Wailea-Makena Wedding Ideas and Inspiration

Oceanfront Maui Wedding With Terracotta Details Inspired By Italy

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Blush, nude, taupe, muted copper, terracotta, orange, marigold, and butter yellow with foliage.

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Playing off of the couple’s Italian roots, we designed with the Amalfi Coast in mind: Cle tiles were shipped in from Italy to be used as place cards, a lemon tree was made in the center of a 16′ round wooden bar, citrus and yellow accents, a traditional millefoglie cake and tropical lanterns, a fire dancer and bamboo chairs to remind the guests that they were on Maui. The overall feel of the wedding had a subtle nod to Italy with a dreamy floral sensibility using garden blooms in shades of blush, nude, taupe, muted copper, terra-cotta, orange, marigold and butter yellow in aged terra-cotta urns. Whimsical linens were mix matched atop round and long dining tables throughout the oceanfront lawn, surrounding the wooden dance floor. The groom Paul is a huge Motley Cru fan, attending over 30 concerts of theirs in his life, it seemed appropriate to have the string duo write a special arrangement of Home Sweet Home for their ceremony. The couple said their vows at a stunning floral arch of all yellow blooms. The bride wore Monique Lhuillier.

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Both gowns were designed by Monique Lhuillier.

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The bridesmaid dresses were Jenny Yoo satin crepe gowns in latte.

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Four Seasons Maui tray passed cocktails: “Oliver Spritz”- Aperol, passion fruit, pineapple, coconut water, Prosecco. “Paul’s POG”- rum and POG juice cocktail.

First Course: Grilled organic papaya, goat cheese, pomegranate, avocado crema, flax seeds Lobster ravioli, creme rosa sauce, tarragon, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts

Choice of Entree: Duos Braised beef short rib, baby leeks, garlic whipped potatoes, leek ash, braising jus and half lobster tail Macadamia nut mahi mahi, roasted heirloom carrots, green pearl, gochujang butter sauce and half lobster tail.

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The ceremony was marked by a stunning mono-bloom arch of sunshine-yellow blooms. The aisle contained natural garden blooms in clusters at the base of the chairs, appearing as if growing in nature. The bride carried a sweet bouquet of earthy-hued blooms: ranunculus, tulips, roses, and sweet peas. The reception on the oceanfront lawn featured a mix of round and long dining tables with whimsical patterned linens. Aged terra-cotta urns held floral-focused arrangements of garden blooms in shades of nude, ivory, blush, honey, cinnamon, and apricot hues. Natural-hued candles sat in glass hurricanes atop terra-cotta plates. Cle tiles with calligraphy names were the place cards, a nod to Italy. The round wooden bar was marked by a stunning lemon tree in the center with baskets.

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The wedding cake was an Italian millefoglie cake.

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]CEREMONY
PROCESSIONAL | “Wildest Dreams” by Duomo
Sharad (Officiant)
BRIDE’S ENTRANCE | “Home Sweet Home” by Motley Crue a surprise to her groom@

No personal vows
No readings

RECESSIONAL | “Young and Beautiful” by Stringspace
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[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Welcome dinner was at Maui Brew Co, picnic tables with herbs in aged planters and topiaries, persimmons and citrus. Effortless and chic European garden party inspired.

Rehearsal dinner was held at Spago- feminine dusty lilac and blush hued blooms. [/field]
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A Maui Wedding Brunch Reception That’s Sure To Make You Smile

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Soft, neutral, feminine: pale pinks, apricot, guava, butter yellows and creamy ivory hues.[/field]
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Payton and Jack’s key design words were clean, warm, intimate, and thoughtful. They wanted a fun, laid-back, and unique wedding day experience that felt elevated. They hosted a gorgeous brunch celebration after a traditional Catholic ceremony in a historic church on Maui’s southernmost coast. Their guest experience was the most important to them as most of their guests were visiting Maui for the first time. Next in importance were flowers (classic, organic garden blooms), food, and drinks!

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The bride wore a Lela Rose gown and later changed into a short Zimmerman dress paired with Chloe sneakers. She opted for a minimal, no-makeup look.

