We're so excited about sharing Jackie & Tom's awesome Hawaiian wedding with you guys today.
Because it's unique, it's bright, it's fun and it's gorgeous. And we just love that the bride, Jackie is on a bit of a crusade to inject a little colour into your wedding inspiration.
And we bet she'll succeed, with their fabulous pictures by Maui Maka Photography.
Marrying near Jackie's home on The Garden Isle of Kauai, her and Tom's day was a celebration of colour, locally sourced floristry, and Hawaiian customs, set against misty waterfalls, magnificent mountains and lush greenery.
As fun as it was romantic, the couple littered their day with meaningful details and quirky touches, from the lei around their necks and the traditional song sung as Jackie walked up the aisle, to the hula her friends performed and the shaved ice refreshments. Each aspect was thoughtfully created and beautifully executed.
If you're one of those couples who loves the tropical wedding trend, or simply want something a little more fun and bright for your big day, prepare to be inspired (and compelled to take a trip to Kauai!).
Wedding Day Snapshot
The Setting
I think a lot of people have preconceived notions about what a Hawaii wedding should look like.
Let me start by saying that Hanalei, Kauai, is my hometown. I was born and raised there and while I met my now husband Tom while we were both living in New York, visiting my home on Kauai played a huge role in the growth of our relationship.
We knew we wanted our wedding to capture the homegrown vibe Kauai encompasses so perfectly.
We wanted it to be our love letter to this place I call home, and with the help of family and friends, the day was everything I dreamt it would be.
The Inspiration
As soon as I started planning, I was floored by how many neutral weddings Pinterest and other wedding sites wanted to offer me. So much blush. So much grey.
These colors just wouldn't work for Kauai, the Garden Island. We wanted our wedding to be bursting with life, color, and ALOHA.
It was hard to find inspiration to capture that, so I hope to share our wedding with other brides and grooms out there that love COLOR and are drowning in a sea of muted inspiration.
The Ceremony
We were married under an arbor of bougainvillea (my favorite flower!) by one of the local elders in a traditional Hawaiian ceremony, complete with a sea salt ritual and Hawaiian chanting.
The wedding fell in the middle of El Niño, and in the weeks leading up to the big day my Facebook feed was flooded with images of multiple hurricanes menacingly circling the state.
Even though it rained all day (make that all week) while we were getting ready, Kauai truly is at its most beautiful when it rains.
And as if by magic, the clouds parted as my best friends zipped up my dress – just in time for Tom and I to say our “I dos” in front of dozens of waterfalls.
The Venue
The venue was a no-brainer for us.
The old mission house located on the edge of a taro patch, it’s next door to my elementary school and sits in front of the three breathtaking mountains of Hanalei.
The Flowers
A family friend did all the flowers using mostly things from her own garden. I wanted every bit of flora to look like it could have been growing on the property already, so we sourced everything locally.
Our bouquets were predominantly made from rich, glossy green leaves.
We dressed the bridesmaids in maile leis, a type of open-ended lei that is traditionally reserved for men but is a symbol of love and respect and smells divine.
The Clothes
I let my bridesmaids choose their own dresses, asking only that they choose a bright, tropical color that captured their personality. We let the dudes wear whatever they felt comfortable in to further the laidback vibe.
I chose to have a simple dress custom made in San Francisco (where we live), because most of the dresses I tried on while visiting local bridal boutiques were too serious for the laidback wedding I had envisioned.
The end result was a simple, backless silhouette made of silk crepe. I wore a handmade haku just like my mom wore on her wedding day 30 years ago on Kauai.
The Reception
We served shaved ice, mai tais, and had a traditional luau buffet.
We dined under a clear top tent so guests could marvel at the stars and palm trees.
Favourite Moments
My favorite memories from the day include:
– Driving onto the property with my dad in his 1965 Ford Falcon (his other child, really).
– The beautiful, bright pink floral arbor that became the focal point of the property.
– Being sung down the aisle by a dear family friend playing my favorite Hawaiian song.
– Watching my bridesmaids perform a hula for Tom and I after the ceremony.
– Snacking on poke, shave ice, and mai tais while having our portraits taken.
– Dancing with my Dad to “Little Surfer Girl” by the Beach Boys and with my husband to “Don’t Worry Baby” also by the Beach Boys haha.
– Dancing the night away barefoot in 100% humidity until we were all so hot that we started to spray champagne everywhere to cool everyone down.
– Finishing the evening with the song “Right Above It” by Drake, because, well, Drake.
Isn't it awesome? I love it all, the setting, the florals, the dresses, the stationery, the mai tais! What a cool couple, and what a cool day? (How fab is Jackie's evening dress too, I do enjoy a bit of fringing!).
Thanks so much to Jackie & Tom for sharing their epic Hawaiian wedding, and to Maui Maka Photography for sharing these beautiful pictures too.
Be inspired by more amazing real weddings.
