Wedding of Ji Young Shin and Brian Chen
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Wedding of Ji Young Shin, M.D.  and Professor Brian Chen in Saint Patrick’s Church at 242 South 20th St, in  
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA on Saturday, August 3, 2013.  Dr. Brian Chen is the son of Dr. May Lee
Chen (李梅 ). Dr. Ji Young Shin is a clinical assistant professor, a nephrologist and hospitalist at Jefferson
Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Dr. Brian Chen is an assistant professor of
computer science and engineering at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.
The bride, Ji Young Shin, with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Kwang Chul and Dong Chu Shin.
The flower girl in the wedding.
The bride and the bridegroom performed a deep bow to bride's parents.
During the Pyebaek, the Korean traditional wedding Bowing Ceremony, the bride and the bridegroom  
performed a deep bow to groom's mother, Dr. May Lee Chen. The deep bow begins standing and ends with
the newlyweds pressing their foreheads to their hands while kneeling on the floor.

This is done during the wedding reception at McCormick and Schmick’s Seafood and Steak Restaurant located
at 1 S Broad St  Philadelphia, PA 19107, directly across from the historic City Hall and on the renowned
Avenue of the Arts.

Korean Paebaek Ceremony symbolizes the joining of the two families, rather than just the two individuals.
Bridegroom's mother gave one gold necklace to the bride and another gold necklace to the bridegroom during
the Pyebaek ceremony.
Newlyweds with bride's parents, uncles and aunt.
The newlyweds with parents and brothers on both sides of family.
After the deep bow and offering of the cup of tea from the newlyweds, the elders with the microphone offer
their wisdom, advice or blessing for the future of the newlyweds.

Paebaek offers a beautiful and meaningful way to incorporate Korean heritage and culture and bring some
added fun to weddings in America. The core of Paebaek features the bride and groom dressed in very
colorful traditional Korean wedding attire, called hanbok, bowing in unison to the elders to pay their respects
to family elders.
The bride and the groom also bowed to each other and offered one cup of tea to each other and drank the
tea with right arms crossed.
The bride and the groom dancing during the reception.
Some guests during the cocktail hour of wedding reception at McCormick and Schmick’s Seafood and Steak
Restaurant.
Dinner at D'Angelo's Ristorante Italianoon next to the Saint Patrick's Church in Philadelphia after the wedding
rehearsal on Friday, August 2, 2013.
May Lee Chen chatting with some friends/gusts in the Saint Patrick's Church after the wedding ceremony.
Brian Chen, May Lee Chen and relatives in Saint Patrick's Church after the wedding ceremony.
The newlyweds then serve a cup of tea each to the bride's father and mother. Then the elders with the
microphone offer their wisdom, advice or blessing for the future of the newlyweds.
The newlyweds then serve a cup of tea to the groom's mother. When tea is shared, the bride is officially
accepted into the groom's family.
The newlyweds also performed the deep bows to several elders (uncles and aunts) from both sides of family.
After all the elders have gone through the program, siblings and cousins of similar age or younger bow together
with the bride and groom.
Next on the program is throwing and catching of dates and chestnuts. The bride and groom extend the long
apron. Groom's mother throw several dates (jujubes) and chestnuts to the long apron. The bride and groom
tried to catch as many dates and chestnuts as possible by using the long apron. This ritual is meant for the
couple to have many healthy children. According to legend, the number of dates and chestnuts caught signifies
how many children the bride will bear in the future.
Then the similar program for bride's father throwing several dates and chestnuts to the long apron for the
newlyweds to try to catch as many as possible.

Bride's face is adorned with red dots on her forehead and cheeks to represent ruddy cheeks and symbolize
youth and healthy life.
Finally, to demonstrate his strength, the groom carries the bride piggyback going around the room two or more
times, a gesture of promise of his everlasting devotion and love for her throughout their life.
Next on the program is splitting of the date. The bride and groom place a date between their lips and kiss.
Each bites off half the date. It is said, the one who gets the seed, has the power in the relationship.