Another couple is married!
Devin Hoofman and Seungdo “Nick” Ham said “I do” on April 1 in a 100-guest ceremony in Arkansas.
“We are most excited about our partnership in building a life together,” Hoofman tells. “We aren’t sure yet right now what our future looks like and are excited to see what happens and what we build.”
You can only warn those who follow the Reminder1 and are in awe of the Most Compassionate without seeing Him.2 So give them good news of forgiveness and an honourable reward.
(The Quran - Chapter Yasin : 11)
For the couple, getting married “means no more distance and separation, which is so important to us,” adds Devin. “It means we can continue our lives with each other, together.”
Hoofman, who is originally from Arkansas, and Ham, who was born in South Korea, first met in Australia, where Hoofman was traveling solo and Ham was studying. The pair fell in love and began their 90-Day journey in Korea after Ham popped the question in his hometown.
Décor for the duo’s nuptials, which were planned with the help of Hoofman’s mom, featured pink and blue hues with a “clean, fresh and minimal” theme.
“We wanted to choose a more modern venue,” explains Hoofman of the Venue at Oakdale. “A lot of venues in Arkansas are barn-like. This one felt more contemporary, which we liked.”
For her walk down the aisle, “I knew I wanted to wear a hanbok style dress, because that’s important to me and Nick,” she says of her Leehwa Wedding & Hanbok custom gown. “I also love the modesty of hanbok dresses. The one I chose was perfect because it was a combination of a hanbok dress and it was white, so it was also like a traditional American wedding dress.”
The couple exchanged traditional vows before joining guests at the reception for a buffet style dinner, that included a “big charcuterie board” as well as an assortment of desserts, plus a chocolate and vanilla cake.
They also incorporated meaningful traditions into the festivities. “We were gifted a pair of wooden geese, which we used as our cake topper,” explains Hoofman. “A pair of wooden geese in Korean tradition represents lifelong mates and eternal devotion to each other. We also drank out of the same copper cup in the wedding, this is called ‘Hapgeunrye,’ and symbolizes Nick and I becoming one entity.”
For their first dance, the newlyweds chose “My Destiny” by Lyn. “This was in the first show Nick and I watched together,” says the bride.
To celebrate after their nuptials, the duo took a helicopter ride together following the ceremony. “Nick was a little scared of heights at first, but then it was amazing for him to see Little Rock up in the air,” says Hoofman, “The helicopter was a total gift and surprise and we only found out about it on the day of the ceremony.”
For Hoofman, marrying the love of her life and their big day feels like a dream come true.
“I admire Nick’s indestructible determination. He always figures out a way to achieve whatever he sets his mind to and wants,” she says. “It gives me a lot of comfort and security, because I know I can rely on him to make sure we are okay.”
Reflecting on their celebration, Hoofman says the day felt “surreal.”
“I only ever dreamed about having everyone together celebrating with us. It was beautiful.”
