WEDDING BLOG

From oceanfront “I do’s” to a reception under the stars, this Olowalu beach wedding is proof micro weddings don’t have to be boring. With the help of wedding planner Bixby and Pine, Katie and Zach were able to bring to life an intimate, unique nuptial that celebrated their love for Hawaii and each other.

With both ocean and mountain views, Olowalu Plantation House was the perfect venue for this Hawaii-loving couple. They wanted Hawaii’s natural beauty to be the main event, with minimal decor and a terracotta color palette—subtle and show-stopping. Tropical florals by Reed and Rye were incorporated into the ceremony backdrop, bouquets, and reception tables to cohesively blend the ceremony and reception areas. 

Photographer and Junebug member Emma Quinn captured every moment and decor detail that’ll have you dreaming of hosting a smaller celebration. Get your Pinterest boards ready and keep scrolling for unique wedding inspiration we guarantee you’ll want to revisit. Plus, you won’t want to miss the traditional Hawaiian unity ceremony, neon aloha sign, and laid-back fashion. 

Photographer’s Thoughts On This Olowalu Beach Wedding

Katie and Zach took their time planning their Olowalu beach wedding. They’ve lived in Hawaii and decided it was important for their guests to experience this place they love so dearly. It really was an intimate wedding for the books.

The Couple:

Katie and Zach

The Wedding:

Maui, Hawaii

Sharing Their Love For Hawaii And Each Other

We prioritized many things when planning our wedding. First, having lots of time together as a couple. Prioritizing our time together in the day-of itinerary allowed us to really take in what was happening! Secondly, showing off the beauty of Hawaii to all our loved ones. Zach and I have spent the past three winters on the island, so it’s an important place to us. We wanted to be able to show our guests why it holds such a special place in our hearts.

Working With Photographer Emma Quinn

Working with Emma Quinn was easy and effortless. We’ve worked with Emma many times. She’s always had such an eye for capturing moments, taking a step back, and painting the picture of the day. Emma is a true storyteller! She’s also just a really fun and sweet person to have around. My family and friends just loved her. We also spent a night in a tiny cabin in Yosemite for our engagement session, then spent sunrise to sunset together, and never got sick of each other. Love that chick.

A Venue With Ocean And Mountain Views 

We’re so proud of how beautiful the venue was. I think all our guests were blown away when they arrived. The Olowalu Plantation House sits right on the water. From one side you have a view of the ocean and from the other side you have a view of the mountains. It had all of the Hawaii vibe we were going for. 

Local Beers Only At The Reception 

I loved that we served local beers and seltzers from Maui Brewing Company, Kona Brewing Company, and Ola Brewing Company. We had a beer pong table that was so fun during the reception. Honestly, we were proud of most elements of the day. We’re so happy with how it came together.

The Importance Of Hiring A Wedding Planner 

Our advice to couples everywhere is to hire a wedding planner! We’re in the wedding industry ourselves and we almost tried to do it on our own. After a few months of planning, we realized that the biggest gift we could give ourselves was hiring someone. Bixby and Pine did everything—I mean everything. It allowed us to solely focus on each other and let us really take in the meaning of the day. Let me say it louder for the people in the back: a wedding planner is a gift to yourselves! 

Incorporate Loved Ones In The Wedding 

The most memorable part of the day was our ceremony. And trust me, I wasn’t expecting that. But when you really love the person you’re marrying, saying your vows to one another in front of all your favorite people is pretty special. We were laughing, we were crying—it was just perfect. Plus, our officiant is our brother-in-law and he did such a good job centering the message around who we are as a couple. And my mom recited a bible verse about love. Then, we had a unity ceremony honoring Hawaiian culture. 

Congratulations to Katie and Zach on their oceanfront Hawaiian nuptial. And big thanks to photographer and Junebug member Emma Quinn for capturing the love and laughter that radiated from this Olowalu beach wedding. 

If you’re looking to tie the knot in your favorite place in the world—like Katie and Zach—then a destination wedding is for you. Start by checking out more of Emma Quinn’s work in our directory of top photographers from around the world. Then, kickstart your planning process with our guide to planning a destination wedding.