Profile
Chie McHaffie Yamashita
Bride
Born on October 15, 1991, in Fukuoka, Japan. She grew up in a loving home with her parents, and younger brother Shumpei. As a little girl, she was captivated by all things crafts and music. Her father's fondness for hard rock introduced her to the world of music, and she spent her teenage years playing in bands. Her childhood experiences with music and art are pillars of her creativity. She later moved to Tokyo to attend Waseda University, majoring in Intermedia Art and Science. After graduation, she began her career at a leading PR agency in Tokyo. During her university years and early career in Tokyo, she was blessed with many close friends and colleagues. However, she had another dream to live abroad before turning 30, so at 27 she left her stable job behind and moved to the US solo. At first life in the US was quite challenging due to the language barrier, no friends, and a tough job market. Nevertheless, she gradually improved her life in the US by changing jobs, starting her own business, and trying all she could while her first visa was valid. She eventually obtained a new work visa and extended her stay in the US even further. Although she had originally planned to return to Japan after only a year and a half, she met her person so decided to stay in the US. Life is strange, and you truly never know what might happen. One thing she knows for certain is that big risks can lead to big rewards. She now has a life partner and two countries to call home.
Gage Michael McHaffie
Groom
Born on October 26, 1992, in sunny Southern California, USA. Raised in the care-free Orange Country city of Yorba Linda, he grew up in a loving home with his parents, older brother Jake, and favorite dog Seca. As a very young boy he spent his days going on adventures with his grandparents, eating brownies, and collecting Hotwheels. Once he reached grade school, his hobbies expanded to include soccer, gaming, and just goofing off outside. In highschool his interests broadened much further and he gained a deep appreciation for history, cultures, music, and fashion. He attended the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and earned a degree in Business Economics. It was there at UCI where he had his first experience in Japan. Between his Junior and Senior years he studied Japanese at Osaka University for a summer. He couldn't have possibly known it at the time, but that trip would change the course of his life forever. After graduating from UCI, he began his job at an aerospace start-up company. As time went on, he eventually met Chie and finally had someone to swap stupid stories with, talk about culture and values, and just have an overall great time with. Gage and Chie first met over 5 years ago, but it seems just yesterday they were going on their first date to the Getty Museum. They now have two countries to call home, two intertwined cultures, two different languages, one love, and one wonderful fur baby named Milk.