Hawaii Weddings

I happened to grow up next door to a couple that took a week-long vacation to Maui every year.  A week-long vacation that included everything from sunning on the pristine beaches to snorkeling in the crystal blue waters.  They loved it… and still do.  So, to say I’ve had Maui on my mind since I was a young pre-teen would NOT be an exaggeration.  In fact, since my days here at SMP, my love of this enchanted wonderland has only gotten stronger.  I mean, take a look at this gorgeous affair captured beautifully by Anna Kim Photography.  Planned to perfection by White Orchid Wedding, it’s a laid back elegance meets sweet sophistication meets an all-out dance party.  See it all in the full gallery.

From the Bride… We met at school in 2010 and were engaged a year later. Brian surprised me by flying me to New York City and proposing at the John Lennon Memorial in Central Park. It was perfect.

We wanted a very small wedding with our best friends and family. Food, drinks and music were a priority and we wanted to ensure we had our say every step of the way. We rented an amazing house up in the hills in Lahaina with an incredible view of the ocean. We chose our menu based on our favorite foods. Appetizers featuring tuna tartare, sliders, tomato & bocconcini skewers, crab cakes and satay. For dinner there were many stations set up throughout the back yard with sushi, a raw bar, taco bar, salad bar and sauteed shrimp and roast beef. Drinks included our favorite Hawaiian beers (from Kona Brewery Co.), wines and champagnes selected by my father and a selection of island-inspired cocktails.

We picked all of our favorites songs and organized them into playlists for our iPod. Our ceremony music included The Beatles, Rolling Stones, U2 and Mumford & Sons. We walked up to Pearl Jam’s “Just Breathe” and exited to Arcade Fire’s “Sprawl II.” We had one of our best friends marry us and we wrote our own vows. It was such a laid-back, fun wedding with the dancing starting immediately, a photo-booth, a fire pit and most guests ending up in the pool at the end of the night.

I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect evening.

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Wedding Photography: Anna Kim Photography | Wedding Venue: Private Estate, Maui | Event Planning: White Orchid Wedding | Cinematography: All Time Media | Caterer: Bev Gannon’s Celebrations Catering | Wedding Desserts: Maui Sweet Cakes | Bar: Maui Bars Are Us | Hair + Makeup: Maui MiRa | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Shoes: Ralph Lauren + Chanel | Headpiece: BHLDN | Bride’s Necklace + Bridesmaid’s Gifts: Kate Spade | Groom’s Suit: Theory | Tie: Hugo Boss | Floral Design: Della from Dellables Event and Floral Design

A first birthday party turned gorgeous Maui wedding? That’s sounds like one fabulous way to ring in a Wednesday on SMP Destination. Well, when I tell you this little surprise party was planned by Couture Events Maui and captured the seriously talented Wendy Laurel, I think you’ll agree that the fabulous level measures off the charts. Which we just happen to love. So be sure to set aside some time to get lost in all the lovely right here.

From Wendy… Michelle and Ian decided to pull a surprise wedding. The couple has been together for a while and already had two children. They invited all their family out for their babies First Birthday party. Everyone arrived on a Saturday night for a gorgeous catered family dinner before the party the next day. To their surprise, Michelle and Ian came out in wedding clothes and got married on the lawn before their closest family and friends.

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Wedding Photography: Wendy Laurel assisted by Ajja DeShayne | Wedding Venue: Private Estate in Laniopoko, Maui | Wedding Planner: Erica Goldsmith from Couture Events Maui | Wedding Cinematography: Hawaii Video Memories | Officiant: Jennifer Leah (a friend) | Floral Design: Bella Grace Flowers Wedding & Event Design | Catering: Cater 2 U Maui | Music: Howard Ahia + Ryan Robinson Band | Decor: Pacific Event Group | Lighting: Pacific Isle Rentals | Wedding Dress: Casablanca | Shoes: TOMS | Hair + Makeup: Soleil Luna Salon

Swooping up your nearest and dearest to tie the knot in Hawaii? Genius. I think it would be filed nicely in your “best decisions ever” category. It most certainly did for this couple (who tucked away another fabulous decision by tying the knot to each other), and their oh-so-adorable suspender-wearing son. With perfect Maui backdrops, images from Sarina Love Photography, perfectly placed details from White Orchid Wedding, Inc, and love so obvious it seeps through the screen – this gallery can’t be missed.

And there is also a gorgeous film from Kai Media that you should be sure to watch!

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And since you probably love this little family as much as we do at this point, we just couldn’t help but share their little day-after shoot snapped up again by Sarina Love Photography. I mean who doesn’t love another excuse to put on that gorgeous gown? Mostly when you get photos like these as a result…

From Sarina Love Photography… The wedding was located in the heart of Maui, and the weather was perfect, of course! Nice breezes all day long! It was an intimate affair of only around 20 guests, but as soon as Melisa walked down that aisle to “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars, the sweet party had begun with laughter, smiles and a few tears. The ceremony was unique, and their officiant was even previously featured on “Modern Family.” The couple and their guests ate a beautiful Hawaiian buffet with drinks on hand and danced the night away. It was a beautiful day!

