Some weddings are spectacular because of their décor, others because of the wedding dresses, and some because of the location where they take place. But few manage to bring all these elements together while also having such a special family story behind them. EJAE and Samuel Kim’s Wedding, held on October 17, 2026, in Seoul, was one of them. The South Korean singer and songwriter, known internationally for her involvement in the musical phenomenon KPop Demon Hunters, said “I do” to her partner in a setting that holds some of her fondest childhood memories: her grandparents’ former home.
What makes the story particularly fascinating is that this family property, where EJAE played as a little girl and walked through the gardens with her grandfather, was later transformed into a wedding and events venue. Years later, the artist returned to the same place, this time wearing a wedding dress, to begin a new chapter with Samuel Kim.
An outdoor ceremony, nature-inspired décor, large-scale fabric installations, a reception in a glass conservatory, and several dresses by international designers came together to create a celebration that Vogue has just featured in an exclusive report with 69 photographs.
At Perfect Venue, the choice of venue particularly caught our attention because it shows that the true luxury of a wedding does not always lie in finding the most impressive location, but in choosing one with personal meaning.
EJAE and Samuel Kim: A Love Story That Began with Music
Before looking at the dresses and décor, it is worth discovering how this couple’s story began.
EJAE, whose real name is Kim Eun-jae, and Samuel Kim met in May 2017 through a songwriting session organized by a mutual friend.
What was initially meant to be a professional meeting turned into the beginning of a relationship.
They discovered that they shared musical tastes and interests, and soon afterward they began dating.
Over the following years, they built their life together in Brooklyn, New York, while pursuing their respective careers.
A Surprise Marriage Proposal in Brooklyn
The proposal took place on June 1, 2025, and it was deeply personal, too.
Samuel planned a surprise with the help of EJAE’s best friend, making her believe they were going out for dinner.
Instead, he took her to a park in Brooklyn where they used to walk with Honey, their late dog.
Their friends were waiting for them there, having prepared a picnic with photographs of the couple and their pet.
After sharing some particularly heartfelt words, Samuel proposed, and EJAE said yes.
It was a simple proposal filled with shared memories, offering a glimpse of the personal touch that would later define their wedding.
Stage 28: Her Grandparents’ Former Home Turned into a Wedding Venue
The star of the celebration was Stage 28, the venue EJAE and Samuel Kim chose for their wedding in Seoul.
Although it now operates as an event venue, the property was once the singer’s grandparents’ home.
EJAE spent much of her childhood exploring those gardens and walking through the nearby hills with her grandfather.
Over time, the house and its grounds were acquired and transformed into a venue for celebrations. Interestingly, her brother had also chosen the same location for his wedding.
Returning to Stage 28 therefore meant much more than choosing a beautiful setting.
A Wedding in a Place Filled with Family Memories
Rather than choosing a luxury hotel or an international destination, EJAE wanted to celebrate her wedding in a place directly connected to her childhood.
The gardens she had explored as a little girl became the setting where she exchanged her wedding vows.
That detail is precisely what makes the choice so special.
In the wedding world, we are used to discovering castles, palaces, and impressive country estates, but venues with a story to tell are becoming increasingly important.
We saw something similar at Phoebe Dynevor’s wedding at a historic estate in Provence, where the architecture, gardens, and character of the property were essential parts of the experience.
In both cases, the venue was not simply the backdrop for the celebration, but one of its most important elements.
An Outdoor Ceremony with Greenery, Earth Tones, and Natural Décor
For their ceremony, EJAE and Samuel made the most of the beauty of Stage 28’s gardens.
The décor was inspired by the singer’s childhood memories and the colors of the surrounding landscape.
Natural greens and earth tones took center stage, creating an elegant, organic aesthetic that felt closely connected to its surroundings.
Rather than creating a setting that competed with the garden, the design was intended to complement the greenery and enhance the venue’s character.
The ceremony aisle was decorated with flowers, while the guests enthusiastically welcomed the wedding procession.
Nature’s Colors as Inspiration for an Elegant Wedding
One of the most interesting ideas behind this celebration was the choice of a color palette directly linked to the venue.
Greens, soft browns, and natural tones work particularly well for outdoor weddings because they create décor that feels harmonious with the landscape.
They can also be paired with lightweight fabrics, seasonal flowers, and materials such as wood, linen, and glass.
This approach to wedding design connects with some of the 2026 wedding décor trends, including the use of natural elements and references to the couple’s cultural roots.
Both ideas were especially evident at EJAE’s wedding.
A Dreamlike Reception in a Glass Conservatory
While the gardens were the stars of the ceremony, Stage 28’s glass conservatory became the main setting for the reception.
Surrounded by nature and featuring expansive glass surfaces, the space made it possible to create a completely different atmosphere without leaving the property.
The singer wanted the interior to feel ethereal, almost unreal, so she opted for large-scale textile installations and lightweight fabrics that draped and flowed throughout the space.
The result was a combination of transparent architecture, greenery, and fluid textiles that brought movement and softness to the décor.
Large-Scale Fabrics and Draping to Transform a Wedding Venue
One of the most interesting décor trends to take away from this wedding is the use of textiles as a central design feature.
Fabrics are no longer used only to dress tables or decorate small areas. They can also become large-scale installations capable of transforming an entire space.
In a conservatory, for example, lightweight draping can soften glass and metal structures, creating a much warmer and more romantic atmosphere.
It can also help define different areas of a celebration without the need to build permanent structures.
In EJAE’s case, the conservatory décor also had symbolic meaning: it represented her life today and the feeling of finally living a chapter she had dreamed of reaching for many years.
