A Chic Maui Wedding

Words by Kinsley Brown
Photos courtesy of Lacie Hansen Photography

It’s said that opposites attract, but sometimes even the smallest of similarities is what kindles the flame of love.

Sabrina and Andrew were set up on a photo outing arranged by a mutual friend. The two immediately challenged each other to take their photographic skill to the next level: Sabrina needed to master “motion” and Andrew to capture “light.” It was this shared hobby which bonded the two for life.

When it came time to plan their destination wedding, the primary goal was to find the perfect balance of the couple’s differing personalities. “As polar opposites in just about everything, we wanted to blend our different styles in a harmonious way for our wedding,” says the bride. “We wanted a combination of rustic elements representing Andrew’s outdoorsy side and French elegance, representing my love of city life and my inner-Francophile.”

These San Francisco natives originally looked into marrying in California wine country, but when they came across Haiku Mill in Maui, Hawaii online – they booked without even visiting. The charm of the abandoned sugar mill, combined with curated, French antique details was just what the couple had been searching for. The stunning venue was complemented by the couple’s personal and quirky touches.

“The ceremony was officiated by Andrew’s brother,” says Sabrina. “We left out the traditional readings and replaced them with speeches from two of our closest friends who have witnessed our relationship grow over the years.”

Sabrina and Andrew added both rustic and elegant details to the already beautiful landscape such as roses intertwined with existing chandeliers. A unique touch was a custom-created timeline which the couple had a calligrapher create to mark the major milestones of their relationship. After taking the time to imbue their event with a striking balance of personality, the couple has some final words of advice.

“When you realize how rare it is to be able to vacation with 70 of the people you love the most, you realize that the time you spend on gift bags and seating charts could instead be spent splashing in the waves with the people who love you enough to have made the trip.”

Photographer: Lacie Hansen Photography, laciehansen.com, Ceremony/Reception Site: Haiku Mill, haikumill.com, Florist: Teresa Sena, whiteorchidwedding.com, Event Stylist: Robyn I’aea, pacificweddings.com, Hair & Makeup: Mar of Team Hair & Makeup, teamhairandmakeupservice.com, Food: Maui Executive Catering, mauiexecutivecatering.com, Drinks: Garnish, garnishevents.com, Music: Ace Beats & Benoit Jazz Works, acebeats.com & benoitjazzworks.com, Cake: Nosh, noshmaui.com, Gown Designer: Vera Wang, verawang.com, Groom’s Clothing Designer: Dolce & Gabbana, dolcegabbana.com, Bridesmaid’s Clothing Designer: Saja, sajawedding.com.