From the Bride & Groom… Robert and Melisa met nine years ago while working at Disneyland, and they have an adorable 2-year-old son named Sawyer. Robert works as a software developer, and Melisa is an ER nurse. They truly believe that opposites attract! He’s neat and organized, and she’s well … not! He’s always warm, she’s always cold. He always has a plan, and she’s a fly by the seat of your pants kind of girl. Combine these characteristics, and you have a perfect match!

The bride’s fondest wedding moment was dancing to our song, “Come Away With Me” by Norah Jones with the gorgeous Maui sun shining through the trees, the cool gentle breeze, and the subtle sounds of the ocean waves. It was exactly how she always imagined it would be. The groom’s favorite moment was the first look. In his words, “I will never forget how nervous I felt when she tapped me on the shoulder. As I turned to look, I was amazed at how beautiful and elegant she looked. She was absolutely stunning and took my breath away.”

Wedding Photography: Sarina Love Photography / Wedding Venue: Olowalu Plantation House in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii / Wedding Coordination: Steven of A White Orchid Wedding, Inc. / Floral Design: Janna Hoen / Officiant: Rev. Laki Pomaikai Ka’ahumanu / Wedding Cinematography: Kai Media / Catering: Maui Style Seafood / Bartending: Maui Bars Are Us / Wedding Stationery: Mavora Art and Design / DJ: KC Sound Productions / Wedding Dress: Martina Liana via Blush Bridal Couture / Bride’s + Bridesmaids’ Hair + Makeup: Heather Ellison of Beach Brides by Heather

There’s no doubt about it, when you’re newly engaged, there’s nothing better than taking a little pre-wedding vacation. Except of course, going to Maui and meeting up with Wendy Laurel. Now that’s fabulous! She snapped up some pretties of this adorable couple and you can see the whole thing right here.

From Wendy Laurel… Jun and Peter came to Maui from New York City for a much deserved vacation away from it all. They just wanted some beach, sun and sand.  The couple was recently engaged, so they decided to have their engagement photos done while on vacation. We met at a beach right in Lahaina town and had fun with the photographs.

Photography: Wendy Laurel / Location: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii / Bride’s Red Dress: Halston Heritage / Bride’s Blue Wrap: Serendipity / Groom’s Shorts: Quicksilver

I swear Hawaii must have been crafted specifically to be the best wedding location ever. How else can you explain the grassy land and swaying palm trees that just so happen to rest atop a cliff that overlooks the ocean like at the Olowalu Plantation House? Coincidence? I think not. And the romantic love story behind these nuptials is a sure sign that everything leading up to these two tying the knot has been pure fate. Kaua Wedding Photography has captured every moment and you can find it all in the gallery right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Bryan and I met as teenagers in 1997 in the hallways of Burlingame High School. We were high school sweethearts for two years (we have the prom pictures to prove it!) before Bryan graduated in 1999 and we went our separate ways. Fast forward a decade to 2009, and thanks to a message on Facebook, Bryan and I reconnected over dinner. Sparks flew, and two years later he popped the question, surprising me during a friend’s photo shoot with a proposal and an impromptu engagement party with our close family and friends. (He knows how to make a girl happy!) We always knew we’d have a smaller destination wedding in Hawaii. Bryan basically said, “Will you marry me… in Hawaii?” I am only half kidding! Bryan has family there, and my family has vacationed on the island for many summers. With my father’s passing in 2010, we wanted a place that he loved and where we both had a connection — Maui!

When I first drove up to Olowalu, I knew it was the place. There was no other place I could see us getting married. A fun fact is that my now-husband was actually not on that trip to Maui, so he didn’t see Olowalu until he drove up to get married! If that doesn’t say love, I don’t know what does. He trusted me, and we agreed that it was by far the most beautiful wedding site we had ever seen. And lucky us, it was ours. Once we found Olowalu Plantation House, the wedding planning fell into place with the fantastic recommendation of Lori and Jamie Lawrence and Jackie Tanaka of Tropical Maui Weddings. I knew very early on that I wanted a rustic, Hawaiian, garden party type of wedding. Bryan and I both like a clean palette and didn’t want to take away from the gorgeous Maui Olowalu setting with overly tropical decor – greens, tans, and lots of white and cream were central when conceptualizing the look and feel of the wedding. Once I connected with Lori, Jamie and Jackie, they knew just the photographer who would capture our day with grace – Kaua! After I was introduced to his website and we chatted over email, I just had a feeling it would be a great match, and we were right! I think the photos speak for themselves.

