For nearly two decades, actor Arden Cho and orthopedic surgeon Christopher Lee lived in Los Angeles without ever crossing paths. It wasn’t until they were both in their late 30s—focused on their careers and ready to take a more intentional approach to dating—that they connected on a dating app.
“Dating apps felt less like a trend and more like a practical way to meet someone outside our everyday routines,” Arden, who is known as the voice of Rumi in KPop Demon Hunters, says. “As a public person, dating online came with its own challenges. I had actually been kicked off a few apps because people reported my profile, assuming it wasn’t really me. Fortunately, one app took verification seriously, and within just a few days—and only two dates—I met Chris. Looking back, it feels like timing was everything. We found each other exactly when we were supposed to.”
In March 2025, Chris proposed in one of Arden’s favorite places: Maui. “He planned a beautiful, intimate proposal set against one of the most breathtaking backdrops imaginable, and somehow he managed to completely surprise me!” Arden remembers. “It was incredibly romantic, and I’ll never forget it.”
The wedding took place just over a year later at Villa Cora in Florence, Italy, over the weekend of June 27. “Planning moved surprisingly fast!” Arden says. “Between KPop Demon Hunters and a busy awards season, we didn’t start planning until right after the Oscars, which gave us just about two months to pull everything together. Thankfully, we worked with Nancy and Pae at So Happi Together, who made the process feel much more manageable.”
From the beginning, the couple’s goal wasn’t just to host a wedding, but to curate an unforgettable weekend for family and friends in Florence. “We fell in love with Florence and wanted the weekend to feel like a beautiful vacation where everyone could slow down, celebrate, and make memories together,” Arden says. “Italy is special to us, not only because of the food and culture, but because this is where I decided he was my person. It became less about the event itself and more about bringing all of our favorite people together in one magical place.”
Even though the setting was idyllic, the weekend had its fair share of challenges. “Looking back, it’s incredible how many obstacles arose before the celebrations even began,” Arden shares. “Our airline misplaced all four of our checked bags on the way to Florence—including my husband’s custom tuxedo, our hanboks, and the traditional attire for our Korean pyebaek ceremony. I remember sitting there in tears thinking our wedding weekend was already falling apart. Thankfully, with the incredible help of Villa Cora, we recovered everything just in time.”
Right after that, Christopher’s family’s flight was delayed and ultimately canceled. “For a while, we genuinely thought they might miss the wedding,” Arden admits. “We were especially worried because our traditional Korean pyebaek ceremony is centered around honoring the groom’s parents. Fortunately, they arrived safely, and we simply moved the ceremony to a beautiful midnight celebration that ended up feeling even more intimate and special.”
