The program included a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, in which the couple served tea to their elders; the signing of a Ketubah, or Jewish marriage contract; and a conservative Jewish ceremony performed by Gelbart's childhood rabbi from Cincinnati.

"I wanted a little bit of our culture incorporated into the one day that was ours," said Chong, 30, a physician. "We put everything that is us into that one day."

The festivities continued at a reception that paid homage to Chong's Hawai'i ties (she was raised in the McCully-Mo'ili'ili area). The celebration included Hawaiian fare, tropical flower arrangements and entertainment by a Polynesian revue.

"I didn't meet a lot of Mike's family until that one day, and I wanted to share with them what I was about," Chong said. "Through that experience, they got a chance to really know me and my family."

Flower girl Allaura Ellison, 5, dressed up as an angel for the Halloween-themed wedding last year of Robert and Suzanne Tsuhako of Honolulu. The Tsuhakos are among a growing number of couples going all out to put a personal stamp on their wedding day. Eric Rhodes of Reve Photography

"We both love Halloween, and we were looking for some way to make our wedding different," said Suzanne Tsuhako, 26, a product associate. "When we considered Halloween, it just clicked, and everything fell into place."

Their reception decor included bat garlands, cobwebs and strings of skull lights. The bride wore a black-and-red gown, and some guests got into the spirit by donning costumes, including a devil, ghost and witch.

"(The day) is about the couple, but it's also about everyone having a good time and celebrating that day with you," Tsuhako said.

While other couples may not go to such extremes, many are still finding simple, one-of-a-kind ways to make their weddings stand out. (See sidebar.)

In keeping with their theme, the Tsuhakos chose a red velvet cake with blood-like icing dripping down the sides. Eric Rhodes of Reve Photography

Decorations included a ghostly candy dish and bats. Eric Rhodes of Reve Photography

The ceremony involves the bride and groom each taking a container with colored sand and pouring it into a container with ordinary sand. When the two colors of sand mix in the container, there's no way of separating the colors, signifying the couple's new lives together as one, Tongg O'Donnell said.

The ceremony should be the most important part of the day for the couple because their family and friends are invited to witness and celebrate the new union, she said.

"The day overall is a reflection of the couple, who they are and what they mean to each other," Tongg O'Donnell said. "Everything is 'personal' in that they put thought and effort into including that factor into the day — from the food that they selected to serve their guests, to what is included into a reception program — it all means something to each couple in different ways."

At the wedding reception of Simon and Shirley Little of Hollywood, Calif., the bride — formerly Shirley Ng of 'Aiea — asked for a Chinese lion dance performance to entertain her guests. The dance signifies happiness, prosperity and good luck.

"Those types of things that add a personal touch, those are the things that you'll remember," said Shirley Little, 37, an IT manager, "and it just captures the whole essence of why you're celebrating."

The Littles married Feb. 19 at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental among 80 guests.

"I wanted it to be special for everyone," she said.

Treating family and friends was also high on David and Terri Miyamoto's list of priorities. The Honolulu couple, who married March 5 at the Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin, put a lot of thought into the favors they offered guests at their Kahala Mandarin Oriental reception.

The favors included shortbread cookies from the couple's favorite Seattle chocolatier (which they discovered when they lived there for five years), and the bride's favorite local shortbread cookies.

"Our guests got a chance to sample our favorite sweets from both Seattle and Hawai'i — the best of both our worlds," said Terri Miyamoto, 32, a clinical pharmacist.

As an added bonus for guests, Terri Miyamoto kicked up the traditional "father and bride" dance with a little twist — err, hustle (think disco-era favorite).

"It's hard to get the older people up dancing, and my dad does not dance at all, so we did the hustle," she said and laughed. "It was just a way to have fun with the family ... and my mom joined in."

Couples should do things that will be memorable for everyone involved, Terri Miyamoto said.

"Even if you want to do something that looks off the wall, just have fun with it and enjoy the day, because it goes by really fast," she said.