Once again I am enthralled and captivated by a Hawaiian destination wedding. I swear there must be magic swirling around those big, beautiful islands that seeps into each and every detail of the nuptials that take place there. Greg Lappin Photography brings us this simple and sweet celebration from the island of Kauai. Classic and whimsical meets beachy and breezy. Click here to see the rest in the full gallery!
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From the Bride... Dave and I wanted a fabulous destination wedding without giving up aspects of the traditional wedding we’d always envisioned. Our love for travel inspired us to plan a wedding in Kauai; an island we had never visited. We wanted a luxurious, intimate wedding that would fit within our budget. Spoiling our guests- 20 of our closest friends and family members- was of utmost importance. Our celebration was completely DIY, planned from 5000+ miles away!
We were married in a tiny stone church in Kilauea. The groomsmen wore their own grey suits and vintage map cufflinks with the city where they grew to know Dave. The bridesmaids wore purple dresses they picked themselves, gold shoes, and custom state charm necklaces with a tiny California (where we’re from) and Hawaii. The maid of honor distinguished herself in a beautiful floor-length dress. Flowers were important to me; I wanted a fresh, classic look and decided on all white. Our bouquets were wrapped in vintage silk I bought for 3€ at a market in Paris; each was unique and featured one of my favorite flowers. The most important element to my bouquet honored of my grandmother- her brooch with our shared initials, “TES.”
The villa we rented was magical, set on 4 oceanfront acres that became our own private paradise. A local private chef surprised us with a fantastic organic 5-course meal with fish caught that morning; we didn’t know the menu until the day-of! As guests arrived they took a Polaroid shot for our guestbook (bound with a vintage map of Hawaii). The table where we dined turned out beautifully- to save money we didn’t go crazy with flowers. Small arrangements in mason jars (tied with twine and a burlap flower), tealights and candleholders ($3 each- Crate & Barrel) and lace I purchased from NYC’s garment district created a glamorous look for less. Small chalkboards on bamboo posts directed guests to dinner, dancing and cocktails. To save money, I shipped all décor to Kauai before the wedding- lighting, mason jars, tealights, chalkboards, puff balls, fans, welcome bags, even the flip flops!
White pineapple cocktails, and Kaina, a local musician with the most beautiful voice we’d ever heard made for a perfect night. Our favorite memory: guests opening handwritten notes that doubled as their place card. Dave and I choose our favorite photo with each guest from years past; laughter and tears filled the tent as they read their cards. Kauai- mahalo nui loa for the wedding of our dreams!
Wedding Photography: Greg Lappin Photography / Musician: Kaina Costa / Chef: Ryan Fox of North Shore Cooks / Flowers: Martin Roberts Design / Wedding Reception Location: Private Villa via Pure Kauai / Day of Coordination: Lisa Downer / Wedding Gown: Melissa Sweet / Bride's Shoes: Nordstrom / Groom's Attire: Burberry / Groom's Tie: Giorgio Armani / Wedding Invitations & Programs: Rachel Johnson of Birdy Blue Design