Christina Hutchison & Richard Tseng
By Nicole Barley | Photography by Terry Clark Photography/ Terry Clark & Joanne Bartone
For Christina Hutchison and Richard Tseng, a little computer trouble led to a whole lot more than a solution — it led to a love connection. Christina was studying in Hunt Library at Carnegie Mellon University on Valentine’s Day of 2001, where she was a graduate student majoring in English. Richard, also a grad student — majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering — happened to be in the library that night, too, and came to her technological rescue. “He was my knight in shining armor,” says Christina. Recalls Richard, “It was actually nothing out of the ordinary for me to help with that kind of stuff,” but the end result was a very different story.
It took them both a few months to work up the courage to go on a date, and in May, they went to an Itzhak Perlman concert at Heinz Hall. On one of their first vacations as a couple, they visited St. Michaels, Md., and while site-seeing, they came upon the Inn at Perry Cabin, where Richard told Christina, “Someday, I’ll bring you back here, and I’ll ask you to marry me.” He was true to his word. On Valentine’s Day of 2008, the couple returned. As they walked by the Chesapeake Bay, “It was very cold and very, very snowy, but he still got down on one knee and asked me to marry him,” says Christina. She not only received an engagement ring, but a book of Richard’s photography, detailing all of their previous travels together. The couple now resides in Stafford, Va.
The Details: How to Add Cultural Elements
The bride wanted the reception to have an “Asian, tropical kind of feeling. Richard is Chinese, and we wanted to blend the two cultures.” She chose decorations of deep red — which is the color that symbolizes good luck in Chinese culture — and light gold. Bright, tropical flowers, and personal, thematic touches tied it all together.
The Ceremony: Holy Angels Church
The Catholic church in Baldwin is where the bride’s family attends. Eschewing tradition, the couple had a “first look ceremony,” taking photos prior to the wedding. During the service, Richard dropped the rings while picking them up from the priest’s Bible. “Although he blames it on the best man,” the accident was caught on videotape, says Christina. Exiting the church, “we were greeted by our friends and family with silver pop-out streamers,” she says.
The Reception: Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden
The Tsengs chose Phipps Conservatory, as it’s located within walking distance of the place where they first met. Their ceremony was at 2:30 in the afternoon and the reception, in the Phipps Conservatory Special Events Hall, began at 5 p.m. In the meantime, guests were able to tour the botanical gardens.
Take-out Time
Their 80 guests took home gold stamped, red Chinese take-out boxes filled with chocolate truffles from the Chocolate Moose in Squirrel Hill. The truffles were tropically flavored, too — orange, pomegranate, key lime, banana, and sea salt caramel — yum!
Dressing Drama
Richard’s tux, an Ermenegildo Zegna design from Saks Fifth Avenue, and onyx and diamond cufflinks — a gift from Christina — were perfect, but his bow tie was a bit of a problem. He and his groomsmen tried everything, visiting the Brooks Brothers Downtown, even turning to YouTube for bow-tie tutorials. Terry Clark’s second photographer, Joanne Bartone, saved the day, tying it correctly on her first try.
Flora & Fauna
The bride carried a brilliant bouquet by Mt. Lebanon Floral composed of red-orange vanda orchids, mango calla lilies, orange protea, and roses, wrapped in tropical leaves. The stem of the spray was covered in light gold ribbon and a small piece of white, lace handkerchief — Christina’s late grandmother’s — was pinned to the bottom. Richard wore a boutonnière of a single vanda orchid, swirled with a piece of bear grass and black ribbon. The centerpieces at the reception employed those same flowers in gorgeous tropical arrangements, with the addition of bamboo. Glowing candle lanterns lit each table.
Lots of Luck!
The bride is from Beaver County, and Richard’s family is from Taiwan, and their two worlds came together beautifully. Christina’s handmade touches could be seen everywhere — she stamped all of the place cards with the “double-happiness seal,” the Chinese symbol for good luck at weddings. The invitations, also made by the bride, bore the same gold seal. Even more fun, Christina changed outof her silver, Jimmy Choo high heels after the ceremony and slipped into a pair of red satin peep-toe pumps by Diba.
Cater to Me
Rania Harris of Rania’s Catering cooked a feast. Lots of hors d’oeuvres were passed during cocktail hour, including profiteroles stuffed with red pepper chile sauce, sesame beef in filo dough, and grilled scallops with bacon and Texas red sauce. For the entrée, guests chose between pan-seared, herb-encrusted branzino or grilled, lemon-herb marinated chicken. Harris also created the three-tier cake, with layers of chocolate cake with raspberry filling and yellow with chocolate fudge. Cascading down the side of the white butter cream frosting were red-orange vanda orchids.
More Details!
- Rehearsal Dinner
Yokoso! at The Waterfront - Dress and Veil
David’s Bridal - Honeymoon
Hawaii - First Dance
They learned how to do the “foxy, a slow fox trot” to Sade’s, “By Your Side.” - Father-Daughter Dance
“Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler - Entertainment
DJ Jason Hitt - Wedding Planner
Sumer Schmitt, Simply Perfect Weddings