AMOUR...an Elopement on the South Shores of Maui

Phillipe, Delphine and Diana Eden made the long journey across the globe from Marsielle, France to Maui, Hawaii. They all loved being under the warm golden sun that is found in Hawaii and the family expressed that there was something special in the breezes on Maui’s south facing shores. I told them it was the Aloha Spirit that can still be felt when everyone lands on the island of Maui.

Delphine & Phillipe originally wanted a ceremony in French and Susan with Aloha Weddings was dong her best to accommodate them. The couple settled on the soft, gentle delivery of Wai, an officiant & celebrant, who resides on Maui. Wai customized the ceremony to suit the couple’s cultural difference and it was a touching time for us all. The Maui backdrop always makes for gorgeous photos. The family had a sweet dynamic between them that can be seen in every photo. Merci to Delphine, Phillipe & Diana Eden for playing on Po’olenalena Beach with me under the Maui golden light. It was an unforgettable time.

A Magical Wedding on 11/11/24 at 11:11a.m.

I love when there is some magic and intention behind a wedding day. Charles and Maya planned, with Ayesha of Merry Maui Weddings, a detailed and profoundMaui elopement ceremony that was held at DT Fleming Beach on 11/11/24 at 11:11a.m. The bride & groom were dressed so elegantly and the small group that made up the supporting team surrounded Charles & Maya as they exchanged their vows, rings and a great kiss of course!!!

These two undoubtedly had a love for one another that was not taken for granted in anyway. Charles just adores Maya to the moon and back. It was an honor to be a part of their ceremony and Maya get the Wedding Dress of the Year award in my book!!! So inspiring…

Congratulations and a lifetime of happiness to you both!

A South Side Wedding packed with Love

Steven & Angelica hopped off the cruise ship when it docked on Maui to exchange their wedding vows. Their close friends & family were all able to join on that lovely afternoon at White Rock Beach. Angelica made sure the details were included that she wanted and the touches were worth it. Susan of Aloha Wedding Planning pulled all of the details together and Wai was the day of coordinator. Together those two deliverd a smooth experience for the Bride & Groom and all of the guests. There was an amazing musician and hula dancer woven into their ceremony. Rev. Kuya led their vows with lots of love & laughter. The group held a nice space and were blown away by the sunset that afternoon. I worked along side Brian with videography and we magically got through all of the shot list just as the sun dropped over the ocean. A huge congratulations to Steven & Angelica. I hope to see you all again on the beaches of Maui someday celebrating countless anniversaries to come.

A Bit of Off Roading Makes for the Best Wedding

Makai & Ola are both born & raised on Maui and were able to pull off a beautiful wedding tucked down in the depths of the jungle. Huelo is known for its rainy weather and strong breezes but for their special day it stayed warm & sunny. They were surrounded by their amazing children, friends & family.

I met Makai on an off-roading trip down to Kanaio and it was ever so fitting that on his wedding day we off-roaded down to the ocean cliffs. It was so stunning and their energy was filled with love, laughs and total sweetness

It was my complete honor to be a part of their wedding day and I am forever grateful for these two sharing their love with all of us.

A Stunning Morning Beach Wedding

Kim & Matty were enjoying the Hawaiian Island Cruise when they decided to get married while they were on Maui. They had a few friends & family with them and Susan of Aloha Wedding Planners put all the details together for them. My dear friend Wai was the officiant and her ceremonies are so sweet, kind and heartfelt. Kaleo played some Hawaiiana music with his ukulele and we all basked under the glorious morning sun at Maluaka Beach in Southern Maui. I think you all can tell from the pics just how amazing everything was surrounding this beach wedding. Enjoy these moments and a huge Congratulations to Matty & Kim.

A Whimsical Upcountry Garden Wedding

It’s always such a treat to photograph long time locals for their weddings on Maui. Venesha & Ian along with their friends & family brought the tender Aloha spirit with them that beautiful morning. We all gathered at the breathtaking Kula Botanical Gardens in Upcountry, Maui. The flowers were fragrant and abundant. The skies were sunny & clear and we all know the view upcountry is stunning.

Venesha & Ian met down at Ho’okipa while enjoying some ice cold refreshments after a long days work. The North Shore beaches can be the place for locals to gather to enjoy sunset and “talk story” about work weeks, kids and what is upcoming for the weekend. Venesha & Ian’s “Pau Hana” time turned into a beautiful love story. You can see it in their couples photos.

