Wedding Day

Wedding

The King Kamehameha Golf Club & Kahili Golf Course

Reception

Our Wedding

Donn&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;met&nbsp;at&nbsp;such&nbsp;a&nbsp;random&nbsp;time&nbsp;in&nbsp;our&nbsp;lives.&nbsp;I&nbsp;just&nbsp;moved&nbsp;home&nbsp;from&nbsp;college&nbsp;and&nbsp;Donn&nbsp;just&nbsp;got&nbsp;out&nbsp;of&nbsp;a&nbsp;long&nbsp;term&nbsp;relationship.&nbsp;We&nbsp;were&nbsp;talking&nbsp;for&nbsp;about&nbsp;&nbsp;month&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;almost&nbsp;ghosted&nbsp;him&nbsp;(lol&nbsp;he&nbsp;never&nbsp;lets&nbsp;this&nbsp;down),&nbsp;but&nbsp;I&nbsp;decided&nbsp;to&nbsp;give&nbsp;it&nbsp;a&nbsp;shot.&nbsp;After&nbsp;a&nbsp;month&nbsp;of&nbsp;talking,&nbsp;on&nbsp;August&nbsp;20th,&nbsp;2015,&nbsp;we&nbsp;had&nbsp;our&nbsp;first&nbsp;date&nbsp;at&nbsp;Monkeypod&nbsp;Kitchen&nbsp;in&nbsp;Wailea.&nbsp;With&nbsp;that,&nbsp;we&nbsp;made&nbsp;it&nbsp;a&nbsp;tradition&nbsp;to&nbsp;go&nbsp;to&nbsp;Monkey&nbsp;pod&nbsp;every&nbsp;year&nbsp;on&nbsp;that&nbsp;day&nbsp;we&nbsp;had&nbsp;our&nbsp;first&nbsp;date.

How We Met

We'd&nbsp;been&nbsp;dating&nbsp;for&nbsp;about&nbsp;2&nbsp;months&nbsp;when&nbsp;we&nbsp;realized&nbsp;we&nbsp;wanted&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;together.&nbsp;No&nbsp;official&nbsp;date;&nbsp;however,&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;a&nbsp;random&nbsp;day&nbsp;we&nbsp;decided&nbsp;that&nbsp;on&nbsp;October&nbsp;23,&nbsp;2015&nbsp;will&nbsp;be&nbsp;our&nbsp;anniversary&nbsp;date.&nbsp;That&nbsp;happened&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;the&nbsp;day&nbsp;I&nbsp;realized&nbsp;that&nbsp;I&nbsp;might&nbsp;be&nbsp;falling&nbsp;in&nbsp;love&nbsp;with&nbsp;this&nbsp;guy.

Official

On&nbsp;December&nbsp;9,&nbsp;2015,&nbsp;we&nbsp;were&nbsp;at&nbsp;my&nbsp;holiday&nbsp;party&nbsp;at&nbsp;King&nbsp;Kamehameha&nbsp;Golf&nbsp;club&nbsp;when&nbsp;I&nbsp;kept&nbsp;pushing&nbsp;Donn&nbsp;to&nbsp;try&nbsp;and&nbsp;tell&nbsp;me&nbsp;he&nbsp;loves&nbsp;me.&nbsp;Foreheads&nbsp;pressed&nbsp;against&nbsp;each&nbsp;other,&nbsp;swaying&nbsp;back&nbsp;and&nbsp;forth&nbsp;as&nbsp;we&nbsp;were&nbsp;dancing&nbsp;to&nbsp;a&nbsp;song.&nbsp;I&nbsp;had&nbsp;been&nbsp;drinking&nbsp;and&nbsp;trying&nbsp;to&nbsp;lead&nbsp;Donn&nbsp;to&nbsp;tell&nbsp;me&nbsp;how&nbsp;he&nbsp;felt.&nbsp;As&nbsp;faded&nbsp;as&nbsp;I&nbsp;was,&nbsp;I&nbsp;would&nbsp;never&nbsp;forget&nbsp;the&nbsp;conversation&nbsp;we&nbsp;had.&nbsp;Donn&nbsp;goes,&nbsp;"&nbsp;I&nbsp;feel&nbsp;like&nbsp;you&nbsp;want&nbsp;me&nbsp;to&nbsp;say&nbsp;something,&nbsp;but&nbsp;I'm&nbsp;not&nbsp;sure&nbsp;I'm&nbsp;ready&nbsp;to&nbsp;say&nbsp;it.&nbsp;And&nbsp;I&nbsp;said,&nbsp;"I&nbsp;know&nbsp;you&nbsp;may&nbsp;not&nbsp;be&nbsp;ready,&nbsp;but&nbsp;I&nbsp;know&nbsp;I&nbsp;am."&nbsp;It&nbsp;was&nbsp;such&nbsp;a&nbsp;sweet&nbsp;moment,&nbsp;but&nbsp;then&nbsp;Donn&nbsp;first&nbsp;told&nbsp;me,&nbsp;"I&nbsp;love&nbsp;you."

