Beach BBQ

Southeast Botanical Gardens

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

After Party

Beach Hang

Our Wedding

The Story of Two Lovers

The Year was 1992. The Cold War had just come to an end. Carey Gromis sits in his living room watching George H.W. Bush deliver his final State of the Union to the America people. He sheds a single, testosterone-filled tear. In the other room, Cheryl Gromis, overwhelmed with joy at the thought of bearing her first son, sheds a tear of Joy. Her firstborn son, Benjamin, the heir to the throne, would be born the next day.   Meanwhile, over 5000 miles away, on the exotic streets of the Far East, Ryan, daughter of Kenichi and Nahomi, is absolutely shredding it at the local skate park.   Little did these two know, fate would bring them together some thirty years later.   ......Thirty. Years. Later.   Ben makes his way through a smokey bar, an Okinawan Sanshin playing in the background, aquariums with tropical fish lining the walls. A work colleague recognizes him and beckons him to join her at the table with her friends. Ben greets her, looks up, and is shook to his core. Sitting at the table, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Japanese, tattoos, dreads, and an infectious smile. The dimly lit bar offered little light, but at that moment it was as if the gods themselves opened up the skies to shine light on her face so Ben could fully awe at her beauty. Ben joins them at the table, but is too intimidated to speak to the angel at the other side of the table. Finally, at some point their eyes meet, she smiles at Ben and asks his name. Ben doesn't know what to do, he is frozen in his tracks. Say something, anything, stop being weird, he says to himself. Finally, he musters the courage Ben, he replies. She looks back at him curiously as if to try and stroke the nonexistent conversations into something more. My name is Ryan, she says. Ben, still in a panic over his loss of words throws a Hail Mary, a pick up line, a great pick-up line. Everyone at the table laughs - everyone but Ryan. She is not impressed by his brash behavior and uncouth words. Just like that, Ben's shot with the girl of his dreams was over. For now.   Luckily, the gods favor Ben and offer him a second chance. Unprompted, their mutual friend sends him Ryan's phone number as if it were manna from heaven. I must not waste this, Ben thinks to himself as he falls asleep. Alone, but hopeful.   They say on average you should wait three days before contacting a woman after she gives you her phone number, but Ben is no average man. No more than 12 hours later, Ben, with sweaty palms and weak knees, fires off a text that would change the course of his life forever. Hey he writes, simple, yet refined. Hey Ryan responds. Uncanny similarity. Clearly a match made in heaven.   And the rest is history.

Our Story

Photos

Johanna solidified her position as the officiant during an impromptu audition the day of her own wedding. In a drunken stupor, Johanna gave an award winning performance "marrying" us at their after party. We expect nothing less than that brilliance at our wedding. 

Johanna Uratsu

I kind of met her one day and my soul just went “Wow. I’m going to keep you. Always”. In all our messy glory we have never failed to fully see one another. She is the reason i love hard, heal hard, go hard. She is my person for life. So this wedding also represents me binding my soul to her forever. Two birds. 
(Ben understands.)

Maid of Honor 

June Kato Rider is one of my oldest friends. From little menacing 12 year olds through the trenches of every evolution to the beacons of wisdom and light we are now.  
It was only fitting that she carry the Matron title and escort me closely on the journey of making an honest woman outta me.

June Kato Rider

My soul sister. My twin flame. My sunabe doppelgänger.
I need her by my side through every joy and sadness and memorable moment because when we’re old and decrepit i want her in every glory story i brag to my grandkids about. 
I also needed a female asian driver as a potential get away car. (Ben gets it) 

Yumi Matsumoto

Gaining this absolute treasure as a legally bound sister is one the staple reasons i am excited to marry Ben. (Ben accepts this) 
She has been one of the most wonderful additions to my life and we’re growin old together!! 

Bethany Gromis

Johnny has been my best bro since day #750. Naturally he would be my best man for my wedding. While we share the same genes and dashing good looks, I'm thankful that our drastic differences complement each other in the best way. I couldn't ask for a better brother to be by my side.

Jonathan Gromis

Growing up, Alison was always around. She was the annoying little sister of my best friend. As her brother Erik got older and discovered the companionship of women, we began to develop our own friendship. She is more family than friend. Someone that I can always count on. Im thankful to have her in my life and by my side at my wedding. 

