Wedding Date
Monday, May 31, 2027Loki & Michelle
Welcome
Message
Loki & Michelle
We are honored to invite you to our wedding ceremony and reception.
With heartfelt gratitude to our family and friends who have supported us throughout our lives, we look
forward to sharing this special occasion together as we begin a new chapter side by side. It would mean so
much to us to have you join us and witness the start of our married life together.
Following the ceremony and reception, we will also be holding an after-party and would be delighted for you
to continue the festivities with us.
We also look forward to spending time with our guests in the days
leading up to the wedding as your schedule permits.
WEDDING VENUE
EXEX GardensNIJIKAI VENUE
EXEX SuitesInitial RSVP By
August 30, 2026With gratitude
A Note on Gifts
Having you join us in Gifu is truly the greatest gift, and nothing more is expected. Should you wish to honor us with a gift, we would warmly appreciate goshūgi, the traditional Japanese custom of a monetary gift. Most of all, we’re so thankful to share this special celebration with you.
Gifts may be given by cash, check, or Zelle. For Zelle, please use Michelle’s number, (714) 855-5232, or Loki’s number, (949) 302-1633.
Gallery
Profile
Wedding Details
Agenda
Welcome Dinner
Hida beef dinner at Bakuro Ichidai, with your choice of sukiyaki or shabu-shabu.
Hike & Ukai
A morning hike up Mount Kinka, followed by an evening ukai boat experience.
Wedding Day
Wedding celebration in Gifu, Japan. Final ceremony timing will be shared later.
Nijikai (After Party)
Dinner, drinks, and games with prizes to take home!
Travel Window
Timeline
Join us whenever your schedule allows. These are the major planning dates.
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Initial RSVP Due
Please complete the planning RSVP individually by this date.
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Formal Invitation
Final RSVP and confirmed event timing will be shared closer to the date.
Welcome Dinner
Join us at 6:00 PM at Hida Beef Bakuro Ichidai Gifu Kanda for a welcome dinner featuring Hida beef, with your choice of sukiyaki or shabu-shabu and an open bar with a selected beverage menu. The restaurant is approximately a three-minute walk from Daiwa Hotel. This dinner is optional and hosted by us.
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Hike & Nagara River Ukai
Join us for an optional morning hike up Mount Kinka via the Seven Bends Trail. Bring water and comfortable walking shoes. Meeting time, location, and route details will follow. Gifu Castle’s interior will be closed for renovations, but we look forward to enjoying the mountain scenery together. You are also welcome to explore Gifu at your own pace.
At 5:00 PM, we’ll gather for a boat outing to experience ukai, traditional cormorant fishing on the Nagara River. This optional boat experience is hosted by us. The meeting location, boarding details, and finish time will follow. Please eat beforehand, as dinner is not included. The outing is subject to weather and river conditions.
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Wedding Day
Celebration day for Loki and Michelle in Gifu, Japan.
Nijikai (After Party)
Continue the celebration at EXEX Suites from 5:30–8:30 PM with a buffet dinner, an open bar with a selected beverage menu, and games in English and Japanese. Compete for prizes to take home! The venue is approximately a three-minute walk from Daiwa Hotel. This after party is optional and hosted by us.
Locations
Venues
Shuttle buses will be available for transportation between venues.
Wedding Ceremony & Reception
12:00 PM - 3:30 PM
EXEX Gardens
343-1 Hikie, Gifu, 501-6133, Japan
Nijikai (including Dinner)
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
EXEX Suites
1-1 Tamamoricho, Gifu, 500-8837, Japan
Getting to Gifu
Flights
Planning Your Flight
For those joining the full weekend, we recommend arriving in Japan by Friday, May 28, allowing time to travel to Gifu and settle in before Saturday’s welcome dinner.
Airport Options: The best airport will depend on your departure city and airfare, so please don't feel that you need to fly into Tokyo. Loki’s parents suggest looking at airfare prices on JTB.com.