I Love You

Four&nbsp;years&nbsp;later,&nbsp;December&nbsp;9,&nbsp;2019,&nbsp;Donn&nbsp;asked&nbsp;me&nbsp;what&nbsp;time&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;going&nbsp;to&nbsp;come&nbsp;from&nbsp;teaching&nbsp;BODYCOMBAT&nbsp;at&nbsp;24&nbsp;Hour&nbsp;Fitness.&nbsp;I&nbsp;told&nbsp;him&nbsp;I&nbsp;would&nbsp;be&nbsp;home&nbsp;at&nbsp;about&nbsp;730,&nbsp;but&nbsp;at&nbsp;an&nbsp;instant&nbsp;I&nbsp;knew&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;going&nbsp;to&nbsp;propose&nbsp;to&nbsp;me.&nbsp;I&nbsp;told&nbsp;Karla,&nbsp;"OMG&nbsp;IT'S&nbsp;GOING&nbsp;TO&nbsp;HAPPEN&nbsp;TONIGHT!"&nbsp;She&nbsp;was&nbsp;like,&nbsp;how&nbsp;do&nbsp;you&nbsp;know?&nbsp;But&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;definitely&nbsp;a&nbsp;gut&nbsp;feeling&nbsp;and&nbsp;it&nbsp;made&nbsp;me&nbsp;nervous&nbsp;all&nbsp;day. I&nbsp;finished&nbsp;class&nbsp;a&nbsp;little&nbsp;early&nbsp;as&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;our&nbsp;re-launch&nbsp;event&nbsp;and&nbsp;so&nbsp;I&nbsp;stayed&nbsp;until&nbsp;about&nbsp;710PM.&nbsp;Even&nbsp;though&nbsp;I&nbsp;knew&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;expecting&nbsp;me&nbsp;at&nbsp;730PM,&nbsp;I&nbsp;thought&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;alright&nbsp;and&nbsp;if&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;actually&nbsp;happening&nbsp;that&nbsp;he'd&nbsp;be&nbsp;okay&nbsp;with&nbsp;me&nbsp;coming&nbsp;home&nbsp;early.&nbsp; On&nbsp;the&nbsp;way&nbsp;home,&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;telling&nbsp;myself&nbsp;that&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;okay&nbsp;if&nbsp;it&nbsp;wasn't&nbsp;going&nbsp;to&nbsp;happen&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;shouldn't&nbsp;set&nbsp;up&nbsp;myself&nbsp;for&nbsp;disappointment&nbsp;because&nbsp;it's&nbsp;always&nbsp;sad&nbsp;when&nbsp;you&nbsp;do.&nbsp;But&nbsp;once&nbsp;I&nbsp;pulled&nbsp;up&nbsp;in&nbsp;our&nbsp;driveway,&nbsp;I&nbsp;took&nbsp;a&nbsp;deep,&nbsp;opened&nbsp;my&nbsp;car,&nbsp;and&nbsp;stepped&nbsp;out.&nbsp;I&nbsp;smelled&nbsp;something&nbsp;yummy&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;air&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;head&nbsp;Donn&nbsp;say,&nbsp;"She's&nbsp;home!"&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;front&nbsp;door&nbsp;open&nbsp;and&nbsp;close. I&nbsp;took&nbsp;my&nbsp;time&nbsp;and&nbsp;went&nbsp;to&nbsp;get&nbsp;the&nbsp;mail&nbsp;before&nbsp;entering&nbsp;the&nbsp;house&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;kitchen&nbsp;door.&nbsp;As&nbsp;I&nbsp;got&nbsp;in,&nbsp;I&nbsp;found&nbsp;Donn&nbsp;cooking&nbsp;steak&nbsp;and&nbsp;cajun&nbsp;shrimp&nbsp;and&nbsp;rice.&nbsp;It&nbsp;smelled&nbsp;so&nbsp;good,&nbsp;but&nbsp;my&nbsp;heart&nbsp;already&nbsp;knew&nbsp;what&nbsp;was&nbsp;up. I&nbsp;asked&nbsp;Donn&nbsp;if&nbsp;he&nbsp;needed&nbsp;help&nbsp;and&nbsp;per&nbsp;usual&nbsp;he&nbsp;said,&nbsp;"It's&nbsp;up&nbsp;to&nbsp;you."&nbsp;so&nbsp;I&nbsp;went&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;living&nbsp;room&nbsp;and&nbsp;at&nbsp;an&nbsp;instant,&nbsp;next&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;front&nbsp;door,&nbsp;I&nbsp;saw&nbsp;a&nbsp;sign&nbsp;that&nbsp;had&nbsp;a&nbsp;heart&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;words,&nbsp;"Marry&nbsp;Me?" I&nbsp;sped&nbsp;away&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;bathroom&nbsp;and&nbsp;felt&nbsp;my&nbsp;heart&nbsp;race.&nbsp;I&nbsp;caught&nbsp;my&nbsp;breath&nbsp;and&nbsp;tried&nbsp;to&nbsp;relax,&nbsp;but&nbsp;I&nbsp;couldn't.