Alison Schiller

Erik and I have been friends since before birth. Ive always looked up to Erik. He's always been someone I could call for advice or support. And yet.... Erik remains the only friend that I've punched in the face (we were like 7, give me a break. If that doesn't make us brothers, I don't know what does). I apologized and promised I would make it up to him. So I hope making him a groomsman is finally enough to make it up to him.

Erik Schiller

Gabe and I became friends towards the end of high school. Our mutual love for video games, baseball, and pool brought us together. Over the years our friendship grew through late night video games and my occasional visit home. Unfortunately. our relationship became strained when, every time I came home, I would absolutely crush him in pool. Thankfully, he married a sweet lady that crushes us both at pool, and helped mend our relationship. He's now one of my best friends, my brother, and primary medical advisor. 

Dr. Gabriel Nesbitt

Christian and I met senior year of High School. We sat next to each other on the little black couch in the back of our English class "auditioning" to be each others friend. A casting couch if you will. We both passed.
Since I left home in 2010, Christian is the only friend Ive seen every single time I've come home. He's a become part of the family. A brother not only to me, but a brother and son to the rest of my family. 

(While I wish he could be next to me on my wedding day, he's the only person I trust, besides Johnny and Aaron, to be holding the camera on my wedding day) 

Christian Hernandez

Wedding Party

Q + A

Traveling to a foreign country can be stressful. We are putting this guide together to hopefully answer your questions. If you have any other questions please feel free to reach out to us! CHECK YOUR PASSPORT NOW!!! Make sure it will have at least 6 months before expiration on the day you enter Japan. 1. Travel a. Airport: You will fly into Naha International Airport. Its a small airport and thankfully doesn't get to backed up. It is in Naha (the main city in Okinawa and about 45 min south of Chatan (where we live). b. Transportation: Okinawa doesn't have an extensive subway/train system like mainland Japan. The main methods of public transportation are Taxis and Buses. i. Taxis - I recommend downloading the DiDi app to help call taxis. Uber also works to book taxis, but there are less taxis available. ii. Bus - The bus is a great option if you have more time available. They definitely take longer, but are far cheaper than taxis. Google Maps works really well to help you find the correct bus station and line. iii. Rental Car - If you're planning on exploring the whole island then a rental car is the best option. They are a bit cheaper than in the states. You'll need to get your international drivers license before your trip, but you can get it from AAA quite easily (you don't even have to be a member). If you decide to do this be sure to check out the "Driving in Japan" section at the bottom of the page! c. Money: While many places now accept card, there are still quite a few places (and taxis) that only accept Japanese Yen. I recommend always having a few thousand yen on you just in case.&nbsp; The best place to get cash is at the convenience stores or "konbini" (7/11, Lawson, Family Mart). There are literally thousands of them in Okinawa and they are open 24/7. You can also use the ATM at the Post Office or major Japanese Banks.&nbsp;&nbsp; ***Make sure to charge your card in Yen rather than dollars. Your bank will give you a better exchange rate than the ATM***&nbsp; d. Weather: If you've ever been to Hawaii think of that. Moderate temperatures with highs around 80°F (27°C) and lows around 65°F (18°C). Its a tropical island so always be prepared for rain.&nbsp;You can always buy an umbrella or rain jacket at the conbini for a few dollars if your in a pinch.&nbsp;

2. Locations (Click on any of them to open them in maps)a. <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/oU7rHCE3PRXK8oPS9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wedding Venue (Link): </a>The most important location!Southeast Botanical Garden. About 60 min from Naha Airport and 30 min from Sunabe (where we live).b. <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/mqbRDUa38RMhYaPL9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Our House (Link): </a>We live in Sunabe/Chatan. This is where we will be staying before and after the wedding. So if you want to be near us, book something close to here!c. <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/v5FTF1BFbiVrNfNX6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Naha Airport (Link):</a> You'll fly into here.d. I created a map with nice areas to stay, key locations, things to do, restaurants we recommend. <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=11gVWk-rGTvM9L2Gb6K5b6K0HEKWelMM&amp;ll=26.28869105302114%2C127.73226641350313&amp;z=12" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Check it out here (Link)!</a>

