Friday, November 22, 2013

A Sandy Soiree in Maui

Words by Taylor Wilson
Photos courtesy of Ashley Camper

As seasoned world travelers, Matt and Jessica had seen it all – with the exception of the tropical paradise, Maui. With Matt from New Zealand and Jessica from Manhattan, the couple needed to find the perfect place to host their destination wedding that would incorporate aspects of both their homes. After a weeklong vacation on the Hawaiian island, the couple instantly knew this would be the place to throw the wedding of their dreams.

The additional element of planning a wedding from afar can cause extra stress but Jessica did not let this stop her from enjoying every minute of the process. With the help of Melissa Padilla from OPIHI Love, Jessica witnessed her fairytale wedding come to life. “Whether it is a local or destination wedding, planning one of the most important days of your life is hectic, exciting, overwhelming, and thrilling all at once! Seeing the final pieces come together in the perfect location was worth all of the stress from planning the wedding from afar,” explains Jessica.

There is always a looming anxiety of potential issues come wedding day but this couple was lucky enough to generally have a seamless experience. All flights arrived on time and check-in went swimmingly. The only minor issue the couple ran into was the weather. The couple made it through the ceremony without any rain but once Jessica said, “I do”, it began to sprinkle. The cocktail hour and dinner had to be moved inside, but the couple kept a positive attitude. “At the end of the day, everyone says, ‘rain on your wedding day is good luck,’ right?!” jokes the bride.

All in all, Jessica and Matt’s decision to have a destination wedding allowed them to embrace their love of travel and share a weekend with their friends and family they will never forget. They wanted to have a special, intimate ceremony that encompassed every aspect of their life together. Although there were a few more obstacles considering it was a destination wedding, they wouldn’t have traded it for the world.

“The reason that we had a destination wedding was so we were able to bring all of our friends and loved ones together. With everyone being from different parts of the world, we felt it was important for us to create an environment that people could get to know each other. All of the guests appeared more relaxed and able to enjoy the festivities without the everyday stresses of life. Overall, choosing a destination wedding helped make our special day everything we had hoped for.”

Vendors: Photographer: Ashley Camper, Wedding Planner: Melissa Padilla, Ceremony/Reception Site: Four Seasons Resort Maui, Florist: Bella Bloom Floral Boutique, Stationery: Janice Chavkin, Cake: Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, Hair & Makeup: Ry-n Shimabuku, Gown Designer: Monique Lhuillier, Groom’s Clothing Designer: Dolce and Gabbana, Bridesmaids/Groomsmen’s Clothing Designer: Alvin Valley/J Crew