Hawaii Weddings

This wedding simply overflows with love. And you can feel it just by looking at the gorgeous images snapped up by STUDIO 1208. With family and friends pitching in to make this day the best day ever for a couple that brought them all together, it will most certainly leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. Because this, folks, is what weddings are all about, and it makes my heart so happy to see it all unfold right before my very eyes. See it all here.

It all continues with this heart-warming film from STUDIO 1208…

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From the Bride…The day was perfect, the weather was gorgeous—sunshine and blue skies. All our amazing friends and family were onsite super early to set up, deliver and run errands, decorate and help with everything. Everything was absolutely perfect. Sean and I wrote our own vows/words to each other, and I think they were pretty good, ‘cause there was not a dry eye in the crowd. Aunty Susie’s Hawaiian food was a total hit; everyone said how gorgeous my dress was and how fit I looked, Sean looked as handsome as ever (first time wearing a tux!); everyone complimented how beautiful the venue and all the decorations were; everyone loved the photobooth (so much so that I had to extend them an extra hour) and pa’i’ai tasting and pounding demonstration; all the speeches were so heartfelt and funny, including the one from my godmother Amy Locker, Sean’s dad, Scott Imai, our siblings Lauren Imai and Myles Vogelgesang, our maid of honor, Lindsey McGlinn and best man, Keno Knieriem; we all danced the night away to our final song “And We Danced” by Macklemore, which was included in our awesome wedding video by STUDIO 1208.  We ended the evening with almost everyone stripping down to their knickers and jumping in the ocean, including a few completely naked adventurers (oops!), including the groom. Even some of the younger kids joined in! It was so much fun, and to be honest, it wouldn’t have ended any other way. We have a track record for late night ocean swimming and shenanigans (and I spread the word of our swimming intentions early on in the evening), so it was absolutely perfect.

Overall, I would say that our wedding was definitely one of a kind, non-traditional, very handmade, full of tons of love, and took an army of people to make it come to fruition. In the beginning we knew we wanted our wedding to be a fun celebration with all our favorite people in the entire world and it really was. I knew how much I loved décor, but I had no idea until I really started writing down the hundreds of ideas I had. Luckily, I have very creative and amazing friends and family who more than enthusiastic and there for me the entire way and willing to get dirty, stay up late, run errands, join my crazy assembly lines, drink wine, and all that gluing…I swear we went through a hundred glue sticks…hence the hashtag used in a lot of my Instagram photos, #gluestickhell.

Seriously EVERYTHING in our wedding came from so much love and hard work from all of all our amazing friends and family. As my godmother said in her speech, not one thing there was not touched/handmade/cooked/built/prepared/sewed/grown/caught/designed by someone at the wedding––everything, even the few things that were not made like rentals, came from recommendations/deals/hook ups from friends/family. Everything at this wedding came from the heart and Sean and I are so lucky to have such amazing, loving, crazy, awesome, creative, generous people in our life.

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Photography + Cinematography: STUDIO 1208 | Lei and Floral Design: Watanabe Floral | Wedding Coordinator: Tasha Silva (family and friend) | Invitations + Printed Materials: Bride + Tasha Silva | Hair + Makeup: Kylie Doka | Groom’s Tuxedo: Perry Ellis | Custom Flower Crowns: Pamakane Luvsu (sunriseshell7@gmail.com) | Catering: Susie + Harry Saunders (Bride’s Aunt and Uncle) | Photobooth: The Flashlab | Upcycled Wooden Frames: Parker Moosman Oliver | Cake + Cupcakes: Tasha Silva | Cake Toppers: Margaret Steinmeier (friend) | Shot Glass Favours: Designed by Bride, Discount Mugs | DJ: Dj Kevo  | Loose Roses + Daisies: Global Roses | Rentals: Accel Party Rentals & Design  | Balloons: Party Pizzazz  | Beer Kegs: Bob’s Sports Bar | Wedding Dress: Handmade, custom designed by Roxanne Vogelgesang of Mokulua Designs (also Bride’s mom) | Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Sabo Skirt | Bridesmaid’s Earrings + Necklaces: Erin Austin Designs | Flower Girl Dress + Baskets: Handmade by Roxanne Vogelgesang from recycled material from Aimee’s dresses/skirts | Groomsmen: Aloha shirt: Tori Richard | Pants: Perry Ellis | Flip Flops: O’neill | Brown belts: Zappos

The simple phrase “destination wedding” conjures up all kinds of crazy gorgeous images, from barefoot brides to glistening ocean waves.  And what better place to make all of those dreamy visions come to life than Hawaii, a state that hosts its fair share of stunning soirees?  Especially when you’re this darling bride and your siblings have joint backyards overlooking the ocean, just outside of Waikiki.  That’s more than the ideal location for a wedding that is not only personal, but chock-full of week-long pretty planned to perfection by Nichole Weddings & Events and captured beautifully by Christie Pham Photography.  See it all in the full gallery.

Need more?  Check out this amazing film from Kai Media… it’s a must-see.