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Bridesmaids were encouraged to wear a gown of their choice for an authentic and untraditional approach. Floral print chiffon gowns were stunning.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Payton and Jack hosted a brunch action station reception. Passed appetizers were mini quiche, fried chicken and waffle bites and assorted Nigiri.

The eggs and morning things station included fried rice bowls, salmon and sweet potato hash and prosciutto Benedict.

The sushi station featured maleuaka roll shrimp tempura and spicy tuna, hamachi, avocado, cucumber, jalapeño, and rainbow roll.

Crema coffee cart served up espresso, americano, macchiato, cortado, capuchin latte, mocha and affogatos.

Garnish Craft Cocktails served Fresh mandarin, mango lilikoi, hibiscus and guava mimosas and bloody Marys.
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Payton and Jack wed in the historic Kealawai Congregational Church on Maui. The entrance to the church featured a crawling floral installation of garden blooms in pastel hues. The aisle was lined with lush ground floral arrangements with gorgeous foliage, made to feel like guests were sitting in an ethereal garden. Payton carried a classic bouquet of lily of the valley. Her ‘maids held petite bouquets of garden blooms in the color story of the day, pale pink, apricot, guava, butter yellow and creamy ivory. The reception was held beneath a grand white tent overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Guest tables were a mix of round and rectangle tables. Floral arrangements were chic, romantic, and refined in design, with garden blooms in shades of pale pink, apricot, guava, and creamy ivory in ceramic compotes composed of tulips, spray roses, helebore, astillbe, ranunculas and lisianthus. Payton liked salmon-hued Phalaenopsis orchids for a touch of punchy color. Cocktail hour featured chic floral moments in the lounge area. An escort table display featured glass cloches with calligraphy table assignments and garden blooms tucked beneath. In the center of the circle bar above on the center, pole featured a whimsical and natural foliage tree installation for a stunning effect.

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The wedding cake by Cake Fanatics was pina colada with whipped cream icing. The dessert station featured the wedding cake, panna cotta, and malasadas.

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Musician Andrew Molina played original songs on the ukulele during the ceremony.
It was a Catholic Mass.
Responsorial Psalm “The Lord is Kind and Merciful”
Gospel Matthew 7:21, 24-25
Recessional “Hiilawe” by Gabby Pahinui [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]The ceremony location is a historical location oceanfront in Hawaii, The Keawala’i Congregational Church. It is located in one of the most spectacular spots in the world, oceanfront in Makena, Maui. When you look out over the Pacific Ocean from the grounds at the Keawala’i Congregational Church you can see the islands of Lana’i, Kaho’olawe, and the Molokini crater. The Keawala’i Congregational Church was founded in 1832.

Payton and Jack were granted special permission to bring in a Catholic priest and do a catholic service at this church. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Couture Events orchestrated a private dinner for the newlyweds after their daytime reception. Just the two of them at the Cliff House at Montage Kapalua Bay, a historic venue nestled on the cliffs of Namalu Bay. Erica from Couture set up a stunning candlelit dinner repurposing all the ground florals from the ceremony aisle and the tabletop florals. The menu featured shrimp cocktail “martinis” , beet and burrata salad, farro risotto, or king salmon and flourless chocolate cake and lilikoi cheesecake. They sipped on Veuve Clicquot. The couple checked into the hotel for a few days of tranquility! [/field]
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Magnificent Maui Waterfront Wedding In Tones Of Dusty Blue

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

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

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

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

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Modern Persian Wedding In Maui In Petal Pink And Peach Tones

Say “aloha” to island wedding bliss! White Orchid Weddings planned the picture-perfect petal pink and peach day, and Mandy Grace designed the most beautiful of blooms for the Big Day. The modern Persian island wedding was a beautiful blending of the bride and groom’s cultures, all artfully captured in time in imagery by Dmitri and Sandra Photography. You can see the full day unfold in the full gallery

From Dmitri and Sandra Photography… This sun-drenched, floral-filled wedding at the Four Seasons Maui couldn’t have been more perfect. Our chic bride chose a warm and vibrant color palette with hues of petal pink, blush, muted apricot, and creamy ivory. The modern, romantic wedding design with organic arrangements was put together beautifully by Kendall of White Orchid Weddings and florist Mandy Grace. Their ceremony contained a traditional Persian Sofreh Aghd where Julianne and Jonathan exchanged vows. Guests moved to the reception, greeted with a bright floral escort card wall. Above the dance floor hung a stunning floral installation with dried palms, orchids, and rattan lanterns, bringing the whole design together.

