Hawaii was more than a destination wedding location for Raiza + John. Hawaii is where John’s family lives. It’s where he proposed. It’s where they started to build their life together. Raiza + John fell in-love with the Hyatt Regency Waikiki venue. It was a central location for visiting guests and for locals, and it was located in the perfect location for their party-going crew. They say Waikiki is the Las Vegas strip of Hawaii and for Raiza + John, they wanted their wedding celebration to last all weekend long.

Raiza + John knew from the beginning of their wedding planning journey that they wanted to do a first look. The location? Easy answer. Magic Island. Since they were getting married at a hotel, they wanted a variety of pictures with various backgrounds and background textures. What made their first look moment even more special, was that their entire wedding party was a part of it. Not only did they get to capture romantic couple portraits with the palm trees and ocean backdrop, they got some photos with some of the most important people of their lives. As soon as Raiza tapped John for him to turn around, John’s face immediately lit up. He lifted her in the air and their wedding party cheered them on. It was a picture-perfect first look moment.

Raiza + John wanted to have a traditional ceremony by incorporating Filipino traditions with the veil, cord, and coin. Having family involved was important to Raiza + John. They knew getting married was more than just them two joining as one, it was a big day for their families as well. They hired their family friend to officiate their wedding and asked some family members to be a part of the veil, cord, and coin traditional ceremony elements. Their ceremony was meaningful, powerful, and personable. As they walked down the aisle as the new “Mr. & Mrs. John Rhyan + Raiza Illacas,” bubbles floated in the midst of their guests’ cheers and celebrations. At the end of the aisle was the second kiss moment. John dipped his gorgeous wife and sealed the ceremony with a kiss.

One of the many things Raiza + John loved doing together was attending raves. Picking a DJ team that would fit this vibe was a top priority for them. And, Hawaii Events Unlimited did not disappoint! From their grand entrance to the last song of the night, it was a #IllacUSinlove Rave. The moment open dancing began, the lights were dimmed, Hawaii Events Unlimited’s uplighting lit up the ballroom, and the couple never left the dance floor. Song after song, the DJ team played all of Raiza + John’s favorites creating their own wedding rave. Needless to say, it was the best rave they’ve been to yet.

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