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From the Bride… With a year and half to plan our wedding, we had plenty of time to figure out what was most important to us – giving our friends and family not only a great party, but a memorable vacation! My siblings live next door to each other just outside of Waikiki, and it has become a tradition to get married in the yard between their houses overlooking the ocean. We knew we couldn’t find a better place to tie the knot. 140 of our friends and family flew from all over the globe to join us for a week of fun in the Honolulu sun. We planned rainforest hikes, beach days, a welcome BBQ with a shave ice truck, a Victorian tea bridal shower, a park day for the guys, a costumed catamaran sail, rehearsal dinner, and, of course, the wedding.   

We wanted our wedding to have a lot of Hawaiian culture and most of all, feel very personal, so we added a lot of little touches throughout the day. We wrote our own vows and had our friend perform our marriage ceremony. Our programs were fans that included a poem I wrote for Matt. My talented Maid of Honor made the maps for our invitations and hand-wrote the place cards in calligraphy.  Our dear friend married us, writing a touching and hilarious ceremony that also included a conch blower, beautiful Hawaiian blessing by the kapuna I’ve known for most of my life, and readings from Calvin and Hobbes, E.E. Cummings, and Plato’s Symposium.

Matt’s group of guy friends has been tight since elementary school, so he decided to make all 12 of them groomsmen!  To carry the vacation feel throughout the wedding, we gave out multi-colored sunglasses and leather luggage tags, had people sign a vintage world map as our guestbook, and put out custom-made mad libs on each table for them to fill out. We secretly learned a formal foxtrot and triple step swing for our first dance, and then, I surprised Matt with a hula my bridesmaid had choreographed.   As I work in travel event planning, I knew how important selecting the right vendors would be, so I chose the exceptional wedding planner my niece had introduced me to the year before. Nichole was incredible – helping me choose an amazing assortment of vendors, always there to answer questions or listen to ideas. For the décor, I worked with Nichole and the incredibly talented Flowergirls Hawaii ladies to create a modern-Hawaiian feel with simple flowers to complement the outdoor setting.

One my favorite things about Hawaii is the food, so we made sure to give our guests a chance to sample all our favorites, including sushi and pupus during cocktail hour and malasadas (a form of Portuguese doughnuts) for dessert! For the catering, I was lucky enough to have the help of my family’s long-time friend, Nurhan, to find a great vendor who really listened to our specific menu requests.

Mahalo nui loa to my vendors – Christie, for providing incredible photographs for both our engagement and our wedding. Kai Media, for the absolutely stunning video short that makes everyone cry whenever they watch it. Dorys Foltin  of Maleana Cosmetics for making me into a bride. Rumbletones, for keeping the dance floor hopping and learning our favorite songs. My Maid of Honor, for everything. Nichole and Nurhan, the dynamic duo. And of course, our parents.We could not have had a wedding that was more “us” in any way!

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Wedding Photography: Christie Pham | Wedding Cinematography: Kai Media | Wedding Venue: Bride’s family home in Diamond Head, Honolulu, Hawaii | Event Planning: Nichole Weddings & Events | Floral Design: Flowergirls Hawaii | Catering: Catering Connection + Kats Sushi | Catering Coordination: Nurhan Enustan | Cocktail Music: Puamana | Band: Rumbletones | Wedding Stationery: Lauren Aczon (Maid of Honor) | Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseu via Anna Be Bridal | Bridesmaid Attire: J.Crew | Groom’s Attire: Banana Republic | Wedding Rings: the groom +  Mark Hadley from Hadley’s House of Diamonds | Hair + Makeup: Maleana Cosmetics

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.

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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

Hoo Films, I love you.  I love you more than I could ever put into words.  Because this stunning Honolulu film?  It has seriously made my week… and many more to come.  But that’s what tends to happen when I meet two of the sweetest cuties ever and get to spend my day wrapped up in their gorgeous seaside affair.  It’s a mesmerizing look into a wedding that is all about the pretty and all about the LOVE… and those vows (“You have the power to make people love you”)?  Taking my breath away.  Click play and prepare to be amazed.

From Hoo Films… Between the United States and Japan lies the Hawaiian islands, so that is where Shigeko and Josiah landed for their destination wedding.  Shige moved to the United States after high school.  Josiah is a good old fashioned southern boy from Texas who moved to California to find better work in the animation field.  The two of them met at a sushi party with friends in LA.  I loved hearing the story of Josiah asking Shige’s dad for her hand in marriage.  

He skyped her parents and had a translator with him to ask her dad in Japanese for Shige’s hand in marriage.  Shige’s parents mentioned this moment in their speech and went on to say that know Josiah is perfect for their daughter.  Although I listened to this in Japanese, it was such a sweet and meaningful speech! Tears everywhere!

Friends and family flew in from both countries to Oahu to bask in this beautiful week in paradise. So first on the list was swimming with sharks in the North Shore and it was awesome!!  We were dropped down in a cage with just bars standing between us and the sharks.  On the day of the wedding, we headed over to kathy Ireland Weddings Beachfront Oasis for the wedding.  Kimo Taylor, the officiant did some in English and some in Japanese.  Josiah and Shige wrote their own vows, which were adorable.  Then Shige said her traditional vows in Japanese.  Next on the agenda was to take Shige and Josiah to the beach for a trash the dress shoot.  This might be my favorite so far. Shige surfing in her wedding dress!  Having surfed myself, this was beyond fun to film with them.  The dress was SO heavy once it was wet.  I picked up the train only and it was quite heavy.  The two of them just couldn’t stop giggling and are so care free with each other.  Josiah is consistently loving with Shige.  It is obvious she is the light of his life.  And then Shige’s laugh and smile is one that will stay with you. 

