East Meets East – an Autumn Wedding in Little Tokyo

When Cory and Lily planned on getting married, they didn’t want it to be a big deal. They were going to get married at a courthouse. When they settled into the idea of getting married at the Doubletree Hotel in Little Tokyo, they were only going to invite family. Weeks before the wedding, they humbly asked if expanding the guest list to incorporate friends would make a big difference in the photography and timeline. I enthusiastically responded “It’s a GREAT idea! You should celebrate with everyone you love.” And celebrate they did. In the short time this wedding went from courthouse to full blown, Cory and Lily worked their butts off to incorporate thoughtful details and gestures that honored both their heritages. The day started off with a tea ceremony to show respect for Lily’s Chinese background. I was blown away by how Tina Li, of In The Clouds Events, set up the tea ceremony so beautifully on the rooftop of the Doubletree. It was a special treat for Lily, who could see the ceremony site from her hotel room as she was getting ready. The wedding ceremony and reception incorporated happy splashes of a fall color palette, with origami cranes made by the groom, a reflection of Cory’s Japanese heritage. Out-of-town guests also got to share in some highlights of LA food culture, with cupcake Sundays from Sprinkles and an array of pastries from Porto’s.