Jana and Liz had a dreamy wedding at the beautiful Waiopai Gardens in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, with a love story that seems like it’s right out of a romantic comedy film.

Jana and Liz first met online, and their first in-person meet-up was at a cozy pub in St. Louis. Both were with different groups of friends, but somehow, fate brought them together. “We were both a little skeptical at first,” Liz confesses. “I mean, online dating, right? But we decided to take it slow and just be friends.”

Fast forward a bit, and Jana ended up being Liz’s plus-one at her sister’s wedding. “That night, we just knew,” Jana gushes. “We didn’t want to spend another day just being friends.”

Liz, being the mastermind she is, planned the sweetest Christmas Day proposal. “She had us all in matching pajamas, including our dogs,” Jana recalls. “Then, she gives me this box with an ornament that says, ‘All I Want for Christmas is for you to be my Wife.’ I look up, and there she is with a ring and another ornament saying, ‘Will You Marry Me?’ Of course, I said yes!”

So, why did they pick Hawaii? Simple, to turn their wedding into a family vacation. “We absolutely love Hawaii and the energy and everything that it has to offer!” And honestly, who wouldn’t want to swap winter snow for a tropical paradise?

Jana and Liz worked with the amazing Sunshower Weddings to create this whimsical, fairy-tale-like setting. Jana and Liz wanted it to feel like you stumbled upon a dinner party in a forest, created by fairies. “We wanted candles, lights and crystal beading strung across trees and branches,” Jana explains. “We wanted it to be very natural and not to look like it had been completely staged.”

The couple initially desired to get married on the tropical side of the Big Island in Pahoa or Hilo, but their planner viewed the selected venue in person, determining it wouldn’t be a good slate for the brides’ specific vision. Waiopai Gardens, located on 3.6 acres of ohia forest and tropical gardens in the Kaloko Mauna region, rather, offered the perfect aesthetic. “The people that own the venue were so nice and helpful and excited to celebrate our big day with us,” Liz adds.

From rainbow pajamas for the bridal party to charms with their late grandmothers’ photos in their bouquets, it was all about the personal touches. Getting ready on the big day, the brides both wore white pajamas, while their bridal party dawned rainbow silk sets.

Of course, no wedding is without its surprises. Their original officiant couldn’t make it, but Liz’s aunt stepped in, got ordained last minute, and nailed it. “It turned out perfectly,” Jana says. “We couldn’t have asked for a better day.”

So, here’s the tea from Jana and Liz: “Be open to some changes. Everything cannot be perfect without some compromise. But we promise it will be amazing! Trust your wedding planners, and let them take on as much of your stress as possible. They really do make your day so much better! The day goes by so fast, so do NOT sweat the small stuff.”

Vendors: Photographer: Gabe McClintock; Wedding Planner: Sunshower Weddings; Ceremony/Reception Site: Waiopai Gardens; Florist: Lalamilo Flower Girl; Cake: Onolicious Hawai’i; Hair & Makeup: Indigo Grace Artistry; Gown Designers: Grace Loves Lace; Videographer: Jon Bodhi Weddings; Catering: Green Living Chef & Spirited Cocktail Catering; Ceremony Furniture Rentals: Meraki Events Hawaii; Musician: Dennis Garcia, BigIsleSmile; Coffee Station: HiCo Hawaiian Coffee; Jana’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka; Elizabeth’s Shoes and Hat: Etsy; Elizabeth’s Suit: Arthur + Lucca; Elizabeth’s Suit: Gucci; Rings: Staghead Designs, Stephanie Gottlieb & Brilliant Earth