Couples often choose a destination wedding because they want to partake in a relaxing escape that doubles as a fun vacation with family and friends. The couple in today’s real wedding story wanted exactly that, so they set their sites on saying, “I do” on the beautiful beaches of Maui, Hawaii. 

The island of Maui is home to tourist attractions like the infamous “Road to Hana” and Haleakalā National Park where, atop dormant volcanoes, you can take in stunning oceanic views. Knowing this, Alexandra and Hendrik wanted to marry in a more secluded/ intimate location of the island. 

“We liked that Sugar Beach was its own intimate venue not associated with a large hotel. It felt private and personal,” the couple says. Not to mention, the venue sat right on the beach, exactly what they’d hoped for. 

The next step: get the guests onboard. Luckily, both of the two’s parents loved the idea of getting a vacation and wedding all in one. Not everyone could swing the destination wedding, but those who could were ecstatic. 

Alexandra relied heavily on social media during the planning process, as well as looking at the other weddings by potential vendors. “We didn’t even see our venue until we landed in Hawaii,” the bride says. “We had to have a lot of trust in the expertise of the people we worked with.” 

The bride admitted that with her “type A personality” planning from afar turned out to be no easy task. However, her organizational skills and acute awareness ended up helping the couple foresee any potential issues to remedy before arriving. For example, guests were staying all over the island and needed a safe way to return after the wedding.  The remedy was renting shuttle buses, a decision that provided a huge relief.

Eventually, as everything came together, Alexandra says she’d fully learned “to just relax and trust the process.”

Keeping the guest list to a minimum, the bride and groom were able to have a wedding that cost around the same amount as if they’d had it back home in California. Truly, what they enjoyed most was relaxing before and after the wedding with family and friends.

Vendors: Photographer: MeewMeew Studios; Venue/Planning/Catering: Sugar Beach Events; Florist: Dellables Wedding Design & Florals; Hair & Makeup: MeiLi Autumn Beauty; Gown Designer: Enzoani; Gown Store: La Soie Bridal; Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Birdy Grey; Groomsmen Suits: Suit Supply; Musician: Don Lax Violin; DJ: Maui DJ Services; Videography: Zeb Films