When two New Yorkers become engaged, the logical assumption is that will look for a wedding venue in the city. And they did, but this was the only ordinary aspect of Emily and Joshua's life. They met through Friendster in Hong Kong, where she lived. Joshua's family owns a shoe design and sample development company in China. Emily's father expects his daughter to help him run his successful toy factory. Her father has been divorced several times. About eight years ago Emily's mother, his first wife, became a Buddhist nun. Emily, a filmmaker, produced the independent film "One Night Stand ," and her latest film, "Family Inc.," is currently in post-production.

Two months before the couple left for New York, Emily's father threw an elaborate and lavish Chinese wedding for 450 guests in a five-star hotel in Hong Kong. Mostly business friends attended the bash because weddings in China focus on strengthening business ties over anything else.

The wedding in New York was Emily and Josh's own personal celebration to share with families and friends. It completely reflected their personal taste. The bare New York Studio 450 space suited the couple's minimalistic taste perfectly. The theme of the wedding, "In the Mood For Love," an homage to their favorite Wong Kar Wai film, complemented the Asian fusion design and the multicultural food buffet. "We wanted the wedding to be a reflection of our personal style and an event we can look back on for years with joy and pride. And of course, it's the ultimate celebration of our love and commitment to one another," Emily wrote to me.

The couple knew from the beginning that Rabbi David Posner of New York's Temple Emanuel would perform the ceremony. Josh had known the rabbi all his life and couldn't imagine getting married without him. Emily's mother has been a nun for the past eight years. She just finished a three-year retreat in a Buddhist monastery in upstate New York. The wedding date was scheduled so that she could attend the celebration.
Emily and Josh invited a few of her mother's Buddhist Lama friends. In a last minute decision, they blessed the couple during the ceremony.

Instead of jetting off to a honeymoon, Emily and Josh flew to San Jose for a sneak preview of "Family Inc." at the Cinequest Film Festival a couple of days later. "So I still owe my hubby a proper honeymoon,"
Emily confesses.

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According to Emily these event professionals helped make the New York Wedding a success.

Dresses:
Ceremony dress by Lusan Mandongus; the reception dress is from the "No Ordinary Bride" collection by Kleinfeld

Event Coordinator:
Always a Bridesmaid, are young and energetic; they designed the theme and the flower decoration, and captured our taste perfectly.

Caterer:
Chef Rossi designed a multicultural buffet menu for us. Because we did not want the usual steak and fish sit-down dinner, she came up with a delicious eclectic, multicultural menu. She is a vivacious woman, very warm and inviting.

Cake:
Cheryl Kleinman made the cake. I fell in love with the cake and knew I wanted it the moment I walked into her shop.

Photography:
Kurty Photography. We had heard great things about him from our friends in the Bay Area and decided to fly him to New York. It was totally worth it. My guests are still gushing about the photos.

... and of course Studio 450.