WEDDING BLOG

With ocean views and sophisticated details, Jennifer and Shaun’s Hawaiian wedding at Four Seasons Resort Oahu was the perfect combination of laid-back and classy. The lush tropical greenery throughout the venue and the timeless pink, champagne, red, and gold color palette made for a truly stunning backdrop for Makai Creative to capture this wedding from every angle. Couture Weddings Hawaii brought the couple’s adventure-loving personalities and glamour of a tropical Hawaiian Island wedding into perfect harmony. The cherry on top, though, was the bride’s incredible Monique Lhuillier gown and sparkly accessories, which knocked the elegance factor to the next level!

The Couple:

Jennifer and Shaun

The Wedding:

Four Seasons Resort Oahu, Hawaii

After scouring through lots of wedding blogs and inspiration pics, we/I decided on a romantic modern themed wedding that played on the ocean side tropical feels of the venue. I wanted something that felt formal and classy, but still relaxed enough to fit the Hawaiian setting.

I always knew I wanted to get married near the ocean in Hawaii because this is where I feel most at home. We visited quite a few venues on Oahu but instantly fell in love with the Four Seasons Resort at Ko Olina because of its modern style and natural beauty. The west side of Oahu is also known for amazing sunsets.

Shaun and I selected our officiant based on a friend’s recommendation. He worked with us on creating a ceremony style that we all felt comfortable with, and Shaun‘s sister selected a beautiful reading for our ceremony – “The Art of Marriage” by William A Peterson. We also wrote our own vows, which helped bring a very personal touch to the ceremony.

Be confident in your personal style and preferences. It is good to ask for advice/help from others, but also remember it is your day as a couple and do what you feel is best. Doing research will help you feel confident in your decisions – research vendors, research themes and designs you are interested in and don’t be afraid to take risks. In the end, it is such a beautiful and special day that is worth all the time and effort you put into planning it; there is nothing that can take that away that wondering feeling of your wedding day!

We surprised our guests by having a Lion Dance as part of our reception grand entrance. The Lion Dance is a Chinese ritual performed on auspicious occasions (like weddings) that is said to bring happiness, longevity, and good fortune. Our guests, both adults, and children, were amazed by the dancing lions. 

Right before our reception, we decided we wanted to have a Banzai Toast, which is a tradition at Hawaii weddings. As explained to our guests, “Banzai” translates to “ten thousand years.” This is a two-part toast given by two different people in Japanese, and luckily we had two friends pull together this marvelous toast. The first toast is to wish long life and happiness to the bride and groom, and the second toast is to wish long life and happiness to the guests. After each toast, everyone shouts the word “banzai” three times in unison, raising their glasses each time, and drinking from their glass after the third. We were so happy that we were able to squeeze it in because it was a very lively and memorable toast that involved everyone in the room. 

Processional – “This” by Ed Sheeran followed by “Bless the Broken Road” by Caleb & Kelsey
Recessional – “Helpless” by Phillipa Soo & the Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton
First Dance – “Perfect Symphony” by Ed Sheeran and Andrea Bocelli

Our friends later surprised us by coordinating the Hora dance with our DJ. They hoisted us up in our chairs, and then we all linked arms and danced in a circle. It was such a fun group dance to help celebrate our happy day.

Congratulations and our biggest thanks to Jennifer and Shaun for sharing their incredible Four Seasons Resort Oahu wedding with Junebug! Love these Hawaiian vibes? This retro Hawaiian wedding at Kualoa Ranch was full of aloha spirit!