Kimberly Chang was just a senior in high school when she met Ty Nakanishi, then a freshman in college. They quickly became best friends through college, which went on to become something more. Though the couple dated for 12 years, they were never in a rush to wed. “We always knew that everything would fall into place when it was meant to,” affirms Kim. And fall into place it did, on February 5th, 2016. The lovebirds, who reside in Southern California, flew to Reno for a weekend getaway in nearby Lake Tahoe. “We arrived at a beautiful lake house with some of the most breathtaking views we've ever seen,” gushes Kim. “In pure awe, I stood on the house's driveway admiring the view.” Finally Ty was able to coax her into the house where she found a stunning arrangement of candles and rose petals. Before she had a chance to ask what was happening, he was down on one knee. 

Despite the length of their relationship before getting engaged, Kim and Ty decided to use only five months to plan their grand wedding in Beverly Hills. The couple hired a planner to streamline the process and help incorporate the bride’s favorite color, red, into the day. “I went with all red roses for a very romantic and glam theme,” she confirms. The bridesmaids' ruby gowns matched the florals, and the groomsmen each wore a red rose boutonniere, while Ty stood out with a white bloom. A fountain at the back of the ceremony site featured floating flower petals that matched the aisle, which were lined with the same florals. 

Kim and Ty chose tradition over trend by forgoing a “first look,” instead electing to wait until the bride walked down the aisle to see each other. It was ultimately the right decision for the pair, as Kim cites the moment as being her most memorable part of the wedding day. She looked resplendent in a Liancarlo A-line gown with floral appliqués on the bodice and a tulle skirt. A jeweled headband and flowing veil glistened in the July sun as the bride approached her soon-to-be husband, who was dapper in a classic black tuxedo. Though the day was of course about the love between Kim and Ty, they also wanted to acknowledge their families. “We dedicated our ceremony to our grandparents who have passed on and couldn’t be there with us, but were definitely there in spirit,” shares the bride. 

Following the pronouncement of husband and wife, guests entered the ballroom for the reception. Each attendee was greeted at their place setting with a cake pop that matched the red-and-gold décor of the space. While every table was topped with a centerpiece of red roses, they alternated between low arrangements and tall ones held aloft by grand, gilded stands. Bullion chargers were paired with crimson linens to complete the regal look of the evening. A graceful five-tiered cake was displayed prominently and adorned with fresh red roses – the flower of the day. 

After dancing past midnight, the newlyweds were ready for their honeymoon in Maui. Noting there is not a thing she would do differently, Kim advises future brides to “hire a reputable and capable planner!” in order to make the process as stress-free as possible. “I would also advise to enjoy every moment of your special day because it flies by so fast,” she adds.