So many wonderful moments! Getting ready with my best friends, my sister and my mom. Holding my beautiful bridal bouquet wrapped in my late father’s tie. Walking across the grass with my mom and looking up to see the very first love of my life, my high school sweetheart and now my soon-to-be husband, standing at the end of the aisle waiting to marry me. Listening to Bryan’s touching vows. Our first dance to “The Way You Look Tonight” and just dancing, dancing, dancing with everyone until the last call. And finally, holding hands and running through the sparklers held by our amazing friends and family! My advice to other brides is to trust who you are working with when planning, and let go of the small things. Be present in your planning, and be present at the wedding, too! Having a destination wedding allows you to spend real time with your guests, and it’s an incredibly overwhelming feeling to know that your closest friends and family flew over an ocean to be with you to celebrate such a special occasion. We will always look back on our wedding day and wedding weekend with deep love and gratitude. Aloha and mahalo to everyone who celebrated with us!

Wedding Photography: Kaua Wedding Photography / Wedding Venue: Olowalu Plantation House in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii / Wedding Planning + Coordination: Tropical Maui Weddings / Floral Design + Table Decor: Lois Hiranaga Floral Design / Wedding Cinematography: Maui Wedding Videography by Outer Island Productions / Catering: Cafe O’Lei / Wedding Cake + Desserts: Cakes by JoAnn / Bar Staffing: Maui Bars Are Us / Ceremony + Cocktail Music: Jamie Lawrence / DJ: DJ Del Sol of Maui Wedding DJ / Wedding Dress: Blue By Enzoani “Casablanca” (2010 Collection) / Bride’s Veil: Her Mother’s from Her 1974 Wedding / Bride’s Hair + Makeup: Pam Jensen / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Dessy “2832” Color: Apple Slice) / Bridesmaids’ Hair: Martie Balmer

I have a real soft spot in my heart for the magnificent tropical flower that is the calla lily. They are so uniquely beautiful that they completely capture me heart and soul every time I get a glimpse of their lustrous petals. And when they’re amidst the palm trees and ocean shore of the Olowalu Plantation House in Maui? Pure, unadulterated magic. See all of the impossibly gorgeous images from Joanna Tano Photography in our gallery right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Joanna Tano Photography… Stephanie and Jasper’s wedding was simply stunning! Family and friends traveled from the mainland and Taiwan to celebrate their special day. With a combination of the breathtaking beauty at Olowalu Plantation House, watermelon and pistachio wedding colors, and White Orchid Wedding orchestrating the event, their wedding was perfection! Many thanks to Jenna Strubhar for shooting with me.

Wedding Photography: Joanna Tano Photography / Second Photographer: Jenna Strubhar / Wedding Venue: Olowalu Plantation House in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii / Coordination: A White Orchid Wedding, Inc. / Catering: Catering from Soup to Nuts / Wedding Dress: Wtoo “Jemma” / Bride’s Shoes: Glint “Radiance” / Hair + Makeup: Regina Campisi

What do you get when you mix vintage goods, drop dead gorgeous florals by Bella Grace Flowers Wedding & Event Design, and a cute as can be baby goat? Give up? You get one heck of a pretty, vintage Hawaiian photo shoot! Aihara Visuals Photography + Joanna Tano Photography captured all the vintage details and there’s so much more waiting for you right here in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From Bella Grace Flowers Wedding & Event Design… The eclectic collection of Billy Goat Vintage, a rental decor company here on Maui, was the inspiration for this photo shoot. Their decor plays with chipped-paint vintage pieces, custom-crafted furniture and a little salute to old Hawaii. Olowalu Plantation House, a favorite wedding site here on Maui, provided a breathtaking backdrop. A dream team of wedding vendors collaborated to make this Hawaiian, vintage-styled shoot come to together seamlessly.

Photography: Aihara Visuals Photography + Joanna Tano Photography / Photo Shoot Location: Olowalu Plantation House in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii / Floral Design: Bella Grace Flowers Wedding & Event Design / Furniture + Styling: Billy Goat Vintage / Hair + Makeup: Adiel Sneary of Salon 253

I just love a good love story, especially when it ends in an unbelievably picturesque wedding by Wendy Laurel Photography. This stunning couple chose the Olowalu Plantation House in Maui because it’s the place where their two worlds meet in the middle {doesn’t get much more romantic than that!}. With pieces of Hawaiian flair throughout, Island Rents flawlessly created a classic feel for the day which can see more of by clicking here.

 

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… The universe must have been spinning in the most perfect direction because I can only say that fate brought us together. I am from New York, and Andy is from New Zealand — these two places are literally on opposite ends of the world. Four years ago, our lives brought both of us to the same small fishing town in the Pacific Northwest in the beautiful San Juan Islands. On the very first night out on the town with my sister, Andy and I had no idea that we would meet the person we would spend the rest of our lives with. Three amazing years later, Andy proposed to me on a secluded beach in New Zealand. We knew immediately we wanted to get married in a place where our two worlds meet in the middle: the beautiful island of Maui. Our wedding day was a dream, and it was only the beginning.