From Kendall Oreta of White Orchid Weddings… Julianne and Jonathan were a dream couple to work with. They trusted me with every recommendation, with every conversation, and with every suggestion offered. While creating their wedding day, we really worked to tie in elements that were a representation of “them” and a joining of their families. Originally from Maui, our island bride Julianne wanted to share her beautiful island home with their guests, her husband, and her new family. For Jonathan, it was important to introduce his Persian Heritage into the ceremony for all their family and friends to witness, which included the traditional Persian Aghd Ceremony. Julianne and Jonathan wanted to create a memorable event that showcased their love as a couple and all their desires together in creating a guest experience that was full of luxury, romance, and of course a tropical-modern twist. With full trust from Julianne and Jonathan, we were able to procure an event with the finest event vendors on Maui to bring their vision to life. Every detail was perfectly managed with the only missing piece of the puzzle being Roger their pet cat. See pictured on their wedding cake.

From the bride… We were so incredibly lucky to have so many of our loved ones with us to celebrate with us in a place that means so much to us. Given everything that has happened in the world before and since the wedding, we cannot overstate how grateful we are that we were able to safely gather and celebrate together. The sofreh aghd was really important to us as a way to honor and celebrate Jon’s Persian heritage. Jon’s mom spent months planning and collecting the items in the tablescape. Each item represented a hope for the marriage, like honey for a sweet life together, and the termeh (handwoven silk) for patience and sensitivity. Many of the items came from friends and family members, making the whole table a beautiful representation of our community and a reminder of all of the support that we have, something we deeply cherish. Having the wedding on Maui was also very important to us. I grew up in Upcounty and miss the island every day. Jon has also come to love Hawai’i and understands how much it has shaped who I am. It meant so much to finally share it with all of the people we love.

Our cat, Roger, is a very special member of our family, but he was unfortunately not going to make the trip out to Maui. I carried a small figurine of him in my pocket during the ceremony as a way of having him with us. I passed him off to my dear friend, Cindy, who nestled him in the flowers on the cake afterward. We loved all of the florals, but Mandy’s installation above the dance floor was particularly outstanding. Our wedding party was full of major dancers, so we were on board the second she proposed it. My dress was a custom combination of two different Amsale designs. I wanted something simple and modern, but also still in scale with the venue. It almost didn’t make it to Maui in time! Two of our heroic friends, Colin and Trevor drove out to FedEx the moment it arrived (the day before the wedding!) to pick up and hand-deliver.

Overall, Jon is a much better wedding planner than I am; the topiary walls were his idea, as were the fans and parasols that were made available during the ceremony. He’s very good with the little details! And we couldn’t have done any of it without the truly incredible, Kendall Oreta of White Orchid Weddings and the amazing, talented, creative team she assembled for us–Mandy Grace and Dmitri and Sandra Photography in particular were incredible to work with.

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1st Anniversary Celebration in Paradise

Hi readers, it’s Ali from A Dash of Details and former SMP Blogger Bride here to share our first anniversary in Maui, plus a few things I learned during our first year of marriage. After our honeymoon in Costa Rica, we knew we wanted to create a travel tradition for each anniversary and this year we were lucky enough to celebrate in Hawaiian paradise.

When we arrived at the Four Seasons Maui resort, we were greeted with traditional leis and ginger lemonade! It felt like we were right back on our honeymoon! From relaxing on the sandy beaches to beautiful dinners, this anniversary trip was the perfect time to reconnect and relax.

One of my favorite experiences during our stay was The Ultimate Dinner private dining experience. It was a unique and memorable way to reflect on the day we said “I Do.”

3 Lessons From Our 1st Year of Marriage

Compromise: My mom always said, “don’t sweat the small stuff” and oh, was she right. In the first year of marriage, I learned that compromise is the key to happy life.

