Visit Martha Stewart Weddings Weddings Wedding Travel Destination Weddings Tropical Elegance Inspired This Couple's Destination Wedding in Maui, Hawaii By Nashia Baker Nashia Baker Nashia Baker is a skilled writer and editor in the journalism industry, known for her work interviewing global thought leaders, creatives, and activists, from Aurora James to Stacey Abrams. She has over five years of professional experience and has been a part of the Martha Stewart and Martha Stewart Weddings teams for the last 3 years. Editorial Guidelines Published on January 7, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Anna Kim Christina Vidal, a luxury travel blogger, and Kenny Haisfield, the founder of Kenny Flowers, started out as friends at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, according to the bride. "I friend-zoned him, and although we were best friends and always had a 'thing' for each other, we didn't date until later in our 20s," she says. Their relationship evolved into something more, even while they were on opposite sides of the world. Kenny lived in Bali, Indonesia, while starting his resort-wear brand in 2015, and Christina resided in San Francisco, California, where she worked in a marketing job and ran her travel blog, Jetset Christina, on the side. Once the pair started dating, the bride quit her corporate career and moved to Bali, too, to pursue her blog—and their relationship—full-time. The entrepreneurs became engaged in February 2019 and began planning their wedding from there. It took three date changes for them to finally get down the aisle after the COVID-19 pandemic rendered their original April 18, 2020, date impossible. "We always wanted a destination wedding because it best represented us as a couple on-the-go and we so badly wanted to share our love for travel and go on vacation with our friends and families after not seeing many of them for over a year," Christina says. "We wanted to wait until we could safely travel with our guests, even if it meant waiting." By July 3, 2021, the final date for their big day, they knew the timing was just right. "Covid numbers were way down, vaccines were readily available, and there were very strict negative testing requirements in place for all visitors getting to Hawaii," she adds. The couple notes that their hotel, Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, created the safest space possible for their nuptials, keeping up with state and local regulations. "Most guests were vaccinated and since everyone tested negative ahead of their trips to Maui, both in our group and throughout the hotel, everyone felt extremely safe and relaxed all week," the bride shares. "It was the vacation we all needed, and love and optimism were in the air." The couple felt so grateful to tie the knot, and knew that many other couples, equally impacted by the pandemic, wouldn't have the same opportunity. So, the duo connected with their venue and two other Four Seasons properties to make a difference for brides and grooms around the world; they organized a luxury honeymoon giveaway (including flights!) for three couples and matching Kenny Flowers outfits for 25 runner ups who had their wedding plans derailed by COVID-19. "We spent weeks reading thousands of stories of couples impacted by the pandemic, and many tears were shed," the bride says. "It put everything into perspective for us, and even if participants didn't win, they still thanked us as they found it therapeutic to tell their story and felt grateful for the love and support they were receiving going through these challenging times." The bride adds that "FaceTiming the winning couples with the exciting news, telling them that we were sending them on the honeymoon of their dreams in 2021—after so much had been stripped from them in 2020—is something I will never forget." 01 of 18 Welcome! Anna Kim The pair welcomed 170 guests to their wedding weekend at Four Seasons Maui at Wailea. Christina wore a Jonathan Simkhai dress and Cult Gaia necklace for the rehearsal dinner. The Etiquette of Wedding Rehearsal Dinners 02 of 18 Let's Eat Anna Kim "My number-one priority when it came to finding our perfect wedding venue was the guest experience," Christina says. "Kenny and I had always imagined a destination event where our closest friends and family would be on vacation with us, mostly staying at the same hotel and all vacationing together—not just coming and going for the big day." The Four Seasons Maui set the perfect upscale, tropical scene for the entire wedding week's festivities, including their beachside rehearsal event. 03 of 18 Floral Affair Anna Kim Dellables Floral Design provided the vibrant floral arrangements for all of week's events. Should Your Rehearsal Dinner Be as Formal as Your Wedding? 04 of 18 Pool Party Anna Kim Since most guests stayed at their venue, everyone enjoyed all the amenities, including the pools (which they hopped into, clothes and all, post rehearsal dinner!), beaches, and spa, together. "It was the trip everyone had waited over a year for, and all of our friends and family were absolutely thriving in vacation mode," Christina says. "The excitement, love, and pure joy in the air throughout the weekend was palpable." 