Ciara and Nick clicked in high school economics class and started dating after graduation. Hailing from a small midwestern town, the couple was always struck by the idea of travel. In fact, over their dating years, the two ventured around the world together. Naturally, after getting engaged, a destination wedding appealed to Nick and Ciara, leading them to joyfully choose an ocean-side ceremony among the wild beauty of Kauai.

An easy, direct flight from the couple’s home city of Los Angeles, Hawaii offered the opportunity to explore natural wonders. “The fresh green mountain vistas of Kauai were top of mind for us,” Ciara says.

The first venue Nick and Ciara considered, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, stole the show right off the bat. After experiencing striking vistas of mountains across a quiet bay, the couple felt no other venue could quite offer this level of deep-rooted natural elements they hoped to incorporate into their wedding. 

“From the views down to the sustainable catering, making the environment itself a key component of our wedding was key,” Nick tells us.

Recruiting the help of planners, Taryn and Dani of Taryn Stark Wyant brought the local expertise the couple needed to pull off planning from the mainland. Working with them to create a well-defined vision board, Taryn and Dani offered the couple peace of mind, knowing they’d enjoy the celebration of their dreams (all within budget, of course).

The celebration kicked off with a rehearsal dinner honoring local culture and traditions. A surfboard sign and fresh leis welcomed guests to an intimate dinner, complete with hula dancer entertainment. 

Nick and Ciara further personalized their wedding weekend with ceremony vows that reflected the hobby they lovingly share: video gaming! 

“Our officiant was a good friend of ours (and a fellow gamer), and it was so fun and playful to incorporate elements from some of our favorite video games into our vows,” Ciara recalls. 

The couple’s seaside ceremony incorporated refined floral arrangements by Lost Girls Kauai to frame the aisle and “altar.” The accents of soft pinks, yellows and oranges beautifully complemented the painted sky at dusk as guests were ushered to the reception, boasting incredible bay views.

Unable to picture their day any differently, Ciara and Nick offer sage advice for those entering the destination wedding planning process:

“Early in your planning journey, talk with your partner and create a list of your top 3 priorities for your day, and keep that list close as you plan. Wedding prep can be overwhelming, and it’s so easy to become distracted or worried about the smallest of details. Having that list of priorities helped us stay grounded and focused on our vision.”

Vendors: Photography: SASs Photography; Planning & Design: Taryn Stark Wyant; Venue & Catering: 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay; Florals: Lost Girls Kauai; Linens: Nuage Designs; Rehearsal Dinner Tiki Cups: Studio Kelsie; Rehearsal Dinner Candlesticks: Meri Meri; Hair & Makeup: Kauai Wedding Hair; Rentals: Transcend Events Kauai