Magnificent Maui Waterfront Wedding In Tones Of Dusty Blue

Melissa Hammam
April 12, 2023
Categories: Destination, Real Weddings, Seasonal Wedding Trend, Summer, The Blog

Destination wedding lovers have we got the dreamiest of days for you! This Maui wedding is nothing short of magical, all expertly planned by White Orchid Weddings. From the oceanfront ceremony to the bloom-filled tented reception, floral design by Teresa Sena Designs is a feast for the eyes. The love and joy of the day radiate through elegant imagery artfully captured by Dmitri and Sandra Photography; you can see it all inside the full gallery.

From the Mother of The Bride…Stephen surprised all of us with the most romantic – and unique proposal of all time! Having made a very special trip to Elizabeth’s hometown – I shall say island – Stephen came packed full of surprises! Tricking Elizabeth’s parents, he invited them to lunch at Mama’s Fish House – Elizabeth wasn’t invited, but their son was. When we arrived, we were surprised to see that the reason for our lunch was for him to ask for her hand in marriage. More than happy we all jumped for joy and celebrated. As a crazy fun twist to the story he had actually purchased a cow – yes a cow – well prior to the engagement that was raised on Maui to gift to them as a dowry. It was delivered later that day! After lunch Stephen surprised Elizabeth, inviting her down to the family taro patch, which had very special meaning to them all. That is where he got down on his knee in the mud, her in the mud too, to ask her to be his wife. From there the planning began.

From Carolee Higashino of White Orchid Weddings… Elizabeth and Stephen chose to be married in a very intimate ceremony in Makena, Maui, at their family’s oceanfront beach house. This breathtaking spot, with its white sandy beach and sunset to die for, was exactly what they were looking for. They both held many years of treasured memories at this very spot. Elizabeth chose to create a very breezy ocean elegant vibe and even hand-painted her own save the dates, invitations, and place cards as a special touch. Fishing is a huge part of both of their families and also a passion of Stephen’s, so the theme ran throughout. Their menu consisted of a very abundant raw bar including oysters, poke, sashimi, and especially local delicacies such as Opihi and of course, freshly caught fish by her fiancé, brother, and father. Lavender martinis from a local lavender grower were especially enjoyed as well as local brews and libations. After their sunset photos on the lava point, the party continued into the night, lit by the brilliant stars overhead. But…That certainly wasn’t the end of this celebration. A few days after the wedding, the celebrations continued at Elizabeth and Stephen’s very own home in the beautiful valley of Waiehu. With traditional Hawaiian flair, they threw a Grand Luau with their closest friends. After months of bulldozing and rock building the dream of her very own waterfall came to life and was the backdrop for the event. In Hawaiian, it is said that if you ‘Malama the ‘Aina’ – take care of the land – you will be blessed. Every single member of the family, including the children, put their hands in the soil and took part in the preparation. The traditional imu ceremony (underground pig roast) started the day before with friends and family, along with the stringing of lei for all of the guest arrivals. Giant rings of tropical flowers hung overhead and along tables along with a colorful floral ceiling in their lounge. Hawaiian music, mai tais, and lilikoi tarts were abundant and a special Lockeford Sausage roast was shared as Stephen’s hometown favorite! Elizabeth’s beautiful classmates from childhood performed a lovely hula show bringing tears of joy to all. The most wonderful thing about this day was that everyone in their ‘Ohana (family) took part in some way. The gorgeous smiles, laughter, and joy will forever make this day one that will always be cherished. As Elizabeth’s mother and wedding planner, the most special part of the wedding was planning and designing a dream wedding day for my daughter and son-in-law.

From the Bride… I have been going to the White Orchid Beach House since I was in elementary school and I knew without a doubt that was where I wanted to be married. What mattered to us most at our wedding was intimacy. We wanted to be surrounded by a small group of family and friends to share a few happy tears with, as we marked the official start of our family. Ok…maybe it was more than just a few tears. The design was very important for us. We opted for a simple, elegant, and timeless design that worked with the natural beauty of the island and venue. We also wanted amazing food. From the moment our guest arrived to the moment they left, there was always something yummy nearby to eat. Our advice to future couples would be to do things that are meaningful to you as a couple and don’t make your decisions based on others’ opinions. The highlights of our wedding were the most personal elements, such as – our ceremony which Stephen’s childhood friend led, Stephen’s Vows, and our 8-year-old son’s unplanned speech. Our last piece of advice is to get a wedding planner. If I didn’t have my mom and sister to guide me through the process, I think I would have missed a ton of the details and elements of wedding planning.