Sammy, who works in digital marketing at Johnson & Johnson, wore a beige Dior Homme by Hedi Slimane suit from spring 2006 that they found on eBay, fitted by tailor Grace R. Kim. On his wrist, the groom wore a vintage GMT Master II Rolex borrowed from his eldest brother, Ramsey. The rare timepiece originally belonged to his late father, who immigrated to the United Kingdom from Baghdad in the 1960s. As a further nod to his Iraqi roots, Sammy also wore a boutonniere of red roses: the country’s national flower.
Angela’s father walked her down the grass aisle to a violin rendition of “Thinkin Bout You” by Frank Ocean. Sammy was waiting for her under a flower arch of amaranth, cockscomb, larkspur, and roses, as geese honked from the pond nearby.
Ramsey, who officiated the wedding, spoke of the water bird’s poignant symbolism in his sermon: “He incorporated history on the meaning of geese in Korean tradition—they symbolize an everlasting and prosperous marriage—which was so fitting as geese were waddling all around us,” Angela says. Her friends later told her there wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd.
The couple held their cocktail hour and reception at Buttermilk Falls Inn’s barn. Their violinist Mylez Gittens played songs by SZA, Wizkid, and Pop Smoke while guests drank local Hudson Valley beers. Angela, who did most of the wedding planning herself, with a little help from a month-of coordinator at Ruffles & Tweed, designed her decor to be kaleidoscopic. “I wanted our tables to feel whimsical and abstract with lots of juicy colors,” she says. “I got in bright candles and candleholders from Hay and Lex Pott to add to the tablescape.” Florist Penny Krounais covered the barn in a mix of dahlias, cosmos, zinnias, and bright fruits.
The reception kicked off with their couple’s first dance to “How to Love” by Lil Wayne. For the one with her dad, Angela chose a Korean song titled “Father.” “Written by Psy, it’s about a child growing up and finally understanding the sacrifices made by their father and parents,” she says. “I still cry listening to this song.”
Guests dined on a farm-to-table menu catered by Buttermilk’s restaurant, Henry, which included oven-roasted halibut and grilled filet mignon. As the night carried on, servers brought out a Vietnamese iced coffee tiramisu cake decorated with daisies by Brooklyn’s Yip Studios to everyone’s delight.
Afterwards, Angela’s bridesmen threw an after-party for the couple at Riverknoll Mansion overlooking the Hudson Valley. They decorated the room with silver balloons, inspired by Andy Warhol’s Silver Clouds, and brought in a karaoke machine and a big order of McDonald’s. Most stayed up until sunset—except Sammy and Angela, who at some point in the night, fell asleep on the couch.
“It was like an out-of-body experience—a mix of nerves and euphoric happiness,” Angela says of her wedding. “Our hearts are still filled with joy thinking about that day.”
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