I was going to write something beautiful to introduce today’s Maryland wedding feature, but what photographer, Steve of An Endless Pursuit wrote, was so much better than anything I could have attempted. So I leave you with his words. Happy Thursday Romancers.

“This was Leigh Margaret and Inwook’s second wedding. The first one was in South Korea and then they came back to the states to have a wedding with Leigh Margaret’s family. This was a small simple wedding. It was actually in a small house/meeting room at a local Gaithersburg community pool. Despite the simplicity, this wedding was beautiful in every way to us. Leigh Margaret and Inwook were incredible to observe and document. They come from such different cultures, there are language barriers, and yet there is a common language they speak through their love. Inwook was so full of joy and delight with his bride, and he expressed it in continuous laughter.”

Leigh Margaret & Inwook’s Intimate, Multicultural Maryland Wedding in Gaithersburg

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Photography: An Endless Pursuit | Venue: Hadley Farms | Linens & Rentals: Gaithersburg Party Rental | Musicians: Peat and Barley | Catering: LaPrima Catering | Submitted via Two Bright Lights

From the Bride:

Inwook and I were already going to have a huge, fancy Korean wedding. For the party in Jinju, there were 400 people in attendance! That wasn’t exactly my style. It was all very princess-y. If I happened to be a fussy bride, maybe I would have pushed for more opulence with the American wedding. I am thankful for both parties but our second marriage celebration couldn’t have been more perfect. It was intimate, enjoyable, and lovely. Thanks to Mama Manning for making it all possible!

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We have an unlikely story: I was the English language teacher, he was the student. I’m American and he’s Korean (that’s South Korean, by the way.) But more than proving that two very different people can build a relationship, I hope we are able to encourage others to take a risk romantically. You might just find the most fantastic partner that way.

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I had always wondered if I might end up with a non-white person. Maybe that’s a strange goal in seeking a partner. I suppose, this idea rendered itself more as an “open mind.” Even with that kind of openness, I had never dreamed he would grow up across the world, in a totally different language and culture. Thanks to his superior English skills, we are able to have a decently communicative relationship. (Guys and girls don’t communicate well anyway, but throw in a language barrier…) I think we balance each other well. We are equal amounts adventurous, but he’s cheerful and I’m sassy. Maybe. I shouldn’t be proud of that…

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I find the most joy in our shared love for traveling, our desire to bless others, and appreciating our cultural differences. Inwook is so fascinating, I’m not sure if I will ever stop learning new things about him. He would probably confess that I’m rambunctious and dynamic (i.e. crazy), and that keeps him entertained.

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Click inside for some adorable details form Leigh Margaret & Inwook’s simple, intimate Maryland wedding!

As of now, in our short 6 months of marriage we have:
1. Relocated from South Korea to Canada, to America, and back to South Korea (visa and other life issues.) This was and is a huge, painful learning curve.
2. Lived with my parents for 2 months and with his parents for 2 weeks. So much more fun than it sounds!
3. Had to keep an all-nighter schedule because that was the only job I could get. Inwook graciously kept my schedule to spend time with me.
4. He applied and began grad school classes
5. We were married twice legally and twice religiously. We said vows three different occasions. Each time felt more significant than the last, surprisingly.

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Already, it’s been hectic and disappointing, wild and fun. With all that said and the things we’ve been through, I’m pleased with us. Many people shook their heads, discouraging us from going down this international marriage path. It’s true, having each set of parents on opposite sides of the world makes saying goodbye painful. Yes, trying to live with cultural differences can try your patience. But through this relationship, I have the opportunity to be a better person. There are countless occasions I can show love and grace to my sweet husband (and for the record, I’m not always as sweet to him as he is to me.)

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Congratulations (again) Leigh Margaret & Inwook – thank you for sharing your beautiful, intimate Maryland wedding with us! A special thanks again to An Endless Pursuit for sharing their GORGEOUS pictures!

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4 comments

  1. Cranes! I’m making cranes for my reception, too, and I’m ridiculously excited about it. Back to the lovely couple here, I think it’s wonderful that they were able to celebrate their marriage twice and that both times were special <3

    1. Hi Folks
      Thank you Rin! Just so you know cranes may get tangled and make you frustrated to set up in the right place but if you carried them with you properly to the wedding venue it would be OK or connect threads there :)

  2. Congrats to these two! I can only imagine how difficult it would be to live a world away from family (on either side). That’s so wonderful that each time they exchanged vows was more significant than the last.

    1. Kim, Thank you!
      Yes, Restating our marriage vows have helped us a lot to deal with the downs so far. We are REALLY married now :)
      It was great spending time with my wife’s parents in Maryland for a couple of months before we came to Korea. I assume not so many people live with their parent in law like this. I was not sure if we should live with them in the first place, but it was one of the most precious time we had. It is a great idea to mutually make a determination to spend some time with family when you decide to move. Worth it! We both know that There will be a time when we want to live in somewhere closer to my or her family but you know we don’t know what the future holds so we are just loving and living the right TODAY so that we can have better tomorrows :) International Marriage can be tough but it may have fruits in the long run. If you yield things just a little for your partner at the right time, it would help marriage life for international couples.

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