Communication: While this seems simple, this can be the most difficult to learn. We have been together for almost ten years, and we have learned that spending the time to talk about our personal and relationship goals has created a strong foundation for our marriage.

Making Time for Each Other: With busy schedules, it can be tough to carve out time for each other. We started a tradition in our house to have a date night at least once a week. Whether it is dinner our favorite neighborhood restaurant or cooking a meal together at home; taking time for just the two of us have been so important in our growing relationship.

To keep updated on our life as a married couple, follow along over on A Dash of Details.

xoxo, Ali

All the Reason You Need to Plan a Destination Wedding in Hawaii

Just mutter the words “Hawaii wedding”, and know that we are SO there. Take this heart-achingly beautiful celebration from Photographs by Caileigh as a perfectly primed example. Because when it comes to sun soaked kisses, sand, and salt water, we happen to think that Colin and Amy had the right idea when it came to planning their destination wedding. See it all in in The Vault!

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From Photographs by Caileigh…Colin and Amy opted for an intimate destination wedding on the shores of Maui. They brought along their closest family and friends from Toronto, with some guests even flying in from Hong Kong to celebrate with them!

Their wedding at the Andaz Maui at Wailea had the best kind of energy. Start to finish it was full of carefree moments and lots of breathing room for Colin and Amy to really take it all in and enjoy every second. At intimate weddings, there’s also a sense of real focus and care from each guest. I love that their guests were able to share stories over dinner and had so many laughs from the door games to the late night sparklers and dancing. Their chandelier-lit reception under the stars was definitely one for the books.

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ATELIER PRONOVIAS

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Tropical Elegance at Sugarman Estate

From a karaoke meeting, to a flash mob proposal, to their fun tropical fete planned by Belle Destination Weddings And Events, I have a wedding crush on this gorgeous couple. They’ve got the kind of wedding day that’s layered with personality, style and a sweet elegance. Tamiz Photography tucked away so many captivating moments for us, like this one (looove), while Max + Molly Films captured the amazing film.

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From Jane at Belle Destination Weddings and Events…After speaking with Darryl & Deirdre for the first time, I got that inspiring feeling of giddiness that we wedding planners just live for. I immediately was taken with their chemistry and their love story, which seemed to exude those wonderful classic romantic characteristics – that same idea that continues to feed the souls of romantics (and wedding planners) time and time again.

Darryl, the classic, dashing charmer, and Deirdre, the quintessential Girl Next Door – the one who is so utterly beautiful, yet is still so incredibly approachable, funny and fun-loving, met in a far away land – Beijing – while Deirdre was working for CNBC as a business and financial news anchor. Darryl, a real estate developer, met Deirdre for the first time through mutual friends and found that they had something in common, they were both from Vancouver. It was at a Karaoke bar with those same mutual friends that the knew it was “meant to be” when they realized that they were both singing along to the same song at the tops of their lungs – “Say It Ain’t So” by Weezer – a song that was a mutual favorite from their childhoods. Thus began their love for each other and a life of sharing a mutual love for music.

It was back in Vancouver where Darryl decided to propose. He wanted to go big for the proposal and so Darryl enlisted the assistance of Kill The Lights Dance Crew to surprise Deirdre with a flash mob proposal in downtown Vancouver. As the couple strolled along on a gorgeous sunny day, they stopped to watch what seemed to be a couple of street performers grow into a large group of dancers. To Deirdre’s shock, Darryl hopped in towards the end of the performance, showing off his dancing skills to the song “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. At the end, Darryl got down on one knew and presented Deirdre with the ring. Her answer was a very enthusiastic “Yes, obviously!”

Because the two both come from large families. They dreamed of a large destination wedding on the island of Maui, where Darryl’s family spends a fair bit of time at their vacation home. We set out to plan a week full of amazing adventures and events that would resonate with couple and their guests for a lifetime. The concept was to build the design of the event around an “experience” and the couple had a vision of a wedding day filled with romance, love, and lots of laughter. These two bring about a feeling that you are witnessing one of those timeless and legendary love stories. You can see it in the way they look at each other, interact with each other, smile with admiration at the other, and how they always seems to be laughing together. It is intoxicating and beautiful to be around! They wanted their guests to share in their love story by creating not only one gorgeous event, but also a week-long special destination experience. We created a collection of small events leading up to the big day, including snorkel charters and a private welcome luau for everyone. The wedding itself took place at the Sugarman Estate in Makena, Maui and was a formal, yet relaxed event filled with the comfort and intimacy of a very close group of family and friends.

