Tell us a little about yourselves!
We met through a mutual friend in 2010 while living in San Francisco, but didn’t start dating until a full year later. We bonded over having four architect parents between the two of us! Will is a religious surfer, spending most mornings in the Pacific Ocean, and Caty can often be found working on new designs in her ceramics studio. Together we share a love of the outdoors, design, food, and foreign adventure. We currently live in Sausalito, CA.
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
It was important to us that we had our wedding in a place that held personal meaning. Caty’s parents started hand-planting a fruit orchard on the Big Island of Hawai’i in a small village called Honomu just a couple years before we began dating. So over the next 10 years of our relationship, traveling there to help on the farm, surf some waves, and share in the aloha of the local community became a twice a year ritual. To have the opportunity to share a place that was a labor of love for so long with all of our family and friends was a dream come true.
How many guests did you have?
We had about 80 people.
Tell us about your outfits.
We prioritized casual, lose-fitting, comfortable wear for the hot and humid climate. Caty wore a silk crepe midi dress with detachable sleeves from the women-owned San Francisco designer Kamperett. The full, draped sleeves reminded Caty of a modern take on a Hawai’ian muʻumuʻu! Will wore a green linen suit paired with a silk aloha shirt from Tori Richard Honolulu. We knew we’d be wearing amazing fresh lei’s throughout the evening, so we kept other accessories to a minimum.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
The most important thing was ensuring our guests left with an appreciation for the island which has given us so much over the years. Since this was a destination wedding for the majority of our guests, we spent a lot of time putting together travel guides to help them explore the island and make their own memories.
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
We wanted to incorporate personal touches wherever we could. A favorite painting by Caty’s mother hangs in the main room of their Hawai’ian home, so Caty adapted the design for use in invitations and other printed materials. Wine served at dinner came from a vineyard owned by Will’s family in Knights Valley, California. And our cocktails used fresh lychee grown directly on the venue property, harvested by Caty’s parents.
Any tips for couples getting married, particularly during Covid?
Be fully transparent on what your guests can expect at your event so they feel informed enough to make a decision about attendance that they are comfortable with. Showing kindness, patience, and understanding towards both your guests and vendors will ensure an event that everyone can enjoy.
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
All of our vendors were truly incredible – professional, fun, and amazing at what they do.
Because we got legally married right before the pandemic began, we wanted our wedding celebration ceremony to be simple and reflective of our love for each other and our connection to the land. Our officiant Meleana Manuel who is a Kumu Hula (Master Hula teacher) for youth in the nearby village of Volcano performed an amazing blessing and lei exchange as an alternative to a traditional ceremony, using fresh maile leis she made with her students. 100% of the fees from her service went back to Hula school she leads, which made the experience even more meaningful!
We also want to highlight Queen’s Table Catering who pulled off a literal farm to table experience in the middle of our family’s orchard. Having a fully outdoor “off the grid” dining experience using produce from the farms surrounding us, was pretty magical. We loved the creativity, passion, and sense of humor that their entire staff brought to the event.
Photographer : Sophie Berard @sberardweddings | Ceremony + Reception Location :
Mauna Kai Orchards (Private Estate) | Entertainment : Keoni Thompson, Cocktail Hour Island Kings, Dance Band @keonithompsonmusic @islandkingsband | Planner :
Candice Edinger Events + Design @candice_edinger | Flora + Flower Leis : Grace Flowers Hawai'i
@graceflowershawaii | HMUA : Kipona Aloha Beauty @kiponaalohabeauty | Catering + Beverages :
Queen’s Table Catering @queenstable_hawaii | Stationery : Swell Press @swellpress | Caty's Dress: Kamperett @kamperett | William's Suit: Suitsupply @suitsupply | William's Shirt: Tori Richard Honolulu @toririchard | Rings : Mociun @mociun | Maile Leis: Meleana Manuel