- Tokyo, Haneda Airport (HND)
- Osaka, Kansai International Airport (KIX)
- Tokyo, Narita International Airport (NRT)
- Nagoya, Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO)
Arriving on Saturday, May 29 may also work, depending on your flight’s arrival time. Please allow enough time for immigration, luggage collection, onward travel to Gifu, and hotel check-in before dinner at 6:00 PM.
When booking flights from the U.S., please check the arrival date in Japan, as you will typically arrive the following calendar day.
If you’d like help exploring flight options, let us know your departure airport. We’ll also share guidance for traveling from the airport to Gifu. You’re also very welcome to book the same flights as us or our parents if you’d like to travel together!
Flight times are local to each airport.
Loki Sassone & Michelle Tran
Japan Airlines (JAL) · Booked via Chase Travel
Outbound
Wednesday, May 26, 2027
JAL JL1
SFO
San Francisco
HND
Tokyo Haneda
Depart
11:55 AM
Arrive
3:05 PM
Return
Saturday, June 12, 2027
JAL JL2
HND
Tokyo Haneda
SFO
San Francisco
Depart
4:20 PM
Arrive
9:40 AM
Joel Sassone, Miwa Sassone, & Debbie Lee
All Nippon Airways (ANA) · Booked via JTB.com
Outbound
Wednesday, May 26, 2027
ANA NH125
LAX
Los Angeles
HND
Tokyo Haneda
Depart
5:15 PM
Arrive
9:00 PM
Return
Thursday, June 3, 2027
ANA NH126
HND
Tokyo Haneda
LAX
Los Angeles
Depart
9:05 PM
Arrive
3:15 PM
Hotel Option
We’re coordinating guest rooms at Daiwa Roynet Hotel Gifu, which will also be the departure and return point for the wedding-day shuttle. Rates are expected to be approximately US$70–$110 per person, per night, including a breakfast buffet. Confirmed rates and reservation terms will follow. Once your travel plans are confirmed, we’ll help coordinate reservations, and guests will pay the hotel directly upon arrival. You’re welcome to stay elsewhere and meet at Daiwa Hotel for the shuttle.
in lieu of a postal invitation
Initial RSVP
Please note that Gifu is not an international travel hub, and most guests will need to connect through Tokyo or Osaka before continuing on the shinkansen.
For help with travel planning, wedding transportation, or recommendations for your time in Japan, please feel free to reach out to Michelle.
English preliminary RSVPs are now closed. Thank you to everyone who responded!
RSVPs are now closed
For questions or changes to an existing RSVP, please contact Michelle at mtran4232@gmail.com or (714) 855-5232.
Questions
FAQ
Planning details will tighten up as the wedding gets closer.
Wedding Attire
We kindly invite you to wear formal attire for the ceremony and reception. Suits and elegant midi or floor-length dresses are welcome. We would appreciate modest styles with shoulders covered. A shawl or jacket over a sleeveless dress is perfectly suitable. Kindly reserve white for the bride.
For the nijikai, please feel free to remain in your wedding attire or change into something more relaxed.
A Note on Gifts
Having you join us in Gifu is truly the greatest gift, and nothing more is expected. Should you wish to honor us with a gift, we would warmly appreciate goshūgi, the traditional Japanese custom of a monetary gift. Most of all, we’re so thankful to share this special celebration with you.
Prizes
First place winners for each game will receive prizes at the wedding.
Any scores that do not use your full name will be removed.
Do I need a visa to enter Japan?
Visa requirements depend on your nationality and passport. Please confirm current entry requirements with the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate before booking travel.
- United States: A visa is not required for tourism stays shorter than 90 days.
- China: Chinese citizens need a visa to enter Japan.
- Malaysia: A visa is generally not required for tourism stays shorter than 90 days.
Contact Information
Loki Sassone
Groom
lokisassone@gmail.com +1 (949) 302-1633
Michelle Tran
Bride
mtran4322@gmail.com +1 (714) 855-5232