Kauai Real Wedding at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay

A newlywed couple walks down the aisle while guests cheer and toss petals. The event takes place outdoors under a tree canopy.

Kauai Real Wedding at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay

CATEGORIES

July 26, 2024
Words by Kinsley Brown
Photos courtesy of Christina Cernik Photography

Imagine exchanging vows in a place where dreams are woven from sunlight and sea spray. Kelsey and Adam did just that, turning their Kauai nuptials at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay into a storybook escape. Their wedding wasn’t just a ceremony; it was a celebration of love, adventure, and the kind of magic only an island paradise can conjure.

Top left: A joyful couple holding hands and jumping on a beach. Top right: A black and white photo of a wedding ceremony under a large tree. Bottom: A scenic view of mountains and a calm ocean, framed by tree leaves.

“We both love to travel,” Adam says, “and wanted our wedding to be an epic adventure for our guests.” Hanalei, Kauai, became their chosen stage. “Hanalei is magic,” Kelsey adds, “you can’t go there without being obsessed.” And it’s easy to see why.

The couple traded traditional for tropical at the stunning 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. With the help of wedding wizard Jennifer Pletcher of Mauna Creative, their vision blossomed into reality. Picture this: lush florals by Lost Girls Flowers & Events, dreamy stationery by MC Pressure, and a cake from 1 Hotel that was almost too pretty to eat. Kelsey stunned in a Vivienne Westwood gown, while Adam looked sharp in Ralph Lauren Purple Label. The bridal party was a vision in Ulla Johnson and The Black Tux.

A black-and-white image divided into two parts: on the left, a couple holding hands walks toward a distant mountain and body of water during twilight; on the right, guests dressed formally examine seating arrangements displayed on a tall structure adorned with plants.

But it wasn’t just about the glam. “We stressed from the beginning that we did not want a traditional ceremony,” Kelsey says. They opted for a courthouse commitment in snowy Aspen before jetting off to Kauai for the main event. Their ceremony was as laid-back as their love, with handwritten vows, a barefoot bride, and even a ring-bearing pup.

This image is divided into three sections: a wooden outdoor bar set among palm trees, a couple in wedding attire walking near a coastal cliff during sunset, and a wedding reception tent decorated with foliage and flowers over elegantly set tables.

Planning a wedding from afar can feel like navigating a stormy sea, but these two had their compass. “Having an epic team saved us,” Kelsey says. Their advice? Find a wedding planner who knows their stuff and schedule a pre-wedding recon mission.

When asked how their 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay wedding would have been different if they’d stayed stateside, Kelsey didn’t hesitate: “I can’t imagine our wedding any other way. The magic of bringing everyone together in a faraway place was so important.”

An outdoor wedding reception features long wooden tables adorned with colorful flowers, greenery, and candles under a tent. Each table setting includes a menu, glassware, and a woven placemat with silverware, a roll, and a napkin.

So, to all the lovebirds dreaming of a destination wedding, Kelsey and Adam offer this wisdom: “Choose somewhere that is meaningful for you because these memories will last forever.” And don’t sweat the small stuff. After all, a little island magic can turn any hiccup into a heartwarming story.

A three-image collage: Top-right shows a white wedding cake adorned with flowers. Bottom-right features a couple in wedding attire smiling by a decorated table. Left side displays a close-up of colorful floral centerpieces and lit candles on a dining table.