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Wedding Cinematography: Hoo Films | Wedding Venue: Kathy Ireland Weddings, Beachfront Oasis in Honolulu, Hawaii | Wedding Photography: Adam A. Palmer | Officiant: Kimo Taylor | Wedding Coordination + Floral Design: Melissa Laudise from Lets Do This Weddings | Catering: Keneke’s Catering | Wedding Cake: Paradise Pastries | Music + Entertainment: Art Kalahiki | Rentals: Pacific Party Rentals

In a time where there are no longer hard and fast rules for wedding style and where weddings run the gamut in terms of fashion, locale and overall sense of design; the one thing that still holds true is a day completely infused with a couple’s personality will always reign Queen. It shows through in the simplest of details like this Bride walking down the aisle in her mother’s wedding dress or a more grand concepts like the citrus theme that was a beautiful nod to the Bride’s parent’s wedding held on a citrus farm. This wedding is shinning so bright with all that love, family and, of course, the beautiful images from Rebecca Arthurs. See them right here!

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From Rebecca Arthurs…Roger & Erin tied the knot at Kahua Ranch on the Big Island of Hawaii. It was rainy/sunny most of the day but that didn’t stop them from enjoying their outdoor ceremony. Family and friends came from all over the world to celebrate Roger and Erin as they said I Do. I couldn’t have been happier to document their special day. The wedding was beautiful. Romantically held under a huge old tree, with the rolling hills dramatically surrounding us; friends and family joining together to celebrate a couple they love. I was fortunate to be a part of it, documenting the love and joy as it happened!

From the Bride: Our love story happened quickly and seemed to fall into place miraculously. We met, fell in love, and got engaged all in 2 months. So it wasn’t surprising that God caused the wedding to come together quickly and perfectly. It was a romantic country wedding with a citrus theme. I wore my great-grandmother’s engagement ring and I knew I would be wearing my mom’s wedding dress from her Florida citrus farm wedding in 1981. It was a beautiful empire waist-line gown with a romantic capelet that lent itself perfectly to an ethereal country feel. The ranch was the first place we called for a venue. Roger is from Australia and when we saw the rolling green hills and craggy outcroppings, he thought of home and we agreed that it was the perfect place. For six months, we went to garage sales and thrift stores and found lace remnants, pails, and anything citrus to recreate some of my parents’ wedding with our own touches. Everything was just so easy and fun! One of my favorite decorations were the wood crates that Roger built that we filled with oranges and flowers for the tables. I walked down the aisle to a song my mom wrote 10 years before she passed away. It was a beautiful day of celebrating the beginning of our life together as well as celebrating the people who raised us and supported us so that we could be the husband and wife we were meant to be. We were beyond blessed to have such amazing photographers capture the details so that we will never forget our day.

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Photography: Rebecca Arthurs | Event + Floral Design: Linda Evans, Friend of the Bride | Venue: Kahua Ranch | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Caterer: Carols Cafe of Kona | Music + Sound: Ryan Burns | Dress: Vintage, Mother of the Bride’s | Shoes: Toms | Alterations: Scarlet Thread

Let’s face it – we’ve all dreamt of running off to Maui to say “I do” to the one we love with the beautiful ocean waves dancing in the background.  I mean, if you love weddings (and I know you do), the thought has crossed your mind a time or two.  And since Maui is kind of made for marrying, this stunning affair captured by Joanna Tano is (obviously) a serious bundle of perfection.  It’s breathtaking scenery meets beautiful blooms from Country Bouquets meets a bride and groom who are the epitome of stunning.  See it all in the full gallery.

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From Joanna Tano… Kim was the most stunning bride! This adorable couple was so sweet and so in love. It was an honor to capture their beautiful day at the Four Seasons Maui. They exchanged vows at the Plumeria Lawn and enjoyed cocktails and dinner on the Ocean Front Lawn with friends and family. Congratulations to the lovely couple!

From the Bride… Farzin and I met through a couple that we are both friends with. We saw each other and met maybe twice before we started dating. He proposed to me at the pier in Santa Monica. We went on the ferris wheel overlooking the ocean and he proposed to me on the ferris wheel.

Our wedding was small and  intimate with close friends and family. We choose Maui for our wedding because we have traveled here together before and we both really love it, so we decided to get married here and have our friends and family share in the occasion.

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Wedding Photography: Joanna Tano | Wedding Venue + Catering: Four Seasons Maui in Wailea, Maui, Hawaii | Officiant: Pastor Roland | Wedding Coordinator: Diane Okubo from Four Seasons Maui | Floral Design: Country Bouquets | Hair + Makeup: Four Seasons Maui Salon

I think it’s quite possible that if you looked up dream destination in the dictionary, an image of Haiku Mill would pop into view. And that view would be filled with lush greenery, beautifully aged stone and sparkling chandeliers. That’s Maui for ya. Belle Destination Weddings and Bella Bloom Floral Boutique took this already stunning spot and transformed it into a celebration all at once grand and beautifully intimate. You’re going to be dreaming of tropical locales once you have a look at the full day captured by Jana Morgan Photography; I promise you that.

