A Bold & Artfully Designed Wedding on the Lush Tropical Shores of Oahu, Hawaii

There’s something irresistible about a wedding that feels deeply personal without trying too hard, and Ashley and Evan’s celebration at Paliku Gardens delivered exactly that. Tucked between Oahu’s dramatic mountain ridges and the endless blue of the Pacific, their wedding embraced the natural beauty of Hawaii while introducing a fresh and unexpected design narrative. Rich burgundy tones threaded through nearly every detail — from flowing drapery and custom linens to locally sourced florals — creating a striking contrast against the island’s vibrant greenery. The ceremony design felt organic and sculptural, with oversized native foliage, young coconuts, and thoughtful floral accents transforming the landscape into an immersive setting. Beautifully captured by THE WED member Masha Sakhno, every image preserves the atmosphere, emotion, and thoughtful details that made the celebration so memorable.

Our Love Story

^{The Day We Met}

We don’t agree on the day we first met. But toward the end of college at UCSB (2015), our friend groups merged, and during an all-too-clichéd beer pong tournament, we quickly discovered that we were more than friends.

^{The Proposal}

We both felt like we wanted the moment to be reserved for just ourselves. On a trip to Point Reyes, CA, overlooking the Pacific as the sun rose, I (Evan) asked Ashley to marry me. It was a moment we’ll never forget, surrounded by nature, a few baby deer, and a purple sky.

^{The Engagement Ring}

With Evan’s design background, we thought it would be a fitting and special opportunity to design my engagement ring together. I’ve always wanted a ring that felt nostalgic while still being unique. We spent many weeks creating an Art Deco-style ring featuring a gradient of green sapphires and diamond baguettes. The center stone is an amazing radiant cut that I absolutely fell in love with.

Our Wedding

^{The Vision}

We wanted our wedding to be an extension of who we are: confident in our taste, playful in our decisions, grateful for our friends and family, and appreciative of the beauty of the setting. The design was generally restrained, with few but intentional colors and lush local florals.

^{Our Team of Vendors}

We first hired Amri & Co. as our wedding designer. Aman of Amri & Co. took our design vision to the next level. It was so fun to get creative with her. She became like family to us. We brought on Esselle Wedding as our full-service event planner. Stephanie and her team were a true godsend. They didn’t miss a single detail and took such good care of us on our special day. We cannot imagine going through this journey without Aman and Stephanie. The first time we saw Masha Sakhno’s photography, we knew she was the perfect fit for us. She is so talented, and it is evident in every shot from our wedding weekend. We are eternally grateful to her. 

We care deeply about food and wanted to find a caterer that not only created delicious dishes but also wanted to collaborate with us to bring our culinary vision to life. Memoirs did not disappoint. The Five O’Clock Bartenders made the best cocktails and had people coming back to the bar again and again. Bliss DJs brought our personally curated playlist to life. The dance floor was packed until the very end of the night. Special shout-out to Aloha Artisans, Linen and Poppi, Kalani Rentals, and Bridal by Faith for helping make our day the best day.

^{The Location}

We got married at Paliku Gardens in Kualoa Ranch on the northeast shore of Oahu, Hawaii. We were nestled between the volcanic mountains and the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation.

^{The Ceremony}

With Chinaman’s Hat as our backdrop, our guests were seated in a semicircle surrounded by beautiful florals by Mei Day. We chose large native green leaves that felt as though they were sprouting from the ground as our primary design feature. Mei Day and our wedding designer, Amri & Co., added stunning accents of young coconuts along with touches of burgundy and white. When we think back to our favorite moments from the ceremony, we can still hear the warm winds brushing through the florals. It was so serene and special.

^{The Cocktail Hour}

We wanted our cocktail hour to be lively and experiential. Guests meandered from the ceremony to the bowl lawn, where we had a live grilled oyster station, a carrom board game (a Sri Lankan staple), ’80s and ’90s R&B, and a Spam musubi escort table (our favorite Hawaiian snack).

^{The Reception}

We wanted the reception design to feel compelling and different from your average tropical wedding. Almost every detail was burgundy, from the drapes to the linens, the custom bar, and even the local florals. During a few previous trips to Oahu, we noticed beautiful burgundy plants among the lush greenery and knew burgundy would be an amazing color for our February wedding in Hawaii. We had Memoirs create a custom family-style dinner that included two whole roasted pigs. Instead of a wedding cake, we served local mochi, which was the best mochi we’ve ever had. We danced the night away to fun deep cuts from the ’80s, ’90s, and early aughts.

^{The Special Touches}

During a stay at the Ritz-Carlton Turtle Bay two years before our wedding, we listened to Mason & Marty perform during happy hour and were amazed by this musical duo. We had no idea that we would eventually get married in Hawaii, but we joked about asking them to play wherever our wedding ended up being. When we locked in Paliku Gardens, we knew we had to track them down. They played acoustic versions of our favorite songs during the ceremony, and it was nothing short of perfect.

^{Our Favorite Moment}

We will never forget reading our vows to one another in front of the friends and family we cherish most in our lives. It was a beautiful moment in the most beautiful setting, filled with happy tears and lots of laughter.

Our Style

^{The Bridal Looks}

Like many brides, I definitely experienced bridal shopping fatigue after visiting shop after shop. I realized that I wanted to feel like myself in my bridal looks. Nothing felt more like me than honoring my culture and creating something new and playful.

For our welcome party, I wore a stunning pearl-encrusted saree by Vani Vats from KYNAH. For our ceremony, I wore an amazing modern Filipiniana set by Filipino designer Vania Romoff. For the reception, I wore a custom design by Ossatura London that felt so fun, with a bubble hem and a cute bow on the bodice. Throughout the weekend, I wore jewelry from my mom’s and my mother-in-law’s personal collections.

^{The Groom Looks}

I wore a black Jacquemus suit, a white shirt with a champagne-colored floral-patterned Our Legacy tie, a brown-and-gold Frédérique Constant watch, and my father’s old brown Ferragamos.

Our Advice

^{For the Planning Process}

Trust your instincts and stay true to yourselves. It’s easy to get caught up in trends or outside opinions, but the most meaningful decisions were the ones that genuinely reflected who we are as a couple. Focus on what matters most to you, and don’t be afraid to let go of the things that don’t.

^{For On The Day}

It’s a whirlwind. Make a conscious effort to find moments that you’ll remember together forever.

^{For Post-Wedding}

Enjoy yourselves, whether you’re going straight back to work or heading off on your mini-moon or honeymoon. It’s such a special feeling to be “just married.”