05 of 18 Dressed to the Nines Anna Kim Kenny and all of his groomsmen donned dark navy suits, custom-made by the Kenny Flowers' manufacturer in Bali. The inside of the ensembles featured the brand's signature shirt fabric with a Wailea print designed specifically for the big day. They also wore pocket squares composed of the same material. The Groom's Guide to Choosing Colorful Wedding-Day Attire 06 of 18 Yes to the Dress Anna Kim Finding the perfect wedding dress came easily for Christina while she shopped with her maids of honor and her mother. After stopping by four stores, she said "yes" to a Monique Lhuillier silk trumpet gown with a sheer bodice, embroidered appliqués, and removable off-the-shoulder cap sleeves. "We ended up finding the dress at San Francisco Bridal Galleria, where Grace and her team took such amazing care of us," the bride shares. "This dress was the perfect blend of beachy for Maui, but still elegant and chic, and I loved every part of it." 07 of 18 Here Comes the Bride Anna Kim "Kenny and I decided against a first look, so that when I walked down the aisle was the first time he saw me. It was the best decision (for us)!" the bride recalls. "My planner, Stephanie, the special events manager at Four Seasons Maui, had me enter from the top of the infinity pool down these grand stairs to the ceremony lawn, where my dad was waiting to walk me down the aisle." Kenny says his favorite memory from their wedding day was seeing his soon-to-be wife at the top of the stairs, making her entrance. As for Christina's most cherished moment? Seeing Kenny's eyes welled up with tears once she met him at the altar. Is a First Look Right for You? Consider These Pros and Cons 08 of 18 Everlasting Love Anna Kim The couple exchanged vows under a canopy arch filled with white king protea, white peonies, ivory vendela roses, asparagus ferns, and monstera leaves. 09 of 18 Coconut-Centric Cocktail Hour Anna Kim "The Catered Coconut had a live coconut chopping station, which was amazing," the bride says of their cocktail hour entertainment. "Guests had the option to add booze to theirs or just hydrate!" 25 Cocktail Hour Ideas from Real Weddings 10 of 18 Signature Sips Anna Kim A "Ditch Mai Tai," complete with pineapple juice, orange curacao, orgeat, and light and dark rum, along with a "Jetsets on the Beach," filled with tequila, sliced jalapeños, and house sweet and sour mix, served as the couple's signature drinks. 11 of 18 All Smiles Anna Kim Instead of attending the full cocktail hour, the couple enjoyed the beginning and rejoined the interlude at the end, squeezing a portrait session in between. "The only downside of not doing a first look is that we definitely had less time for photos, but since we take so many photos for a living, between photoshoots for our resort-wear line and my job as an influencer, we never wanted our wedding day to feel like a photoshoot," the bride says. "I chose Anna Kim for my photographer because I knew she could be up for the challenge of capturing the best moments as they happened—I wanted beautiful memories captured, not staged." The Ins and Outs of Hiring a Photographer for Your Destination Wedding 12 of 18 Dinner with a View Anna Kim The duo and their attendees enjoyed a lobster Cobb salad and chose one of three entrées: the catch of the day (which was seabass), all-natural beef tenderloin, or vegetarian hearts of palm "crab cakes." 13 of 18 In Full Bloom Anna Kim Reception tables featured tall floral centerpieces on gold pedestals, which were surrounded by votives. They infused modern, tropical elegance into the outdoor space by adding transparent chairs and place settings with sand dollar name cards emblazoned with gold calligraphy. 50 Wedding Centerpiece Ideas We Love 14 of 18 For the Sweethearts Anna Kim The newlyweds re-used their altar arch and added it to their table for two. "We love Champagne, so we had a really special bottle of Pierre Jouet Belle Epoque Brut that we popped at our sweetheart table during the reception," the couple recalls. "Now each year on our anniversary, we plan on popping the same bottle to celebrate!" 15 of 18 Dancing the Night Away Anna Kim "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You" by Marvin Gaye played during the couple's first dance. The bride and groom say that it "speaks to us as a couple because we try to create the very best world we can, and have truly built our worlds around one another." 16 of 18 The Haisfields Anna Kim Everyone indulged in the couple's five-tiered wedding cake complete with vanilla buttercream and fresh, cascading florals. 50 Beautiful Wedding Cakes That Are (Almost!) Too Pretty to Eat 17 of 18 Two Become One Anna Kim For any couples planning their own big days, the bride recommends keeping this advice in mind: Be the star of your wedding. "Leading up to the wedding, you're so often the producer, director, writer, editor, and assistant, all in one," she says. "Nobody wants you to be working behind the scenes or stressing about x, y, and z—they are there to watch you have the time of your life on the happiest day of your life. All the best weddings I've been to are when you can just tell the couple is beaming with joy. Let any stress go and go have fun! Your guests will always follow your lead." The Truth About Pre-Wedding Stress 18 of 18 Sources Anna Kim Photography, Anna KimVenue, Cake, and Catering, Four Seasons Maui at WaileaWedding Planning and Event Design, Stephanie, Special Events Manager at the Four Seasons Maui at WaileaVideographer, HiFocusedFlorist, Dellables Floral DesignInvitations and Paper Products, Gus and RubyOfficiant, Spencer McLeodBride's Gown and Veil, Monique Lhuillier; San Francisco Bridal GalleriaBride's Rehearsal Dinner Attire, Jonathan Simkhai dress; Cult Gaia necklaceMenswear, Kenny FlowersJewelry, IVAR by Ritika Ravi diamond earringsShoes, Margaux AtelierHair and Makeup, Cynthia Rose of Kipona Aloha BeautyMusic, Shea Derrick and Full FlavorFavors, Custom Kenny Flowers Hawaiian Shirts and Sarongs Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit