HIDEOUT

Welcome Event

Paliku Gardens at Kualoa Ranch

Wedding Day

The Laylow Waikiki, Autograph Collection

Royal Star Bus Pick Up

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Reception

Will you stay in our hotel block?

Our Wedding

Our Story

Our story began on Zoom (seriously)! Anahit and Derick were both college students at UCLA when the pandemic hit, making her sophomore year and his senior year fully online. Hoping to make some friends despite the circumstances, Anahit joined the Armenian Student Association (ASA) with her sister. Conveniently, Derick happened to be on ASA’s executive board. After seeing his introduction post on ASA’s Instagram, Anahit’s sister immediately sent it to her. Angela clearly saw potential. Anahit, on the other hand, was strictly focused on making friends. They spoke for the first time during the very first ASA meeting. It didn’t take long for Anahit to realize her sister might have been onto something—Derick was funny, kind, and easy to talk to. But being extremely shy, she pushed the thought away as quickly as it came. Soon after, someone sent a Zoom link: an open invite to all 300 Armenian students for anyone who wanted to play games. Anahit, despite knowing no one there, gathered up her courage and joined. She ended up having a great time and felt encouraged to join again the next day. That second night, something was different: the funny guy she liked showed up too. She tried to ignore the butterflies, but their connection was obvious. Derick also noticed how easy it was to talk to Anahit (as a friend, he insisted) so he was happy to see her in the call. A week later, he asked for her number, which momentarily sent Anahit into a spiral of excitement…until she discovered it was simply to add her to a group chat with their new friends. Message received. She moved on. That group chat quickly became their daily routine during lockdown. They stayed up late talking almost every night, never running out of things to laugh about. Their natural chemistry was undeniable, so when Derick eventually began texting Anahit separately, no one was surprised. By then, Anahit had moved on. Now it was Derick who was catching feelings. He realized how much he looked forward to talking to her, making up excuses to FaceTime her “as friends.” Anahit continued to tell herself he was just being a great friend, despite the growing evidence that he felt more. Eventually, Derick worked up the nerve to ask her to go on a hike. Anahit enthusiastically replied, “Sure! I’ll let the others know,” genuinely assuming he meant the whole group. When Derick clarified that he meant just the two of them, she still refused to believe it could be a date. But the moment she got into his car, she knew something was different. He wore his nice cologne (to a hike?!). He avoided eye contact. He played her favorite songs. He insisted on paying for food. Was this really happening? When he asked to hang out alone again, Anahit decided she needed clarity. What happened next depends on who you ask: Derick claims he was the one who called it a date; Anahit swears she asked first. Either way, the truth was out; they wanted to be more than friends. Their first official date was sushi in Newport Beach, followed by a sunset bonfire on the sand. Everything felt effortless. From that day on, it was clear they were perfect for each other. So when it came time to propose, Derick knew exactly how he wanted to do it. On September 29, 2024, he brought Anahit back to Newport Beach for sushi and then led her to the same shoreline where their story began—this time, getting down on one knee! They cannot wait to celebrate their special day with you. To everyone who has been part of their story, from the early Zoom days to now, thank you for being such meaningful and cherished parts of their lives.

Wedding Party

We have reserved rooms for our guests at The Laylow, Autograph Collection in Waikiki. We will be covering the cost of two nights (July 1st through July 3rd). Guests may extend their stay up to two nights before and after this block at a special rate of $289 per night. Rooms feature one or two king-sized beds, with a maximum occupancy of 4 guests per room. ﻿If you would like to stay with us at this hotel, please indicate so on your RSVP and we will follow up with a booking link.

Flight Suggestions

Our wedding is on the island of O'ahu, and the main airport there is Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu, Hawaii. Avoid landing in other airports, since they may be on other islands. We recommend flying in at the latest Wednesday, July 1st, to give you some time to rest before the big day (and to attend our Welcome Dinner!). There are lots of flights from LAX to HNL every day. We will be departing on Monday, June 29th on flight AS 552 from Burbank Airport, and returning on Saturday, July 4th on flight AS 1452 from HNL! We'd recommend tracking flight prices on Google, especially since our wedding precedes 4th of July weekend.

Travel

What to Wear

We do not have a dress code, so please wear whatever you feel best in. Can’t decide what to wear? Here are some suggestions! MEN: Tuxes &amp; Suits with dress shoes. Given the weather, consider lighter fabrics and colors. WOMEN: Gowns &amp; cocktail dresses. Flowy and colorful dresses for comfort. Consider thicker heels, wedges, or flats instead of stilettos. NOTE: Entire event will be taking place outdoors. We highly recommend lighter fabrics and practical shoes. If you’re wearing heels, consider bringing a change of shoes to walk through the grass.

Dress Code

Right next to our hotel is a massive outdoor shopping mall with boutiques, restaurants, and greenery.

International Market Place

Our wedding venue is also an awesome tourist destination for UTV tours, ziplining, horseback riding, and more! We recommend the UTV tour (as you can tell in the photo!) We have a group discount code for excursions available soon!

Kualoa Ranch

Duke's Waikiki is an iconic beachfront restaurant walking distance from our hotel. Great food, great vibes, and live music!

Duke's Waikiki

Rent a mask and flippers to snorkel in clear and fish-populated waters. We saw hundreds of fish and a TURTLE!

Pupukea Beach Park

The Diamond Head hike in Oʻahu is a 1.6-mile roundtrip trail to the summit of a volcanic crater, offering panoramic views of Waikīkī and the ocean. This is a moderately difficult hike with steep stairs.

Diamond Head Crater Trailhead

Tour Iolani Palace to learn about Hawaii's unique history and heritage.

Iolani Palace

Experience a Hawaiian luau with food and activities!

Experience Nutridge

Literally one of the best meals we have ever eaten that we still talk about to this day. HIGHLY recommend going out of your way to try it!

Adela’s Country Eatery

Peaceful and serene Japanese Buddhist temple.

Byodo-In Temple

Explore the North Shore of Oahu!&nbsp;Filled with cute shops, amazing snow cones, and clear beaches.

Derick & Anahit

Derick & Anahit

D&A

Welcome Event

Wedding Day

1:15 PM

Royal Star Bus Pick Up

3:00 PM–3:30 PM

Ceremony

3:30 PM–4:30 PM

Cocktail Hour

4:30 PM–10:00 PM

Reception

Will you stay in our hotel block?