An Elegant, Tropical Wedding by the Ocean in Oahu, Hawaii

Simple and Tropical

The couple's The Writing Desk Hawaii invitation suite featured tropical flowers and leaves, bright pink accents, and a crest, all of which previewed the color palette and accents that recurred throughout the big-day design. "We worked with our designer to include a map of Oahu and the various locations across the island, including the wedding venue, beach day, and other popular locations," says Vanessa. "We kept our invitation suite very simple and kept the focus on the paper quality and design, which we loved."

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A Lucky Find

Vanessa's mermaid-cut lace wedding dress was a top contender during a shopping trip at the Pronovias flagship store in New York City, but she hadn't been able to commit on the spot. "A few days later, I stumbled into a luxury consignment boutique and saw one of my favorite dresses for a fraction of the price, brand new, unaltered, and in my exact size," she says. "It truly felt like it was meant to be. I never thought I would find my wedding dress in a bridal consignment boutique, but would highly recommend it to brides who are comfortable shopping pre-owned or sample dresses." Sydney-based Bespoke Bridal Tailors added tulle sleeves that Vanessa removed during the reception, and Ivonn Couture used the same tulle to form a matching veil.

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Blush Blooms

The bride's "romantic and organic" bouquet was a hand-tied collection of cymbidium orchids, garden roses, parrot tulips, and ranunculus. "Flowers were an important factor for us," says Vanessa. "We loved Passion Roots' work and selected this vendor immediately after we secured our wedding venue."

Well-Suited

Nathan ordered his custom midnight-blue suit from Sydney boutique label Mister Mister, adding a white French cuff shirt, a black satin diamond-tipped bow tie, and Magnanni shoes. A colorful boutonnière of anthurium added a tropical accent.

Father and Son

The groom shared a quiet moment with his father before the ceremony as he pinned his grandfather's World War II-era rose gold and diamond brooch to his father's lapel. "Since the wedding, Nathan's parents' home was lost in the bushfires which ravaged the east coast of Australia and the brooch was one of only a handful of items which were recovered from the rubble—still intact—increasing its sentimental value to the family," says Vanessa.

She Said, He Said

Vanessa and Nathan met before the ceremony, exchanging personal letters in an intimate space on the grand staircase at the Four Seasons Resort in Oahu. "Walking down the staircase to meet each other for our first look and exchange our private vows was such a special moment that we will forever cherish," says Vanessa. "Our first look helped ease some of the nervous feelings and pulled us right back into the moment before the day officially started."

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Laughter and Love

The couple ordered vow books and customized them with rose gold foil lettering to create an heirloom memento. "It was such a surreal moment sharing our private and intimate vows with each other," says Vanessa. "We're so happy we did. It was one of our favorite moments from our wedding day."

Crown Princess

"Taking inspiration from the royal weddings, we decided to keep the bridal party small," says Vanessa. Her matron of honor wore a BHLDN sheath dress in apricot, while the flower girl—Vanessa's five-year-old cousin—dressed up in a tea-length tulle princess dress. "She wore a beautiful flower crown customized by our florist to match the aesthetic of the bridal bouquet," says Vanessa.

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Ring Masters

Vanessa's nephews joined the bridal party as ring bearers in dark blue pants, suspenders, and bow ties. "They both wore mini full ti-leaf leis, which was perfect," says Vanessa. "Our flower girl and ring bearers were beyond adorable and did such an amazing job!"

Arm in Arm

The bride and groom made thoughtful song choices throughout the day. "Music was another important factor for us, and we wanted the right songs to evoke both a romantic vibe and a positive energy throughout our day," she says. They asked singer Jason Laeha to perform for the ceremony and cocktail hour, and chose "Can't Help Falling in Love" for their processional. "My father walked me down the aisle and the smile on his face was priceless!" says Vanessa.

Saying "I Do"

Two readings during the ceremony—from Vanessa's brother and Nathan's cousin—included a passage from the Bible's 1 Corinthians and Rumi's "This Marriage." Reverend Michael Nelson guided the couple through their non-denominational service, where they exchanged traditional vows. "Our officiant embodied the local mahalo spirt of Hawaii and was exceptional throughout the ceremony!" says Vanessa. "We met with him before our ceremony and he gave us wonderful marriage advice."