3. Driving in JapanDriving in a new country can be stressful, but we are here to help! Its actually quite simple (so much so that American Military members only have to pass a written test before driving in Japan). Here is a link to a <a href="https://www.mcipac.marines.mil/Portals/28/Site%20Images/safety/Driver&#39;s%20Study%20Guide%20JULY%202023%20(1).pdf?ver=Z00lIS4818sE93_oDhlFwQ%3d%3d" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Drivers Student Handbook</a> for your reference, but we will highlight major things below. a. We drive in the left side of the road (and the steering wheel is on the right side of the car).b. It is illegal to turn left at a red light. In the US you can make in right turn at a red light after stopping, but here you have to wait for a green light (its quite annoying)c. Drinking and driving laws are extremely strict. BAC limit is 0.03% which is the lowest you can test for. If you have a single beer or sake, don't drive.d. Hazard Lights: People use hazard lights in Japan to say thank you. If you let someone in and they turn on their hazard lights, don't worry, they are just saying thank you.e. Green Turn Arrows: Much like in the states they have green turn arrows to indicate a protected turn. BUT they also have Green Straight arrows. You will see a red light and a simultaneous green straight arrow. This just means you can go straight but can't turn right. It can be confusing, just don't freak out.f. Be cautious being the first one through an intersection. People often continue through lights immediately after the light turns red. Its not uncommon to see 2-3 cars keep going after the light turns red. So just be careful rushing through intersections.

Travel

There are so many things to do in Okinawa. Unfortunately, we wont be able to spend all our time with everyone, so we hope you enjoy exploring the Island a bit. Listed below are a few of our favorites, but please please please don't hesitate to ask us about other things. We want everyone to enjoy their time here, so if our phones are blowing up with requests for recommendations we will love it! Also check out these maps! The first has cool dive locations, restaurants we like, and just some cool areas! The second can be a bit overwhelming but has a ton of cool little places to sight see. <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=11gVWk-rGTvM9L2Gb6K5b6K0HEKWelMM&amp;usp=sharing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Our Okinawa Map!</a><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1ogccx-63R4kha-sYxFpNnGh3fvftY30&amp;usp=sharing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Master Map Okinawa</a>

Pottery Village. Beautiful walk with lots of Okinawan pottery studios.

Yachimun no Sato

Cliffside tourist area. Take your shot at pottery or glass blowing, walk down to explore some castle ruins by the water, or enjoy lunch with a scenic view.

Gala

(18+) Explore the island in style! Be sure to bring your international drivers license if you want to do this. Get it from AAA for like 20 dollars before you come!

Street Kart Okinawa

Old Okinawan homes turned into little small businesses. Ryan and I stumbled across with place one day just looking for coffee. We walked around for a few hours checking out all the different shops! Cute little place to do some shopping or grab a coffee.

Minatogawa Stateside Town

Catch dinner and a really fun magic show here! Ryan and I love this place. Its very fun and a small venue for a more intimate show. And the magicians are actually really good. Make sure to make a reservation if you want to go!

Magic Ocean

There are great places to snorkel and scuba dive in Okinawa. Mermaids Grotto and Blue Cave are some awesome places to go! The water will be a bit chilly in November, but there are plenty of places to rent gear for cheap or even book a snorkeling tour if your up for it! Be sure to check out this <a href="https://www.mcbbutler.marines.mil/Portals/189/Docs/BaseSafety/Water_Safety/Water%20Safety%20Pamphlet%20Apr%2022_jpg.pdf?ver=wSXsqbbn8c_wDkJGR7Il5Q%3d%3d" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Water Safety Guide (Link)</a> and <a href="https://www.mcbbutler.marines.mil/Portals/189/Docs/BaseSafety/Water_Safety/okinawa-hazardous-marine-life-poster.pdf?ver=-qztHK4wfi8i-agkhnf82Q%3d%3d" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hazardous Species Guide (Link)</a> before heading out!

Snorkeling

Its cool, its weird, its grimey. Feed some ostriches... or try some ostrich steak. Not your typical tourist site, but definitely unique.

Ben & Ryan