Susan Tabassum
Alex Kang
Susan Tabassum
Alex Kang
October 25, 2025
Travel
Hotel
Renaissance Philadelphia Downtown Hotel
We have booked courtesy hotel room blocks at the Renaissance Hotel in Center City Philadelphia at a rate of $249 - $269 per night. Please use the link below or call directly to make a reservation, mentioning the Tabassum-Kang wedding to receive the group rate. The last day to book is Wednesday, September 24th, 2025.
Shuttle
Trolley To and From Venue
October 25, 2025 11:00 pm - 12:00 am
For those staying at the Renaissance, a trolley will be making one or two pickups from the hotel to the venue prior to ceremony start time. The trolley will also be running multiple trips back to the hotel at the end of the night beginning an hour before the end of the reception.
Travel Note
Valet Service
For those guests driving in, there will be a valet service available at no additional cost to you.
Schedule of Events
Friday, October 24, 2025
The Night Before
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
1600 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130
Welcome Event || Dress code: Smart Casual (Cultural attire encouraged!)
For guests who will be in the city on Friday, we are hosting a joint Mehndi Night and Korean Paebaek ceremony in order to honor our respective roots. A light buffet plus drink tickets will be provided for dinner and two alcoholic beverages of your choice. Guests are encouraged to mingle, play mini-golf, and participate in henna application. At approximately 6:30 PM, we will be conducting our Paebaek ceremony.
Saturday, October 25, 2025
The Wedding
Sat, Oct 25, 2025, 5:00 pm - Sun, Oct 26, 2025, 12:00 am
Ceremony & Reception || Dress code: Black Tie Optional
Doors open at 5 PM for guest arrival, and ceremony begins promptly at 5:30 PM. For transportation, we recommend taking the trolley (if you are staying at the Renaissance), utilizing ride share such as Uber or Lyft, or driving in yourself (valet service is available for drivers). Please account for Center City traffic in your travel time so as to arrive prior to the ceremony start. The reception starts at 6 PM and includes an hour-and-a-half cocktail hour, after which we will have dinner, toasts, and dancing. If you have any concerns about the schedule or menu, please don't hesitate to reach out!
RSVP
Please enter the first and last name of one member of your party below.
If you're responding for you and a guest (or your family), you'll be able to RSVP for your entire group on the next page.
FAQs
Question
How do I RSVP?
Answer
All RSVPs are collected through this website. Please navigate to the "RSVP" section of the site menu and record your and your guests' preferences for each event.
Question
When is the RSVP deadline?
Answer
The deadline to RSVP is Monday, September 15th. Please make sure you have submitted your responses to all events, as once the deadline passes, adjusting our numbers becomes difficult.
Question
What is the dress code?
Answer
For the welcome event (Friday, October 24th), the dress code is smart casual. This typically means dark wash jeans or chinos and a button-up for masculine-presenting people, and shorter dresses, skirts, or nice jeans and a top for feminine-presenting people. If desired, guests are welcome to wear any cultural attire they own, such as a South Asian kurta or salwar. Green is traditionally the theme for a mehndi night, but there is no color requirement. For the ceremony and reception (Saturday, October 25th), we ask that guests dress in black tie optional. For masculine-presenting people, this means suits or tuxes, and for feminine-presenting people this means floor-length dresses or gowns. Cultural attire such as lehenga or hanbok are also welcome. There are no color requirements or restrictions (other than white).
Question
What is a "Mehndi Night"?
Answer
A South Asian cultural tradition, the mehndi night is an event for applying henna ("mehndi"). This typically used to be limited to women, particularly friends and family on the bride's side, as a way to keep the bride company while she is having her bridal henna applied (this could take up to 8 hours!). Nowadays, the mehndi event has grown to encompass all guests and is more of a general celebratory occasion. We are combining ours with welcome drinks so guests can get settled in for the weekend and mingle before the big day.
Question
What is a "Paebaek"?
Answer
The Paebaek (also spelled "Pyaebaek") is a Korean cultural event that traditionally would take place after the wedding ceremony. Initially meant as a way for the groom's side to welcome the bride into the family, the ceremony includes several rituals that symbolize prosperity for the bride and groom's new life together. In modernity and the Korean-American diaspora, the ceremony includes both sets of parents and can be held before or after the wedding. We will have an emcee to guide us through the rituals and explain to guests their meanings. We are very excited to have this cultural showcase as part of our celebration to emphasize the blending of cultures that is our relationship.
Question
How do I provide my menu selection for Saturday night's dinner?
Answer
All menu selections are done table-side at the start of dinner, and there is no need to provide us with a specific meal choice ahead of time. There will be a full menu provided at each table setting and guests will be allowed to choose then their entrée choice. We do appreciate advanced notice on dietary restrictions so we can pass it on to the venue, but guests are encouraged to notify their server of allergies or other restrictions during dinner service as well. All meats during both nights will be halal.