We are proud to say that we designed and put together most of our wedding ourselves. I have graphic design experience, so I really wanted to put my creative juices to use by creating the invitations, programs and table place cards. The card stock we used was from Paper Source in San Francisco. Andy very skillfully dripped wax on each invitation, program and favor and stamped a “W” into them to signify our new last name of Walker. Andy also builds racing yachts for the America’s Cup, and he is very skilled with his hands. He cut, shaped and painted our table centerpieces into surfboards with seven of the Hawaiian island names for each of our tables painted on front. He also painted pieces of wood with chalkboard paint to display our dinner and cocktail menus. My sisters, mother and I designed the vintage mason jar floral centerpieces, the bridesmaids’ bouquets and my bridal bouquet. It took a lot of time and hard work to put together! We also made our favors, which were burlap bags filled with Maui coffee beans with a wave sash design from our invitations, a label that said “The Perfect Blend” and our signature “W” wax stamp. One of the best DIY projects of the wedding was my veil, which my grandmother and my mother designed and hand-sewed together. So beautiful!

Wedding Photography: Wendy Laurel Photography / Second Shooter: Patrice Carlton / Wedding Venue: Olowalu Plantation House in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii / Wedding Coordination: Rachael Barnard of Maui
Event Planning / Flowers: DIY by the Bridal Party / Catering: Aloha Events Catering / Musicians: Barefoot Minded / Rentals: Island Rents / Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero via RK Bridal / Hair + Makeup: Bridal Hair on Maui / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s Suit: Saks Fifth Avenue / Groomsmen’s Flip-Flops: Havaianas

I literally had to walk away from the computer to stop staring at this Maui stunner by Tamiz Photography and to say I am having a serious case of wedding envy does not begin to cover my obsession with this amazing celebration! Belle Desination Weddings and Events pulled out all the stops: from centerpieces dripping with crystals to creative skeleton key place cards. I simply cannot forget to mention the breathtaking bride-OH.MY.GOODNESS! This one is too good to miss-check out the rest of the images and the sweet film by 10th Letter Media!

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From Lena of Belle Destination Weddings and Events… Tabitha wore a beautiful Rivini bridal necklace by Rita Vineris on her wedding day. This statement jewelry piece, adorned with crystals, pearls, silver and gold metals, set the tone for all of the wedding details. Gold and silver manzanita branches were embellished with orchid blooms and hanging crystal strands, both on the dinning tables and framing the entrance to the ceremony. Tabitha and Darren exchanged vows under a custom-made brass archway featuring sheer fabric and clear crystal strands swaying to the light Maui breeze on Kapalua Bay. It was a perfect back drop to a destination wedding. There was definitely a side of playfulness to the elegance of the wedding, with the save-the-dates and invitations showcasing bright pops of color. Guests sipped on colorful tropical cocktails following the ceremony and watched an incredible sunset. As they moved into the dining room for the dinner reception, gold and silver skeleton keys served as escort cards for each guest to find their seats. Each table was elegantly decorated with gold beaded chargers, chrome table numbers, gold votives, and silver and mercury glass pieces filled with ivory flowers. Everyone danced the night away and celebrated the newlyweds. A special treat sent guests off for the night with a beautiful display of fresh-baked cookies in little to-go-bags to help themselves to enjoy. 

Wedding Photography: Tamiz Photography / Wedding Venue: Merriman’s Kapalua in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii / Event Coordination + Design: Belle Destination Weddings and Events / Floral Design: Bella Bloom Floral Boutique / Officiant: Rev. Ron Winkler / Wedding Cinematography: 10th Letter Media / Wedding Cake: Maui Wedding Cakes / Cookie Bar: Maui Sweet Cakes / Linens + Lounge Furniture: Pacific Event Group / Rentals + Lighting: Pacific Isle Rentals / Musicians: Vance Koenig + Don V. Lax / DJ: DJ Del Sol / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s Necklace: Rivini / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair + Makeup: Maui MiRa

This Olowalu Plantation plantation is all kinds of personal prettiness, complete with Polaroid place cards. A big pop of bright royal blue lends a new fresh modern beach feel to the grey and yellow Bella Bloom florals and it is so so spot on. What you are about to see is equal parts beautiful and thoughtful, like the table names: a nod to the groom’s beloved late grandma, a Scrabble savant. See it in all its Maui glory captured by Tamiz Photography in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… JJ and I wanted our destination wedding to be a small, intimate, laid-back affair. We took months to choose our venue, but once we did everything else seemed to almost fall into place. Olowalu Plantation House is so incredibly beautiful that it really didn’t need a lot of decor to make it amazing. We rented some really beautiful rustic wood tables and a few strands of filament-style globe lights and let the natural beauty of the venue stand out. On our tables, we had beautiful floral arrangements mixed in with pictures of us growing up. Our table names were all things that we got to know each other over, that eventually led to us dating. The table names were displayed with Scrabble tiles as a tribute to JJ’s late grandma, who was an avid player of the game. In lieu of a guest book, we had guests take a Polaroid of themselves and exchange it for their escort card before they found their place at the dinner table. We got an idea from some close friends who had been to Thailand to release lit lanterns into the night sky as they do in some Asian cultures. We invited our guests to decorate the lanterns with their hopes, wishes, dreams or just simply with art, and then when the sun went down, the plan was to light and release them together. It turns out that they were really hard to light and some never made it off the ground, but it was fun all the same, and when a few did actually make it up into the night sky, it was quite beautiful. The whole evening was enjoyed by all with wonderful food, great music and even better company.

