Emma and Jaan planned a destination wedding in Maui, but things don’t always go according to plan. Jaan is from Belgium and they had a bit of unexpected visa trouble before the intended “I do’s.” But the plans had been made, the flights booked and guests excited to attend the big day so instead, the couple turned their would-be wedding into a fabulous destination engagement party! With just a few good friends and family members in attendance, the pair celebrated their upcoming wedding with a dinner overlooking the ocean at the Kapalua Bay Cliff House.
We asked Emma about their experience and what it was like having an engagement party instead of the wedding they had expected. “I thought we were going to feel really disappointed on the day of, but it was so relaxing and the party was so much fun we couldn’t be sad about not getting married that day.”
Luckily, these love birds didn’t have to wait much long to actually tie the knot. “We got married a week after my husband’s visa came through. In other words, we had a week to plan a wedding and decided to piggy back on a 3rd cousin’s wedding (she was okay with it!)”
We often ask couples for advice for you and here’s what this pair had to say. “Don’t get too wrapped up in planning. We planned for months only to have to cancel our wedding. But in the end, we were able to plan our actual wedding in a week and it turned out just as ideal as we’d imagined.”
“In the end I was happy we didn’t get married in Hawaii. There were so many competing weddings happening on the beach we had planned to get married on, I’m glad things turned out the way they did. But of course, everything else about Hawaii was beautiful and amazing.”
One of their favorite moments from the festivities? “Trying to light lanterns on a very windy night and then having the hotel sprinklers go on and getting totally soaked.” Sometimes the unexpected and unplanned are the best of memories from the big day!
Congratulations to the newlyweds!
Destination Wedding Photographer: Audra Wrisley Photography + Design
Wedding Vendors: Location: Ritz Carlton, Kapalua Bay, Dinner Venue: Kapalua Bay Cliff House, Wedding Cake: Maui Cake Store, Bride’s Dress: Urban Outfitters
Congratulations to Emma and Jaan, and thank you so much for the beautiful feature! :)