Jen and Leanne’s tropical island celebration
We first met on a night out (introduced by a mutual friend) it was definitely “intrigue” at first site on my part but it took us about another 5 years before we started dating and then another 8 years to get engaged. It’s been a long haul but completely worth every second.
Jen proposed to me. I had absolutely no clue she was planning on proposing. About a month earlier we had a talk about marriage and Jen said she didn’t believe we needed to get married. She didn’t want to jinx or ruin what we already had. Little did I know that she was just trying to throw me off track as she already had the ring. It was a Sunday night and I just wanted to sit on the couch and watch Grey’s Anatomy but Jen really wanted to go down to the government buildings and see the Christmas lights. So we put on our ski jackets and drove downtown. When we arrived, Jen pulled out her iPod and suggested we listen to some Christmas music to set the mood. So we each threw in an earbud and started listening. After a couple of classic Christmas songs a new song started…. But it was Jen’s voice. She had re-written the lyrics to the Cup Song by Anna Kendrick and recorded her own version of the song. I can’t remember all of the lyrics because I was totally blown away but I do remember “I know you’ve been waiting for a long long time and at the end of this song, I’m gonna ask you at the end of this song”. At that point I figured it out. When the song ended she pulled out my beautiful engagement ring. Of course I said yes and the rest is history!
We decided to get married on the beautiful island of Maui because we LOVE Maui. It’s the only place in our travels that we have returned to. It’s something about the vibe and serenity of the island. It just makes us happy. Another factor was that Jen’s family is from across the country so they would have to travel regardless. When we asked what they thought about Maui, instantly they said yes!
When we first started talking to Darren about our wedding I believe we told him we wanted it to be beautiful but laid back. We wanted to focus on the natural beauty of Maui but we also wanted our guests to feel like they were at our house having a dinner party.
Both of our dresses were from David’s Bridal House. The broaches we incorporated into our hair were antiques that belonged to my great aunt. Jen’s pearls were loaned to her from one of her good friends. In true Maui fashion we wore slippers instead of shoes (as Jen would say for maximum danceability)
In keeping with a local theme we bought assorted Wailua sodas for each guest as well as slipper bottle openers. We wanted the gift to be consumable so our guests didn’t have to bring it home in their suitcase and who doesn’t need a bottle opener?
Darren, Shane and their team made the entire day blissful. They took care of absolutely everything and Jen and I were able to sit back and take in the day. Honestly, the Bliss team is some of the most amazing people we have had the fortune of meeting. They truly love what they do and every moment of our day reflected that. From our flowers to the vendors they recommended to the surprises they threw into our wedding… Every detail was perfect.
My advice to any bride to be is that if you are thinking of hiring a wedding planner…do it!! We gave Darren and Shane creative license with our wedding and they absolutely nailed it. They knew which questions to ask to us in order to have our day reflect who we are as a couple. Our guests gushed about how beautiful the day was and how it reflected our personalities perfectly. We trusted them completely and they blew us away. I have to say it was kind of exciting the day of our wedding because we were just as surprised as our guests.
From Bliss Wedding Design & Spectacular Events: Leanne and Jennifer traveled to Maui for a tropical island celebration– so that is exactly what we gave them, and then some! With the help of a few of Maui’s most talented vendors, we infused every detail of this destination wedding with Hawaiian flair.
Guests arrived to the lava rock cove of Kukahiko Estate and watched as Leanne and Jennifer said their vows on the lush, seaside lawn. Our stunning brides held their vibrant, tropical bouquets, bursting with the island’s most vivid colors.
Tropical flowers bloomed throughout this outdoor wedding day, lining the center of the wooden reception tables and beautifully accenting the sandy table runners and vibrant ocean-blue linens. The paradise-inspired table decor was the perfect backdrop for the island-infused delicacies served– world-class cuisine created by Chef Tiffany of Maui Catering Services and Hawaii’s own Waialua Sodas, which boast a combination of local ingredients and flavorful inspiration from our islands’ elements.
Tropical. Island. Celebration.
To top off this blissful wedding, newlyweds and guests were surprised with a spectacular Polynesian performance by Manutea Nui E–showcasing their incredible hula and fire and knife dancing talents. Bamboo Shootz also surprised everyone with their fun photo booth, backdrops, and props–an activity no one can resist!
It was truly an event to remember and we are so thrilled we were able to make Leanne and Jennifer’s dreams of a paradise wedding come true!
Photography: Kaua Photography
Ceremony venue: Kukahiko Estate
Florist: Petals
Wedding planner: Bliss Wedding Design & Spectacular Events
Reception DJ: DJ Dan
Reception live music: Derick Sebastian
Bridal attire: David’s Bridal
Tropical cuisine: Maui Catering Services
Hair and Makeup: Maui Makeup Artistry
Hawaiian Entertainment: Manutea Nui E
Photo Booth: Bamboo Shootz
Transportation: Roberts Hawaii