Because we had so many friends and family who weren’t able to make it to Maui, it was really important to us that our photographer capture how our wedding felt — we are so lucky to have found Rebecca and Jonathan of Tamiz Photography because they truly did exactly that. Each and every one of our vendors were so amazing. They were all wonderful to work with and helped make our day as amazing as it was. Our wedding day was truly perfect — the weather was amazing, everything about it was beautiful, and we were surrounded by all of our favorite people that we love the most.

Wedding Photography: Rebecca + Jonathan of Tamiz Photography / Wedding Venue: Olowalu Plantation House in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii / Floral Design: Bella Bloom / Officiant: Eve Hogan / Catering: Aloha Events Catering / DJ: Liam Grist / Wedding Dress: BHLDN / Hair: Dan Sanchez / Makeup: Cherie of Bridal Hair on Maui

I absolutely adore this chic, fresh approach to the bridal session by Wendy Laurel!  It’s just perfect for a sunshiny Maui wedding and a unique bride with loads of style.  Who wouldn’t want to whisk off around the island in a fringy and flirty J.Crew wedding dress and an adorable, little yellow VW bug?!  Get your cheer on in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From Wendy Laurel… This shoot was inspired by the yellow VW that I kept seeing driving around town. It just looked so fresh and beachy in yellow. The car’s owner turned out to be a very nice guy who had bought the car as a young man brand new and kept it up ever since. I also fell in love with the J.Crew wedding dress and thought they would look good together. A young, fresh look for a Maui wedding.

Photography: Wendy Laurel / Location: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii / Floral Design: Sunya Flowers (808-669-8570) / Car: Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Convertible / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Bracelet: Tiffany & Co. / Shoes: Converse + Nina / Sunglasses: Ray-Ban / Lipstick: MAC / Model: Anna Julie Breedlove

Jana Morgan Photography sure knows how to brighten a Friday morning.  Yep, she sent along this fabulous Maui affair and, my oh my, is it STUNNING.  An oceanside ceremony, a gorgeous sunny day and a bundles upon bundles of orchid-filled florals by Dellables… it’s a Hawaiian dream come true, I tell you.  All set against a breathtaking Olowalu Plantation House and boasting a cute as can be bride and groom, the weekend is looking better by the minute.  See it all here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Jana of Jana Morgan Photography… Sylvia and Justin came to Maui from Canada to get married at the Olowalu Plantation House to celebrate their marriage with their closest friends and family members. To carry on their family traditions, Sylvia and Justin had a Chinese tea ceremony to honor their family and dearest friends. Instead of using hot tea during this warm day in Hawaii, they used Hawaii iced tea. The two knelt in front of the families, presenting them with a cup of tea and a red envelope, while the families gave their words of blessing with a gift. The wedding ceremony was by the ocean among family and friends who traveled long distances to witness Justin and Sylvia tie the knot. The wedding was photographed with both film and digital photography.

Wedding Photography: Jana Morgan Photography / Wedding Venue: Olowalu Plantation House in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii / Floral Design: Dellables / Day-Of Coordination: Cheryl Liem Shoemaker of Orchid Isle Weddings & Events / Wedding Cinematography: Love Story Media / Catering: Aloha Events Catering / Officiants: Albert Wu + Allen Ye / MC: Michael Yue / DJ: Jay Langworthy of Boomshot International Sound / Rentals: Island Rents / Tent: Maui Rents / Favors: Honolulu Cookie Company / Wedding Dress: Eunice Yoo via Vogue Sposa / Hair: Dan Sanchez Salon (808-891-6600) / Makeup: Jessica Waite

We’re continuing our week of Maui goodness here on SMP Destination with one VERY stunning Olowalu Plantation House affair.  Set against an awe-inspiring Pacific Ocean backdrop and featuring one of the most adorable couples you will ever virtually meet, this was a day that was all about friends, family and sweet L.O.V.E.  Thankfully, Joanna Tano Photography was on hand to capture every last ounce of magic, including those cute as can be place cards and vibrant orange hues.  Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Joanna Tano Photography… Olowalu Plantation House was the perfect venue for Marissa and Lachlan’s wedding. Marissa used her great sense of style to create a wedding that was rustic, stylish and beautiful! The couple met in New York City, where they currently live. Her family traveled from the mainland, and his came from Australia. Both families were lovely and gracious. The couple was madly in love, and it showed throughout the day! I am so happy for the two of them, and I feel lucky to have documented their beautiful wedding.