In terms of the design, it was important to create a soft romantic feel while keeping close to the surrounding beauty of the estate. We kept close to natural elements, incorporating lots of natural woods, neutral colors such as white, ivory, and blush, accompanied by soft grey greens such as eucalyptus, dusty miller and richer greenery from magnolia leaves. The idea was to create light and airy concept, which we did by adding sheer fabrics to the raw wood ceremony canopies, flowing fabrics in the tents, and natural fiber linens. Chandeliers hung from the tent canopies, adorned with cascading greens. The event was captured beautifully by none other than Tamiz Photography and Max & Molly Films.

From The Bride…We both have big families and dreamed of a big wedding but knew it would be tough to pull off as a destination wedding. Amazingly, 250 of our closest friends and family made the journey for an entire week.

While we didn’t have a clear vision of our wedding day, we knew exactly what was most important to us: our family and friends. And above all, we wanted to have fun. We both lived abroad for many years, and our wedding was a sort of homecoming, and a showcase of who Darryl and I are as a couple. While planning, we worked together and also left room for surprises. We were a little nervous by the number of children attending (50!), but they were among the most special parts of the wedding.

As for obstacles – there were no shortage! The week prior to our wedding, 2 hurricanes were due to pummel Maui – the first to hit the island chain in over 2 decades. There was also an earthquake. Our guests due to leave the weekend before the wedding had flights cancelled. In the end everything worked out and we had perfect weather for the entire week leading up to our wedding, and the wedding itself.

The actual (wedding) day…was the culmination of so much love and bonding over the week, and our lives together. We plan to do it all over again at our 50th wedding anniversary!

Our incredible planner, Jane, helped us achieve an understated elegance that felt familiar and special at the same time. Little touches, such as mementos in the shadowbox tables and personalized nickname name cards, helped our guests understand us as a couple and our lives abroad. It was Darryl’s idea to rent the vintage ’57 Porsche Speedster which everyone loved.

One of the most special touches was having my little brother Mookie, an amazing musician and performer, lead the band for our favorite songs. Another special moment was when Darryl’s nieces and nephews surprised us with an incredibly fun dance routine that echoed the flash mob of our engagement. Both acts had everyone on their feet.

The MCs and speeches by family were creative, heartfelt and hilarious. I have never laughed so hard as when my three brothers brought us up for a pantomime-style speech complete with music and costume changes. I’ve never had so much fun dancing as when Darryl surprised me by getting up on stage and singing “Runaround Sue” with his groomsmen. And we both have never felt so loved and so proud of the people in our lives as we did that entire week, culminating in the wedding.

Advice for future brides is to work together while planning, but leave a few surprises. As a bride, it’s easy to get caught up in all the little details and have a ton of expectations. If the groom plans a few details (and they can be small!), you’ll have no expectations and be better able to be in the moment. For example, Darryl took care of renting the car. While I knew we were getting one, it wasn’t my focus and I was pleasantly surprised by what a great piece it was for everyone at the wedding to enjoy taking photos with.

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Amsale

Amsale Bridesmaids Fall 2014

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Vera Wang

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Magical Maui Wedding at Honua Kai Lani

Before we even get into just how magical this Maui wedding is, let me tell you a very important detail – it was planned in four months. Yes four. I can’t even get over the fact that all the gorgeous planned to perfection by Kara Byrne below was done so in such a short time. Because these images from Kaua Wedding Photography? They are just as pretty as they get. From the florals by Dellables to the stunning Honua Kai Lani setting – this gallery is perfection. See it all here.

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From The Bride and Groom…Being a San Francisco couple, with family on both the west and east coast we had lots of potential places to explore for our wedding. After lots of discussion we decided on a destination wedding in Maui, a place that Bria has visited for years and loves because it is so beautiful, peaceful and relaxing.

