It's not everyday when your cousin asks you to plan their wedding, but when you are called upon you cannot turn it down, especially when it's in Paradise.
When my cousin Scott first told me he was engaged I couldn't be anymore happy for him as he found the man of his dreams and that I got to help play a role in commitment to one another.
It was perfect timing that we started our planning adventure together during the destination wedding of one of our cousins. It was also the first time I got to meet Michel in person. For them it was nice to be able to see my work in person and get ideas for their own wedding.
Both living in San Francisco, these two couldn't decide where to exchange their I Dos. Scott's family lives here in Washington and Michel's family hails from Canada so it was between California and Maui. It was a no-brainer and the couple chose Maui.
Settling on Labor Day weekend to wed, we were tasked to secure a great venue, that allowed the two to get married on the beach with an unbelievable view to celebrate with their friends and family. After a lot of research, I was able to find the Four Seasons Resort Maui and the couple was sold instantly.
When it came down to the details, our couple had one requirement, they wanted to get married on the beach with their toes in the sand. In addition, each groom had their own request. For Scott it was having Calla Lilies and for Michel it was clean white lines. We were able to incorporate both of their requests in the stunning floral arrangements by Country Bouquets who created WOW statement pieces that were placed upon the stunning linens by Wildflower Linen. The centerpieces were accented by the floating candles and votives which truly gave the tables a different look once the sun went down.
As we headed into the final days before the wedding, our family suffered a huge loss when our beloved grandmother passed away. The wedding was actually a blessing in disguise as it was a great way to remember her and her spirit as our family was able to spend this precious time together.. To recognize our grandmother and Michel's father, the couple threw purple orchids into the Pacific Ocean. It was truly a special moment for everyone there including our Uncle Kevin who officiated the ceremony.
But what really had us concerned was Hurricane Madeline and Lester who were on course to make landfall. Checking the weather on an almost hourly basis we arrange for Plan B and C just in case the weather worsened. But I think our grandmother was looking down on us and made Mother Nature cooperate and both storms passed by the Island only giving us strong winds and some high surf.
On wedding day guests were greeted with a white floral lei and a glass of champagne and entertained by the musical stylings of guitarist Ricardo Dioso and their friend Dheepa Chari. She serenaded the crowd and would later surprise Scott by request of Michel to sing their first dance song. After a beautiful toast, guests made their way down to beach and created the perfect setting for our grooms who made their way down hand in hand.
Besides honoring the Hawaiian tradition of throwing the flowers into the ocean, Scott's sister Heather read a beautiful poem that was so heartfelt and perfect for her brother and new brother-in-law.
After the ceremony guests made their way to the oceanfront lawn for a beautiful reception complete with an LED dance floor that help to light up the sky.
Their delicious wedding cake by the Four Seasons Resort Maui with the edible calla lillies was by far the most incredible cake I have ever had and trust me I have had a lot of cake in my tenure as a wedding planner.
Ending the perfect night, our couple surprised their guests with a fire knife dancer who gave a spectacular performance which photographer Scott Drexler captured so beautifully.
If you thought the best part of this wedding was being able to go to Maui, then you would be wrong. It was being able to spend time with my cousin and his new husband to be over the course of the year and learning more about them as a couple. It was made even more special to be able to bond with Scott on a much deeper level, something I am forever grateful for that opportunity.
Maui was just the cherry on top.
