We’re clearly loving Hawaii this week with another wonderful wedding from Maui! Clarice and Omair wed in beautiful Lahaina, on the island of Maui in Hawaii. The couple traveled from San Francisco to do say I do at the Hyatt Regency Maui. This destination wedding wasn’t all travelers though – the bride is originally from Maui so friends and loved ones came from both near and far to celebrate together.
We asked the bride what is was like returning home for her wedding. “Actually, I initially didn’t want to have the wedding on Maui. We recently moved to San Francisco after many years of living in Southern California, and most of our friends live there, too. So I really wanted to have the wedding there – I was worried no one would want to travel all the way to Maui! And I wasn’t sure I could pull off planning a destination wedding. Having the wedding on Maui was actually my husband’s idea. He had been a few times with me and absolutely loves it, and told me it would be the perfect place. And of course, he was right. I’m so glad we got married on Maui because it’s where I grew up and where all my family is. It just felt very comfortable and familiar to be back. I’ve been living away from Maui for 12 years now, but I still consider it to be my home, and I’m always happiest when I’m there. It was also nice because we got married at the Hyatt because I have memories of going there when I was little, so it just felt right to have the wedding there as well.”
“I really enjoyed the whole process of getting ready with my mom and sister. It was just hours of relaxing, having our make up and hair done and drinking champagne. It was awesome!”
“One of my favorite moments of the day was when we were exchanging vows. We had decided early on that we were going to write our own…but had both not written them until the very last minute. My husband is totally not the type to spill his guts (especially in public), but his vows were so heart felt and sincere that it totally caught me off guard. I was completely speechless after he read them!”
We asked the couple if they were glad they had a high tech wedding with Instagram and the answer was a big yes! “Yes, totally! Instagram has turned everyone into a photographer (myself included!), and so it was nice (and easy) to see everyone’s pictures in one place.”
“The reception was amazing because we got to have all our friends and family in one place! It’s never happened before, and it was seriously the best time.”
And this one-of-a-kind cake topper? “These lego people were supposed to represent us as a couple. We used these little guys for our save-the-dates because we felt weird about our pictures being on people’s refrigerators. I know that sounds weird, but it’s totally true. So we scoured the internet for wedding lego people. We found the bride pretty easily, but had a hard time with the groom. We actually had to order his head and hands separately, but it was worth all the work! We love them! We plan on taking them with us on our honeymoon to Italy in May.”
For favors, the couple went with a local theme! “We gave away Big Island Candies chocolate dipped macadamia nut shortbread cookies. And they really are as good as they sound! Maybe even better! They are my husband’s favorite cookies. My mom, sister and I stamped and embossed cards with a “thank you” stamp, and put the cards and cookies in little cellophane bags.”
Congratulations to the newlyweds!
Destination Wedding Photographer: Joanna Tano Photography
Wedding Vendors: Venue: Hyatt Maui, Dress: Amy Kuschel, Flowers: Bella Bloom, Big Island Candies, DJ: DJ Boomshot, Officiant: Pia Aluli, Photo Booth: Strike a Pose, Invitations: Paper Source
