It wasn’t the coursework that prompted Ching Kao to drop her chemistry class at the University of California in San Diego: the 19-year-old undergrad just didn't want anyone to question her motivation for pursuing teaching assistant Michael Luu.

The pair spent their first late-night dates studying at a Denny's restaurant, and while she may have ditched Michael's class, Ching aced "chemistry." Within a month, the couple was living together.

Marriage wasn’t on the immediate horizon, however. "I wanted to finish school," said Ching, who earned her PhD. in psychology at Stamford while the two continued their romance long-distance.

When Michael's mother was diagnosed with cancer in2003, however, formalizing their engagement took on a sense of urgency; he proposed on a cliff overlooking the California coast. "We decided we wanted to be together, even when the going was tough," said Ching.

Michael didn’t realize how tough it was going to be to prove his worthiness when he awoke at 6 a.m. on their wedding day and drove a rare, rented Packard to Ching's parents' house for the Chinese tea ceremony.

Tradition dictates that the groom must survive a series of challenges before he can take his bride home. While she waited in her room, Ching's relatives barricaded the doors, demanding tangible proof of Michael's financial stability. "Is that all you have?" they taunted. "I was worried about running out of money," said Michael.

With the aid of Ching's brother, who had stashed the garage-door opener, Michael finally got inside, but he still needed to answer trivia questions about Ching and serenade her on his way up the stairs before he could see his bride, dressed for the ceremony in an antique Chinese gown.

A string quartet played Chopin as 300 guests gathered on the lawn at the St. Regis Resort Monarch Beach that evening. Ching wore a gown custom designed in Taiwan for a simple, non-religious ceremony overlooking the Pacific.

Following cocktails, a dinner of sea bass and seared tenderloin was served in the ballroom. Michael, who Ching describes as a "Karaoke god," sang 98Degrees' I Do (Cherish You) during their first dance. Later, Ching and her father wowed everyone as they slow-danced, jived, and cha-chaed to a Michael Jackson medley.

After cake, a curtain opened to reveal a fanciful casino and lounge area, where the party continued until 3 a.m., fueled by the sounds of 10-piece band Rembrandt, martinis poured down an ice luge, and a buffet of crispy chicken, Philly cheese steaks, and fries.

Winners at the craps, Pai Gow, and poker tables traded chips for raffle tickets. Even those who didn't win iPods or Disneyland tickets left with a unique favor custom-printed playing cards featuring Ching and Michaela's the jokers and their four pets as the suits.

With dissertation writing and wedding planning behind her, the month-long honeymoon was a welcome break for Ching. The newlyweds cruised the Mediterranean and explored Rome, Venice, and Florence.

"We don’t get sick of each other," said Michael. Ching added, "We play together; we golf together; we gamble together." The ace card in their commemorative deck said it all: "Love is a gamble we're lucky that we won."