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From Belle Destination Weddings…Marysa and David were seriously one of the sweetest, easy going couples I have ever met. The whole planning experience was fun, stress free and very special. The couple had a very intimate wedding party of about 24 guests at the beautiful Haiku Mill on Maui all flawlessly captured by Jana Morgan Photography. What made this wedding so special was the blending of cultures and traditions. The festivities commenced with a traditional Chinese tea ceremony and followed by a traditional western wedding ceremony.   It was very important to Marysa to incorporate the Chinese traditions from David’s background into the wedding. Marysa’s love for everything French led her to tastefully blend aspects of “Chinoiserie”  into the wedding decor details.  Peach, pink, yellow, red and gold made up the rich color pallet. The beautiful gold foil letter press invitations by Erica Keuter Designs featured geometric Chinese patterns with whimsical tree branches and birds…. Vintage Chinese tea-tins were used to display flowers. Pops of the color red, signifying love, joy and prosperity in Chinese wedding tradition adorned the elegant long dinner table. It was a night to remember by all and an amazing team of vendors came together to make it possible.

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Photography: Jana Morgan Photography | Floral Design: Bella Bloom Floral Boutique |Event Design + Planning: Belle Destination Weddings  | Location: Haiku Mill | Minister: Pia Aluli | Catering: Aloha Events Catering | Wedding Cake: Maui Sweet Cakes |  Calligraphy: Miss B Calligraphy | DJ: DJ Del Sol | Rentals: Pacific Isle Rentals | Custom rentals: Opihi Love | Invitations: Erica Keuter Designs | Dress: Mikaella | Shoes: Kate Spade  | Hair + Makeup: Mira Carman

My very own big day was a seaside soiree with a touch of tradition, so it should be no surprise that I fell head over heels in love with this beauty captured by Liga Photography. It’s dripping in that old Florida charm that never fails to leave me speechless, perfectly curated details from MMD Event and of course enough l.o.v.e to fill up that gorgeous blue ocean. Which ultimately justifies my obsession with this pretty little number, but if you need more, it’s all waiting for you right here.

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From Liga Photography… Finally the weather is cooling down, leaves are falling, and I’m happy to say, Fall is finally showing it’s much-awaited face here in Florida. And along with the gorgeous weather comes gorgeous Fall weddings! To start the season off, we witnessed the lovely destination wedding of Kristin and Steven. Chicago-based, Kristin and Steven decided to hold their wedding in Kristin’s hometown of Clearwater Beach. Their Catholic ceremony was held at Espiritu Santo and reception followed at the historic Carlouel Yacht Club.  I loved incorporating all of the sweet uniquely Florida details of Carlouel into their wedding photographs from the native mangrove and palm trees to the “old Florida charm” cabanas. And the details of their reception were so beautiful. Cathleen Wozney of Cathleen Marie Events did a fantastic job of designing and implementing Kristin’s vision of decor. Glowing candles, blush pink floral, mercury-glass vases, gold chargers, and chivari chairs came together to create a chic romantic setting. The evening ended up being a fabulous party with some amazing toasts, dancing, and cake. I thoroughly enjoyed having the honor to photograph Kristin and Steven’s wedding. And much like the glowing candles which illuminated the room, Kristin and Steve were emitting the warm glow of true love.

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Photography: Liga Photography | Coordination: Cathleen Marie Events | Ceremony: Espiritu Santo Catholic Church | Reception + Catering: Carlouel Yacht Club | Decor + Floral Design: MMD Events | Dress: Anne Barge | Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Band: Southtown Fever | Hair + Makeup: Artemis | Videography: Michael Alan Films | Invitations: Not From A Box

When I first laid eyes on this stunner of a shoot at Travaasa Hana, I nearly had to pick my jaw off the floor. No exaggeration, it’s just that gorgeous. But when I saw that the talents of LaFleur Weddings and Events, Sara Donaldson, Teresa Sena Design and Maui Sweet Cakes were behind the pretty, I wasn’t surprised a bit. Because that dream team is most definitely capable of something this drop dead gorgeous. So this gallery? Worthy of some serious quality time. So make sure to spend some time right here.

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From Sara Donaldson… Jill LaFleur + Sara Donaldson + Teresa Sena + Travassa Hana in Maui = perfection. The grounds at Travaasa Hana feature stunning pools with the view of ocean waves spilling over lava rock, rolling grasses leading down to the ocean, lush greenery, and horses gallivanting in nearby pasture.

We had so much fun playing with creative ideas, including Jill’s custom wedding dress made out of lace and fabric! (YES, she MADE the dress.) Teresa Sena (Teresa Sena Design) designed the floral arrangements, which made such a stunning statement. (The shoot really showcases Teresa’s creativity and classic style.) Bella Rosa Resta’s jewelry (RueBelle jewelry) provided just the right flair for our Hawaiian bride. The inspiration shoot combines traditional Hawaiin culture with a fresh take on native flora. My newly purchased Hawaiian ukulele (purchased in Maui to round out my collection of musical instruments) even made its photography debut on set! Our groom also had quite a bit of fun singing and showing us his native ukulele skills!

