A gorgeous Japanese Friendship Garden Wedding between longtime childhood friends. Miyo says it all much better than I can. If you want to skip all the words, just scroll to the photos at the end.
Enjoy your photos Miyo & Lester!
1. How did you meet?
Lester and I first met in kindergarten and were classmates again in the third grade when we attended the same elementary school. During this time, boys were still icky and girls had cooties, so our relationship was strictly that of classmates. We were reunited again in high school through common friends and that was when we truly became friends. We spent countless hours together bonding over similar hobbies such as computer games and billiards after school and on the weekends.
After we graduated from high school, I moved to Los Angeles for college, while Lester remained in San Diego. We were both preoccupied with our separate lives during the next four years, but remained good friends and made time to hang out whenever the opportunity arose.
It was my senior year in college when I strangely began to see Lester in a different light. Up until then, through our six years of friendship, I can honestly say that the thought of us being in a relationship never crossed my mind. It’s like I had an epiphany one day and realized that the right person for me could’ve been standing in front of me all along. He had been my faithful friend from the start and was always there by my side quietly supporting me through the good, the bad, and everything in between. The more I thought about it, the more I convinced myself that we were quite compatible and could make a romantic relationship work.
I’ve always been the type to just go for it when I set my mind to something, so not surprisingly, I made the first move. Lester rejected the idea at first. He admitted to me that he had always wanted more from our relationship, but was afraid to jeopardize our solid friendship. Nonetheless I persisted, and finally convinced Lester after about the third try, to take the plunge with me out of the ‘friend zone’.
We began dating, I moved back to San Diego after graduating college, and the rest is history. Thirteen years later, we are more in love and better friends than ever before and couldn’t be happier to marry each other.
2. Describe your proposal?
Let’s be real…we had been together for a LONG time and have had many discussions about taking ‘the next step’ in our future together. I had been hinting Lester for quite some time and we had even picked out a diamond ring together already, so I knew it was coming. He just had to work up the courage and take the initiative, but he also was waiting for the right time to come along and present itself. It turns out the perfect time was when we were alone late one night in a park near our house playing Pokemon Go together. Lester turned to me, thanked me for being patient, and began to tell me that everything he does is for our future together. He then got down on one knee, asked me to marry him, and of course I said yes! Having long-dreamed of this moment, I didn’t think I’d be anxious at all when the time came, but Lester was SO visibly nervous during the proposal that it made me feel super nervous (in a good way).
3. How long did you wait between your proposal and wedding date?
He proposed to me in July and we got married the following May, so we were engaged for just over nine months. After thirteen years of dating, I knew that I didn’t want to wait long to get married. I wanted to get married in the spring and felt that nine months would be sufficient time to plan.
4. Did you have a specific vision for your wedding? Any must-haves you were committed to from the start?
I’ve had several years to daydream about what my wedding would look like one day, but I didn’t have a lot of specifics made up in my mind. However, I have had my heart set on a Japanese Friendship Garden Wedding for the last several years for many reasons. The first reason being that the garden was founded on the principles of friendship between Japan and the United States, much like Lester and my own relationship. The second reason is that it represents my Japanese cultural heritage, which I am very proud of. Lastly, it is a naturally beautiful outdoor venue which requires minimal enhancements and is the perfect setting to exploit our perfect San Diego weather. Oh and the cherry blossoms at the Japanese Friendship Garden for a Wedding would be magical!
5. What are the most memorable moments from your day?
Reflecting on the wedding day, Lester and I most fondly remember the incredible amount of joy that surrounded us. Weddings provide a rare opportunity for long-distance family and old friendships to rekindle relationships, and we got to experience many ecstatic reunions. It was truly a day of love and bliss, celebrated by all in attendance. Witnessing firsthand the happiness of those we love most is what truly made our day special and memorable for us.
6. Where is the honeymoon?
We want to go to Europe in the fall, but haven’t decided exactly where yet. We’ll likely pick 2 or 3 countries to travel and try to find a balance between sightseeing and relaxation. Most likely I will pick a country and Lester will choose a country to explore. I definitely want to go somewhere I’ve never been, but I’m excited for Lester as he has never been to Europe.
the VENDORS
Japanese Friendship Garden | Jennifer Dery Photography | Cherry Blossom Floral | Weddings by Thomas Lewis | Serrano Musica | Frost Me Bakery | Aon Events DJ | Maggie Sottero Dress