Wedding Photography: Joanna Tano Photography / Wedding Venue: Olowalu Plantation House in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii / Floral Design: Lois Hiranaga Floral Design / Event Planning: Lori Lawrence of Tropical Maui Weddings / Catering: Cafe Ole (808-891-1368) / Musician: Jamie Lawrence of Tropical Maui Weddings / DJ: DJ Skinny Guy / Wedding Dress: Marisa / Hair: Dan Sanchez / Makeup: Jessica Waite

We are starting to see a new trend in the Hawaiian destination world; non-beach weddings and you know what? We positively LOVE them. There is something so insanely gorgeous and romantic about saying “I Do” in a pineapple field or in this case, on a coffee farm. And with design and styling by Belle Destination Weddings & Events, Inc. and super scrumptious florals (and leis!) by Bella Bloom Floral Boutique  this is one Hawaiian affair not to be missed.  Catch every last perfect shot captured by Jana Morgan Photography in the full gallery right here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Jana of Jana Morgan Photography… Jennifer and Matthew escaped from Tennessee to Maui for their destination wedding. They choose an estate at the Ka’anapali Coffee Farms, which overlooks the beautiful coffee farms and ocean, for the setting of their intimate wedding ceremony and reception. Their wedding ceremony which was led by Rev. Vance Ali’i Rosete, who brought love and Aloha to the occasion as he blew the conch shell to introduce the bride as she walked down the aisle and shared some traditional love chants in Hawaiian. The couple exchanged leis as they shared their vows. After the reception, the couple sneaked away for some portraits around the Coffee Farms before returning to the reception where they enjoyed a romantic dinner with their close friends and family with the sunset over the ocean. Most of the wedding was photographed with film during the day and digital at the end of the night.

Wedding Photography: Jana Morgan Photography / Wedding Venue: Ka’anapali Coffee Farms in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii / Wedding Coordination: Belle Destination Weddings & Events, Inc. / Flowers: Bella Bloom Floral Boutique / Officiant: Rev. Vance Ali’i Rosete (808-244-4867) / Catering: Aloha Catering / Hair + Makeup: Maui MiRa

What’s not to love about an island destination wedding? MAUI to be exact. That description alone conjures up so many delightful thoughts of sandy beached nuptials and sunshine, lots of sunshine. Did I mention sunshine?  So to add to that a wedding that is pretty much the best graphically-endowed, whole heartedly fun and modern approach to getting Maui’ed that we’ve ever seen, it is leaving us a bit speechless. But not speechless enough to gush about the photography skills of Encarnacion Photography or the cinemetography skills of ARIA Studios. Alas, we’ll let the pictures and the film do the talking. See it all here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… The beginning of our wedding planning journey started with the search for the perfect location. After all, the location would set the tone for the stationery, the wedding attire, the details and pretty much everything else! There was no question about us joining in holy matrimony on the date of October 7th, the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary, which holds a special religious significance to us. For fun, we decided to start our search looking for churches that were named after Our Lady of the Rosary in cities and towns where we wouldn’t mind traveling. Our search took us to the town of Lahaina on the island of Maui to a quaint little historic church established in the late 1800s called Maria Lanakila Catholic Church. Maria Lanakila, meaning “Our Lady of Victory” in Hawaiian, is another name for “Our Lady of the Rosary” with the same feast day, so we thought it was providence and decided that this cute, historic church would be it! The interiors of the church were clean and white as well — an added bonus!

We actually found our reception site by chance. On a scouting trip to Maui last summer, we walked by Pacific’O restaurant after a surfing lesson one afternoon and absolutely fell in love with it!  We loved that it had views directly to the ocean and to the neighboring islands of Lana’i and Moloka’i. And what’s more, the outdoor patio of the restaurant was only a few feet from a small sandy beach! The design inspiration for our wedding started with the color gray. We LOVE the color and wanted to tie it in with yellow for a modern feel with laid-back touches. Since I do some graphic design on the side, I designed everything from the wedding stationery and ceremony programs to the reception décor and welcome bags with simple fonts and twine. Maui has a lot of country-like scenery, so we wanted to tie in natural materials like yellow twine and gray linen table runners, while also creating clean lines with white sake bottles and white frames for table décor. While tropical flowers are abundant on the island, we opted for billy buttons and white ranunculus as our accent flowers instead.  All the little details — striped straws and tablecloths, fun cocktail stirrers, and escort buttons (color-coded yellow for bride’s guests and gray for groom’s guests) — just came together after that!

