A Tropical Beach Wedding At The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua in Maui, Hawaii

At a time when Tuyen "Tiffany" Nguyen and Gerard Williams III were searching for a soulmate and best friend, they ended up stumbling across each other on Match.com. During their first date over dinner and drinks, they discovered they had a great deal in common, and that they had actually crossed paths several times before. Tiffany loved his smile, and Gerard thought she was even more beautiful in person.

While visiting friends in Texas, Gerard decided to propose on Valentine’s Day of 2014. He planned an outing at Tiffany’s favorite restaurant with several of her friends, and surprised her by posing as one of the headwaiters–casually strolling around the restaurant and chatting with guests. When he arrived at the table where his girlfriend was sitting, Gerard jokingly introduced himself, pulled out the engagement ring, and popped the question.

After discussing several options, the couple decided to have a destination wedding in Maui, with their venue of choice being the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. During the wedding planning process, they made all the decisions together including the flowers, color palette, and atmosphere. Their vision was to have a formal, mid-day ceremony so they could take advantage of Hawaii’s beautiful surroundings. They also coordinated flights from all over the world–Vietnam, Laos, France, Australia, Canada, and the continental U.S.–and ended up with an intimate guest list of 85 attendees. 

Tiffany and Gerard’s arrival in Maui was perfect, and the island graced them with idyllic weather. Their wedding day was filled with photographs and videos being taken, as they wanted to capture every moment. Music was playing when the groom arrived at the ceremony, and he distinctly remembers watching his bride make her way down the aisle with her mother and father. “Her father gave her hand to me and was crying, which touched my heart,” the groom says. “And when the rings were put on our fingers, we both knew that a new life was beginning.”

The reception marked the start of a wonderful party, and guests were treated to an abundance of food, wine and live music. Wanting to provide a great deal of entertainment throughout the night, the newlyweds flew in a DJ and MC from Australia, who also specialized in magic shows, as well as the Beatles LOVE from Las Vegas to perform during the ceremony. Tiffany also surprised her groom with a Michael Jackson impersonator, who stole the show. 

Like any epic celebration, the party didn’t end until the sun came up, making for an unforgettable evening. “There are many memories that I will cherish forever,” Gerard says. “I found someone with whom I can spend the rest of my life, loving every single moment.”