For Better, For Worse
Dream comes true in Las Vegas

By Stephanie Grande-Misaki
Special to The Advertiser

Every little girl dreams of getting married. Dreams of wearing that long white gown with a train. Dreams of walking down the aisle while everyone watches teary-eyed with happiness. Dreams of marrying the one she loves. I, too, wanted that typical wedding.

Calvin Misaki and Stephanie Grande-Misaki

Vegas, a Christmas gift to each other. Cal asked if I wanted to go shopping. I thought he was insane, because it's usually crazy the day after Christmas at the shopping malls. But, it's not often that he offers to go shopping, so I said yes.

We went to Zales first. He was looking for a ring. I thought, I could use new earrings instead. But he went straight for the wedding rings and asked to see an oval-shape diamond solitaire ring. He asked, "What do you think?" I said it was beautiful, still perplexed as to what we were doing there.

We kept on looking. I thought that since he wanted to buy me a ring, I'd go along with him. I wanted something that was sweet and thoughtful, not too big or flashy. We finally went back to Zales, and he bought me the ring that he first viewed. The sales associates referred to me as the "fiancee," and I was so stunned that I could not correct them. I still thought that it was just a gift, nothing more.

In the car, it finally hit me. I started glowing and asked "So what? Does this mean something?"

He gave me that "What do YOU think?" look.

And that was how it started. He suggested getting married in Vegas during the summer (we were already planning a trip with friends). I instinctively said, "Let's do it!"

We started planning, and kept it a secret up to two months before the wedding. Once we told our parents, everyone wanted to come with us. We started with a group of eight, and it skyrocketed to 29. I know, I know this is still not a big wedding, but much bigger than the elopement we had planned.

On the day of our wedding, July 19, 1998, I was anxious and ecstatic. I was ready half an hour before the limousine came to pick us up at our hotel. It finally arrived and, after a few pictures, we were off to the Little Chapel of the Flowers.

When we got there I was overwhelmed. We were draped with beautiful pikake and maile lei. I saw the church filled with everyone dear to us. My lip started to quiver and I knew that before the ceremony started I'd be sobbing.

Finally, the big moment arrived. Cal was beaming, standing in place at the front of the chapel with his best man. My matron of honor walked before me. As the music began, I was thankful that my dad walked me down the aisle so I could have someone to hang on to.

As we started walking, I saw Cal and all our closest family and friends, and the tears started flowing. I had completely forgotten to use the handkerchief I wrapped around the base of my bouquet. I kept thinking, I'm going to have hanabata in my wedding pictures!

I reached the front, and the reverend immediately handed me a Kleenex. I looked at Cal, he grabbed my hand and I felt so at ease that I stopped crying. The rest of the ceremony was a blur. We held hands and listened and repeated what we were supposed to say. And then it was over. We were husband and wife.

It was one of the happiest moments in my life. I ended up having the fairy-tale wedding just by marrying the man that I loved. At our Treasure Island reception, we were so elated that we forgot to play our wedding song by Na Leo Pilimehana, "The Rest of Your Life." Its opening lines are:

What are you doing for the rest of your life?

We could watch the stars at night, twinkling high above

'Cause I promise you, for the rest of your life

I will be there by your side. I will be your love.

It didn't matter that the song wasn't played though, because we sang the song in our hearts. We knew where we'd be for the rest of our lives.

Stephanie Grande-Misaki and Calvin Misaki live in Mililani.

Do you have a great love story? What are your best stories or advice on marriage and making the magic last? Do you have a story from your wedding or wedding-planning advice? Send your letter of 500-750 words with your city and phone number to: For Better, For Worse, 'Ohana Section, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; e-mail ohana@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 535-8170. Sending a photo is optional.