We knew that we wanted a ceremony outside, where our guests could enjoy the amazing Maui weather and scenery. We also knew that we wanted a relaxing setting for the event, where everyone could feel like they were on vacation. After some searching, we found Honua Kai Lani, the Sugarman Estate, a beautiful and secluded waterfront property in Makena.

When it came time to planning, we only had 4 months to pull everything together so we knew we wanted to work with a wedding planner. After one conversation with Kara Byrne we felt an instant connection and knew she would help us create the wedding day we wanted – one where we could relax, enjoy the island and focus on celebrating with each other and our loved ones. Looking back we can honestly say the entire day, from start to finish was all that we wanted and more.

Our vision for the wedding décor was modern rustic so Kara worked with us to find the vendors that would help us create that look and feel. With strung lights, large wooden tables, Moroccan lanterns and flowers in mason jars, the already beautiful property was transformed into a romantic wedding and reception venue.

Being that we are both foodies who love artisan cocktails, we wanted to have local organic Hawaiian fare with a customized cocktail menu for our guests to enjoy, along with cupcakes instead of cake, for dessert. We were blown away as all aspects of it, the food, beverage and service was exceptional.

We also wanted to work with a wedding photographer who would be as relaxed and at ease as we wanted to be on our wedding day and we were thrilled to work with Kaua. Not only was he so fun and easy to work with, his photos were stunning and captured every moment of the day beautifully.

One of the many highlights of the day for us was a momma and baby humpback whale that put on a little show for our guests, just off the shore of the Sugarman Estate during the cocktail hour. It was a rare and beautiful site and a treat for our guests to see.

All and all, we felt like our wedding day exceeded our hopes and expectations and we are so grateful to everyone that played a role in making it so special and memorable.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Nicole Miller

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

Fall 2015

SPRING 2016

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Coral Beach House Wedding in Maui

When the words ‘coral’, ‘beach’ and ‘Maui’ are all in the title, I instantly know it’s going to be a wedding after my own heart. And when it’s Wendy Laurel behind the lens? It’s all over. Thanks to White Orchid Wedding, it’s a tropical soiree filled to the brim with color (hello, gorg linens from La Tavola!). Find every pretty bit in the gallery.

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From Wendy Laurel… These two met each other in college and have been friends for seven years. But they only started being a couple two years ago. Nothing better than best friends who find their way into love. Both Emelie and Alex come from famiies in Canada with restaurant backgrounds. They chose a destination wedding in Maui but wanted a beautiful dinner party. The table as well as the delicious food was centerpiece of their wedding. And relaxing under the stars, enjoying their meal and cocktails surrounded by their family and best of friends, was the perfect wedding plan for them in Hawaii.

Hawaiian Beach Wedding Inspiration at White Orchid House

If you’re planning your honeymoon to anywhere but Maui, drop everything and look at Wendy Laurel’s images. As if the beach wasn’t enough to convince you to change your plans, Mandy Grace Designs has pulled together a floral design that is so beautifully indicative of Hawaii I could cry.

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From Wendy Laurel… Pacific Weddings magazine put together an amazing workshop in Makena, Maui for wedding professionals. Part of the workshop involved a styled shoot with some amazing dresses and florals. It was held at a private beachfront plantation cottage and lawn called the White Orchid House which is available for weddings.

Robyn I’aea and Shaunna Nygren of Pacific Weddings dreamed up the shoot and workshop which highlighted the natural beauty of Maui and weddings.

Maui Destination Wedding at the Sugarman Estate

It’s no question, a man in uniform leaves us all weak in the knees. But when handsome man does it as a surprise for his Bride as she walks down the aisle (because she really wanted him to), well, that’s when we enter total swoon territory. Best part? It only gets better from there, so take some serious time to get lost in all the lovely from Jana Morgan Photography right here in the full gallery.

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From Jana Morgan Photography…Shelbie and Jake met at the world famous local bar, Duke’s Bar and Grill in Waikiki on a Sunday evening. They have known each other for 2 years before they got engaged in February 2013.

