If you want to be inspired by an insanely gorgeous wedding venue, then look no further than this amazing wedding in Hawaii. With its breathtaking ceremony location, to the pretty flowers and the intimate family style tables, this wedding will knock you out.
Tavaner + Matt, June 17, 2011, Haleiwa, Hawaii
The ceremony
We had a small beach side ceremony overlooking a private peach and the Pacific Ocean. We were married by a kahu, or Hawaiian priest. The bride walked down the aisle to instrumental guitar music played by a lifelong family friend. My husband and I each had one attendant – his younger brother was his best man, my sister was my maid of honor, and my cousin was my flower girl. The men wore navy Theory summer suits and hemp Rainbow sandals. The made of honor wore a navy sundress and wedges. And the father-of-the-bride wore gray linen slacks, a white linen shirt and handmade leather sandals. I promised all the men that they wouldn’t have to wear shoes, and most, even the guests, were in casual suits and flip flops. It was fantastic! We had a non-denominational ceremony and very simple vows. The maid of honor ready Kahlil Gibran’s passage “On Marriage.”
The reception
Both our ceremony and reception took place at Loulu Palm Estate on the North Shore of Oahu (the bride’s hometown). To establish the reception space, we set up a large, clear-top event tent. Paper lanterns in white, coral and aqua were hung from the roof. From the very beginning, I knew I wanted one long, elegant table and for the meal to be served family style. All 46 of our guests (48 people total including us) sat at one long table with white table cloths, burlap runners, and flower centerpieces alternated between lanterns with candles sitting on beds of sand. Dinner was served on large white platters and consisted of several salads, platters of local island fish and beef tenderloin, and taro rolls. After the ceremony and before dinner we had a cocktail hour with passed appetizers (Kahua pork sliders, ahi poke, and vegetable summer rolls) and an open bar. Our signature drink was a margarita because they are our favorite cocktail and we met in Texas. Instead of one large wedding cake, we did three smaller ones – a sort of array. There was a carrot cake, a lilikoi buttercream cake and a strawberry guava cake. After dinner and cake cutting, we danced the night away to music provided by a DJ. The bride and groom’s first dance was to Adele’s remake of “Make you feel my love.” The bride and her dad danced to Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold,” and the groom and his mother danced to “Mama, Don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys.”
How Tavaner felt in her dress
Elegant, stylish and happy
Why she decided to sell her wedding dress
It is too beautiful and fun a dress to sit in my closet forever. I felt fortunate to have been able to wear a Vera Wang dress, and I’d like to give someone else that chance too!