&nbsp;So&nbsp;after&nbsp;I&nbsp;gathered&nbsp;all&nbsp;my&nbsp;excited&nbsp;and&nbsp;nervous&nbsp;emotions,&nbsp;I&nbsp;went&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;kitchen&nbsp;to&nbsp;help&nbsp;the&nbsp;love&nbsp;of&nbsp;my&nbsp;life.&nbsp; While&nbsp;we&nbsp;were&nbsp;having&nbsp;dinner,&nbsp;we&nbsp;couldn't&nbsp;eat.&nbsp;Food&nbsp;was&nbsp;delicious,&nbsp;but&nbsp;we&nbsp;were&nbsp;nervous!&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;texting&nbsp;Karla&nbsp;during&nbsp;this&nbsp;time,&nbsp;but&nbsp;she&nbsp;told&nbsp;me&nbsp;to&nbsp;stop&nbsp;because&nbsp;I&nbsp;needed&nbsp;to&nbsp;enjoy&nbsp;this&nbsp;moment&nbsp;with&nbsp;my&nbsp;man. Donn&nbsp;suddenly&nbsp;stepped&nbsp;outside&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;house&nbsp;and&nbsp;turned&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;Christmas&nbsp;Lights.I&nbsp;sat&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;couch&nbsp;and&nbsp;waited,&nbsp;wondering&nbsp;what&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;doing&nbsp;or&nbsp;if&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;going&nbsp;to&nbsp;call&nbsp;me&nbsp;outside,&nbsp;but&nbsp;instead,&nbsp;he&nbsp;came&nbsp;back&nbsp;inside&nbsp;the&nbsp;house&nbsp;and&nbsp;sat&nbsp;next&nbsp;to&nbsp;me.&nbsp;He&nbsp;held&nbsp;a&nbsp;beautiful&nbsp;sign&nbsp;he&nbsp;painted&nbsp;with&nbsp;my&nbsp;engagement&nbsp;ring&nbsp;hanging&nbsp;from&nbsp;it. He&nbsp;said,&nbsp;"I&nbsp;think&nbsp;you&nbsp;know&nbsp;what's&nbsp;going&nbsp;on&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;think&nbsp;you&nbsp;already&nbsp;saw&nbsp;the&nbsp;sign.&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;going&nbsp;to&nbsp;wait&nbsp;until&nbsp;we&nbsp;made&nbsp;5&nbsp;years,&nbsp;but&nbsp;you&nbsp;were&nbsp;being&nbsp;so&nbsp;impatient-"&nbsp;and&nbsp;at&nbsp;that&nbsp;moment&nbsp;we&nbsp;heard&nbsp;people&nbsp;running&nbsp;up&nbsp;the&nbsp;driveway.&nbsp;We&nbsp;thought&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;our&nbsp;friend&nbsp;Emi,&nbsp;but&nbsp;once&nbsp;Donn&nbsp;opened&nbsp;the&nbsp;door,&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;Christmas&nbsp;Carolers. Donn&nbsp;looked&nbsp;at&nbsp;me&nbsp;and&nbsp;asked&nbsp;if&nbsp;I&nbsp;wanted&nbsp;a&nbsp;song,&nbsp;but&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;not&nbsp;about&nbsp;that&nbsp;life.&nbsp;While&nbsp;the&nbsp;girl&nbsp;was&nbsp;saying&nbsp;who&nbsp;she&nbsp;was&nbsp;and&nbsp;what&nbsp;they&nbsp;were&nbsp;here&nbsp;for,&nbsp;I&nbsp;kept&nbsp;trying&nbsp;to&nbsp;tell&nbsp;them&nbsp;they&nbsp;were&nbsp;ruining&nbsp;a&nbsp;moment.&nbsp;Once&nbsp;she&nbsp;finally&nbsp;stopped&nbsp;talking,&nbsp;I&nbsp;said,&nbsp;"You're&nbsp;ruining&nbsp;a&nbsp;moment,&nbsp;he's&nbsp;trying&nbsp;to&nbsp;propose&nbsp;to&nbsp;me!"&nbsp;Her&nbsp;eyes&nbsp;grew&nbsp;big&nbsp;and&nbsp;at&nbsp;an&nbsp;instant&nbsp;they&nbsp;turned&nbsp;around&nbsp;and&nbsp;left,&nbsp;but&nbsp;also&nbsp;congratulated&nbsp;us.&nbsp; Donn&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;went&nbsp;back&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;couch&nbsp;and&nbsp;finally&nbsp;he&nbsp;could&nbsp;tell&nbsp;me&nbsp;his&nbsp;sweet&nbsp;words,&nbsp;"Will&nbsp;you&nbsp;marry&nbsp;me?"&nbsp;Placed&nbsp;the&nbsp;ring&nbsp;on&nbsp;my&nbsp;finger. Even&nbsp;though&nbsp;the&nbsp;night&nbsp;didn't&nbsp;go&nbsp;as&nbsp;planned,&nbsp;we&nbsp;wouldn't&nbsp;have&nbsp;it&nbsp;any&nbsp;other&nbsp;way.&nbsp;Here&nbsp;we&nbsp;are,&nbsp;planning&nbsp;our&nbsp;forever.

The Proposal

As&nbsp;we&nbsp;all&nbsp;know,&nbsp;March&nbsp;2020&nbsp;everything&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;world&nbsp;started&nbsp;to&nbsp;shut&nbsp;down&nbsp;due&nbsp;to&nbsp;Covid-19.&nbsp;We&nbsp;took&nbsp;engagement&nbsp;photos&nbsp;just&nbsp;before&nbsp;the&nbsp;world&nbsp;stood&nbsp;still&nbsp;and&nbsp;we&nbsp;entered&nbsp;the&nbsp;unknown.&nbsp;We&nbsp;would&nbsp;plan&nbsp;our&nbsp;wedding,&nbsp;stop&nbsp;planning.&nbsp;reduce&nbsp;the&nbsp;amount&nbsp;of&nbsp;people&nbsp;invited,&nbsp;invite&nbsp;more&nbsp;people.&nbsp;We&nbsp;just&nbsp;didn't&nbsp;know&nbsp;what&nbsp;we&nbsp;were&nbsp;going&nbsp;to&nbsp;do.&nbsp;Everyone&nbsp;kept&nbsp;saying,&nbsp;"Oh&nbsp;I've&nbsp;been&nbsp;through&nbsp;wedding&nbsp;planning&nbsp;before,&nbsp;you'll&nbsp;get&nbsp;over&nbsp;it."&nbsp;But&nbsp;what&nbsp;people&nbsp;didn't&nbsp;understand&nbsp;was&nbsp;wedding&nbsp;planning&nbsp;during&nbsp;a&nbsp;pandemic.&nbsp;That&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;most&nbsp;heartbreaking,&nbsp;unsure,&nbsp;stressful&nbsp;thing&nbsp;we&nbsp;went&nbsp;through.&nbsp;Lots&nbsp;of&nbsp;tears&nbsp;shed&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;unknown.&nbsp;Wanting&nbsp;and&nbsp;hoping&nbsp;that&nbsp;we'd&nbsp;still&nbsp;be&nbsp;able&nbsp;to&nbsp;get&nbsp;married. Apart&nbsp;from&nbsp;all&nbsp;the&nbsp;stress&nbsp;and&nbsp;heartbreak,&nbsp;we&nbsp;made&nbsp;it&nbsp;happen.&nbsp;We&nbsp;had&nbsp;a&nbsp;mask&nbsp;mandated,&nbsp;socially&nbsp;distanced&nbsp;wedding&nbsp;that&nbsp;was&nbsp;officiated&nbsp;by&nbsp;Uncle&nbsp;Herminio&nbsp;Aquino.&nbsp;Such&nbsp;a&nbsp;beautiful&nbsp;day&nbsp;as&nbsp;the&nbsp;sun&nbsp;came&nbsp;to&nbsp;say&nbsp;hello&nbsp;as&nbsp;our&nbsp;wedding&nbsp;started.

Maricel & Donn

Maricel & Donn

M&D

Wedding Day

6:00 PM–10:00 PM

Wedding

Reception