Travaasa Hana is truly a little slice of heaven…and so is working with this top-notch team of vendors.

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Wedding Photography: Sara Donaldson | Wedding Venue: Travaasa Hana On the island of Maui, Hawaii | Event Planner + Designer: Jill LaFleur from LaFleur Weddings and Events | Assistant Art Director + Stylist: Karina Puente  | Floral Design: Teresa Sena Design | Wedding Cake: Heidi Cramer from Maui Sweet Cakes | Linens + Place Settings: Jill LaFleur | Models: Tasha Goldberg + Jacob Abeytia | Wedding Dress: Custom by Jill LaFleur | Jewelry: RueBelle Designs | Hair: Eboni Prentice (prenticeeboni@yahoo.com) | Makeup: Jessica Waite

When I first took a peek at this sweet e-session from Anna Kim Photography, I swore up and down that it was a photo shoot. Complete with models and stylists. Come to find out, this is just what real life looks like for these two soon to be newlyweds. Gorgeous is their norm, and it has me biting at the bit to see just how gorgeous their big day turns out. Thankfully I have this gallery to hold me over until they say I do. See it all here.

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From Anna Kim Photography… The magical Haiku Mill and Maui’s North Shore was the perfect location for this sweet couple’s love bird session.  Together, Stephanie and Mike exude fun, style and so much love! We are so excited to photograph them on their wedding day. 

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Wedding Photography: Anna Kim Photography | Venue: The Haiku Mill in Haiku, Hawaii | Props: Opihi Love Vintage Rentals | Hair + Makeup: Liz Javelosa

Destination weddings are a bit of a dream, no? You’d be hard pressed to find a person that didn’t get a little giddy when they stumble on a dreamy destination beauty, and when that wedding is captured by Wendy Laurel? It’s safe to say, every person that takes a peek of this party will fall head over heels in love with every picture. Don’t believe me? See for yourself. Totally gorge.

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From Wendy… Kristi and Rob both live in Lahaina, Hawaii but had to resort to match.com to find each other.  They share a love of dogs and outdoor adventure.

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Wedding Photography: Wendy Laurel | Second Photographer: Patrice Carlton | Wedding Venue: Plantation House in Kapalua, Hawaii | Decor: Banana Wind

For a couple who wanted a gorgeous beach wedding, Maui proved to be just the right fit.  They wanted nothing else than to celebrate their love amongst friends and family while overlooking the blue waters of the Pacific. And if the images by Weddings by Sasha are any indication, they hit that destination wedding mark right on the head. Have a look at even more of this happy day right here in the full gallery.

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From the Bride…Planning our dream was easy, the guest list was the biggest challenge. We knew if we left it up to our parents, we would have over 500 guests. To avoid a circus, we decided on a destination wedding. We envisioned a small and intimate gathering, with our closest friends and family. Maui was perfect it holds a special meaning to us, it represented our first trip together. We couldn’t think of a better place to take our vows and start this new chapter in our lives.

Our wedding was a dream come true. We wanted a beautiful beach wedding with the Pacific Ocean as backdrop, the Ritz Carlton provided the perfect setting. It was absolutely breathtaking. The ceremony was 15 feet away from the beach and the reception took place underneath a clear tent, the bright night stars provided a romantic ambiance. We wanted combine our individual personal style and creativity with the traditions of Maui. I’m very inspired by vintage 1920s while Tony is more classic with modern updates. The combination of the two netted a romantic vintage theme. My bridesmaids were draped in a beautiful mauve, vintage haltered dress with gold metallic sandals. For accessories, they were adorned with soft cream pearl necklaces, which complimented the hand boutiques of hydrangeas and peonies. Tony’s groomsmen looked amazing in their J Crew white linen shirts and fitted grey linen pants. To add a nice pop of color, we tied in the vintage look by adding a baby blue-polka dotted suspenders. My wedding gown was a vintage piece, which was surprisingly easy to find, I found it the day after our engagement. I’d like to think it was fate The birdcage was my favorite piece, it was created by a London- based designer, sprinkled with the vintage pearl necklace, I felt like I was taken back into the roaring 20s. Tony looked handsome in his light grey J Crew suit, with a black bowtie and suspenders perfectly paired with his black John Varvatos loafers. The wedding party was dressed to kill!

The reception was magical. Our guest sat underneath a clear tent, 50 yards from the ocean, we wanted to create a feeling of dancing under the stars. The tent was decorated with assorted pink pom poms and white lanterns. String lights across the tent added a warm romantic glow. A table of fresh pink lemonade and cucumber water greeted guest’s arrival. For personal touch, each table was named after places we traveled together over the last 6 years. I hand-crafted all of the mason jars with cream laces and vintage buttons. Our favorite moment of the night was during our first dance, surrounded by friends and family was when Tony and I had our first dance along with our parents. We danced to, The Way You Look Tonight, by Michael Buble.

Surrounded by family and friends, we celebrated deep into the night, cocktails in hands and spirits carefree surrounded us with love and joy; Wow, I thought could this be any better and it did. We get to spend few more nights with everyone and recapped the event over Mai Tai’s. To all the Engaged couples, if you want a small and intimate wedding, destination is the way to go. Good luck and we hope your wedding will be amazing and all you dream of.

