Aysha Wong and Chase Masuda met when they were just 17 years old. “Our friendship eventually turned into first love, and we’ve been together ever since,” muses the bride. When the time came to propose, Chase asked his beloved’s father for his blessing, just as he had done almost 15 years earlier in order to date her in high school. With an approval and engagement ring in hand, he presented Aysha with an early Christmas present and asked her to marry him at a lookout on the island of Oahu, where they both reside.

When starting to plan their nuptials, the pair had two main decisions to make: where to host a destination wedding and who to help them plan the details. “For people from Hawaii, Vegas is considered the ninth island,” smiles the bride of their location choice. Since they frequently vacation in the city, it was an easy decision – especially once they discovered Andrea Eppolito Events’ website. “That’s when we knew that Vegas was the place,” adds Aysha. “We decided from the beginning that we weren’t going to let this wedding stress us out, which is why finding the right event planner was so crucial.”

When searching for venues, Aysha and Chase desired a space that showed off Las Vegas in an elegant way. A luxurious hotel with floor-to-ceiling windows that offers views of “The Strip” was selected. On the day of the ceremony, 135 attendees, most of whom had flown in from Hawaii, gathered inside a beautifully draped ballroom for the proceedings. Translucent smoke-grey chairs were arranged on either side of the aisle, which was flanked with towering displays of fuchsia orchids atop mirrored risers and lined with floating candles in hurricane vases to provide an amorous ambience.

In addition to the vibrant décor, the ceremony also showcased a special sentiment. “One thing we really wanted to do was to recognize Chase’s father, who passed away 11 years ago,” explains Aysha. Since it was played at his memorial service, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” was played by the bride’s uncles in addition to other Hawaiian music as the couple and their attendants made their way down the aisle. “Although I knew he was there in spirit, my dad would have loved to have been there,” says the groom. “He loved Vegas… and would’ve been really happy to have Aysha be a part of the family.”

The bride was resplendent in a cap-sleeve gown featuring a keyhole back; she clutched an asymmetrical bouquet of hydrangeas, roses, and orchids in various shades of purple. Though the couple had a “first look” prior to the ceremony – which they both note as their most memorable moment of the day – the groom still became emotional once he saw Aysha walk through the doors on the arm of her father. “She looked amazing and everything that built up to that moment was more than worth it,” he confirms.

Following the touching vow exchange, guests enjoyed a cocktail hour before finding their seats in the ballroom for the sit-down dinner service. The rich colors of the ceremony continued into the reception space, which presented picturesque views of the city. Tables were cloaked with eggplant-hued linens in velvet or sequins and topped with a mix of high and low centerpieces showcasing roses, hydrangeas, and orchids in tones ranging from soft lavender to bright fuchsia. To further add to the vivid décor, an impressive eight-tier confection was placed in front of a whimsical wall decorated with live florals that appeared to be planted in painted urns. The all-white wedding cake featured pearl fondant accented with ivory sugar roses as well as a lace pattern found on the bride’s dress.

With their palates satisfied, revelers hit the dance floor, which was placed beneath a striking chandelier adorned with a gorgeous ring of blossoms. The duo swayed to “Nothing Can Change This Love” by Sam Cooke as loved ones gazed at them; however, they were so swept up in the moment, they didn’t notice all eyes were on them. “Our first dance literally made me feel like we were the only people in the room,” remembers the bride. They spent the rest of the night dancing to their favorite oldies and current hits, taking in the evening with their guests who had traveled a long distance to celebrate their love. “The night went by so fast, but we were happy to have so many of our friends and family attend,” shares the groom. “We spent most of the time enjoying their company.”