The day of  Maida Salazar and Joey Montemayor's July wedding was glorious, perfect for an afternoon ride in a convertible. The couple did just that as the groom had arranged for vintage Chevy Impalas to escort the bridal party to and from the ceremony. Perhaps the most personal touch of the day was the setting for the ceremony held at the historic St. Margaret Mary Chapel located in Sacred Heart Church in Oahu. The old-world atmosphere of the bride’s family church matched the couple’s vintage aesthetic for the day.

Bridesmaids wore elegant dresses by Vera Wang and tied delicate silk ribbons from India in their hair. Maida was gorgeous in a beaded silk gown with a sweeping train that captured the gaze of everyone in the chapel. The groom, donning a Giorgio Armani suit, was overwhelmed by the sight of his bride and his tears were infectious. Father Tom Chu placed a veil over the kneeling couple in a sign of their everlasting unity as they pledged their love. “The service was simple, yet heartfelt, and very emotional,” says Maida. 

The ceremony complete, guests made their way to the ocean lawn of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel to take in spectacular views of Diamond Head at sunset. The pair chose to host the reception at the iconic hotel in Waikiki for its vintage charm, beachfront location, and most importantly, the grand Monarch Room. With pink the chosen color for the day, it was absolutely perfect. The Monarch Room reminded the bride of the grandeur of the Taj Mahal. “When you step into the room, it has a timeless beauty and sense of importance—you just feel it,” says Maida. The colorful, bustling streets and romance of India served as the inspiration for their elaborate decor. The room was awash in varied shades of pink with raw silk linens in deep brown and contrasting magenta bouquets of roses and peonies. To emphasize the room’s regal ambience, florist Yvonne Chapman arranged tall glass vases of pale pink roses and delicate orchids intertwined with branches. 

While the tables reflected the spirit of the Far East, the menu was Pacific Rim cuisine with served entrees of fresh mahi mahi and savory prime rib. “Hawaii has so much to offer, we didn’t want to limit the influence to India,” she says. As a graphic designer, the groom took on the task of creating the wedding stationery in which he cleverly inscribed their proposal exchange. For the invitations, the motif was centered around an Indian message that expressed the concept of love fusion, and the groom’s research for a correct translation led him back to India. “Joey kept in touch with a kind man who was the equivalent of a prince in his village and he really helped us,” says Maida. The stationery read Pyar Mein Pagal, translated as “crazy in love”. 

The couple’s personal touches and impeccable attention to detail added just the right flavor to the celebration. “Every element of the day was an opportunity to express our personalities…Joey’s love of vintage cars, the hand stitched henna designs on the tent, and the slide show presentation,” Maida says. Guests danced late into the evening, enjoying a cappella performances by the bridal party and a special song performed by Maida in tribute to her new husband. Everyone savored a delicious strawberry lilikoi cake by Joslyn Benn, pastry chef and owner of Sweet Stop bakery. After all the meaningful moments of the day, Maida says excitedly, “I loved everything about our wedding day!”