WEDDING IDEAS

White peonies, a symbol of wealth and good luck, were combined with red tulips in Qian’s bridesmaid bouquets. The blooms complemented the peony pattern on the handmade, Chinese-style bridesmaid dresses.

Qian and Eric exchanged vows just before sunset in the formal rose garden on the grounds of the Mooreland Mansion. The weather was perfect: sunny and 65 degrees.

Rather than traditional, folded escort cards, Qian and Eric used fortune cookies to hold up their red and white escort cards.

Qian and Eric used Chinese numbers on all the table and escort cards so guests would have to match their Chinese character with the corresponding character on their table.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Mooreland Mansion was originally built at the turn of the century as a summer home for a wealthy Ohio family.

Qian and Eric served a simple, red raspberry-filled cake topped with large water lilies crafted from icing.

Qian & Eric in Kirtland, OH

Photos By: Bernstein Photography, Columbus

Location: Mooreland Mansion, Kirtland

Canceling a date is risky at best. But Eric canceled his very first date with Qian due to a last-minute business trip. “Luckily for me, Qian was willing to reschedule,” says Eric. They met at a Vietnamese restaurant, and their mutual appreciation of art, film, and design led to great conversation -- and a second date!

The Bride Qian Li, 34, assistant professor
The Groom Eric Eichhorn, 38, business consultant
The Date May 12

Around two years later, Eric was preparing to surprise Qian with a proposal in Central Park while the two were visiting New York City. Everything was going according to plan until he realized that he’d chosen to pop the question on the same day as the New York City Marathon and there would be 200,000 spectators sharing in their romantic moment. He quickly switched gears and proposed a day early on a secluded park bench. The couple married just six months later in the formal rose gardens of a historic mansion.

-- Susan Berryman