Fashion and lifestyle influencer and Macy's Business Strategy Principal Monica San Luis and Dayson Watanabe, a senior design engineer at Bohler Engineering, grew up together in Honolulu, playing for the same basketball club as sixth graders. "Senior year of high school, we started spending more time together, and Dayson finally made a move at our high school carnival," she shares. "He asked me to go on the scariest ride at the carnival, and unfortunately, because I had a crush, I said yes. Anyone who knows me knows I hate carnival rides, so naturally I cried the whole ride."
They spent the rest of that summer together and were even each other's prom dates—she unknowingly foreshadowed the future by wearing a white dress. The pair even took photos at The Kahala Hotel, where Dayson would propose nine years later.
Once engaged, the two knew they wanted to host their wedding on O'ahu, where they grew up. "We toured a few venues on the same trip home when he proposed, but I always knew I wanted to get married at Kualoa Ranch," Monica shares. "From a design perspective, we kept coming back to the idea that our wedding should reflect both halves of our life together. We met and grew up in Hawai'i, but we've spent our entire adult relationship building a life in New York City . . . We ended up creating a true 'East Coast meets Hawai'i' aesthetic that felt elevated and timeless, but still warm and welcoming."
Planner Nichole Weddings & Events brought their vision to life, while photographer Melia Lucida and videographer MoreLife Films captured the whole weekend.
"I had always dreamt of being a bride—I dressed up as one for Halloween when I was five years old," Monica says of finding her wedding wardrobe. She began the weekend in a macramé Elie Saab look for the all-white welcome sail on a catamaran. The next day, the luau in Monica's parents' backyard came with an "Aloha Attire" dress code, and the bride wore the Iris Bouquet Peplum Dress from Monique Lhuillier's Spring 2026 collection with blue Manolo Blahnik slingbacks—a nod to New York City.
"For the wedding day, I always envisioned myself in a ballgown, even though wearing one in Hawai'i isn't exactly the practical choice," Monica says. She surprisingly fell in love with the lace Olivia Dress by Sareh Nouri. "I initially resisted because I had never pictured myself in lace. But the moment she clipped me in, my tune changed."
On May 30, 2026, Monica accessorized with floral cluster diamond earrings, a tennis necklace, and a tennis bracelet, all from Verstolo. "For beauty, I knew I wanted a pulled-back, classic, clean bun," she shares. Hairstylist Jonah Face pulled it off even better than she'd imagined, while a makeup artist from First Second Beauty rounded out her look.
For the reception, Monica changed pace entirely. The Mari by Danielle Frankel was love at first sight. "It felt so New York and so chic and so me," she says. "The sleeves paired with the simple silhouette felt striking without being too overcomplicated."
Dayson also had multiple looks over the course of the day, starting in a classic black tuxedo by Calvin Klein before switching into a white dinner jacket by Tommy Hilfiger.
The ceremony began in Paliku Gardens at Kualoa Ranch, with Mokoli'i—known colloquially as "Chinaman's Hat" island—framed perfectly between the trees. "I had my parents meet me partway down the aisle, so I could have my moment and walk alone with the dramatic Ko'olau mountains behind me," Monica explains. "I walked to 'Can't Help Falling in Love,' played by a live violin and cello. When I met Dayson at the end of the aisle, I couldn't help but break the fourth wall and ask our guests, 'Do you guys like the dress?!'"
Monica's brother-in-law, Jake, officiated. "He even had us play a game of rock, paper, scissors to decide who goes first for vows," the bride smiles. "He knows we like to gamify things." Most of the service was overcast—until Monica reached her vows. "Then, as Monica was reading, she said, 'Your warmth is contagious,' and as if on cue, the sun suddenly came out from behind the clouds," Dayson shares.
After the ceremony, guests made their way down the hill for cocktail hour, followed by a tented reception. The newlyweds shared a first dance to "18" by One Direction—their song since they first started dating—under a cloud of hydrangeas by Belle De Jour Floral. During dinner from Island Fusion, Dayson's dad led a "banzai," a traditional Japanese celebratory cheer common at weddings in Hawai'i.
For dessert, the couple opted for a "Just Married" tiramisu with affogato, while espresso martinis made the rounds at 8 p.m. to keep the party going with DJ Compose.
And keep going it did. Party buses carried the celebration to Waikīkī, where the couple had rented out Surf Bar for the after-party. "We had a custom neon sign made that read: 'Got Lei'd by the Watanabes,' and we passed out light-up leis to everyone as they arrived," Monica recalls. "No one was ready to stop dancing! It was the perfect finale to such an incredible wedding weekend."
