A month into dating, Bryson Dang wanted to know what Tanna Takekawa was made of.

So he took her on the Lanipo Trail above Maunalani Heights in Kaimuki. Dang had never reached the summit and wanted to see if she was tough enough to handle the challenging trail.

"That was my test for her," said Dang, 28, of Mililani.

Takekawa had no idea the trail would be so long. They hiked for about eight hours before reaching the top, climbing rocks and trampling through mud.

"I thought it was going to be a fun hike," said Takekawa, 26, of Nu'uanu. "But it turned out to be an adventure."

Dang was impressed by Takekawa's toughness and tenacity, thinking to himself, "Wow, this cat can handle."

Little did he know then that this hike would come to symbolize their relationship, which has not followed the usual path.

For example, instead of sharing a rental, they bought a two-bedroom condo in 'Aiea. The next year they became business partners.

All before they were married.

"It was a big step," Takekawa said. "You really gotta know."

The transition from living with the folks to living together was surprisingly easy for the two, who love to cook and watch "The O.C." together. Marriage was going to be their next step. They shopped for rings and talked about their wedding, but Dang hadn't yet proposed.

He did, however, order an engagement ring without her knowing.

Or so he thought.

Takekawa, who was working at a local bridal magazine at the time, found out about the ring. When Dang wasn't home, she searched for it, finding it in his sock drawer. She admired it but didn't try it on.

The next few weeks were agony for Takekawa, who hates surprises. Every time they went out to dinner, she anticipated a proposal. But it never happened.

Then on Aug. 5, 2004, she got up to go to work. As she walked to her car, she noticed bright green flyers on the windshields of all the cars around hers. Every one bore the name "Will U."

As she drove to work, she saw signs on the side of the road. "Happy Birthday, Will U" and "Help me find my lost dog. Call Will U." Even the car in front of her had a sign on its window that read "For Sale, Call Will U."

When she pulled into the parking garage at work, she noticed the same flyers on the cars there. She thought it was odd but didn't think anything of it.

It wasn't until she walked into the office that she realized something was going on. There were wedding photographers snapping her picture and roses on the tables. Dang walked into the office with a sign that read "Will U." He proposed on the spot.

"I was totally surprised," Takekawa said.

They set the wedding date for Dec. 12, 2004 at the Ko'olau Golf Club, which sits just under the summit of Lanipo. But a few months before their nuptials, they decided to jump into another commitment together: owning a business.

The owners of The Wedding Cafe in Manoa Marketplace wanted to sell and approached Dang and Takekawa, who both had no business experience. After weeks of contemplation, the couple went ahead with the purchase. They started working at the cafe just after their December wedding, which was attended by 400 guests.

Takekawa works six days a week at the cafe, offering advice to couples and handling daily operations. Dang, who works full-time as a technician for a satellite communications company at night, helps out at the cafe five days a week.

Despite not having much time to spend together, it's worked out so far. Takekawa knows a lot about Hawai'i's wedding industry; Dang loves to cook.

"That's why I pushed for this," said Dang, who'd love to run a lunchwagon when he retires. "This is an opportunity for us to blend our passions. ... I knew if we didn't do it, we'd regret it."

They've updated the cafe's advertising package, Web site and shop interior. They've shifted the focus to engaged couples, trying to better connect with them and their needs.

Their goal is to open more cafes in Hawai'i. But for now, they're aiming to achieve balance in their lives. Having dinner together every night is a start.

"For now, it's baby steps," Takekawa said. "But we're living the life we want."

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.