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Photography: Weddings by Sasha | Floral Design: Sunya’s Flowers | Venue: The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua | Tent + Lighting: Maui Rents | Entertainment: Envisions Entertainment | Hawaiian Guitarist: Liz Morales | DJ:  DJ Del Sol | Linen: BBJ Linen | Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet | Necklace: Vintage | Birdcage Veil: Agnes Hart | Makeup: DIY | Hair: Dara Ung, Shampoo Doll

Bryce, Bryce, Bryce. I’m not certain how the magic happens when he steps behind a camera, but I couldn’t be more thrilled that it does. Because each and every image he’s ever snapped up, I’ve fallen head over heels in love with. My love fest continues after just one look at this inspiration shoot set in the beautiful Kauai. It’s the light, it’s the softness, it’s the scenery – it’s everything, and you can see why I’ll always swoon over anything Bryce, sends our way in the full gallery.

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From Bryce Covey Photography… This is an inspirational shoot with a real couple on Kauai, Hawaii. The inspiration was a simple, organic and gorgeous Hawaii without being cliche, just to allow the scenery to speak for itself. The real couple are locals that are beautiful people inside and out. At the end of the session we ended with some photos at sunset with the way most people spend their time in Hawaii, enjoying the beach in their swimsuits.

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Wedding Photography: Bryce Covey Photography | Location: Waimea Plantation Cottages in Kauai, Hawaii | Floral Design: Kim Barkow (kimbarkow@me.com) | Wedding dress: J.Crew | Girl’s Swimwear: Toque D’ Sol | Men’s Attire: Calvin Klein + Banana Republic | Guy’s Swimwear: O’Neil | Hair + Makeup: The LAB

Loving destination weddings is an easy task. Far off locales mixed with the ultimate life celebrations = a no brainer in the adoration department. Especially when that destination is turned into all out glamour. Palm trees strung with chandeliers is a beautiful thing my friends. With photography by Lacie Hansen, blooms by Amaryllis Designs and planning by Stephanie Shepherd, this destination wedding is sure to have you dreaming of warm weathered “I Do’s”. Catch even more right here in the full gallery.

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From the Bride…Patience is a virtue- My wonderful husband Bobby and I met ten and a half years ago at a friend’s birthday camping trip. Literally from the moment I saw him, I was in love. It was an indescribable feeling, like a shock just went straight through me. I was so taken by him from that glance; I couldn’t even speak or look at him. Lucky for me, the feeling was mutual; we started dating 3 days later and have been inseparable ever since. We were young when we met so marriage wasn’t something on the near horizon for either of us, though I didn’t think I would have to wait 9 whole years for an engagement and 10 for a wedding. When he proposed I’m not sure if I cried because I was so overcome with emotion or so thankful that it was finally happening! In the end, it was definitely worth the wait.

“Aloha au iaoe (I love you)” We got engaged in Maui, Hawaii, on a deserted black sand beach. Anyone who has ever been to Hawaii knows the islands capture part of your soul and since we got engaged there, it had even more meaning to us. We knew instantly that we wanted to share this special place with our family and friends. Besides, who doesn’t want to go to Maui for a wedding!?  We fell upon this absolutely AMAZING location tucked away in the jungle of Maui. Not to sound corny, but it was magical. That is the only way to describe our venue, Haiku Mill, and our wedding.

“Less is More”- Both Bobby and I are in the wedding industry, myself being a bridal consultant at Hitched in Washington, DC and Bobby, the production manager for Amaryllis; a floral and event design company. Everyone expected us to have an all out, over-the-top event; but because we are so immersed in that world, we wanted just the opposite. We wanted our wedding to be perfectly simple, understated, and relaxed.  For the next year, we lived by the saying “Less is More.” Just about every detail of our wedding had been, in some way, created or impacted by our family and friends. Bobby and I designed, printed, and put together our invitations. My mother, Mary Ellen Trozzo, a jeweler, created the masterpiece of a necklace that I wore, along with the wedding bands and my engagement ring, our good friend Grace supplied the ceremony music, Bobby himself designed and assembled all of the florals, and our photographer, Lacie Hansen, who I adore, supplied us with a lifetime of unforgettable memories. The list goes on and on- every piece of the event had personal meaning and nothing was over done or extravagant.

“Happy Ever After”- The wedding went through without a hitch…except for when I tossed my bouquet into an antique crystal chandelier and broke it…but aside from that, I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day! I, along with a million other brides, will say this till I’m blue in the face, but it really was the best day of my life. I married a man who thinks the world of me, and I of him. We are so excited to share the rest of our lives with each other and I hope that the rest of our lives together is as perfect as our wedding was.

