Hawaii Weddings

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Oahu Wedding from Anna Kim Photography

From Wendy Laurel…Ashley and John live in Korea but their friends and family were coming from the Southern U.S. So they chose Hawaii for a meet in the middle beautiful destination wedding. They chose Merrimans because of its spectacular location on the northwest side of Maui, right next to Kapalua Bay, as well as its amazing service and food. A very cute touch was that the wrap on the bouquet was the bride’s baby linen brought to Hawaii by her mom.

Photography: Wendy Laurel | Flowers: Dellables | Ceremony Venue: Merriman's | Catering: Merrimans | Photography - Assistance: Jeffrey Oltman

This is a wedding that is all about the romance. A wedding in which a breathtaking setting (hello The Royal Hawaiian Waikiki) and a stunning bride and groom join forces with some beyond fabulous vendors (think Finishing Touch Event Design and Suv Expressions Hawaii) to create what can only be described as a dream day; a day in which every last moment captured by Anna Kim is literally bursting with pretty. See them all right here in the full gallery.

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Hotels + Resorts Weddings Weddings in Historical Venues

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Classic Weddings Romantic

From Anna Kim Photography… Historic and full of character would best describe The Royal Hawaiian Waikiki, the site of Jessica and Kyle’s stunning wedding. Set in the heart of the Island of Oahu, and surrounded by the hustle and bustle of city life, this historic hotel somehow managed to encompass the feel of a quiet and secluded location perfect for a destination wedding.

Jessica and Kyle first met in medical school. Somehow among their busy schedules and long hours of studying, Jessica and Kyle managed to fall in love. Surrounded by friends and family from all over the globe, they celebrated their love in a spectacular event nothing short of perfect. Jessica’s delicate lace gown and traditional veil was the perfect compliment to Kyle’s classic black tux and helped to set the tone for this elegant wedding. Kissed by a cool light rain and rainbows to follow you couldn’t ask for a more beautiful setting.

Hawaii Ranch Inspiration Shoot from Weddings by Willy & Meghan

Hawaii is one of those places where inspiration is literally dripping from every nook and cranny. Where fabulous locales, pretty, pretty details and breathtaking scenery exists on every corner of every city. It’s a place that is just begging for beautiful weddings, and when a talented team of vendors joins forces for an inspiration love-fest like this crazy awesome shoot, it’s a day that we can’t wait to share with all of you here at SMP. See every moment captured by Weddings by Willy & Meghan right here in the full gallery.

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Maui Wedding from Wendy Laurel

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Romantic

The Story… The wedding took place on a rainy cold day but just as the bride was ready to walk down the aisle, a miracle happened and the clouds parted so the ceremony could be bathed in beautiful Hawaiian sunshine! The bride wore her mother’s wedding gown in vintage lace that went perfectly with the rustic ranch theme. Dillingham Ranch is a historical ranch established in 1887 by one of Hawaii’s first railroad tycoons Franklin Dillingham. Now they use the beautiful space for weddings and events. The theme of the wedding was rustic elegance set amidst lush Hawaiian tropical jungle. The decor details included mason jars with luggage tags for guests to write their names. They also had photo booth with custom made signs for wahine (girl in Hawaiian) and cowboys! Guests favors were little jars filled with nuts with handmade labels.

I’ve heard a lot of true love tales in my day, but this darling duo’s sweeter than sweet story? It just about takes the cake. Because this is a bride who knows a good catch when she sees it, and the result is a fairytale romance all culminating in one crazy gorgeous Maui wedding. I’m talking a Ritz Carlton love fest, complete with pretty, pretty images from Wendy Laurel and a whole lot of happy. See it all right here in the full gallery.

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Maui Wedding from U Me Us Studios

From Wendy Laurel… Drea and Brian have the cutest love story. The couple met during the Boston Marathon. Drea was there cheering on friends (she lived a few blocks away) when she saw Brian run by. Without thinking, she threw her keys at her friend and climbed over the fence (over the objections of a policeman) and started running with Brian. She ran with him in the last mile, until the finish chute when she had to run to the sidelines and climb out over another fence… over the objections of another policeman.

At the finish, Brian looked around for the cute girl who had run with him. There were a ton of people and he didn’t have any luck finding Drea. Drea, meanwhile, was searching for her friend with her keys and looking for Brian, too. They missed each other though. They both decided to head home, and on the way home, they found each other. Turns out they only lived a couple blocks away from each other, both right near the marathon finish. And the rest, as they say, is history.

They had a beautiful wedding at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua. From their ceremony on a bluff overlooking the ocean to their private restaurant reception, it was lovely.

