charlotteobserver.com

Targeted Publications Division of The Charlotte Observer, A McClatchy Publication

April/June 2012

Pick Up A Copy

Slideshow

The beauty of friendship

By Lauren Dunn | Photography by Lindsey Lee Photography

Posted: Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011

Reminiscing on her wedding day, Gean Cho knows what made it special: her friends and family. But she’ll also credit them with making it possible. Gean’s best friend and maid of honor Deanna introduced Gean to her co-worker, Joe Carteret, when Joe met both girls briefly in Uptown.

Joe pressed Deanna for Gean’s phone number to no avail. Deanna didn’t want to mix romance with her friendships. Little did she know they’d be a perfect pair. When Deanna finally gave in and Joe won Gean’s number, it wasn’t long before the phone calls and texts became daily. “He was really easy to talk to,” Gean says. “We would just talk forever and ever about nothing.”

Two years later, with their anniversary looming, Gean thought something might be up. What she didn’t expect was for Joe to book a spontaneous trip to Atlanta two weeks before the anniversary. It was there at the Sun Dial restaurant underneath the stars that Joe asked Gean to spend the rest of her life with him.

“I just started crying,” Gean says. “Honestly, he had to tell me again what all he was saying because I was so excited and nervous.”

When the big day came, Gean recalls not worrying about her hair, or makeup or even the rain, but her soon-to-be husband.

“I felt really calm,” Gean says. “I was more worried about Joe and how he was feeling.” But Joe was perfectly fine. That morning he had been sharing a breakfast with his sister, Ashley, at Panera Bread when he had noticed a homeless man come in. Fumbling through his pockets for change, Joe discreetly went to the manager to pay for his meal. “Ashley later shared that story with me as we were getting ready for the wedding,” Gean says, “It just reminded me again how amazing Joe is and how lucky I was to be marrying him.”

Her tiered trumpet dress with lace overlays and a jeweled belt was purchased in Atlanta, but Gean chose New York Bride & Groom for her bridesmaids’ dresses, veil and tuxedos. “They were very helpful and the bridesmaids’ dresses were beautiful,” Gean says. “They have such a great selection that it was hard to go anywhere else.”

Gean paired her bridesmaids with bouquets of light pink roses from Party Blooms and one of a kind clutches from etsy.com. “We wanted a classic, romantic feel,” Gean says.

When the time came for her to walk down the aisle, Lindsey Lee Photography was there to capture every tear. “I hate for people to see me cry,” Gean says. “But just everything leading up to that point was so emotional, and as I was walking down the aisle I just started crying. I think it was a combination of everything and being so excited that we’re finally getting married.”

Her traditional ceremony was made unique by her Korean heritage. Her mother wore the traditional Korean dress or hanbok, and Gean’s childhood pastor incorporated Korean scripture into the service.

After the ceremony the couple and their guests made their way to the reception. One highlight of the evening was Gean and Joe’s four-tier, white wedding cake draped in roses provided by Nona’s Sweets. “She was very easy to talk to; she was very sweet and personable,” Gean says. “She also made the groom’s cake and it was beautiful and hilarious. It looked just like a microwave pizza!”

But the night wasn’t over until OAR’s “Crazy Game of Poker” brought everyone to the dance floor.

“Our families and our friends coming together and being there for us was the best feeling,” Gean says. “It felt like so much love.”

Featured vendors

Attire
New York Bride & Groom
704-529-6400
www.nybride.com

Cake
Nona’s Sweets
704-717-6144
www.nonassweets.com

Flowers
Party Blooms
704-957-0884
www.partyblooms.com

Photography
Lindsey Lee Photography
704-791-4839
www.lindseyleephotography.com

Continue reading real wedding stories! Up next: ’She Said Yes! - Lauren and Bryan’