At a Glance
- Joel Kim Booster and John-Michael Sudsina wed on Dec. 30 in San Francisco
- The ceremony featured friends Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers as groomsmen
- Booster incorporated Korean traditions, including a symbolic wooden duck
- Why it matters: The wedding blends cultures and friendships, showcasing modern LGBTQ+ celebrations
Joel Kim Booster and John-Michael Sudsina are officially married. The couple exchanged vows on Dec. 30 in San Francisco, surrounded by family, friends, and several familiar faces from the comedy world.
The Ceremony
Attendees captured the joy of the day on social media. Mitra Jouhari posted, “Joel and JM got married!!!!!❤️❤️,” while Henry Callander shared photos with the caption, “Joel x JM 2025 💋❤️.” Booster himself confirmed the news on Jan. 8, posting a photo series that included a shot of the newlyweds and another with Jouhari. His caption read, “My husband and my wife.”
The wedding party featured Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, co-hosts of the Las Culturistas podcast. In June, Booster revealed he had asked them to deliver a joint toast during the reception. “I set them off on that project and I have no idea what it will be, but I’m sure it will be insane either way,” he said.
Rogers later admitted they hadn’t started writing the toast. “We’re supposed to give a joint toast,” he told News Of Losangeles in November. “It’s on our to-do list.”
Cultural Touches
Booster, 37, had long planned to weave his South Korean heritage into the celebration. In May, he told News Of Losangeles he wanted his suit to reference a traditional Korean hanbok. “I want there to be little touches in the ceremony,” he said.
One planned detail: a wooden duck. In Korean weddings, a groom’s attendant may carry a Mandarin-style wooden duck down the aisle. The duck-known as won-ang seteu-symbolizes fidelity, harmony, and family. Booster floated the idea of having his best man carry the duck, echoing the jeonanyrye rite that once involved a live wild goose.
From Engagement to ‘I Do’
The couple’s road to the altar began in August 2024, when Booster announced their engagement on Instagram. A carousel post urged followers to “keep scrolling for a special surprise,” culminating in photos from Jeju Island, South Korea, where Booster proposed on bended knee during a daytime boat ride. The trip marked three years of dating.
Booster had teased a lavish ceremony well before planning began. On a March episode of Grindr Presents: Who’s the A——? with Katya, he said, “I do want it to be a production. And I’m in a place in my life where I’m lucky enough where I can make it a production.”
Friends Turned Wedding Party
Yang and Rogers weren’t the only familiar faces involved. The groomsmen also included friends from the Fire Island circle. Rogers noted that the film-Booster’s Pride-and-Prejudice-inspired rom-com-mirrored real life. “It’s about someone who wants to meet a boyfriend on vacation,” Rogers said. “That idea of having a vacation boyfriend and lugging him back to the real world actually happened to Joel.”
He added, “We shot that movie over four years ago… to know that was right after [Joel] had met [John-Michael] and that they’re getting married now… it’s just a very, very special thing.”
The group celebrated with bachelor weekends in New Orleans ahead of the December wedding. “John-Michael is such a lovely person,” Rogers said. “We all had such a fun time together.”
Key Takeaways
- The Dec. 30 ceremony blended Korean tradition with modern flair
- Close comedian friends played major roles in the festivities
- The couple’s three-year relationship culminated in a San Francisco celebration
- Booster’s cultural nods included hanbok-inspired attire and symbolic wooden ducks