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Photography: Lacie Hansen | Venue: Haiku Mill | Wedding Planner: Stephanie Shepherd | Floral Deisgn + Linens: Amaryllis Designs | Invitations: Bride + Groom | Officiant: Pia Aluli |Rentals: Island Rentals | Tent: Maui Rents | Catering: Maui Executive Catering | Bartender: Bars R Us | DJ: Ace Beats | Wedding Dress: Anna Maier via Hitched Salon | Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale via Hitched Maids | Grooms Suit: Hugo Boss | Groomsmen Suits: J.Crew | Custom Jewelry: M.E.Trozzo, Inc, | Custom Cut Stones for Jewelry: Thomas A. Trozzo | Shoes: Caparros | Grooms Shoes: Cole Han | Transportation: Travel Plaza Transportation | Hair: Salon 253 (Aidel Sneary + Nicole Nadalin) | Make-Up: Maui Makeup Artistry, Liz Javelosa

We love this bride.  Love, love, love her.  And not only because she’s the kind of bride that lights up a room with her smile (she sooo is) or because she is the kind of gorgeous that you can’t look away from (literally), but because she also happens to be our first ever Style Me Pretty + William Arthur Bride.  A fabulous SMPer who won her choice of invites from our Style Me Pretty by William Arthur collection AND a lovely lady who was inspired by said invites to create a day that was all caps PRETTY with enchanting florals from Green Honolulu and stunning photography from Anna Kim.  Honestly?  We couldn’t be more proud… or happy.  See every last moment in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… “Destination! Our wedding will be in Hawaii at a Waikiki ocean-front hotel.  I love how it is has a classic and elegant look, yet still evokes the ocean/beach feel with the Turquoise edge and without the typical seashell icon. We are hoping for a wedding that is exactly that – elegant with a hint of destination.”

That was my answer which randomly won the beautiful Style Me Pretty invitations from William Arthur. Having read that again (after over a year) I do think our wedding was just as I described the invitation suite – elegant with a hint of destination.

Our wedding was in Oahu, Hawaii where I was born and raised. Being a resident of California now I was so excited to share my beautiful home with all of my family and friends. However during the planning phase, I was having a hard time settling on a theme. I knew I didn’t want a full scale destination/tropical wedding but I did want to incorporate the beauty of Hawaii. I was starting to panic a bit until I saw SMP’s destination invitation suite and suddenly I realized I could have the simple, elegant wedding I wanted with subtle notes of Hawaii. After having my epiphany, things finally started falling into place.

We chose the historic Westin Moana Surfrider as our wedding site for its iconic white columns, wide verandas, beachfront location, and Hawaiian touches within the hotel including the art and upholstery. I have always loved this hotel because it is so unique and picturesque, and it was a dream come true to have our wedding there. Green Honolulu filled our wedding with gorgeous flowers including our special Hawaiian touches – leis for the groom, groomsmen, family members, and our officiant, and a lovely haku lei (floral crown) for the flower girl. Sandra at Finishing Touch made sure our wedding ran smoothly and that no detail was overlooked. Our DJ and Emcee Troy was a joy to work with. He made sure everyone (including my 82 year old grandfather) was on the dance floor, it was quite a a sight to see. Lastly, I cannot thank Anna and her associate photographer Jes enough for their amazing work, true magic.

But of course I can’t leave out talking about our wedding stationery. I made it a point for the entire suite to be special and a reflection of us. The invitation suite we won was perfect, I cannot stress that enough. I was beyond excited that I had actually won. The process with William Arthur was quite easy and stress-free. And the final product was just downright amazing. My favorite detail of our invitation suite was the turquoise painted edges, so chic! Our other printed material was a bit more fun. We kept with an illustrative and watercolor theme including an illustrated map of Oahu for our save the dates and a cute illustrated fan with the entire wedding party that served as our wedding program. I loved how everything truly represented my now husband and I – classic with some fun mixed in.

When I think back to our wedding one word pops into mind, blessed. I truly feel as if our wedding was blessed from the start – loving family and friends, wonderful wedding vendors, beautiful venues, breathtaking photography, perfect weather, and of course gorgeous (and free!) wedding invitations. As a bride I could not have asked for anything more, nor did I have any desire to.

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Photography: Anna Kim Photography | Wedding Venue: Westin Moana Surfrider in Honolulu, Hawaii | Wedding Coordination: Finishing Touch | Floral Design: Green Honolulu | Wedding Invitations: Style Me Pretty by William Arthur | Wedding Stationery: Eloise Timmis | DJ + Emcee: Troy Michael DJ | Wedding Dress: Claudine for Alyce Bridal | Bridesmaid Attire: Donna Morgan | Groom + Groomsmen Attire: Black by Vera Wang | Groom + Groomsmen Bowties: Brooks Brothers | Hair + Makeup: Dayna Okuma

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.

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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

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We have a resident Islander in the SMP family who also happens to be a crazy, big fan of gold glitter. So to Kari, I dedicate this wedding to you. It’s tropical in the prettiest of ocean view ways and glamorous in that sparkling approach to tablescaping we so adore. Designed by Christina Farrow along with all the happy moments captured beautifully by Rebecca Arthurs, this is our dream of Kauai nuptials done so, so right. See even more Island glamour right here in the full gallery.