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Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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M’dears, we’re back this afternoon with more sweet love from Evonne and Darren of U Me Us Studios and we’re starting to see why they work so well together—they’re surrounded by the utmost love. Linda and Truong have captured my heart because after reading their story, I’m convinced that if you stay true to yourselves, laughter and the best kind of happiness will follow. Head to the gallery for so much more!

From the Bride and Groom… Hawaii was the agreed upon “neutral” state to have our wedding since he’s from Texas and I’m from California….what could be better?! One of the unique experiences we had while in Hawaii was Tropical Storm “Flossie” (that name cracks me up) shortly after our wedding. Thanks to Flossie, we got to stay in Hawaii an additional 2 days, did I mention the storm blew over in only 2 hours? Best tropical storm EVER.

One of my good friends also got married in Maui, 2 days prior to our own wedding! They had already booked tickets to go to Maui for our wedding when she got engaged a month after us! I suggested we get married together! Her wedding was right ON the beach in Makena with only 10 people. Completely different feel from our wedding but same amount of love. Hawaii was special to me because my first trip was only a year prior to our wedding (Oahu) with Truong while we were dating. Ironically, the Texan had been several times, the SoCal girl had never been.

One way that we kept it personal was having our close friend Gerren officiate the wedding. We gave him free range and did he ever take it and run with it. I never would’ve never guessed that we would’ve been saying our vows over a couple beers. For my something “blue”, I wore the first pair of shoes that Truong ever bought me while we were dating… they were blue suede Jimmy Choo’s.

Our morning started with breakfast with friends visiting all the way from Taiwan, followed by some relaxation at the pool with childhood friends and family from near and far. It wasn’t until the afternoon that it really dawned on us that we were getting married in this fantastic location surrounded by our loved ones. To us, the gathering of friends and family was the “event”.

(Linda) The First Look was pretty memorable for me, Truong actually shed a tear!!! I went from goof ball to blubbering mess in a matter of seconds. (Truong) I would say the first look as well. As soon as I turned around, I saw Linda standing there beaming in her wedding dress and I admit it was a little emotional.

I am the most unbridal of brides. If you look at our wedding invitation (theme there was travel) to what we ended with (Great Gatsby), it was a hot mess. I’m so happy it’s over, never AGAIN. Did I mention that we were writing our vows on the plane ride over to Maui? Truong said, he wouldn’t want it any other way… it’s very “US”. Wedding planning was worse than shopping for the perfect pair of jeans, but everything came together in the end and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. It was building memories at our wedding amongst family and friends that made it that much more special. Everything far exceeded our expectations.

A couple of fun tips for future brides—have a fire extinguisher on hand in case your s’mores gets out of control! Oh, and have a back-up ring bearer in case the original decides to have a melt down minutes before show time.

Oahu Wedding from Andria Lindquist

A week-long celebration in paradise with your closest friends and family is everything a destination wedding should be. Laid back, totally elegant and chock-full of pretty? This is that wedding. A crazy gorgeous affair that is as beautiful as it is heartwarming. And when you dive into every last mesmerizing moment captured by Andria Lindquist, I promise you’ll want to spend the rest of your day devouring the pretty. Don’t miss a second in the full gallery.

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Backyard Destination Outdoor Weddings

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From the Bride… It never fails that I have to fight back tears each time I look over our wedding photos and reflect back on that amazing day. Emotional tears; the good kind. I could not have asked for a more amazing wedding day and week. My husband and I chose to tie the knot in Hawaii; we both share a love for the ocean, sun and laid-back lifestyle Hawaii is so well known for. Our families and friends reside all over the US, so we chose to pick a spot where everyone who was able to travel and share this day with us could enjoy a vacation. We were blessed to spend the week before the wedding with close to 50 of our dearest friends and family. This was what it was all about to us, being surrounded by our loved ones, relaxing and enjoying the celebration of our marriage. We rented a beautiful vacation home where we had a backyard style wedding, and where our two families stayed together for the week. This was the first time both of our families were together in the same place and it couldn’t have been easier! Our wedding day was so relaxed and enjoyable; we were ready with plenty of time to sneak off to an amazing location with Andria for our couple photo shoot. We dodged random downpours, and were eaten by mosquitoes but it couldn’t have been more perfect. The ceremony was small and intimate in the backyard overlooking the ocean, my Dad officiated which was so sentimental and meaningful. We said “I Do,” ate amazingly delicious food and danced the night away. I wouldn’t have had it any other way!