Jason has a thing for singing — he started a singing group in high school and loves to belt out 90s love songs and seasonal Christmas tunes. So he decided that, as part of our first dance, he would gather up his old high school singing group and sing our song, “Bigger than Us,” by Andy Davis, which I found on MySpace years ago when we first started dating. Before the performance, the group started to have “technical difficulties” and “needed someone’s help, maybe someone with a guitar.”  Out of the bushes emerged Andy Davis himself, guitar in hand — I was absolutely floored!  As Jason and Andy took turns singing the verses with the group singing back up, I just sat in awe with a puddle of happy tears. That moment was so surreal and caught me off guard for the surprise I had for Jason later on in the reception! Back in high school, I used to dance hula and hip hop in talent shows and weddings. Jason will occasionally ask me to dance a number for him, and I typically refuse out of embarrassment. Friends and family were encouraging me to dance a hula number for Jason, but I refused, citing a busy schedule in between a full-time job, wedding planning, and stationery design. Two weeks before the wedding, I decided to surprise him with a hula dance to “Lucky” by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat. He was absolutely in shock! And for weeks before the big day, our poor wedding squad had to sneak around the both of us and our surprises for each other!

Photography: Encarnacion Photography / Ceremony: Maria Lanakila Catholic Church / Reception: Pacific’O Restaurant / Cinematography: ARIA Studios / Flowers: Bella Bloom Floral Boutique / Event Design: The Bride / Day-Of Planning: Malate Events (jennifermalate@sbcglobal.net) / Wedding Stationery, Programs + Welcome Bags: The Bride / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal / Shoes: Seychelles / Hair: Bridal Hair on Maui

Wendy Laurel is serving up a good dose of inspiration for your destination day-dreaming today thanks to this oh so gorgeous Maui wedding she sent our way. We can’t thank her enough, because this causal yet elegant island affair is officially where our brains will be vacationing today. With the gorgeous blue hues, insane only-in-Hawaii views and an oh so handsome Bride and Groom – we don’t blame you a bit for joining us in the full gallery for a little mid-week vaca!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Jake is from Cocoa Beach, Florida. He came out here with a friend for a 3 week vacation almost 4 years ago, got a job as a landscaper and never went back. I was born and raised here in Lahaina. I left for a bit for some school and some traveling, but came back in January 2010. When I got back, my little sister, Bridget, insisted that I meet one of her youth group/Young Life leaders, but I didn’t jump at the chance. I did finally meet him a couple of times in April at church events, and he got my phone number from Bridget. For 2.5 months, he called or texted me a couple times each week asking me out, but I never agreed. Finally, Bridget sort of embarrassingly forced a date upon us, and we’ve been together ever since. By September, after two requests and a camping trip with my family to Lanai, we were “official.” By Christmas, we were deeply in love and knee deep in planning a 4-day hike through the Haleakala Crater. By February everything was wonderful, and while I was getting excited for Valentines Day, Jake was busy. He met with my mom & stepfather to ask them permission to marry me. He got ahold of my father in Thailand, who I rarely speak with, to ask his permission and very secretly designed a ring with a tiny jeweler in Wailuku. Valentines Day came, and Jake came over to my apartment to make me breakfast before we went to work. When I got home, he had purchased 140 potted orchids (one of my favorite flowers) and decorated my 400-square-foot home! It was incredible. He pickled me up later & took me to Merrimans for dinner. Then he asked if I wanted to look at the stars, I of course agreed. We drove down to Slaughterhouse. When we got to the beach, there were tiki torches set up with a blanket, champagne, candles and rose petals. I thought someone had paid to have that set up and that we better move away quickly. Jake gave me a hug, said it was for me and got down on his knee. It was so amazing, romantic & more than anything I had ever dreamed of.    Our favors, the stemless wine glasses, had “Eat, Drink & be Married — Rachael & Jake — September 9th 2011” printed on them in my own personal handwriting. My “old” was a bracelet and hair pin I got from my favorite vintage shop, Hula Gypsy; my “new” was my dress; “borrowed” was a beautiful necklace with a cross on it from my godmother; and my “blue” was my shoes! Our cake was made by a friend of our, Lindsay Hunt. She offered to help us with that, and it was wonderful! It was a Blue Velvet cake with buttercream icing and a great paisley design. We had jugs of margaritas & mojitos, which I made little medallions for. Along with that, the food and drink reflected our tastes: my favorite red wine, mini pizzas and spinach salad, along with Jake’s favorite beer and sliders. I love hydrangeas, so when I contacted Maui Floral to order flowers in bulk, they were great with helping me figure out an array of flowers to compliment them. (Lisianthus, Matsumoto Asters, Spray Roses, Dendrobium Orchids and Delphinum) Our style is very relaxed, so going with the usual structured, ornate, perfected florals wasn’t an option. We got quite a few quotes from florists on the island but in the end, what Jake and I had in mind was so simple and sleek we realized it made no sense to pay someone to do them. So a couple friends and I put them all together. Our ‘theme’ was sort of vintage chic, and I love the look of variation so I started collecting vases and jars from thrift stores in March. Everyone made fun of me for have dozens of them all over my house, but it worked out perfectly!

