friends since elementary school, posed for a class photo beneath a large tree, with the customary letter board to mark the occasion. Minhee wore an Angel Sanchez dress with frothy organza petals and Truman's suit was from Paul Smith. The bridesmaids wore sage green dresses by Aspeed.

In lieu of bouquets, each of Minhee's bridesmaids carried a custom-made satin handbags by Lauren Merkin with a prom-worthy white carnation corsage and striped ribbon pinned to the front.

The groom and his groomsmen each put their best foot forward, lifting up their pant legs to show off their colorful patterned socks, a playful tradition they've adopted for each friend's wedding.

The ring bearers and flower girls played hooky from the cocktail hour. The boys sported tuxedos and daisy boutonnieres and the girls had fresh peonies pinned to their dresses.

The bride and groom's parents stood with the couple for a formal portrait. The mothers each wore a hanbok, which is a traditional Korean dress.

The bride's bouquet was a hand-tied mix of friendly flowers -- carnations, Marguerite daisies, daffodils, chamomile, variegated tulips, and alchemilla (lady's mantle). The bouquet was bound with red and beige striped grosgrain ribbon.

A desk on loan from a nearby school had apples for the teacher (actually seating cards). The placard on the table paid homage to Mrs. Cogan, Minhee and Truman's fourth-grade teacher.

Each guest looked for his or her name, handwritten in perfect penmanship on vintage graph paper. The table number was indicated on a numbered sticker (made by running the paper through a sticker machine from a craft store) on each apple.

Vintage lunch trays were for guest to collect their dinner cafeteria-style. The wooden utensils were hot-stamped with the couple's names, and paper napkins were rubber stamped with the date.

Each guest's place was outlined in chalk on a roll of black paper. Red artist's tape secured the corners to the tablecloth and single-flower arrangements rested in milk bottles, lattes bowls and ceramic tumblers. Votive candles illuminated paper bags trimmed with scalloping shears.

On the tables were pop quizzes about the couple for guests to fill out and deposit in drop boxes covered in paper. Minhee and Truman mailed the graded quizzes after the wedding with their thank-you notes.

No one could resist the blackboard guest-book station. Guests stepped up to doodle and write notes for the bride and groom. The blackboard was a backdrop for instant Polaroid photos that got placed in the guest book.

Guests got to snap one photo for the guest book and another to take home as a memento.

A young guest draws a picture for the bride and groom.

Friends share their opinion with the bride and groom.

Self-adhesive photo corners were attached to the pages of a vintage accounting book in advance so guests could easily slip pictures into place.

A table by the board held extra film and cameras, plus the guest book and pens for attendees to write messages next to their pictures.

The newlyweds sampled the wedding cake decorated with sugar daisies.

Ice cream was one of the sweets served at the reception. The wood spoons were hot stamped with the couple's names.

A brown paper favor bag contained custom school supplies including a handmade journal.

The kids got special favors which were small paper pails filled with toys and candy. The tops were sprayed with chalkboard paint and had their names written in chalk.

Minhee and Truman hold hands and enjoy a moment together at the reception.

Reception Venue: Fullerton Arboretum
Wedding Planner: Sally Lee of Sallee Designs
Photography: Meg Smith
Cake: Beverly's Best Bakery
Stationery: Paper + Cup Design
Wooden Utensils: Paper + Cup Design
Wedding Gown: Angel Sanchez
Bridesmaid Gowns: Aspeed Design
Bridesmaid Handbags: Lauren Merkin
Groom's Attire: Paul Smith