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From the bride… Picture perfect is exactly how I would describe our wedding day! Our wedding planner, Christina Farrow went above and beyond to make our dream wedding a reality.  With our closest and dearest family members present, we exchanged vows atop a sun drenched terrace overlooking the sparkling Pacific.  Dressed in his tuxedo, our two year old son Noah-Paul, joined us as our family circle was ceremoniously completed and we officially became husband and wife.  Our reception featured an exquisite four course dinner, and as we sat with our family along rose strewn tables in the soft glow of flickering candlelight, we dined and celebrated, our hearts content and filled with love. 
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Wedding Photography: Rebecca Arthurs | Wedding Planning & Design: Christina Farrow | Wedding Venue: St. Regis Princeville | Floral Design: Martin Roberts Design | Wedding Cinematography: Studio Red | Stationery: Bradley & Lily | Linens: La Tavola Linen | Wedding Dress: White by Vera Wang | Bride’s Shoes: YSL | Earrings + Rings: Tiffany & Co.

Oh, Hawaii.  I love you.  Your perfect temps, your clear blue skies, your breathtaking scenery… it all makes for such a stunning backdrop for THE big day.  Not to mention the cute as can be couples that seem to flock to your gorgeous locale.  They have a way of always, ALWAYS delivering the pretty – and this beautiful Bayer Estate affair?  Well, it’s a prime example with its sweet vintage vibe, vibrant pink blooms from Flowergirls and amazing images from Anna Kim Photography.  See them all in the full gallery.

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From Anna Kim Photography… Joy and Daryle were married at the Bayer Estate on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. From the bride’s birdcage veil to the homemade jam they gave away as favors, their rustic event was full of vintage flair.

From the Bride… Our wedding day was beautiful. One of the most memorable things I can think of overall is the beautiful weather we had that day. Not too hot, not raining, and just the right amount of sun and trade winds that we couldn’t have chosen a more perfect day to be married. We wanted our wedding to feel whimsical, intimate, and romantic and every detail displayed this from the flowers to the table design and down to our cake toppers. We chose to get married on Oahu because I was born and raised there. Daryle loves Hawaii, too and we have made many memories on Oahu. We couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else.

Wedding Photography: Anna Kim Photography / Wedding Venue: Bayer Estate in Honolulu, Hawaii / Wedding Coordination: Finishing Touch Hawaii / Floral Design: Flowergirls / Caterer: Poke Stop / Wedding Cake + Macaroons: Cake Works Hawaii / Cupcakes: Cake Couture / Linen Rental: Les Saison + La Tavola / Photobooth: BlueCheese Photobooth / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Makeup: Faith & Beauty

With February vacations in full swing we’re day-dreaming of some sand between our toes. So when this Maui photo shoot came across our desks, we started to pack our bags. Brought to us by a truly talented team of wedding experts, this shoot is full of fresh island inspiration. With photography by Anna Kim Photography and styling by La Fleur Weddings & Events and Davia Lee Events it’s a playfully preppy twist on the tropical wedding. Sun-kissed skin, beachy waves, and beautiful, bold details are totally our kind of paradise… so let’s take a trip to somewhere warm, right here in the gallery.

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From Anna… Inspired by the vibrant colors of summer, fashion and a unique take on an island romance, this isn’t your average wedding. It is a fun, carefree cocktail-style wedding with a classic Maui backdrop of blue water, palm trees and tropical colors.

This bride loves bright colors, fashion & the waters of Maui. She wanted to keep her dress a classic white, but bring in fun details with the textures, details and length. She then brought in pops of color through her accessories and a tropical bouquet.

Tropical flowers in vibrant colors would dress the table with details that would leave guests thinking they stepped back in time to a retro pool party. Bright pops of color are continued throughout the table with accents from the linens. Fun patterns were brought in with the linens and place settings to add another fun dimension and unexpected element.

LOVE was the theme for the shoot & what better way to portray that than with oversized letters spelling out the word next to the cake table.

Photography: Anna Kim Photography / Styling: Davia Lee Events + La Fleur Weddings & Events / Floral Design: Dellables with special thanks to Jeannie Givens + Reba Dodge of North Shore Botanicals / Cake: Ghiselani Designer Cakes / Rentals: Opihi Love / Linens: La Tavola /Plates: Kate Spade / Dresses: Veronica Sheaffer  / Hair: Eboni Prentice of Maui Wedding Hair / Makeup: Jessica Waite Makeup Artistry / Model: Sarah Hardestry

There is nothing better to this wedding-obsessed gal than a perfectly laid-back day-after session – especially if that shoot takes place in a breathtaking Maui waterfall with Trish Barker Photography behind the lens! And that, my dears, is what I’ve got here for you. It’s crazy-beauitful from start to finish and you can see it all right here!

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From Trish Barker Photography… Being a photographer on Maui, I’m always VERY excited when someone wants to shoot somewhere other than the beach.  This particular couple wanted to get married on the beach, but then have a romantic, day after session.  When they said waterfall, I knew the perfect place.  Twin Falls in Maui is a popular tourist attraction, however, in the early morning hours, it is quiet and peaceful and the light is just divine.  So we trekked in with my gear and them donned in their wedding best.  The rest is history.  This is one of my favorite shoots EVER.  One of those times where everything just goes flawlessly, from the light, to the energy of the couple.  And it didn’t hurt that they are both beautiful and TOTALLY in love.  And that the groom decided to jump from the top at the end.  So perfect!

Wedding Photography: Trish Barker Photography / Location: Twin Falls in Huelo on the Island of Maui, Hawaii / Wedding Dress: J.Crew