Wedding Photography: Wendy Laurel / Second Shooter: Alisa Greig / Flowers + Program Fans: DIY / Bulk Flower Supplier: Maui Floral / Wedding Venue: Kapalua Resort (The Bride’s Step-Father is the Property Manager) / Earrings: Hale Zen (808-661-4802) / Wedding Gown: Vera Wang / Shoes: Anthropologie / Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal / Hair: Bride’s Godmother / Makeup: Bride’s Best Friend / Stemless Wine Glass Favors: Kim Williams of Williams & Associates

Meet Aaron Snow and Carl Zoch, two amazing photographers who also happen to be the best of buds. Now meet their latest collaboration, a McDreamy Maui wedding full of gamorous details and so much golden sun, we New Englanders sort of want to bottle it up and put in our pockets for safe keeping. And then there is the couple. Let’s just say they are incredibly easy on the eyes. See for yourself in the FULL wedding galleries here and here.

 

Click here and here to see both image galleries!

From the Bride… Stephan and I first began chatting online over 13 years ago when we discovered we had a mutual love of creative writing, poetry and Shakespeare. We were only teenagers at the time and I was so impressed that another young person had a strong interest in Shakespeare as I did. What began as an amazing online friendship, turned into a real life romance, even though he lived in New York and I in California. After a long distance relationship that lasted for 6 years (and the use of many frequent flyer miles), Stephan moved to California to be closer to me and that’s when I knew he was who I wanted for life.  Another two years would go by before Stephan finally popped the question and (of course) I said “yes!”

Since our families were split between the East and West Coasts, Stephan and I decided we wanted an intimate destination wedding in a tropical location and Maui was perfect. My mother and I flew to Maui to check out different venues for the wedding, but when we stumbled on to Olowalu Plantation, our search was over. The property was postcard perfect with an eclectic house that was a perfect backdrop for pictures. I was literally able to envision myself getting married there and the planning began.

Although I wanted to have a beach wedding, I wanted to incorporate an old world Shakespearean feel to it in a simplied, mordern & elegant way as a tribute to what brought us together so many years before. Instead of the traditional ring bearer pillow, I had the rings tied to a copy of the “Complete Works of Shakespeare” and Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116 read by a close family member.  The theme song from “Romeo & Juliet” (“A Time for Us”) was played by a harpist while my mom and dad walked me down the aisle.

After the ceremony, we all dined under exotic fabric tents with chandeliers and dozens of lit candelabra’s. Because we were in Maui we kept our flowers minimal and simple. Creme & white roses in small low vases complimented the table decor without overpowering it. The colors were creme, champagne and gold, which presented a warm relaxed feel in the night. Since my family loves to dance, we also had an all white lounge area that surrounded the dance floor to give the beach a cool nightlife type atmosphere.

To honor my groom’s heritage, I wanted to incorporate Greek inspired dishes to the fare. Guest dined on lamb sliders with tzatziki sauce, medittereanean salad skewers and smoked mozzarella with honey and figs in phyllo. The guests raved about these hor duerves all night! To go along with the wedding cake, we also had a dessert bar made up of different types of creme brulee’s, miniature cheesecake’s and chocolate caramel puff’s.

Ultimately, my wedding day was everything I wanted and more. I felt like there were touches of me, Stephan and the path of our love from the first online chat to the first kiss as husband and wife infused into different elements of the ceremony and reception. What I will remember most is being surrounded by my loved ones and my loved one in a beautiful location and I will forever smile and laugh whenever I think back on it.

Wedding Photography: Aaron Snow Photography / Second Shooter: Carl Zoch Photography / Wedding Venue: Olowalu Plantation House / Wedding Coordinator: Hawaiian Island Wedding Planners / Tents: RAJ Tents via Pacific Event Group / Wedding Decor: Pacific Event Group / Wedding Dress: Amsale / Bride’s Shoes: Vera Wang Lavender / Bride’s Engagement Ring: David K. Jewelers / Wedding Band: Tiffany & Co. / Groom’s Attire: Friar Tux / Best Man’s Attire: Friar Tux / Maid Of Honor Dress: Custom / Caterer: Aloha Events Catering / Florist: Dellables / DJ: Ace Beats / Lighting: Pacific Event Group / Harpist: Alfred Wolf

This afternoon, we have a real quick peek at an intimate wedding from destination photographer, Jen Huang ~ deep in the heart of Hawaii! Ahhhh …. one can dream!

Angel and Sebastian were married in the small town of Lahaina surrounded by their family and closest friends …

Pretty amazing details, Jen!

Angel wore a stunning Watters gown.

Wow! SO beautiful!!

For more of Angel and Sebastian’s wedding, you can follow the link on Jen Huang’s Blog. Thanks SO much for sharing!