When recalling the story of their proposal, Shelbie happily shares, “Jake picked me up after work under the premise that he wanted to watch a sunset with me before he headed out to sea the next day. We drove to spitting caves on the south-east side of Oahu and hiked half way down the cliffs and stared out at the setting sun. Jake, standing behind me pointed at a kayaker in the ocean, when I turned to him to make a comment about the man (who was going crazy fast, against current) I foundJake on one knee with a smile from ear to ear! Just as he pulled this blue box from his jacket pocket and started to open it a whale breached in the background. He told me how much he loved me, how he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me, and that I was his best friend. Then asked me if I would make him the happiest man on earth and marry him. I couldn’t stop smiling, speechless for a moment, half jumping up and down as he was trying to put the ring on, I finally said yes and fell into his arms as we kissed. Enjoying the moment together, wrapped in his arms we looked out to sea and at the falling sun, when in the corner of my eye, that same kayaker… yelling applauding cheering and throwing his hands up in cheerful screams… it was perfect. The proposal was private, personal, and in nature. A plus, someone else witnessed it so I know it wasn’t a dream!!!”

When it came to selecting Maui for their destination wedding location, Shelbie explains, “Our life is here in Hawaii. We met here, we live here, we vacation in the islands, so we wanted to get married in a beautiful place we call home. We wanted our guest to experience the islands and aloha we live in. I always wanted to have a very personal wedding… think old world weddings where it was less about how much money was spent and what trinkets were passed out and more about the couple that was getting married and the two families that are coming together. Maui is beautiful, natural and raw! I love the gardens, beautiful ocean and that calm feeling that overcomes me every time i arrive from Oahu.”

Jake is a naval officer on the USS Charlotte stationed out of Pearl Harbor. When I met with both Jake and Shelbie to talk about their wedding day, I fondly recall Shelbie and Jake asking whether or not Jake should wear his Navy full dress white uniform or a regular grey suit. It was a really hard decision because we were unsure of whether or not the whites would match between his white uniform and her wedding dress.

Come the wedding day, Shelbie explained that the decision was made that Jake would wear his grey suit. She was being so nice and polite about it, but you could tell that she was quietly sad that she would not be walking down the aisle to her fiancé in uniform – she, like many young girls, has always dreamed of getting married to the man of her dreams in a dashing uniform.

After I was done taking pictures of Shelbie getting ready, we were setting Jake up for the First Look where we could capture them seeing each other for the first time. When meeting with Jake under a secluded tree at the resort before the wedding ceremony, Jake pulls me to the side and excitedly announces that he is surprising Shelbie at the wedding ceremony by wearing his formal Navy all white uniform. He knew how excited and happy it would make her. For the First Look, he was wearing his grey suit to help conceal his surprise for later. When the two saw each other for the first time, they were surrounded by their parents and bridal party, and there was not a dry eye as we all watched them together before departing for the wedding ceremony location.

When preparing for the wedding ceremony, Shelbie hid in the estate from all of the arriving guests, while Jake welcomed and greeted all of the wedding guests in his grey suit. Just before the wedding ceremony, we actually had to hide Jake and find a spot for him to change. He slipped away in the moments leading the ceremony to quickly change into his Navy all white uniform, then snuck back to the front of the wedding ceremony site without Shelbie seeing. When Shelbie walked out with her father, she saw him anxiously awaiting her with the biggest smile. The surprise was met with delighted tears of joy.

Shelbie and Jake lived together in Hawaii and will be moving to Naples, Italy, after the wedding for Jake’s next station with the US Navy. We all congratulate the beautiful couple on not only a wildly beautiful wedding day, but on their incredible journey together as husband and wife. May there be many more years of love and delightful surprises.

Maui Wedding from U Me Us Studios

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.

Maui Air Force Wedding from Anna Kim Photography

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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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.

Makena, Maui Elopement from Wendy Laurel Photography

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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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!

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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Hale Honu Wedding in Wailea from Joanna Tano Photography

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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From Joanna Tano Photography… Audrey and Chase were married at Hale Honu, a beautiful private estate in Wailea. The private estate offered a secluded location that was beautiful and perfect for their destination wedding. Belle Destination Weddings & Events did a fabulous job of designing and coordinating the event in just a couple short months. Congratulations to the lovely couple!

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