My advice to Future Brides is to sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. Your wedding day should be a reflection of you and your husband-to-be, add your own personal touches and character. Don’t stress the small stuff. Discuss with your groom what the most important things about this time and day are for you and focus on those things, don’t get distracted by the millions of expectations others may have for the perfect wedding. For us it was enjoying quality time with each other and our friends and family. Laugh a lot, do what you need to do to feel beautiful on your wedding day and celebrate!!

My favorite and most memorable moment of the entire day was our first look; I had no idea what to expect and could not have imagined how Justins reaction would be when he first saw me. It was the most precious, emotional and moving moment I have ever experienced. It pure excitement watching him turn around and see me standing there as his bride. It was the one moment all day where we were able to be alone. I get emotional just thinking about it now; there was something so different about the way Justin looked to me. Of course he looked ridiculously handsome, but I saw him as my husband for the first time, the man I was choosing on this day to share the rest of my life with. I felt such a sense of peace and overwhelming joy it cant even be put into words!

Our inspiration was a backyard style family gathering, a celebration. A week filled with family, friends, community, great food, even better conversation and celebration! These were the things Justin and I both imagined when we pictured our wedding. We knew once we found the perfect venue where everyone would be able to stay, come over and spend time together and where the wedding could also take place that the rest would fall into place. I loved the idea of very simple, natural dcor. I found succulents and a few other small beautiful flowers at a nearby nursery, we made our own boutonnieres, and the rest of the greenery was cut from our very own backyard. We made an awesome playlist with songs we both love and a friend of ours volunteered to DJ. My father was the officiant, and most of our friends and family stayed after we left and helped clean up. It was exactly what we had envisioned!

Maui Destination Wedding at the Kea Lani Fairmont from Wendy Laurel Photography

I think every Friday should start out with a beautiful Wendy Laurel affair. Every. Single. One. Because when you lay your eyes on her magnificent work, it’s almost like the rest of the universe falls right into place. And what better way to kick off the weekend than with a soul-lifting, drop-dead gorgeous masterpiece? (Seriously.) See so much more right here in the full gallery.

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Maui Air Force Wedding from Anna Kim Photography

Wendy Laurel… Jessyca and David came to Maui from Canada and brought all her family and friends to their beautiful Maui wedding. They chose the Kea Lani Fairmont as their venue which is a gorgeous modern designed hotel.

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Elsa Corsi

Bridal

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This Hawaii wedding is perfect for a day like today. First of all, it’s celebrating the love between a beautiful bride and her Air Force groom. (Happy Veteran’s Day you lovebirds.) But secondly, it’s the perfect hit of beach you might just need to jumpstart your day. Anna Kim Photography did a beautiful job capturing every detail, and there is even more right here!

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Hotels + Resorts Weddings

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Romantic

From the photographer… You could say that fate might have taken over the night that Kotona and Matthew first met. Stationed in Japan, Matthew attended a halloween party when he noticed someone wearing the exact same halloween costume as he was. This perfect ice breaker brought them together and they have been inseparable ever since.

The Four Seasons Maui was the perfect setting for their small, intimate wedding. Under a plumeria tree, overlooking the beautiful South Maui landscape, and surrounded by a few friends, they exchanged vows and became husband and wife.

Maui Destination Wedding from Tamiz Photography

Any time a couple is described as “fun , fun and more fun,” you know you’re in for a good wedding. But this Maui beaut designed by White Orchid Wedding is all that plus MORE. A sort of boho glam meets island elegance, it breaks all the “rules” in the best of ways. We’re viewing the day from Tamiz Photography‘s lens and there’s soooo much more waiting right here.

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Maui Wedding from Laura Hooper Calligraphy + Anna Kim Photography

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Bohemian

From White Orchid Wedding… Kate and Tory are epitomized by the word FUN – fun, fun, and more fun. They decided to have a destination wedding because they wanted to have a more intimate affair with their closest friends and family and thought it was a fantastic excuse for everyone to take a holiday together.

The couple envisioned Relaxed Bohemian Chic wedding at the beautiful Historic Olowalu Plantation House and the artists who are Tamiz Photography captured their fun group and the wonderful celebration.

Teresa Sena’s floral design incorporated dusty pinks, grays, lilac, creamy whites and grey/greens. Weathered wooden runners graced the centers of the long grand dining tables covered in ivory linens and bamboo folding chairs completed the look.

A destination wedding in Maui is in and of itself pretty spectacular, but when you throw in a dream team of vendors that includes Laura Hooper Calligraphy, The Perfect Wedding Maui and Anna Kim Photography to make it all happen, it becomes a destination wedding that dreams are made of. Case in point? This beyond gorgeous day set against the beautiful Olowalu Plantation House. It’s fab paper goods meets mesmerizing stylings meets all kinds of pretty. See it all here in the full gallery.

