A destination wedding in Oahu at Lanikuhonua was meant to be for Miki and Joel. “We always knew that we would be married in Hawaii,” Miki says. “The aloha spirit is so warm and welcoming, and as a couple, we have shared many special moments in the Islands.” After attending their fair share of elaborate hometown weddings, the couple longed to create a more intimate celebration in a private, tropical paradise. “We wanted our wedding to honor the union of two people and the community that raised us—our family and closest friends.”

To begin plans for the event, the bride flew to Oahu to meet her wedding coordinator, Sandra Williams of Finishing Touch, in person. “Sandra is the opposite of me in that she is really calm and nothing seems to rile her,” Miki says. “I knew that’s exactly what I needed in a coordinator.” Sandra introduced the couple to Lanikuhonua, one of just a few private wedding sites fronting a secluded sandy beach on Oahu’s southwest shore. They instantly fell in love with the picturesque location. “Sandra helped to convey my sense of style and bring my vision to life,” the bride says. “I wanted the look to be fresh and modern with natural elements running throughout.” The wedding invitation and itinerary for the week-long celebration arrived in a burlap fabric bag, carefully hand-sewn and assembled by the bride and her best friend. Since Joel has access to some of the best animators in the industry, their stationery featured playful renderings of the couple and scenes from the ocean to echo the island setting.

The bride enlisted the talents of floral designer Yvonne Chapman after seeing her work in the pages of Pacific Weddings magazine. “As a designer, she is inspirational and she really draws out the creative side of people,” Miki says. The cheerful palette that Miki and Joel chose for the day, vivid shades of orange and yellow, reflected a cool summer sunset. A bamboo archway and sleek wooden benches marked the ceremony site at the water’s edge. Exotic arrangements of orchids and anthuriums were intertwined in curly manzanita tree branches that lined an aisle of sand. The bride was breathtaking in an ivory gown of Japanese Dutchess satin and tissue-thin organza, created by San Francisco designer Jin Wang. Miki carried a delicate bouquet of white Casablanca lilies. Joel was a handsome groom in a stylish pewter suit custom tailored for the occasion. In a touching ceremony, the bride and groom recited vows from the heart, inviting family members to join them in a group blessing.

Afterwards, guests dined on long tables adorned with lush arrangements of deep orange Mocara orchids, fiery-red celosias, pincushions and anthuriums displayed in wooden boxes. Silvery succulents and sea coral were scattered along burlap table runners, adding a touch of organic elegance. The mother-of-the-bride spent the day before the wedding sewing all of the linens with her daughters in their beachfront bungalow. “We had fun and it gave us a chance to bond and spend time together,” Miki says. Dramatic capiz shell chandeliers cast a warm glow beneath a clear-top tent, where colorful food stations displayed a multicultural blend of Asian and Pacific Rim cuisine. “Joel and I are big foodies so we had high expectations, and everything turned out to be phenomenal!” Miki says. A photo booth at the reception ensured that the couple would have unique keepsake photographs of their guests. “We still laugh uncontrollably when we flip through that album!” Miki says. Guests danced late into the evening, enjoying an eclectic musical selection from the groom’s iPod. Everyone savored a delicious passion fruit and Mandarin orange buttercream cake by Cake Works. “The day was all about family, friendship and love,” Miki exclaims. “It was absolutely perfect.”

Photos by Apertura

Flowers by Yvonne Design

Event planning by Finishing Touch

Cake by Cake Works