I’ve said it before in one form or another, and I’ll say it again: Wendy Laurel makes me all sorts of happy with the bursting-with-color tropical soirees she sends our way. Dashes of lush green and pops of hot coral set the stage at the hands of Mandy Grace Design and Belle Destination Weddings & Events for this beauty. I promise, you’ll walk away feeling full of cheer after peeking at this one.
From Wendy Laurel… Daria and Chris are head over heels in love, with each other and with travel. They are both from Canada but love to travel the world together. In their first 18 months together, they traveled to more than 4 different countries.
So it was an easy decision for them to have a destination wedding. They got to narrow down their guest list to who was up for a trip to Hawaii—and there were plenty of close friends and family who were. Plus they could have their Hawaiian honeymoon traveling among the different islands and having a range of experiences.
From the beautiful Bride… Chris and I met in July 2012 when we were matched on a dating site within minutes of Chris signing up. I knew right away there was something special about him when I read his profile and he seemed so sweet, kind and genuine. We had a great first date at a local food-tasting festival and from that day on we were inseparable. After an amazing year dating and traveling the world together, Chris proposed to me under the stars, just after our first anniversary. I couldn’t believe it and shouted YES with so much happiness!
As travel-addicts and romantics, we knew right away we wanted a destination wedding and Maui just seemed to be the most beautiful and romantic place in the world to get married. The warm weather, tropical colors, stunning foliage and ocean views were exactly what we were dreaming of. When our wedding planner Lena showed us photos of the Hotel Wailea as a venue option, we were so excited and instantly knew it was the one. Nestled up on the hills in Wailea overlooking the ocean, the boutique hotel has stunning grounds, impeccable service, and absolutely unbelievably delicious food. Our ceremony was held on the Sunset Lawn, and our favorite moment of the day was when we got to read our personal vows to each other – they were so heartfelt and with our family and friends around us, there was not a dry eye in the crowd. The cocktail reception we planned for our guests was a hit, and the entire dinner reception blew everyone away. The food portions were huge and our guests are still reminiscing about the Teriyaki Beef Short Ribs! We will be forever thankful to everyone who played a part in making our day so special – it was truly a dream come true from start to finish, and a day we will cherish forever!
Photography: Wendy Laurel | Videography: 10th Letter Media | Event Planning: Moana Belle Events | Floral Design: Mandy Grace Floral & Event Design | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal | Cake: Maui Sweet Cakes | Stationery: Ginger Creative | Reception Venue: Hotel Wailea | Shoes: Michael Kors | Bracelet: Kate Ketzal | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Make Up: Maui Makeup Artistry | DJ: DJ Del Sol | Favors: Honolulu Cookie Company | Officiant: Pia Aluli | Bridesmaid Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Cake Topper: BHLDN | Music: Marvin Tevaga | Photography Assistance: Ashley Keleman | Rentals: Pacific Isle Rentals | Signage: Miss B Calligraphy