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Makena, Maui Elopement from Wendy Laurel Photography

From Cherise of The Perfect Wedding… It was a classic white wedding from the flowers to the groom’s shoes! An intimate gathering of family and friends joined Crystal & Joseph on this destination wedding. I had the pleasure of meeting this sweet couple about a year before the wedding when they came to Maui to view sites and meet potential vendors. We hit it off and began planning their day right away. While many things changed along the way, the romantic vision remained throughout. I loved the elegant details like the crystal chandeliers in the dining canopy and floating over the dance floor, the lavender and crystal accented pillows on the lounge seating, the silver beaded glass charger plates that held the classic white dinner plates, etc. Everywhere you looked there was some little bit of Crystal evident in the decor. As Crystal made her way across a bed of white orchids on her wedding aisle, Joseph was waiting with the most beautiful look of love oh his face. From their first look to their exit through a pathway of sparklers, this was a day to remember and I for one am honored to have played a part in the day.

It’s a fact — Maui weddings are bound for pretty. Like postcard-perfect, “pinch me” sort of pretty. But add the ever so talented Wendy Laurel to the mix, and you’ve got a wedding that’s officially off. the. charts. (food truck and all!) Join me for a swoon sesh of this sweet little “semi elopment” in the full gallery over here.

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Beach Weddings

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Casual

From Wendy… Kevin Chang married Shuinn Chang and there was no place better for them than Chang’s beach in Makena, Maui, Hawaii! They semi- eloped… they brought just their immediate families and had a beautiful simple ceremony on the sand performed by the Rev. Laki (you might have seen him on Modern Family 2 seasons ago).

Through out their courtship, Kevin and Shuinn have flown kites. Just for fun. Neither profess to be an expert or very skilled. But they thought it would be symbolic to fly a kite after their ceremony and brought along a fun one. Despite not much wind, they were able to get the kite up in the air. Kevin’s dad, who happens to be an engineer, might have helped a bit.

From the Bride… When Kevin and I were trying to plan a wedding the details and little decisions became overwhelming. We felt lost in a flurry of details and budgets that didn’t feel like us. So finally, we cleaned the slate and decided we wanted to go somewhere beautiful and warm (we were planning in the midst of a Chicago winter), and just focus on our love and the bringing together of our two wonderful families. We picked Maui because we heard it was a fun place, and the choice of the venue was made for us when we found Chang’s Beach (our last names are both Chang)!

After that, all our wedding planning became easy even though it was long distance- Laki Kaahumanu epitomized Hawaiian awesomeness, Liz from Maui Make Up Artistry made me feel like a princess, Flowers by Cora made beautiful and affordable bouquets and leis, and Wendy Laurel shoots the most vibrant and fun pictures, and on film nonetheless! The rest of our engagement could then be focused on strengthening our relationship, going on all the fun trips we wanted to go on, and being happily in love.

Even though our wedding was not traditional in any sense, it represented our fun-loving and chill personalities in the best way possible. Now we plan on going back to Maui as much as we can because it’s given us so many great memories!

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Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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Olowalu Plantation House Wedding from Tamiz Photography

My to do list might be begging me to check off a thing or two, but after spending some time with this wedding from Tamiz Photography I’m pretty sure all those little tasks will have to wait. Because this level of Hawaiian gorgeous just deserves some serious quality time. Maybe it’s the gorgeous set up courtesy of Opihi Love Boutique Rentals & Event Design or maybe it’s the stunning Bride and Groom – whatever it is, if you need me today, i’ll be right here.

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Classic Weddings Romantic

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From Tamiz Photography… Olowalu Plantation House offers your perfect views, a touch of old Hawaii and breath taking sunsets- add in a local couple from Oahu and you have the perfect storm! It was simply one of the most touching, romantic, weddings ever to take place at the Plantation House. Small and intimate, the wedding ceremony beamed with the couples love for each other. Cocktail Hour was prepared delicously by Aloha Events Catering and the Reception Dining was a dream of food stations, and sushi! It was a night to remember, simply Magical!

Love Session in Kalaheo Hawaii from Blenda Montoro Photography

If you ask me, impromptu love sessions should be mandatory for a couple every few years. Because while I love a good engagement or anniversary, there’s nothing to say there has to be an occasion to snap a photo shoot with your sweetie. *Enter* Thomas and Cecilia, who just so happen to love beekeeping and horseback riding on the island of Kauai. They had Blenda Montoro capturing a few of their favorite things, and as sweet as this peek is, the full gallery is filled with sooooo much more.

