Phoenix and Danielle approached me with the desire for an intimate Oahu wedding. They were deciding between an elopement but decided to honor their families with a small celebration. To bring both intimacy and Hawaii into their setup, they chose to have their ceremony at the beautiful Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens on the east side of O’ahu with their closest family and friends.
Getting Ready
The intimacy started right away with the way they got ready. The groom got ready in his mom’s house with his siblings around cooking and cleaning for the backyard party that would follow the ceremony. The bride got ready at their hotel with just her parents and a single bridesmaid.
Simple Details, Extravagant Love, Intimate Hawaii Wedding
They kept the theme of intimacy going with a private first look and exchange of vows. We eagerly awaited Danielle’s arrival with Phoenix. I will never forget witnessing his anxious anticipation of seeing his bride. As she arrived we ran and hid out of site to give them a truly private experience for their first look. Even though I couldn’t hear anything, I could absolutely feel everything just by watching from afar.
After they soaked in the initial moment, we walked down a trail for even more privacy to exchange their vows. Under the wall of bamboo, they shared their vows. As I hid behind palms, vines, and other plants to capture the moments I loved seeing the tears, giggles, and affection between the two.
Following their private vows we moved to another location in the gardens for their intimate Oahu wedding to be witnessed by their loved ones. A friend of the bride and groom officiated the ceremony, staying true to the personal vibes they wanted. Family and friends gathered around carrying in their own chairs for the parents and stood surrounding the bride and groom with love.
Sunsetting the Day
Following family portraits, we set off for the reception on the other side of the island. We made a stop at the beach for some sunset portraits of the bride and groom. They played, laughed, and embraced in the way two people do when they know they made the best decision of their life.
