If I could predict one trend for the 2015, it’s the shift to richly layered, wildly statement color palettes like this berry-hued affair from The Great Romance Photo. Set against the lush island scenery of Oahu, the day planned by A Good Affair is every wedding lover’s dream brought to life. Get to pinning those Passion Roots florals in the gallery plus don’t miss Chris Tran Media’s film below!
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From The Bride… Justin and I met in Hawaii in 2006 – he was born and raised there, and I was there for a semester “almost” abroad at the University of Hawaii. After a whirlwind 4 months of dating, we had fallen in love, but it was time for me to head back to San Diego to finish my degree. Over the next 12 months, we dated long distance, making trips to and from Hawaii and San Diego to see each other. In 2007, Justin packed his bags and moved to San Diego to peruse our relationship further. Navigating through our 20’s together (and sometimes apart) tested our relationship in many ways, but we came out on the other side stronger and more in love than ever. In January of 2013, Justin proposed on a snowy slope in Park City, Utah.
With so many ties to the island, when it came time to pick a wedding location, Hawaii was at the top of the list . Justin grew up witnessing frequent public beach wedding ceremonies and knew he didn’t want that for his own wedding. My vision was a rustic, enchanted space with natural beauty, and Kualoa Ranch fit the bill perfectly for both of us.
Planning a Hawaii wedding from Iowa (where Justin attends med school) proved to be a challenge with the timezone difference, so we enlisted the help of Natalie Good from A Good Affair to help bring our vision to life. We wanted an intimate party that didn’t feel “wedding-y” or forced – just a laid back atmosphere, good food, music, drinks with the people we love.
We chose berry tones as our pallet to contrast the natural greenery in Hawaii, and incorporated geodes and crystals into the table decor for a whimsical but elegant look. For the place settings, we hand-died napkins for an ombre/watercolor look (even grandpa helped!), and included a piece of rose quartz — the stone of love — with each place card. We also collected vintage silverware, and goblets that our florist used to create overflowing arrangements for the tables.
Hawaii is a special place for both of us, so including Hawaiian tradition was important. During the ceremony, one of Justin’s cousins led a lei exchange as a reflection of our love and Aloha for each other and our families. During the reception, another family member performed a beautiful Hula dance. We also adopted a Hawaiian saying into our wedding theme, which we included on our invitations and favor bags: No Keia La, No Keia Po, A Mau Loa, which means From this day, From this night, Forevermore.
Our wedding week was incredible – being able to share the place that Justin calls home with our family and friends was unforgettable. We hiked in the mud, played at the beach, and made sure to share our favorite shaved ice and Hawaiian food with everyone. The weather was amazing the entire week, except (of course) the day of the wedding. I’ll never forget standing under an umbrella in the rain, waiting to see my Groom for our “first look.”
Following a slightly misty ceremony, guests were served farm-to-table fare from Camilles on Wheels food truck, and craft cocktails created and prepped by the Groom. After dinner, guests were treated to Tats Shaved Ice and cakes from Diamond Head Grill to incorporate the Groom’s favorite Lemon Crunch Cake.
Photography: The Great Romance Photo | Videography: Chris Tran Media | Event Planning: A Good Affair Wedding & Event Production | Floral Design: Passion Roots | Wedding Dress: Enzoani | Cake: Diamond Head Grill | Wedding Shoes: Coach | Catering: Camille's On Wheels | Calligraphy: Ink & Honey | Wedding Venue: Kualoa Ranch | Linens: Designer Specialty Linens | Rentals: Pacific Party Rentals | Shaved Ice: Mount Tabor Park