Lauren & Adam

The day Adam Chun was introduced to Lauren Kim at a birthday party at a bar in late November 2019, he was instantly smitten with her big smile and “got a fluttery feeling in my heart” when they hugged goodbye. Numerous dates followed and Lauren’s feelings toward Adam grew because of his “sweet and attentive side.” As the New Year approached, he asked her to be his date to a swanky gala at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. At the start of the countdown to the new year, he asked her to “be my girlfriend officially,” says Adam. She said yes and they kissed at midnight.

When it came time for Adam to propose to Lauren, he knew he wanted a big grand gesture, so he took her to the Lincoln Memorial at sunset. With a hidden photographer to capture the moment, Adam got down on one knee between the columns and overlooking the reflecting pool. Lauren said yes (again), and the two quickly got to planning.

“We fell in love with the venue at first sight, and that inspired the whole design concept of our wedding,” says Lauren of Citizens Ballroom, a historic bank that sits grandly at the corner of Patrick and Market streets in downtown Frederick.

She wanted a modern and clean concept that matched the venue’s vibe—gold accents, white marble, and warm tones. It also felt like a nice complement to the more traditional ceremony
they had earlier that year back home for their
loved ones in Korea.

Before exchanging rings in front of the old bank vault and 130 friends and family members, Lauren and Adam snuck away for their own private declarations. “That moment made us more intimate and emotional,” says Lauren. “We both were overwhelmed with emotion while reading the vows and it made us cry. It was a feeling that reminded us how much we love each other.”

Then it was time to party. Lauren changed out of her ceremony gown into a slinky number for the reception and slipped into a pair of white Nike Air Force. “It was such a great choice. It wasn’t only comfortable, but it also looked so cute with my reception dress,” she says.

The reception included a Champagne tower, a confetti-filled party, and a money gun on the dance floor filled with fake twenty-dollar bills. “Since the venue is a bank, we thought it would be a great idea,” says Lauren. “Money also symbolizes a prosperous and happy future.”

BEAUTY Shine, Tina! BRIDESMAIDS Billy J CATERER Rouge Fine Catering GROOM AND GROOMSMEN Custom-tailored tuxedo from Korea (groom); The Black Tux (groomsmen) INVITATIONS theknot LOCATION Citizens Ballroom, Frederick MUSIC DJ Sal PHOTOGRAPHER Madeline Serio Photography WEDDING DRESS Brooke’s Bridal & Ball and Sophia Tolli Australia WEDDING PLANNER RCC Weddings & Events