Lindsay Berghouse and Christopher Koyanagi

This romance began as a high school friendship between two Redondo Beach neighbors who used to chat in the evenings on walkie-talkies — then everything changed.

First, Lindsay Berghouse dreamed she and Christopher Koyanagi were holding hands at the mall. “The next morning,” she said, “I woke up and thought, wow, I really like this guy.”

A few nights later, Koyanagi saw a shooting star and made a wish about Berghouse that would soon come true.

In 2010, Koyanagi proposed, but to surprise her, he did it behind her back — literally. They were riding Splash Mountain in Disneyland with some friends, and they all insisted that Berghouse sit up front. Then, on the final plunge down the rapids, they brought out the signs that had been hidden in their backpacks that read, “LINDSAY…WILL YOU … MARRY… ME?” and a drawing of a diamond ring.

Berghouse, 26, a consultant for the Camden Group, a healthcare consulting firm, and Koyanagi, 27, a physical therapist with Intergro Rehab Services, were married on Sept. 3 at the Riviera United Methodist Church in South Redondo Beach. The reception, attended by 185 guests, was held at the historic Redondo Beach library.

“The wedding was so much fun,” Berghouse said. Then, expressing what so many couples feel, she added, “but now it’s a big relief just to exhale.”

—Maxine Nunes
Custom Publishing Writer