From Blenda… Thomas and Cecilia wanted a love session that showed their love of Kauai, and their simple island life style. Whether it’s riding horses, going to the beach, listening to Thomas play music, island living has enriched their lives. Bee keeping is something Thomas got interested in through an older friend of his. Now they both share a passion for both the bees, the honey, and the process surrounding it. Thomas educated us on how it works, and the time and love that is required to maintain healthy bee hives. We got to take some honey home with us and you can’t beat fresh local honey!

Photography: Blenda Montoro Photography | Film Prossecing: Richard Photo Lab

Olowalu Plantation House Wedding from Tamiz Photography + Belle Destination Weddings & Events

This wedding is beautiful. Beyond beautiful. It was perfectly planned by Belle Destination Weddings & Events and captured in amazing images by Tamiz Photography. But beyond all of the non-stop pretty, this is a story of two people who were truly, truly meant to be. Two people who love each other more than words can say and celebrated that love in a mesmerizing wedding. So, please (PLEASE), read their description below and then dive into the full gallery. It’s a story that deserves every second of your Monday.

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Intimate Hawaiian Destination Wedding from Jonathan Canlas

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Casual

From Belle Destination Weddings… Joann and Zack tied the knot at the beautiful ocean front Olowalu Plantation House. The weather was absolutely perfect – gentle island breezes, a gorgeous sunset and a warm night. Joann was one of the most excited brides I have ever encountered. Throughout the planning process, she just couldn’t wait to be on Maui for her wedding day. It was very apparent that Joann and Zack’s family and friends are so dear to their heart and were the most important part of their day. I guess it is just a guess with their 10 bridesmaids and 10 groomsmen – a gorgeous looking bridal party – without a doubt!

It was important to Joann and Zack to have a wedding night their family and friends would never forget – they wanted everyone to enjoy the festivities. Following dinner, to get everyone off of their feet and in the mood to dance they had two fire knife dancers perform a thrilling show, throwing flames to a Polynesian drum beat. Needless to say, everyone was thrilled. Their guests danced the night away and cooled themselves off to a refreshing tropical flavored sweet treat of Shave Ice, a very popular island confection.

From the Bride… Zack and I met in high school where we had the same circle of friends. However nothing would start romantically until the summer of 2002. While I was home on summer break from Chico I was working at Oakhurst Country Club. I worked at the refreshment and snack stand at the ninth hole. Zack was golfing one day and stopped by the ninth hole for a break, we started talking and instantly hit it off. We talked so much in fact he wound up not leaving until the end of my shift! After I returned back to school I found myself thinking about him a lot and I knew I had to see him again. Valentine’s Day was approaching and I wanted to come home and see if we could be more than friends. I just needed the courage to actually ask him out! Finally after talking with my girlfriends and them giving me the encouragement I needed I called him and asked him out. Thankfully he said yes, I have to say it was the best date I’ve ever had! He was such a gentleman I never knew a girl was supposed to be treated like that… and to think, I asked HIM out! We dated for seven years, but in 2010 we decided to go our separate ways.

The summer of 2010 I received a life changing phone call informing me that Zack had been in a terrible accident and was in the intensive care unit. I was devastated – we truly didn’t know if he was going to survive. Without hesitation I was immediately by his side. While I was waiting for him to wake up from his coma I was also coming to realize how much I loved this man. And I decided that from this day forward I would remind him everyday of just how much I loved and cared about him. I didn’t realize just how much “reminding” I would have to do… when Zack awoke from his coma it was discovered that he had memory loss. Although the last two years of his life up until that point were hazy, the one thing he didn’t forget was… me.

Fast forward to September 2011 we took a family vacation to Maui where Zack proposed to me on the beach. Maui has held such a special place in our hearts that it seemed like a no brainer to be married there as well. We chose to get married at the beautiful Olowalu Plantation House and became husband and wife on March 28, 2013.

I want this wedding. I want this wedding in the worst way. Because when it comes down to magical ways to say “I do,” this pretty little affair really knows how it’s done. I’m talking an intimate love-fest with a small group of friends and family, a weekend getaway in paradise and a whole host of lovely captured by Jonathan Canlas that will literally rock your world… and fill your entire day with pretty. Start the festivities off in the full gallery. It’s amazing.

