READING TIME: 2 min 11 sec
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/15/2025
We sat down with Ayaka Ishimura, founder of Ayaka Ishimura Wedding & Design, to discover her journey: from her early beginnings in wedding planning to leading graceful, internationally inspired ceremonies that blend artistry and tradition.
“When I see a couple surrounded by their loved ones, full of joy … those are the moments that make me happiest.”
Ayaka has served as a wedding planner in both Japan and Hawaii since 2008, having guided more than 600 weddings to date. Her path is rare: in addition to being a planner, she is a licensed Shinto priest, enabling her to deeply understand and faithfully guide traditional Japanese ceremonies.
“My role is to bring the couple’s vision and wishes to reality.”
Her first wedding remains etched in her memory, not for its perfection, but for what it taught her: that each celebration is its own universe, shaped by the couple’s story, their dreams, and the love surrounding them.
Rather than offering fixed packages, Ayaka prefers to co-create with her couples:
“I don’t offer fixed packages; instead, I create tailored proposals and provide full support according to each couple’s preferences.”
From venue sourcing and vendor curations to day-of coordination, her hands-on, bespoke style ensures that no detail is lost, and no vision is diluted.
Although many Japanese couples lean toward intimate celebrations, Ayaka thrives on exploring broader possibilities. One wedding that stands out is a lavish three-night celebration in Cambodia:
This couple celebrated with a Western-style wedding. It reminded me that wedding planning is truly possible in any area.
Whether in tropical islands, serene Japanese landscapes, or unexpected locales, Ayaka believes every venue can be elevated with intentional design and thoughtful care.
She often collaborates with exquisite venues such as Amanemu resort and Bella Vista Onomichi, where natural beauty and architectural elegance amplify her carefully curated weddings.
Even the most beautifully orchestrated wedding can come with logistical and emotional challenges. Ayaka’s process revolves around clarity and partnership:
She prepares detailed timelines, decor mockups, and shared planning documents to keep both vision and logistics aligned.
On budget, she stresses the importance of honest conversation:
“The most important thing for managing the budget is for the couple to discuss their priorities together.”
By anchoring decisions in values — rather than numbers alone — she helps couples allocate resources meaningfully without losing sight of what truly matters to them.
To couples navigating the wedding journey, Ayaka offers gentle encouragement:
Trust yourself and enjoy! It’s easy to get caught up in details, but remember that your wedding is about love, not perfection.
And to newcomers in the wedding world — or to her younger self as she launched — she would say: hold your vision, embrace growth, and never lose the joy that drew you to this work in the first place.
Ayaka Ishimura Wedding & Design stands as a rare blend of cultural depth, creative imagination, and deeply personalized service. Whether planning a serene Shinto ceremony in Japan or an adventurous destination celebration elsewhere, Ayaka’s artistry lies in honoring stories, not trends — and in ensuring every couple feels seen, celebrated, and authentically themselves.
