Woohoo! You’re getting married and thinking about tying the knot in Hawaii — I’m so excited for you! I recently celebrated with Juni and Braeden all weekend long in Oahu and just know that their day will inspire yours as well.
An Intimate Oahu, Hawaii Wedding
Juni and Braeden’s wedding weekend in Hawaii was nothing short of magical.
They gathered their closest family members in Oahu to celebrate their union, spending the day before their wedding running into the waves and laughing as the current nearly swept them off their feet.
We kicked off their wedding weekend with a beautiful dinner at the Beach House by Roy Yamaguchi in Turtle Bay, followed by a delicious coconut cake as the sun began to set. The food was truly to die for, and everyone present had a lovely time getting to know each other and toasting to the happy couple.
The Day Of
Bright and early the next morning, I took Juni’s detail box (which included her wedding shoes, flowers, jewelry, and some seashells) and photographed a few flatlay and detail shots around the Airbnb property.
Back inside, I documented Juni’s sisters helping with her hair and makeup. Photographing little candid shots of wedding day mornings is one of my favorite things to capture; there’s so many sweet moments in the quiet leading up to “I do.” Once Juni’s sisters finished making her look even more like a princess, she slipped on her beautiful dress and revealed the look to each member of her family, which led to many hugs and tears.
The Airbnb in Pūpūkea was just under a 20 minute drive to the Laie Temple, where I captured the couple’s first look. After taking the moment in together and walking around the grounds, Juni and Braeden entered the temple to be sealed. It rained off and on again that January day, but cleared up just as they exited the doors while the wedding party cheered.
Wedding Portraits at Ka’a’awa Beach
Afterwards, we had some lunch and then returned to the beach for family and formal photos before the couple took off to their honeymoon on a different side of the island. Juni chose Ka’a’awa beach for her portraits because of its rocky backdrop and secluded feel. We weren’t the only ones on that sandy shore, but it felt like it once we began taking photos there.
As we all waved goodbye to the happy couple, I couldn’t stop smiling and thinking about how incredible this wedding was. Not just because of the location (although that did play a big part in why I loved it so much), but because of the intention behind it all. Instead of making their wedding day feel like a big production, they chose to focus on the most important things: their love, their families, and God.
I’ve started photographing more intimate weddings recently and can’t express enough just how amazing they are. Although there is beauty in large weddings, smaller celebrations give the couple plenty of opportunities to connect with each other and their guests, and everyone is more relaxed and present. Also, timelines on smaller weddings have a lot more flexibility. This day in particular was a bit rainy, so it was amazing to have some wiggle room in the timeline to avoid a downpour during family photos.
Whether you’re envisioning a ceremony on a Hawaiian shoreline or something intimate in your backyard, I would love to be your photographer. Destination weddings are my jam, but so is showing up for the beautiful, real moments that happen anywhere two people choose each other.
Looking for a destination wedding photographer to document your special day? I’d love to chat!