And a pretty little film from IMF Visions for even more lovely. Enjoy.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/71071867 600 338]

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Beach Weddings Outdoor Weddings

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Casual

From Jonathan Canlas… This was a small destination wedding for Kristin and Derek who live in Austin, Texas. There were around 35 guests, almost all were family members from across the US. It was a rather quick engagement and Hawaii is very special to both of them, as is family, so they decided on a smaller celebration with their family on the North Shore of Oahu. This is not a wedding heavy in details per say but still heavy in details in the fact that the location, Hawaii, work as the details. The local flare, “natives” from the Polynesian Cultural Center, scenic landscapes, endless ocean views and beaches make this wedding.

From the Bride… Before Derek and I even became serious about marriage, I think we both knew Hawaii was the place. It all started early on in our relationship when I invited him to join me for a wedding in Vail, Colorado for a close family friend. Being in our early 30’s meant we had both attended our fair share of weddings but none of them felt quite like this. It was like a happy weekend getaway with all of the guests celebrating love, life and friendship together. It was such a happy weekend and from then on we knew there was no question that a destination wedding was for us… and what better place than Hawaii. Fast forward almost four years and we truly had the wedding of our dreams. Hawaii is like a dream land and although it took some doing to get there… It was a trip that none of our guests will forget. It was a prefect day, with our favorite people in the most beautiful spot. I only wish we could do it all over again! Best day ever!!

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Pronovias

ATELIER PRONOVIAS

PRONOVIAS

Dancing Lights, Cruise Collection

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Maui wedding from Erica Chan + A White Orchid Wedding

For a couple that loves to travel, rushing off to Maui to say “I do” with an intimate group of friends and family sort of seems like perfection. And when I say “sort of,” I mean that it totally does. Because, really, what’s better than a days-long celebration with your nearest and dearest set against the stunning blue skies and crashing ocean waves of paradise? (Answer: Nothing.) Add in the planning expertise of A White Orchid Weddings, a sweet travel-inspired theme and one image after another captured by Erica Chan and it’s what we call all caps PRETTY. Click here for more.

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Fall Weddings

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Destination Outdoor Weddings Religious Institution

From the Bride… As a true globe-trotting couple, our wedding was travel inspired! We even travelled from Canada to celebrate our wedding on the beautiful island of Maui. After a beautiful church ceremony, we headed to the Olowalu Plantation set on the ocean, with a rocky beach, scattered palm trees and two towering Koa trees to set the mood for our outdoor reception. The trees provided shade in the late afternoon sun, as guests sipped tropical cocktails and ate Hawaiian inspired appetizers (“pupus”) like coconut shrimp and grilled brie and bacon mini sandwiches, and chatted about how they felt they were at a real Hollywood wedding. Guests with tired legs relaxed on modern couches set among palm trees. And when we, the newlyweds, arrived, I jumped up and down like a little girl absolutely in awe of how gorgeous everything turned out.

We only added subtle travel touches to keep the wedding classy and simple, such as vintage travel bags and cases. The other inspiration was the doily and peach and coral colors. Other than the incredible location of the reception, details that wow’ed our guests were the cabanas over the natural wood tables, hanging chandeliers and chivari chairs. We had our Polish guests bring beautiful hand-crafted doilies from Poland to use instead of table runners… It was a last minute decision and it turned out beautifully! It was important to me to add my creative and personal touch to the wedding decorations and theme. The seating chart was a large vintage map and the 11 tables were named after continents or regions of the world. Each table held a map of the continent as well as the name on a paper doily. Hand-made cones were used by guests at the candy buffet, with a cut-out of a map on a doily to tie in the theme. “Love What a Trip” and “Come Fly with Us” banners hung from the candy and gift tables. Instead of a guestbook, guests left well wishes and notes on a air-mail postcard addressed to the bride and groom, stamped the card with a custom “passport” stamp (From Etsy) and placed it in a vintage type mailbox. The hit of the reception was a homemade direction sign with the cities and distances from Maui of all our guests from around the world. It was an amazing piece for everyone to take pictures in front of… not to mention make them feel special for travelling all that way for our wedding.

A cheers with a raspberry in champagne started off the dinner. The guests dined on plated shrimp and avocado salad served in a bowl made of papaya, macademia crusted mahi-mahi, grilled polynesian chicken, chops of colorado lamb and filet mignon. It was mouth watering. Following cake (three squares of different flavors: red velvet, vanila and coconut and chocolate), guests could continue snacking from a Mini sweets station filled with macadamia nut squares, lilikoi cheescake and coconut macaroons.