EJAE’s Wedding Dresses: Danielle Frankel, Zac Posen, and Milla Nova
Fashion was another major highlight of the wedding.
EJAE chose different designs for each part of the celebration, maintaining a delicate, modern, and sophisticated aesthetic.
A Danielle Frankel Dress for the Ceremony
For her walk down the aisle, the singer wore a custom Danielle Frankel gown.
Made from tulle, the design featured a strapless neckline, a draped bodice, and a voluminous bubble-inspired skirt.
A nude-toned chiffon cape added lightness and helped create the ethereal look EJAE wanted for her wedding.
The bride completed the outfit with a long veil and family heirloom jewelry passed down from her grandmother to her mother.
It was a particularly moving detail, given the significance of the venue she had chosen for the ceremony.
Zac Posen Designs the Second Wedding Dress
For the reception, EJAE changed into a custom design by Zac Posen.
This time, she chose a more fitted chiffon gown with a fluid silhouette and luminous details that created a more sophisticated effect.
The idea was to preserve the lightness of the first dress while adding a touch of sparkle and drama for the celebrations that followed.
Samuel also changed outfits, wearing a white tuxedo designed by Zac Posen to create a coordinated look with the bride.
A Milla Nova Mini Dress for Dancing
The third transformation came during the party.
EJAE swapped her long gown for a sparkling Milla Nova mini dress, a more comfortable and relaxed option for enjoying the dance floor.
The three looks reflected a trend gaining popularity at international weddings: adapting outfits to the different stages of the celebration.
We also explored this evolution in our article about Elie Saab’s transformable wedding dresses for 2027, in which the fashion house presents designs that can be transformed into different looks with detachable pieces.
A Wedding That Also Paid Tribute to Korean Traditions
Although the celebration had a contemporary aesthetic, EJAE and Samuel wanted to incorporate elements of their cultural heritage.
Before the main ceremony, they held a Paebaek, a Korean wedding ritual in which newlyweds show respect to their elders and receive their blessings.
The celebration took place at Congdu50, a Seoul restaurant specializing in Korean fusion cuisine and offering views of the city.
For this occasion, EJAE wore different versions of the hanbok, Korea’s traditional dress.
The couple decided to hold the Paebaek before the wedding rather than following the traditional order, integrating the custom into a weekend that combined Korean and Western elements.
A Celebration That Brought Two Cultures Together
One of the most beautiful aspects of the wedding was the way the couple brought family traditions together with an international-style celebration.
The Paebaek, traditional clothing, and Korean cuisine coexisted with a garden ceremony, gowns by Western designers, and a contemporary reception.
There were also speeches in both Korean and English, reflecting the diversity of their guests and the different stages of the couple’s lives.
This cultural blend gave the celebration a distinctive personality and allowed family and friends to take part in an experience that truly represented the couple.
A Wedding Planned in Just Four Months
Another detail that has surprised many people is how little time the couple had to organize the celebration.
EJAE and Samuel had originally planned to marry in California in November 2026.
However, following the international success of KPop Demon Hunters and the professional commitments that came up for the singer, they decided to rethink their plans.
They ultimately chose to celebrate their wedding in South Korea and move it forward to October. This left them with approximately four months to organize the entire event.
How to Plan a Wedding in Just a Few Months Without Compromising on the Details
Although four months may seem like a very tight timeline, EJAE’s wedding shows that an elaborate celebration can be organized within that period with good planning and a professional team.
The key is to establish priorities from the very beginning.
Choosing the venue, defining the style of the celebration, and coordinating suppliers are some of the first steps that help the process move forward more quickly.
It is also particularly useful to choose a venue that offers several different settings, as Stage 28 did.
Having gardens for the ceremony and a conservatory for the reception made it possible to host much of the celebration on the same property.
Although the singer acknowledged that the preparations were intense, she also emphasized that planning the wedding with Samuel was a genuine team effort.
Live Music, Korean Cuisine, and a Party Until the Early Hours
After the ceremony, the celebration continued with a reception filled with music and shared moments.
The band After Eight provided the evening’s entertainment with a playlist selected by the couple themselves.
During dinner, speeches were delivered in English and Korean, while guests enjoyed a menu that also incorporated elements of local culture.
One of the most original ideas was to set up Korean street-food stalls outside, where guests could refuel between dances.
The celebration did not end at Stage 28.
After the reception, EJAE and Samuel headed to Itaewon, one of Seoul’s best-known nightlife districts, with a small group of guests to keep dancing.
It was a fun, much more informal way to bring a wedding full of contrasts to a close.
EJAE and Samuel Kim’s Wedding Shows That Historic Venues Are the New Luxury
Beyond the designer gowns, large-scale textile installations, and spectacular conservatory, there is something that makes this wedding particularly inspiring.
EJAE could have chosen countless places to get married, but she decided to return to the place where she had spent some of the happiest moments of her childhood.
A former family home, transformed into an event venue, became the setting for a new story.
Her choice reminds us that a wedding does not need to take place at the most famous venue or in the most exclusive destination to be unforgettable.
At Perfect Venue, we love historic properties, gardens that retain their character, and venues that make it possible to create truly unique celebrations.
EJAE and Samuel Kim’s wedding is a beautiful example of how family memories, cultural traditions, and contemporary décor can come together without losing sight of the people at the heart of the celebration.
Because, in the end, the most special places are not always those we discover for the first time. Sometimes, they are the places we have wanted to return to all our lives.
And what about you? Would you rather get married at a spectacular estate you have just discovered, or in a place that is part of your family history?