Oh be still my island loving heart! This wedding is drop dead beautiful in its simplicity. I’m dying over the gorgeous color combo of corals and greens that was whipped up by the creative geniuses at Green. My heart is all sorts of fluttering over this one and I could literally stare at the pretty, pretty images by Radiant Photography by the Chansons all day long. Join me in the gallery for a good old fashioned swoon fest, won’t you?
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From Green… Physical therapy wasn’t exactly Shaun’s idea of a fun way to spend his afternoons, and when it landed him in a spinning class, his distress grew. Until, that is, he went into the class and spotted a gorgeous (albeit sweaty) girl across the way. Katy noticed him too, and after a few post-workout conversations, they were hooked and their story began. This unexpected encounter in the spinning class turned out to be the meeting of their dreams, as Katy and Shaun both soon discovered that this was “it.” The wedding planning began. Without a doubt, Katy and Shaun knew the perfect location: the Hawaiian island of Oahu, where Shaun lived while his father was stationed in the Navy there.
They kicked off their wedding week with a potluck on the beach where all their friends and family were able to meet and greet one another. The following morning began with a beautiful sunrise hike that led straight into a day full to the brim with every enjoyable activity under the sun (i.e. volleyball tournaments, paddle boarding, laying out in the sun, sipping traditional Hawaiian drinks, etc.). The next day started out with a golf tournament on an absolutely beautiful course, followed by a “beach crawl” where each group along the beach house stops represented Katy and Shaun and their story together through different themes related to the drinks, appetizers, and décor. For example, one house was Hawaiian (with obvious connotations), one house represented Catalina Island where Katy and Shaun got engaged, and so on. That night ended with a trip to a local bar where Shaun had arranged ahead of time for his band to play. It was an epic ending to the day. Eventually, the biggest pre-wedding event of all finally arrived… the Groom’s Dinner, which was held on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri. This ship is not only a significant piece of American history, but also a significant piece of family history for Shaun, who has himself followed along on the path of strong military tradition the men in his family have established before him. Each and every day during this week of celebration were absolutely perfect and unforgettable. And all of them were just the precursors to the event to end all events: Katy and Shaun’s Hawaiian wedding.
When the time came for the ceremony, Katy surprised all the guests by riding over from the house across the pond, to ceremony site — in a canoe! Two of the groomsmen (who were very nervous about having the bride in their care over water) paddled while Katy just sat there beaming. Their ceremony was held under a gigantic tree that had flowers flowing from the bottom of the trunk to the ground, leading into the aisle of flowers for them to walk down. Their cocktail hour consisted of traditional Hawaiian hors d’oeuvres and a sushi bar. One of the great features of the night was when Shaun surprised Katy by replacing the reception band with his own band and performed a special song for her, “Just The Two of Us.” The crowd went wild during this jazzy little number that ended with Katy and Shaun cuddling, kissing, and cheering on stage. There are not enough words in the world to describe the amount of love that was shown and felt through everyone present at this spectacular event. Katy and Shaun are an incredibly warm and gracious couple and that theme played out through every single aspect of their wedding from their traditional Hawaiian/Christian ceremony, to their elegant cocktail hour and joyful reception. All of it radiated feelings of family, tradition, relationships, and a genuine love for life that could only be created by this vibrant couple and the talented vendors they worked with to make it all happen.
Wedding Photography: Scott + Breanna Chanson of Radiant Photography by the Chansons / Wedding Venue: Kahaluu Fishpond in Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii / Floral + Event Design: Avery Solmssen of Green / Event Planning: Melissa Laudise of Let’s Do This! / Catering: Ginniberries / Wedding Cake: Agnes’ Portuguese Bake Shop / Musicians: Nueva Vida + Jeff Peterson via Orange Apple Entertainment / Rentals: Accel Party Rentals / Tent Rentals: Pacific Event Group, Inc. + Current Affairs / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Rachel Pally / Hair + Makeup: Dorys Fotlin + Maleana Cosmetics
I absolutely adore this chic, fresh approach to the bridal session by Wendy Laurel! It’s just perfect for a sunshiny Maui wedding and a unique bride with loads of style. Who wouldn’t want to whisk off around the island in a fringy and flirty J.Crew wedding dress and an adorable, little yellow VW bug?! Get your cheer on in the full gallery!
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From Wendy Laurel… This shoot was inspired by the yellow VW that I kept seeing driving around town. It just looked so fresh and beachy in yellow. The car’s owner turned out to be a very nice guy who had bought the car as a young man brand new and kept it up ever since. I also fell in love with the J.Crew wedding dress and thought they would look good together. A young, fresh look for a Maui wedding.
Photography: Wendy Laurel / Location: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii / Floral Design: Sunya Flowers (808-669-8570) / Car: Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Convertible / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Bracelet: Tiffany & Co. / Shoes: Converse + Nina / Sunglasses: Ray-Ban / Lipstick: MAC / Model: Anna Julie Breedlove
Hawaii is definitely on my bucket list of destinations to visit and every time we feature a gorgeous wedding from one of these majestic islands my wanderlust just becomes more and more severe. There is an intimacy and serenity to every ceremony that is surrounded by the lush landscapes, white sandy beaches and crystal clear water. This Kauai wedding by Joanna Tano Photography perfectly captures the simple elegance of Hawaii’s oldest island. See it all in the full gallery!
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Make sure you watch the entire day beautifully captured by Fisheye Studio!
From Joanna of Joanna Tano Photography… The picturesque North Shore of Kauai has become one of my favorite places on Earth! Joy and Tom traveled from Southern California for their wedding celebration. It was intimate and lovely — they were surrounded by their close friends and family. Joy and Tom thought it was very special how it rained briefly after the ceremony, kind of like a blessing over the marriage. They thought the whole experience was amazing and could not have asked for a more gorgeous location and friendly vendors.
Wedding Photography: Joanna Tano Photography / Wedding Reception: Na ‘Aina Kai Botanical Gardens in Kilauea, Hawaii on the Island of Kauai / Wedding Coordination: I Do Weddings / Floral Design + Decor: Mr. Flowers / Officiant: Kelvin Ho / Wedding Cinematography: Fisheye Studio / Catering: Contemporary Flavors Catering / Table + Chair Rentals: Kauai Tent & Party Rentals / Linens: BBJ Linen / Ceremony + Cocktail Hour Music: Pancho Graham / DJ: Kustom Sounds Kauai / Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet (Style: Mila) for Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Liz Fields (Style: 362)
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