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Natural Wonder

The couple held the service on a lawn overlooking a stone wall and the brilliant blue ocean. "In such a gorgeous tropical destination, we knew that we wanted our celebration to be outdoors with amazing views that showcase the natural beauty of Oahu," says Vanessa. "We wanted the setting to capture Hawaii's gorgeous greenery and were intentional with our design and décor so as to not take away from the gorgeous landscape."

An asymmetrical arch included tropical greenery and pink, white, and peach garden flowers, complemented by guests' white chairs. "We made the last-minute decision to add a rose petal aisle splash and I couldn't imagine our ceremony without it," says Vanessa. "It completely tied our romantic theme together!"

A Walk to Remember

Instead of joining their guests for cocktails after the ceremony, Vanessa and Nathan took advantage of the beachfront location and stunning sunset for their newlywed portraits. "The sunset the night of our wedding was nothing short of magical, and I would love to relive that moment again and again," she says. "Our wedding planners even brought us cocktails to enjoy during the sunset portrait session, which was most appreciated!"

Syned and Sealed

Guests found their seating assignments in rose-colored envelopes closed with the couple's custom wax seal. "The wording at the top—Syned, Sealed, Delivered, which was a play on words from our hashtag, #SyneSealedDelivered—was the perfect final touch," says the couple.

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A Pretty Pair

A large sailcloth tent strung with overhead lights created a sheltered outdoor space for dinner and dancing. Long tables covered with floor-length linens and gauze runners framed the dance floor, while minimalist wooden chairs created a natural contrast. Tropical arrangements on their chairs—one of the couple's favorite details—marked the newlyweds' seats.

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Love Is in the Air

Low floral arrangements in white footed vessels included bright tropical foliage, garden roses, and island blooms, while mother-of-pearl votive candle holders created a sparkling accent. "Our vision was all about romance," says the couple. "We wanted an elegant, memorable, and fun-loving destination wedding."

A Detailed Crest

Table numbers in shimmering frames mimicked the crest from the couple's invitation, trading their initials for numerals in an ocean-blue shade.

At the Table

Place settings included wooden chargers topped with white china, placed between gold utensils. Blush-colored napkins coordinated with the rose-toned runners, while stemless glassware and custom menus detailing the meal—which the couple describes as "Hawaiian regional cuisine with a twist"—were elevated, informal accents.

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Dinner Time

As the sun set, guests enjoyed their dinner—and each other's company—under the glowing tent.

Sweet Stuff

Vanessa had a specific cake request for farm-to-table dessert caterer Upcountry Creations: "I knew I wanted a carrot cake from early on," she says. Cutting the three-tier, semi-naked dessert was one of the newlyweds' highlights: "Although some might consider it cliché," says the couple, "it was a fun moment which signified the formalities were wrapping up and it was time to have some fun on the dance floor!"

Showing Off Their Moves

The bride and groom looked for a first dance song that was "meaningful, passionate, and gave a nod to Vanessa's Caribbean heritage," finally choosing Bob Marley's "Is This Love." "We love how the song has an island, care-free vibe, yet the lyrics are sweet and romantic," says Vanessa. "We took private dancing lessons as we wanted to wow our guests when we entered the reception—and have fun doing it! Our dance routine incorporated a few spins and dips and we were so happy when we nailed (most!) of the moves. I was worried I wouldn't be able to do some of the dips in my wedding dress, but thankfully we were able to pull it off."

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Sources

Photography, Kerry Jeanne Photography
Venue, Lanikuhonua
Event Planning, Moana Belle Events
Catering, Chef Elmer's Island Cuisine
Flowers, Passion Roots
Videography, Aria Studios
Officiant, Reverend Michael Nelson
Stationery, The Writing Desk Hawaii
Cake, Upcountry Creations
Music, Jason Laeha (ceremony and cocktail hour); DJ Neekz (reception)
Rentals, Accel Rentals; Aloha Artisans; Loulu Palm Rentals
Bride's Gown, Pronovias
Bride's Accessories, Ivonn Couture veil; Anna Campbell jewelry; Bella Belle shoes
Hair and Makeup, Ashlee Valeros (hair) and Kecia Littman (makeup), Aloha Bridal Style
Maid of Honor Dress, BHLDN
Groom's Suit, Mister Mister
Menswear, Hugo Boss
Groom's accessories, TAG Heuer watch; Magnanni shoes
Lighting, Accel Rentals
Transportation, Royal Star Hawaii
Guest Book, Artifact Uprising
Rings, James Allen
Wedding Dress Tailor, Bespoke Bridal Tailors