Tell us a little about yourselves!
Chris and Emily met on the North Shore of Oahu during the winter of 2013. Emily had just graduated college and was working as a hostess at a local restaurant that served one of Haleiwa's best ahi burritos. Chris was on his yearly pilgrimage to Hawaii for the Triple Crown of Surfing. After a long day at work Chris was off to get himself an ahi burrito when a chance encounter with Emily occurred. After 8 some odd years we started to think maybe it wasn't chance Chris needed that burrito, but fate. They shared their first kiss in the rain under a tree at ʻEhukai Beach Park and the two have never been the same since.
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
We wanted our marriage to be full circle from where we started our relationship. It was magical having our first kiss in Hawaii as a couple and then as husband and wife. It really became full circle when our wedding day became stormy just like that first night we met.
How many guests did you have?
37.
Tell us about your outfits.
While we got married on the beach, we wanted to bring a classic and elegant look to our vows. Chris wore a classic and clean Armani suit which is timeless. Emily embraced a modern statement dress by Helen O’Connor which was a perfect modern look to stand the test of time. Emily is a wedding planner and floral designer, so she wanted something she wouldn’t see on another bride at the next wedding she worked.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
For us it was about the basics, we didn’t want to be distracted by too much décor or 'fluff' or doing things a certain way because that’s just the way things are done. The vision was low stress with our closest friends and family. For us the most important part was the two of us spending our day together. We began our morning jumping into the ocean together and had a calm relaxing day together getting ready. Emily even took the time to take a relaxing bath. We didn’t have a wedding party and the only moments apart were while Emily changed into her dress since that was the one surprise for Chris. Emily has been a wedding planner for countless weddings and felt it was always strange that couples barely had any time together on their wedding day. We felt like we were in our own little bubble the whole day, even throughout the wedding, we enjoyed time with our friends and family, but there were many moments where it felt like it was just us. It was truly the dreamiest day.
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
For us we didn’t want to take too much attention off the ocean in which we were sitting in front of. All we
needed was a good meal and a dance floor. Also, Emily is a professional florist (The Moody Blooms) so flowers were an important element. Emily made her own bouquet the morning of our wedding that became somewhat of a meditation and ordered all her flowers that were imported to the island
through her wholesaler, Mayesh. We were lucky enough to have some amazing florist friends, Dogwood and Fir, attend our wedding as guests, but also design all of the arrangements and ceremony florals. Their work is some of the best in the world and we were so fortunate to have them design our flowers. We couldn’t have trusted anyone else with something so personal.
Any tips for couples getting married?
Make your wedding about you. It’s easy to get caught up in trends and things that enhance your guests experiences but at the end of the day the bride and groom should be in pure bliss, not some logistical
nightmare. Make sure to take at least some moments for just the two of you. We had a pool party the day before and chartered a catamaran for our guests the day after so we weren’t worried about greeting and saying goodbye to guests at the actual wedding. It took so much pressure off of us so we could take in every moment together. Also, if it is rainy and windy on your wedding day, embrace it. Let it blow your hair into a mess and your dress not stay bustled.
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
More than any vendor our photographer, Tejas of Studio of Tejasvir, was a very deliberate hire for us. We are both creative individuals and we wanted to capture our wedding in a special way. We wanted film, not digital and we wanted our photos to be works of art, not just a photo album of posed portraits. Chris is a live broadcast producer, and his Dad owns one of the biggest film labs in the world, so we couldn’t just go with a typical wedding photographer. He also brought his Super 8 with him and gave us the most beautiful film of our wedding day. Tejas not only gave us precious photos of the most important moment of our lives, but he ended up being an amazing human. You spend pretty much all day with your photographer and Chris now jokes he was our photographer/therapist for the day.
Photographer + Videographer : Studio of Tejasvir @tejasphotos | Ceremony + Reception Location : Westin Maui Resort and Spa @westinmaui | Celebrant : Friend | Entertainment : Maui DJ Services @mauidjservices | Planner : White Orchid Weddings @whiteorchidwedding | Rentals : Rio Event Design @rioeventdesign | Flora : The Moody Blooms @themoodyblooms + Dogwood and Fir @dogwoodandfir, Flowers imported by Mayesh @mayeshwholesale | Makeup and Hair : by the Bride |
Catering, Beverages + Cake : Westin Maui Resort and Spa @westinmaui | Emily's Gown : Helen O’Connor @_helenoconnor_ from Loho Bride @loho_bride | Chris' Suit : Giorgio Armani @giorgioarmani | Engagement + Wedding Rings : Marrow Fine @marrowfine | Bracelets :
Cleobella | Earrings : Buckley + Co | Necklace : Bloomingdales
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