HERS

"All this time, we were waiting for each other."

Chris and I met way back in the summer of 2003 at our very first job. We were only 18 years old at the time. I remember when I first saw him. He had the most thickest glasses I had ever seen on a person. He was the nerd of all nerds. He always knew how to make me laugh on any given day and being the shy person that I was, I never thought I could be so comfortable and most of all be myself. There was a sense of pure genuine happiness that I had never felt with anyone else.

He’d write me poems and often hinted to me that he wanted our relationship to progress further than friendship. Though I never took the chance to officially be with him at the time, I always knew there was something special about him. We eventually went our separate ways and had stopped talking for the next 5 years or so.

I spent a lot of my days thinking about him throughout those years wondering about second chances. I wondered if we’d ever meet again and if we did, what would I say? What if it was too late? What if he’d found someone else? In late 2009, I stopped thinking about all the "what ifs" and decided to actually do something about it. So of course, I did what any person would do. I cyber-stalked him through Facebook. Haha. We started chatting and it felt as if nothing had ever changed. I’d sit there there in front of the computer screen typing away trying to be all nonchalant with the biggest smile on my face. I had all the feels. I knew how my heart felt. The same way it felt all those years ago, all warm and fuzzy inside, beating fast with emotions running high.

After rekindling our feelings, it turns out that all this time, we were waiting for each other.

HIS

"What's meant to be will always find its way."

I first met Sarom while working at Yoshinoya Beef Bowl Restaurant. We started off as co-workers but it was not long before we became friends. I knew right away that I liked her because she had a good heart and made me smile every time I got the chance to work with her. She always made those days fun and time seemed to go by too fast while working together.

Once we started socializing outside of work, it was then that I started to develop feelings for her. I remember trying to come up with different ways to let her know I was interested in taking our relationship to the next level. I even wrote her a poem trying to mix my passion for sports with how I felt about her. But, alas, it was not (yet) meant to be and as time went on, our friendship grew distant and those feelings began to fade.

I had always thought about what I could have done differently and if maybe I should have tried to rekindle our friendship. After a few years and a trip halfway around the world later, we reconnected again. We mostly chatted about past memories that we had together and after months of having these fun, reminiscing conversations, I started to realize that deep down, I never lost those feelings I had for her.

Once I got back from my trip, it seems that this time was now the right time. I’m not sure if it’s luck or fate that brought us back together, but it appears that what’s meant to be will always find its way.

We have quite a non-traditional schedule of events and you are more than welcome to come to one, two, or all. We would love to see you there! The festivity begins with a Cambodian ceremony on Friday. Guests can come anytime between the hours of 8am to 2pm to enjoy our cultural wedding.

On Saturday, the celebration continues! We will be having a short and sweet semi-formal ceremony at the South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes Peninsula. So ladies, put on your cute spring dresses and gentlemen, come looking all handsome and dapper. (Think Ryan Gosling or Chris Pratt, oh yeah! But save your suit and tie for the reception.)

By nightfall, dinner and dancing will be held at Hak Heang Restaurant in the heart of Long Beach where we grew up. 

Since our wedding is in two different locations, we have looked into a few places for you to enjoy your stay.

We have done just about everything on this list.
We hope you enjoy spending your time in Long Beach just as much as we have.

The best wedding gift we can ask for is having you share our special day with us! 

But, we know there are a few who prefer to bring gifts; so we have put together a small registry at My Registry.

Also, we would like everyone to know that in Cambodian traditions and culture, it is customary to give monetary gifts.  During the dinner reception, the bride and groom will greet each table where blessings and envelopes containing money is collected. A representative from each table, usually the eldest, collects all the envelopes from the table and hands them to the newlyweds and gives their blessing.

Please don’t feel obligated. Your presence in sharing our wedding joys is more than plenty!

Thanks to the lovely Christine Skari for taking these awesome photos of us!