There are very few places in the world as majestic as Kualoa Ranch on Oahu. That is likely the reason that Kualoa Ranch has been the background for many movies and tv shows including Jurassic Park, 50 First Dates, Lost and Hawaii 5-0. With the towering Koolau Mountains on one side and Molii fish pond and a open-air, covered venue, Molii Gardens offers a stunning wedding ceremony and reception site. Our bride and groom had beautiful wedding with red and gold color scheme and pineapple motifs throughout. The bride wore a lace wedding gown with long sleeves and a deep v neckline and a long train. A red rose and orchid flower crown, or haku, added a lovely pop of color that accented her red lips. The red accents also complimented the grooms military dress uniform that was green with red.
There are many good reasons to do a first look before the wedding ceremony. It can help your timeline along with seeing each other first, then doing some portraits together as opposed to doing all of your portraits along with your family and wedding party between the ceremony and reception while all of your guest wait. Another reason to have a first look is to get our some nervousness by seeing each other before walking down the aisle. I’m a big ugly crier when I’m overcome with emotion, so I knew when I walked down the aisle it was going to be bad. I should have done a first look! Along with these reasons, it’s a nice way to share some last minute thoughts and feelings together before they jump feet first into the most eventful day of their lives to that point. Wedding days go by so fast that it might be nice for couples to have a last moment of clarity together before the whirlwind. But, many couples have thought about all that and just don’t want to see each other before the walk down the aisle. For those people this new trend of the first look without looking might be the right choice for them! This bride and groom met up before the ceremony without seeing each other to just share a sweet little moment together just holding hands.
The ceremony site, down the stairs along the pond at Molii Gardens had a wood trellis draped with sheer white fabric and adorned with red flowers and lots of greenery. The wedding ceremony involved a few nice traditions including the exchange of lei and the washing of hands.
The wedding reception was set up with wood tables without table cloths, draped fabric runners, red flower centerpieces in gold vases, gold votive candle holders, and gold pineapples. Guests were treated to gold pineapple bottle openers or wine corks as wedding favors. The bride and groom’s chairs had wood signs with calligraphy that said “Better Together” and their reception table had matching signs that said “I would walk 500 miles, and I would walk 500 more, with a brown suitcase serving as a card box.
The wedding cake was a two tier, round cake in the “naked” style with minimal frosting covering the cake and a gold personalized script name cake topper. All of the deep reds, golds, and pineapples gave the whole venue a luxurious tropical ambiance. What a lovely way to start their lives as husband and wife!
wedding cake
Honolulu Wedding by Waikiki Beach with Pink and Blush tones
If you are thinking of getting married in Waikiki, then you have to take a look at this gorgeous wedding! Our lovely bride got ready with her bridesmaids in their suite at Hilton Hawaiian Village and the end of Waikiki Beach. Our photography team captured all of her outfit details while she finished up having her hair and makeup done. The bride got dressed in her stunning strapless lace wedding gown featuring a sweetheart neckline, embellished satin sash and a flowing, voluminous tulle train. Our bride accessorized her look with drop earrings, a sparkling bracelet, and a rhinestone embellished hair comb that held back one side of her side parted wavy hair do and completed her glamorous look with a cathedral length, lace edged veil.
The bridesmaids wore complementing tones of blush, pink and gold knee length dresses with sparkling details in beading or sequins.
The wedding ceremony was held at the glass chapel on the grounds of Hilton Hawaiian Village. It was formerly known as the Ocean Crystal Chapel but is now known as the Akala Chapel and Gazebo. This beautiful chapel has a plethora of windows which let the bright Pacific sun fill the white walled chapel with lots of light. The wedding guests sat on the white pews while the bride and groom exchanged vows, signed the marriage certificate and ended the ceremony with a kiss.
Directly outside of the glass chapel are cascading steps that lead down to a white gazebo.
How stunning is our bride in this lovely dress. Not to mention this beautiful flower bouquet with white, blush and pink flowers and lots of organically flowing greenery. The handsome groom wore a classic tuxedo and black bow tie. Our team captured their portraits on Waikiki Beach directly outside of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. You can’t beat that view of Diamond Head!
The newly married bride and groom partied the night away at their wedding reception. Fitted with crisp classic white table cloths, the tables were adorned with lush floral centerpieces in gold vases, gold and blush glass votive candle holders while place settings were set with gold rimmed crystal glasses and gold flatware. The oval backed clear chairs added a modern twist to the glamorous reception set up. Orchids and roses lent a bright pop of color to the candles in tall clear vases.
No wedding reception would be complete without the wedding cake. The stylish bride and groom chose a 3 tiered round cake with gold top tiers accented by a large fresh flower and a bottom tier in white fondant with hand painted flower motifs. The guests were also treated with cake pops, cupcakes and macarons! The cake table beautifully displayed all of the sweets on glass platforms among a lush flower arrangement. The sweet display was topped off with a set of large frosted cookies in the shape of the word “LOVE.” The bride changed into a sleek second white dress to dance the night away.
Hawaii Destination Wedding at Kualoa Ranch and Waikiki
Ok, I am a little biased, but I love kilts and Scottish culture! I was so excited to work on this Scottish couple’s sweet photos. Not only were they absolutely smitten with each other and so cute, but their wedding details and decor were beautiful too! Don’t leave it to me to convince you, just check out their photos here!
After the bride had her hair and makeup done at Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki, she got dressed in her wedding gown featuring a feather detailed sweetheart neckline pleated bodice and flowing ruffled skirt. Absolutely stunning! The happy groom was dressed in his family’s kilt pattern with a matching vest and necktie. They headed over to the windward side of Oahu to Kualoa Ranch for their intimate wedding ceremony in the valley.
You might recognize this stunning landscape from movies such as Jurassic Park or the hit TV show Lost! This mountain range makes for a breathtaking backdrop for a wedding ceremony in Hawaii. There wedding venue was set up with gold chivari chairs and white orchids displayed in a lovely pattern on the grass down the aisle.
Between the ceremony and reception, we all headed to Honolulu to capture wedding portraits of the newlyweds enjoying the views from atop a lookout. How cute is this Volkswagen bus with surfboards on top?
The entire wedding party with family and friends gathered to eat, drink and enjoy the views from Duke’s restaurant in Waikiki. The bride and groom’s chair was decorated with heart shaped slate signs that read “I would walk 500 miles and I would walk 500 more.” So perfect! To finish off the night the bride and groom cut into their unique Jurassic Park themed wedding cake featuring two little dinosaurs on top of a flowing volcano! To wash it down, the couple chomped into their Lost themed Dharma Initiative brand can shaped cakes. All of these cute details came together so seamlessly for a truly Hawaii themed destination wedding for this pair from Scotland.
Gorgeous three tier wedding cake with roses
How beautiful does this three tier round wedding cake look! Simply white buttercream frosting with soft pink and blush roses add a classic and romantic feel that was carried throughout this lovely Lanikuhonua wedding on Oahu.
