Johna + Chris

How did you meet?

Johna and Chris met on Hinge in 2021. On their first date, Chris confessed “wow… I think I’m in love” when Johna suggested ordering pizza for dinner. Afterwards, Chris took Johna to a fancy Spanish wine bar where she promptly ordered a Modelo.

Fast forward a few months, and they became official. Johna loved that Chris was so grounded and clear about his intentions, and Chris loved Johna’s bro-y personality and TikTok dance moves. Over the following years, their relationship grew as they embarked on many travels together, encouraged each other through career and life ambitions, and learned more about how to nurture their own unique bond through emotional talks, salsa classes, and a rainy Colts vs. 49ers game. Their favorite moments include running into Lee Hyori on the beach on Jeju-do Island, riding horseback at sunset in Puerto Rico, and watching their dog Shasta goofily tossing balls in the air or sleeping in strange positions.

In September 2023, the two tied the knot at a small intimate ceremony with immediate family in San Diego at a Korean church. We were stoked to celebrate our union with the rest of our friends and family during this multi-day affair.

When did you become engaged, and how?

March 11, 2023. Chris sent Johna a 4-hour calendar hold that said HOT DATE NIGHT in Half Moon Bay, so naturally, she was expecting him to propose there. As they were heading out, Chris said there was an activity he wanted to do before going to the beach. He pulled over to a dance studio and surprised her with a private dance lesson. They had already been taking salsa and bachata classes together, and Johna had been interested in also learning West Coast Swing. After the lesson, the teacher mentioned they could continue practicing in the next studio over. Johna didn’t really want to dance more, but Chris seemed excited so she followed him. When she opened the door, there were rose petals and candles all over the floor and she immediately started bawling. He got down on one knee, they both blacked out during his speech, and she said yes! She started hearing a camera clicking and giggles behind a curtain where their friends were waiting to capture the moment. Afterwards, Chris surprised Johna with an intimate dinner gathering of all of their closest friends in the Bay Area.

#WeddingGoals

We knew we wanted a lot of dancing, good food, and less formality.

How did planning go?

It was great—the venue and planner really helped keep us on a good timeline. Our favorite part was when we visited the venue for the first time. We booked it based on seeing video walkthroughs online, so it was awesome to see how much more intimate and endearing it was in person.

What was the biggest challenge of wedding planning?

We really came to appreciate all of the work that goes into the details during the wedding planning process. I don’t think we realized how much work goes into planning a wedding and we were overwhelmed with all of the decisions we had to make. It can also be easy to get trigger happy and say yes to a million things, so we had to stay focused on what really mattered to us and prioritize where we spent our budget.

How would you describe the ceremony?

Heartfelt, genuine, grounded. We are Korean American and both of our mothers walked in wearing traditional hanboks. My parents are also both pastors and they sang a hymn during the ceremony, “In Moments Like These” composed by David Graham—it was very special.

Any memorable moments from your reception? Toasts? Fun dances? Performances?

Chris’s dad was a legend with a signature dance move that everyone tried to copy but couldn’t keep up with. Johna also surprised Chris with a dance with her college dance crew.

Did you have any special cultural features to your wedding or factors that celebrated the heritage of you or your family?

Our moms both work traditional Korean hanboks during the ceremony, we spoke to our parents in Korean during our thank you speech, and we served short rib kimchi lettuce wrap as a passed appetizer.

Special Dances:

First Dance Song: “Stay with You” by John Legend and “Suavamente” by Elvis Crespo

Last Dance Song: “Vivir Mi Vida” by Marc Anthony

Bride’s surprise dance performance with her dance crew BreakFree Legacy: “Love on Top” by Beyoncé and “My House” by 2PM

What was the best part of your day – from each spouse’s perspective, please?

Johna: I loved when we were done with the ceremony and reception speeches and started dancing. Our dance floor was full from when it started to the end.

Chris: I loved Johna and her dance crew’s surprise dance during the reception.

What was your favorite detail from your wedding day?

Johna: When I could finally change into my reception dress and BREATHE. It felt like all the formalities were over and I could just let loose and enjoy myself.

Chris: Our welcome party, which was ’90s and 2000s theme. It was a really fun way to open up the week and celebrations.