The sunset lit up the sky with colors just as dinner was ending and provided a breathtaking and priceless backdrop for speeches. As night fell, the chandeliers, maui moon lights and dozens of candles in lanterns lit up the property, setting a romantic atmosphere. The DJ played til just before 10pm at which we moved venues to a rooftop patio bar and danced the night away. Guests went home with a luggage-tag favor so each time they look at their luggage, we hope they think of their time in Maui.

The day couldn’t have been more perfect.

Manele Bay Wedding at the Four Seasons Resort from Trish Barker Photography

When this Manele Bay wedding first popped up on my radar, it was love at first sight. But after carefully poring through every aspect of this gorgeous day, I’m convinced it’s perfect. Because on top of all the scenic gorgeousness at the Four Seasons Resort, Manele Bay and the stunning shots by Trish Barker Photography, this beautiful bride designed her very own dress. Pretty awesome, right? Click here for all that plus sooo much more.

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Hotels + Resorts Weddings Outdoor Weddings

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Kauai Plantation Gardens Wedding from Julie Harmsen Photography

From Trish… Bill is a doctor, Jessica is a physician’s assistant. They met at work, fell in love, and the rest is history.

They chose the gorgeous Four Season’s Resort at Manele Bay for the beautiful and intimate wedding. She designed her own dress, which I was drooling over the whole time. Just gorgeous.

It wasn’t supposed to rain. The sky was blue and everything was set up outside. But just after we finished their romantic photos, and just as the food was brought out, it began to downpour. The bride was, obviously, a bit distressed. But we saw an opportunity with the rain and the umbrellas and started a little “mini” shoot in the rain. It was awesome… my favorite part… and it completely distracted the bride from the fact that it was raining on her wedding. And by the time we were done, the rain had passed, the sky cleared up again and their celebration continued into the night.

In Hawaii, it’s considered a blessing if it rains on your wedding. A good sign. It definitely resulted in a good time and some of my favorite shots of the day.

Photography: Trish Barker Photography | Floral Design: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis | Cake: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis | Wedding Venue: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis | Cocktail Furniture: Opihi Love Wedding Planning and Design | Dance Floor + Lighting: Envisions Entertainment

Destination weddings are amazing for many reasons, but rushing off to Hawaii to say “I do” at the stunning Plantation Gardens with your awesome friends and family? That ranks pretty high up there. As does filling that day with crazy beautiful bouquets from Martin Roberts, the fabulous stylings of Janie & Co. and a whole lot of wonderful + fun-filled moments (DIY paper lanterns, anyone?) captured by Julie Harmsen Photography. See them all right here in the full gallery.

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Maui Wedding from Tamiz Photography + Belle Destination Weddings & Events

From Julie Harmsen Photography… Paul and Meghan live in Seattle and chose to have an intimate destination wedding at Plantation Gardens on Kauai, Hawaii this past December. The celebration was full of dreamy light and I loved the creamy tones they chose and worked in throughout the day. Since this was a group that knew how to dance and party, each guest was given a custom goodie bag at the end of the night for the next day’s hangover. At the very end of the night they also surprised their friends and family with paper lanterns to light at the beach sending them off into the night, and making a wish for the new couple. It was an absolutely beautiful celebration.

From the Bride… We loved every minute of our wedding day! We wish we could live it over and over again. Our favorite moments were having our nearest and dearest friends fly so far to celebrate with us; all the crazy moves on the dance floor; the delicious food and delicious cake; the wonderful and heartfelt toasts; and lighting the Chinese lanterns on the beach… well, trying to light them. Our beautiful vision of lighting off 30 lanterns at the same time did not work, however, it turned into a team building event with maybe 10 successful lanterns… but it was hilarious and so much fun! The day couldn’t have been more perfect.

We really wanted to make sure we got everyone on the dance floor. Kustom Sounds was amazing and played every song we requested. We had sent out an email a month or so before the wedding asking guests to send the songs that would guarantee getting them on the dance floor, and we ended up with a great mix for everyone. And, I’m pretty sure we got everyone on the dance floor!

DIY projects:

— We ordered real dried starfish and made Christmas ornaments for each guest. We tied each starfish with jute twine and wrapped them in a box with the ribbon from our wedding invites and put it on each guest’s dinner plate setting.

— Happy Hangover Bags- We assumed there would be a few hangovers from the open bar of delicious Hawaiin cocktails, so we wanted to set everyone up for the following day. We made little hangover bags for all of the over 21 guests – bloody mary mix, vodka, Maui Kettle Chips, Hawaiian Host Chocolate Mac nuts, and an Advil pack. Each 21 and under guest got a “Keiki” bag – Hawaiin punch, extra choclate mac nuts, Hawaiin chips and a puka shell necklace.

