Want to talk about what it means to fall head over heels for a destination? Veronnica and Joe are Exhibit A. They planned a vacation to Maui, fell in love with the area, and ended up looking at wedding venues all in one trip!

Knowing they wanted an intimate Maui destination wedding, they scheduled several site visits with a conservative amount of space after meeting their wedding planner from Makena Weddings. “We knew right away that Kukahiko Estate was perfect for us,” Veronnica says. Its secluded spot, breathtaking views, and tendency for better weather than other sides of the island had the couple sold. 

For guest accommodations, Joe and Veronnica narrowed down a few condo complexes with VRBOs and ideally located close to the couple. Luckily, all guests’ flights landed on the same day, “and we rented cars so transportation was easy for all,” Joe says. 

Months before creating the itinerary for the weekend, the bride and groom asked guests if they had any activities they wanted to do or places they wanted to visit, ensuring festivities were perfectly tailored to their group. Upon landing, each guest received a welcome gift which included a paper itinerary plus fun and practical items needed on a trip to Hawaii.

Honoring their beloved destination, the couple incorporated a traditional Hawaiian lei exchange into the wedding ceremony and booked a traditional Hawaiian Lūʻau experience the following evening. Joe and Veronnica also worked closely with their planner from afar to ensure the wedding day details reflected them to a “T.”

“We incorporated rose gold based on my engagement ring color,” Veronnica explains. “Our other primary colors were blush and tones of blue. We personally designed all stationery to match the ocean setting, wrote our own vows, and choreographed our first dance.”

The couple leaves us off with some solid planning advice for others hoping to stress less and enjoy the destination wedding experience:

“In addition to the wedding, make sure to budget for travel, accommodations, and any other activities or meals you are planning for your guests. These can add up quickly! 

If you are able to take another trip to your destination prior to the wedding, that would relieve a lot of stress so you can taste the food, see the venue, choose the decorations, and do a hair and makeup trial with your vendors. 

If there are any particular details or theming that you want to include in your special day, order things ahead of time and have them shipped. It’s scary enough to travel with a wedding dress and suit, so it’s best to make your travel day as simple as you can!”

Vendors: Photographer: MeewMeew Studios  Wedding Planner: Makena Weddings  Ceremony/Reception Site: Kukahiko Estate; Florist: Lula Lei Hawaii; Stationery: Minted Weddings; Cake: Sweet on Maui; Hair & Makeup: Amelia Hair and Makeup; Gown: Rebecca Ingram; Groom’s Clothing Designer: Indochino; Silk Runners: Reve Maui; Glassware: Set Maui; Dinnerware and Catering: Cutting Edge Catering; Rentals: Rio Event Design