Adriana and Han’s Storybook Winter Wedding

If distance really does make the heart grow fonder, then Adriana and Han may have the fondest hearts of all time. The duo met in September 2006 at a party in Los Angeles; he was a Korea-born, Seattle-bred businessman and new in town, and she was a college student who had recently left her native Indonesia to study in L.A. After a tentative start—“I was so nervous on our first dinner date, I could only order tea and honey!” Adriana says—they settled into a serious relationship that spanned two countries as they pursued careers in Singapore, where Adriana is now a medical student, and L.A., where Han runs an insurance brokerage.

Their feelings for each other grew through numerous visits, and six years later, the pair were ready to make it official. On Valentine’s Day 2013, Han set up a date for them at Cicada, an Italian restaurant in L.A. known for its grand staircase leading to the dining room. “I was waiting at the top of the stairs, and Han came in with six dozen roses and got down on his knee in front of the whole restaurant,” Adriana recalls. “When I said yes, everyone applauded!”

The couple wed several months later in a family-only traditional Catholic ceremony in Indonesia. But they also wanted to throw a stateside celebration to share the love with 120 of their nearest and dearest. The key was finding a venue that was both stunning and sentimental. For them, that was the Meadowood Resort in St. Helena, just north of Napa Valley. “I fell in love with the lush evergreen backdrop the moment I arrived,” Adriana says. “Han grew up in the Pacific Northwest, so the location was an homage to his childhood spent playing among pine trees.”

The scenery set the color scheme for their second, unforgettable wedding on December 21, 2013. A nondenominational ceremony on the Vintner’s Lawn was followed by dinner and dancing in a tent with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, a fitting symbol of eternity for a couple who had waited so patiently for their happy ending. “Sometimes I think the reason we are together now is because we’re both stubborn and would not give up on each other,” says Adriana. After making it official on two continents, they’ll never have to, wherever in the world their love takes them next.

Letterpressed invitations were backed by a thin wooden card to reflect the sylvan locale.

Adriana and stationer Julie Song collaborated on a welcome book for guests. “I wanted it to look like a painting out of a children’s storybook, with Han and I as the main characters,” Adriana says. “Each page had one of Julie’s gorgeous illustrations beside a description of why we chose each venue and what to expect for each event for the weekend. It was very personal—I loved it!”

Adriana and Han each had a group of six cousins and close friends stand up with them. The women donned a variety of Biyan, Sue Wong, and Aidan Mattox gowns. The bride wore Vera Wang and the groom donned a Tom Ford tux.

Groomsmen wore boutonnieres of ranunculus, privet berries, rosemary, and fern tips finished with a pale pink silk ribbon.

The bride carried a clutch of white blooms, including peonies, camellias, ranunculus, nerines, and crispa tulips, surrounded by maidenhair and umbrella ferns.

Floral designer Mindy Rice gathered local ferns to join white peonies in the bridesmaids’ bouquets.

The pair said “I do” in front of an archway of ferns and white blossoms.

Julie Song also designed the vine-bordered ceremony program, which featured calligraphy by Tara Jones.

One of Adriana’s flower girls fit the part of a woodland nymph in her crown of rosemary and roses.

“We really wanted the atmosphere to be a wintry enchanted forest with a storybook vibe. And we kept guests cozy with thoughtful little touches like hand warmers in linen bags and supersoft blankets lining the wooden benches,” says event planner and designer Lisa Vorce. Here, small drawstring bags held heart-shaped hand warmers for the outdoor ceremony.

The wedding party’s tiniest attendants wore tuxedos for their duties. “I loved our entourage—and when all the kids came out at once,” Adriana says. In total, there were 27 people in the wedding party.

The altarpiece was custom-built to the bride’s specifications by event and floral designer Mindy Rice. “I combined flowering branches along with soft flowers to make the structure look as though the forest floor had crept in,” Rice says.

“While I was at the altar waiting for my wife-to-be, I was staring so intently, trying to burn the image of her into my brain. I wanted to capture every moment,” Han says of seeing his bride for the first time as she walked down the aisle to “Winter Light,” by Linda Ronstadt.

Nearly all of Adriana’s family flew from around the world to attend the Napa nuptials, including her second cousins here, who made the trip from Australia.

Burnt-edged escort cards were calligraphed with guests’ names and topped with wax seals that displayed their table numbers.

The lush green centerpieces echoed Meadowood’s natural beauty: Peonies, ranunculus, ferns, garden roses, spray roses, bush ivy, hydrangea, magnolia, and incense cedar came together in Mindy Rice’s collection of vintage carved bowls.

Dinner began with mushroom bisque and butternut squash agnolotti, followed by a choice of seafood and an entrée of braised beef short ribs or fried chicken.

The stacked confection by Perfect Endings consisted of two tiers of banana cake filled with cream cheese frosting, one of chocolate cake with chocolate-hazelnut filling, and one of traditional vanilla.

Location and Catering: Meadowood 

Event Design and Production: Lisa Vorce Co.

Flowers and Event Design: Mindy Rice

Photography: Jose Villa

Videography: Axioo

Cinematography: Living Cinema

Officiant: Pastor Kim of Creekside Korean Church

Stationery: Julie Song Ink (save-the-dates, map, and day-of paper); Shana Frase (artwork); Wiley Valentine (printing)

Calligraphy: Tara Jones Calligraphy

Cake: Perfect Endings

Music and Sound: Entire Productions

Rentals: Hartmann Studios; Zephyr Tents

Bride’s Gown and Veil: Vera Wang

Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik

Hair: Marilee Albin

Makeup: Lucy Crawford 

Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Biyan; Sue Wong; Aidan Mattox

Groom’s Tuxedo: Tom Ford

Groom’s Accessories: Lanvin (bow tie); Dolce & Gabbana (shoes) 

Transportation: Pure Luxury Transportation 

Travel and Concierge Services: Life:Styled