Married in Maui - Part 2

Our Wedding

As we said in Married in Maui – Part 1, we have arranged for Reverend Alapaki and Laurie of Makena Weddings to provide just the wedding we have always dreamed of: small, intimate, wacky, romantic, sexy, and most of all, ours.

And today, everything is perfect.

Well, there was one small glitch. Two days before the wedding, as we sat in the county courthouse waiting to get our legal papers in order — the electricity went out on the island. You can’t get married without paperwork! We shrugged. “Island life.” Fortunately, after about an hour, power was restored, the computers turn on, and we left the courthouse happy.

Now, finally, it’s our wedding day!!

There’s nothing like champagne and a hair dresser to calm pre-wedding butterflies.

All wedding photographs on this page were taken by Kinga Richey and are used with her knowledge and permission. Please visit www.kingaritchey.photography for more information.

The Fairmont Kea Lani has provided a room for us so the blushing bride can prepare (one of the perks of the President’s Club). The happy day begins.

I’m ready for the big day!

Note my lovely engagement ring. We picked out the gems and had it custom designed and made in the Los Angeles Jewelry District.

I feel like a model in a bridal magazine.

I think the Fairmont built this alcove just for moments like this.

Our own private Hawaiian wedding ceremony.

We arrive at our “private” beach. Reverend Alapaki is holding our leis and his assistants are waiting for us. The groom waits in the flower circle, the bride approaches, the conch sounds, and the ceremony begins.

“Bride and Groom: we are here to celebrate your marriage, on this very special day. You have chosen to affirm your love for one another with spoken words, music, prayer, and with the sharing of symbols. It is good that you have chosen this place here in Hawaii.”

Bride, I give this ring to you as a sign of my love.

We recite the words of the traditional Hawaiian ceremony to the sound of gentle guitar strings and the swirling waters.

Groom, I give this ring to you as a sign of my love.

“Your rings by their shape are symbols of eternal unity, without beginning or end. They are the emblems of love that exist between you and they represent your devotion to one another. And so, let these rings always remind you of the commitment that you make to each other here on this very special day.”

Bride and Groom, you are united as husband and wife.

“Bride and Groom, do you promise to let your love for each other grow as it will, as it must so that in the years to come you will renew your acceptance, understanding and trust of one another? If so, please say, ‘We Promise’.”

You may now kiss each other.

“With the blessings of those of us who are present here today, and by the power vested in me by the State of Hawaii, it gives me great honor to pronounce you husband and wife, wife and husband.”

First moments as Husband and Wife.

We know that this special moment, on a quiet beach on Maui, Hawaii, will stay with us forever.

Eskimo kisses!

Time for a nuzzle, hidden behind the veil so no one can see. 🙂

Holding each other’s hand on our beach.

We walk along the beach, happy to be here and to be married to each other.

Enjoying the beauty of the Hawaiian tropics and our love.

We thought the tropics would be the perfect place to be wedded, and we are correct.

Dancing in the sand.

We dance our wedding dance to the sound of Hawaiian guitar strings and the ocean breeze.

Rainbow kisses.

It had rained earlier in the day and we wondered if the rain would change our wedding plans. Rather, it provides this rainbow to showcase our wedding.

Newlyweds, walking on our private beach.

The sun begins to set, but we are oblivious, basking in each other’s light.

Watch out for those waves!

Our photographer highlights the wedding dress, with all its filigree.

Floating into the sunset.

I am so happy, I’m floating!

Our first “married” sunset.

We stare into each other’s eyes as the sun sets behind Lanai.

He didn’t realize he married a mermaid.

Looking into each other’s eyes, we know this is right.

I told you to watch out for those waves!

Dang! Where did that water come from???

Too late! Might as well have some fun.

Getting married on the beach has unanticipated consequences!

Finding love in each other’s arms.

Ah, well. Now we can cuddle on the sand and not worry about the water.

My husband *really* likes this picture, for some reason…

Hmmm, this “mermaid” thing is getting out of hand!

We misunderstood when the photographer said “Wave!”

At this point, we are too happy and too drenched to worry about more waves.

Soft sand, warm waves, salty air, tropical evening, and each other.

Life is good.

Where is that bridal magazine photographer now?

I hope the hotel lets us walk back through the lobby!

The Perfect End to a Perfect Day.

A hiki mai no ou kou, a hiki pu no me ke aloha.

Our Wedding Album

When we first contacted Laurie at Makena Weddings, we agreed to 36 digital photographs of our ceremony, thinking that would be enough. When we met with the photographer, Kinga Richey, and saw her work, we changed our minds and selected the largest album she made. Below, you can see why.