A Philly Meeting and a London Proposal Led to a Sunny Boston Wedding
After a long streak of rainy weekends, the clouds finally parted for one Cambridge couple's luminous city nuptials.
Photo by CityLux Studios
When Boston transplants Grace Baek and Nick Stiansen first met in Philadelphia, she had just settled into the city to begin a new role at a start-up, while he was completing his master’s in mechanical engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. What they expected to be a brief dinner quickly transformed into an impromptu eight-hour tour of the city that stretched late into the night. By the time they said goodnight at one in the morning, it was clear—this was no ordinary first date.
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After a five-year courtship, on one of the hottest days in London, Nick proposed to Grace in Regent’s Park beside a row of fountains, on their way to the Shard—among the city’s top destinations for breathtaking views—to celebrate. When it came time to plan their wedding, Boston was the only place that felt right. By then, the couple had lived for two years in the city and wanted to showcase its timeless charm and architectural beauty to their family and friends. “We met in Philadelphia, but we always had the goal to get back to Boston,” Grace says. “And starting our lives together in Boston was kind of that big milestone…so why not bring everyone here and get married?”
And on a rare sunny Saturday last June, after 13 straight weekends of rain, the couple exchanged vows at the Lindsey Chapel at Emmanuel Church on Newbury Street. After, the couple ferried their guests to the Lenox Hotel on “Mobsters and Lobsters” trolleys while they took a detour around Commonwealth Avenue, savoring a moment alone before returning to the celebration. Known for their practical and intentional approach to every decision, Grace and Nick found the Lenox to be a perfect fit. The hotel took care of all the details, streamlining the planning process—from catering to rentals—and allowed them to focus on what mattered most: celebrating their love in a city that’s been the only one that felt like home.
Photo by CityLux Studios
The Details
THE ENGAGEMENT RING
Before their engagement, Grace had told Nick that if he were to propose, she would want something “sparkly, classic, yet one-of-a-kind, and with mixed metals” for an engagement ring. Nick worked with Boston jewelry designer Hannah Florman to curate this exact design.
Photo by CityLux Studios
THE STATIONERY
The couple’s stationery featured a floral motif from a painting by Grace’s mother, Haeseon Hahn, adapted from her original Painting of Peony—a gift now displayed in the couple’s Cambridge home. It reflects the Korean tradition in which peonies symbolize wealth, honor, peace, and stability. It was created in the Minwha folk-art style of the Chosun era.
Photo by CityLux Studios
THE BRIDAL HAIRPIECE
“I always thought a hairpiece was such a pretty bridal look,” Grace says. She picked out an elegant crystal-and-wire floral comb—adding a touch of sparkle to her bridal updo—on a shopping trip with her mom in Korea.
Photo by CityLux Studios
THE CEREMONY DRESS
For the bride, finding the perfect gown proved to be the most surprising challenge of the wedding journey. After visiting half a dozen boutiques from Boston to L.A., Grace settled on a dress from Pronovias with a subtle train for a dramatic entrance and a flattering sweetheart neckline, while intricate beading added just the right touch of shimmer.
THE RECEPTION DRESS AND VEIL
The bride’s veil was crafted to complement her reception dress, designed and made by Grace’s aunt, a Los Angeles–based designer. “That was her surprise gift to me, which was very sweet and very amazing,” Grace says.
Photo by CityLux Studios
Photo by CityLux Studios
THE FLOWERS
For the bride, the flowers were not an afterthought but a statement. Enter Vivian Zhou of Forevermark Flowers, whose visionary approach transformed a few abstract ideas into a breathtaking floral display. The bride’s bouquet—shorter and heavier than expected, and slightly cascading—balanced the drama of her train, while subtle orchids, inspired by a visit to the Biltmore Estate, added an unexpected, ethereal flourish. Beyond the bridal party, four grand arrangements flanked the staircase, which were so striking that even random passersby paused to photograph them. They were later repurposed for the reception, framing the guestbook table, the seating chart, and the sweetheart table.
Photo by CityLux Studios
THE BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES
The bridesmaids celebrated their individual style, selecting gowns from designers including Jenny Yoo, Amsale, and the Dessy Group, while carrying single-stem bouquets inspired by the bride’s own arrangement. “They were my something blue!” Grace says, a color she chose to echo the iconic Dome Room at the Lenox Hotel.
Photo by CityLux Studios
THE FIRST DANCE
The couple enrolled in dance classes to ensure that their first dance was anything but predictable. They began with the tender strains of the Arctic Monkeys’ cover of “Baby I’m Yours,” and midway, they transitioned into Sade’s “Smooth Operator,” unleashing a sultry salsa-inspired sequence that energized the room. For the show-stopping finale, Grace leaped onto Nick’s shoulder, arms outstretched. “We told nobody, yeah, no one.”
Photo by CityLux Studios
THE AFTER-PARTY
One of the charms of the Lenox was its ability to keep the celebration going seamlessly. At the lively Sweeney’s Irish Pub, the party continued with bottomless beers and a feast of chicken tenders and fries, with every imaginable dipping sauce.
Photo by CityLux Studios
The File
Bride’s Dress (Ceremony) Pronovias
Bride’s Dress (Reception) Cinderella Couture (Sammie Hahn)
Bride’s Shoes Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik
Cake Dessert Works Bakery
Caterer The Lenox Hotel
Engagement Ring Hannah Florman Fine Jewelry
Entertainment Elegant Music Group
Flowers Forevermark Flowers
Hair & Makeup Yin Tom Studio Weddings
Lighting 617 Weddings
Nails Naior B
Photographer CityLux Studios
Transportation Mobsters and Lobsters and Black Tie Limousine
Videographer Shutter and Sound
Photo by CityLux Studios
First published in the print issue of Boston Weddings 2026, with the headline, “Under the Sun.”
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