Inside Ejae and Samuel Kim’s Garden Wedding at Her Grandfather’s Former Home in Seoul

Musical artist Ejae and producer-turned-computer programmer Samuel Kim’s relationship first began as a creative collaboration. A mutual friend set the two up for a songwriting session at Sam’s home studio in May 2017. “We worked on a couple of songs, but mostly, we just connected,” Ejae recalls. “We both loved anime and the same kind of music.” The two kept things professional—until a night out to see Sam’s roommate’s band perform. “Later that night, [he] confessed his feelings,” the singer says. “We've been together ever since.”

The couple built their lives by each other’s side over the next eight years, settling together in Brooklyn, New York as they built their careers. On June 1, 2025, Sam took the next step in their relationship with a (sort of) surprise proposal. “I had caught on about a week before,” adds Ejae. “Still, it was fun and memorable, and I cried.” To throw her off the scent, Sam worked with Ejae’s best friend to set up a fake dinner. “Instead, Sam brought me to a park in Brooklyn where we spent so much time together, walking Honey, my late dog. He suggested a walk through to go down memory lane,” remembers Ejae. “When we turned a corner, all our friends had set up a picnic with photos of us and our dog all around.” After sharing a thoughtful speech, he popped the question and the singer said “yes.”

Shortly after the proposal, the hit film KPop Demon Hunters came out, which featured Ejae as the lead singer behind the fictional girl group HUNTR/X and the soundtrack’s hit songs. “Our lives changed completely,” says Ejae. The long press tour and awards season surrounding the film meant wedding planning would have to take a pause. “At first, we planned a November 2026 wedding in California, but ultimately after discussing location, we decided to hold it in Korea and moved the date up to October 2026. That left us about four months to plan everything,” says the bride. “It was hectic and a little stressful, but it was real teamwork, and everything has fallen into place perfectly.”

Bringing the wedding to Seoul allowed the couple to further infuse their heritage into their nuptials, along with stories of their lives from childhood to today. The celebration began with a Paebaek ceremony and welcome party at Congdu50, a restaurant with Korean fusion cuisine and sweeping views of the city. “Not everyone does Paebaek, but we wanted to have that traditional element as part of our wedding,” says Ejae.

On October 17, 2026, Ejae and Sam would exchange vows at Stage 28, a venue with meaningful history for the bride. “My grandparents lived in the house at the venue when I was a little girl,” she says. “I spent much of my childhood exploring the garden and walking with my grandfather in the hills behind the house.” The home and property were later purchased and turned into an event venue—making it the perfect choice for their family’s future nuptials. With its nostalgic significance to their family, Ejae’s brother had already tied the knot at Stage 28 as well. For Ejae and Sam’s wedding, the garden ceremony’s décor would evoke the shades of green and earthy tones from the bride’s childhood memories and the property’s landscape.

The venue’s large glasshouse would hold the reception. Ejae envisioned the space being filled with soft fabrics and flowing drapes to create an ethereal, surreal atmosphere. “The glasshouse represents my life today—a time when the dreams I worked toward for so long are becoming reality,” says the artist. “After years of dedication to music, the recognition I am experiencing makes this chapter feel almost like a dream.”

These whimsical aesthetics flowed seamlessly into the bride’s wardrobe choices for the big day. Ejae tapped Danielle Frankel to create a custom gown that captured this spirit as she walked down the aisle. “I had long admired Danielle's modern, but slightly twisted take on a classic wedding dress, and I knew I wanted to reach out to see if she would be interested in working with me on a custom dress,” she says. “From our first meeting, Danielle immediately understood my vision: ethereal, modern, chic, and timeless with a twist.” They worked together to create a tulle gown with a strapless neckline, a bubbled hem, and a nude chiffon layer that brought airiness to the look. “I kept my jewelry simple so the dress could make the statement,” adds the bride of her accessories. Heirloom jewelry passed down from her grandmother to her mother was the perfect sentimental touch to the ensemble.