— Chinese lanterns and luminary pathway to the beach after the reception.

Advice for new brides planning: Enjoy the day – getting ready, drinking champagne with your friends, relaxing! Don’t be afraid to ask or let your friends and family help you on the day of. And really, everything has a way of coming together and just working. Every single Kauai vendor we worked with was absolutely amazing. Professional, kind, and provided beyond exceptional services. We were so so happy!!

Picture perfect in every sense of the word, this wedding from Belle Destination Events captured by Tamiz Photography is just as lovely as they come. With a Bride in a stunning Jenny Packham, the breathtaking Maui surroundings and beautiful vintage touches from Opihi Love – perfect might not even do it all justice. See it all here.

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Hale Honu Wedding in Wailea from Joanna Tano Photography

From Belle Destination Weddingings and Events… “Tom, meet Ali. Ali meet Tom”… is how this charming couple was first introduced via email by a mutual friend (and apparent matchmaker), Emily. Subsequently, these were also the first words spoken at their wedding ceremony, as Emily opened the ceremony by recounting the fateful email that united the couple. Emily first introduced the two when Tomas, who was originally from Sweden, moved to San Francisco to begin a career in advertising, while also running a bike shop called Cykel, owned by Tomas, his brother, and his sister in-law. Ali was attending graduate school in San Francisco, working with children and doing research in early childhood education. The two became fast friends, but the love part came a bit further down the road, it took Tomas a while to make his move on Ali. Eventually he made that move (to Ali’s delight) and they began dating. After some time, lots of laughs, and some traveling adventures, the couple visited Ali’s home, the gorgeous island of Maui, Hawaii. During this trip, Tomas secretly began to ask each and every one of Ali’s immediate family for their blessing before proposing to Ali at the ocean’s edge, out in front of her father’s home in Wailea. She said yes (of course)… but on one condition: Tomas had to get his driver’s license before they got married (he had never had one). And so began the story of a couple whose lives are filled with so much love and laughter.

The couple chose the comfortable surroundings of Ali’s mother’s home in upcountry Kula, Maui as their venue. There, with a sprawling view of the lush island below, Ali & Tomas shared their amazing moment with about one hundred of their “favorite people,” as Ali would say. Stacked wooden benches and large, narrow tree stumps adorned the ceremony area, out in front of a gorgeous, well-aged eucalyptus tree, with the mists settled over the valley below. It was a dramatic backdrop to an intimate and personal ceremony. A friend of the couple, talented musician Lindsey Steiner, switched between the guitar and the viola throughout the ceremony. Another close friend, Rachel, performed the wedding ceremony, making the moment even more special and personal for the couple.

For the overall look and theme of the event, Ali and Tom combined their two personal styles – Tomas loves a clean, minimalist and contemporary look, as where Ali brought in some rustic and vintage elements and touches of sentimentality to their celebration. The bride was stunning and unique in a vintage inspired gown by Jenny Packham. And yes..in case you were wondering, the blue version of this dress was also worn by the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. Thomas sported a dashing navy suit by Paul Smith. For their reception, clean layered ivory and navy ikat runners extended over raw wood tables. The head table, one long wood table extended under the center of the tent, and hanging above, mason jar chandeliers glowing with candlelight, setting a warm and romance to the mood of the evening. The flowers were an abundant mixture of Ali’s favorite blooms, featuring anemones and blue thistle, bringing in accents of navy blue against stark white blooms and touches of soft pink and peach. Style Me Pretty was continually a resource for both Ali and myself throughout the planning process, and with the help of Pinterest, we were able to collaborate on her ideas.

Overall, the night was full of personal touches, setting a perfect backdrop for an incredibly intimate and warm evening of heartfelt and hilarious speeches. During Ali & Tomas’ Thank You speech, Ali’s beloved niece, Piper, and nephew, Thatcher, chimed in their two cents, interrupting to announce to the newly married couple, “I love you,” which made their night!

It was a blessing to be a part of such a wonderful day for such amazing people! Congratulations to Ali & Tom, a truly beautiful and unique couple! May your lives continue to be filled with good times and an abundance of love and laughter!

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Jenny Packham

Bridal 2016 Catwalk

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Joanna Tano is bringing a us a wedding this morning that is so lovely, your week is sure to sure to get of to the prettiest starts. Not only is it a gorgeous fête celebrated on the stunning Hawaiian islands, but it also has this lovely touch of elegance that makes the entire affair feel oh so chic. It doesn’t get better than that, lovelies, so be sure to check out every gorgeous detail right here.

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