Throughout the day, the family & friends took care of the details and supported Venesha & Ian so much. Her friend made her Lei Po’o, bouquet & Maile Leis. Her other friend baked them cupcakes for all to enjoy in place of a cake. There was poke and refreshments for the guests to enjoy on the garden grounds. Truly inspiring to witness.

Enjoy the photos and get in touch with me if you are inspired to have a small garden wedding. I can connect you with Merry Maui Weddings. Ayesha coordinated the ceremony & was the officiant as well!

Congratulations to Venesha & Ian! I wish you the best journey ahead and can’t wait to run into you both real soon.

A Wedding to Remember at Kula Botanical Gardens

Kula Botanical Gardens is tucked away against the slopes of Haleakala on Maui, Hawaii. It has a lot to offer as far as a diverse amount of foliage, old crooked trees and a few rustic gazebos for photography fun. I had the honor of capturing a lovely wedding for this cute tribe. Enjoy these moments and if you are interested in a wedding at the gardens, send me an email.

Beautiful Backyard Wedding in Haiku, Maui

Simple beauty, a quaint garden and the cutest couple ever …equals wedding photo success! Jeana & Matt really love each other and it showed up in every photo. They knew how to help each other smile & enjoy their wedding day to its fullest. They were surrounded by their closest friends & family and were celebrated so genuinely. Congratulations you two!!! Enjoy your new life journey together.

Kula Botanical Garden Elopement

There is something to be said about keeping it simple… just a bride, groom, minister and beautiful gardens surrounding the wedding. Jon & Amy decided to have an elopement upcountry and it was a tender, sweet wedding. We all slowed down together and enjoyed to cool breeze and colorful flowers of the grounds. Kula Botanical Gardens is a well established place with plenty to offer if you want a laid back yet beautiful afternoon. Congratulations Jon & Amy… I hope you enjoy these moments as much as I do….

Hello.... How's Everybody Now~a~days?

Hey there…. Just like everyone else, I’ve been laying low for about a year enjoying slower days and some much needed rest. I am happy to say that I am back on the wedding scene on Maui and picked up some help during my “quarantine” journey. Photography is definitely a passion of mine and when I get to photograph a wedding or a family session, it hardly feels like work. I feel happy and the highlight is connecting with new people and learning their stories. I have never had a steady second shooter and I’d like you all to meet Gabriel. He is the man in my life and what a talented man he is. He’s normally traveling the world singing songs with his band WOLFCHILD but with the Covid stuff going on, he’s been hanging out on Maui. I’ve been teaching him all the tricks I know with the camera and now he is joining me on my photo shoots. Here’s a sneak peek of us behind-the-scenes at our most recent wedding and the photos we got from the spots we were in. I hope to see all of your smiling faces out in the world real soon….

Just the Two of them...Almost...

Jordan and Amanda wanted a simple elopement on Maui…beach side…sunset…simple. They got a sweet surprise when Jordan’s parents surprised them to witness their ceremony on the island. Amanda was very gracious as his parents had gotten a bit lost and the wedding was pushed back a bit. Everything was just perfect anyway. The golden light filled the sky as they exchanged their rings & vows. We had romantic lighting all through our photo session and we played until the last bit of light disappeared. It was beautiful and very toughing to see how cute those two were together. I wish them nothing but the best on their journey together as husband & wife.

Keep it Simple...

I love weddings where everyone is relaxed and at ease with the day. Sam & Ashley decided on a very intimate beach wedding on Maui with only their closest friends and family. We were able to squeeze into a private little cove on the south side while these two exchanged beautiful vows of love. We were all touched by the ceremony led by Ayesha of Merry Maui Weddings and the sunset was absolutely breathtaking. Kai Akin was playing lovely tunes for us on the ukulele and gave the couple a first dance song on the beach. I am sure the I will see Sam & Ashely here on Maui celebrating anniversaries…kids… who knows!

Lots of Love to you both,

Desi

South Side Sunset Wedding...

Its always a bit nerve racking when the bride is about 45 mins late. She was waiting for her limo to arrive and it NEVER came! Can you imagine? She was on the phone with the officiant and I in tears and we assured her the wedding would unfold exactly how it was supposed to be. She finally arrived at the quaint cove in Kihei and we were all ready to go. Blake & Carrie had a very sweet, heartfelt ceremony and we went right into all of the romantics. The sunset did not disappoint and we took great photos until it go dark. I know these two will have an amazing life ahead because even on their wedding day, they handled the bumps with ease & grace. Congratulations Carrie & Blake.

A Beautiful Wedding at Gannon's in Wailea

It is always so wonderful to witness a loving wedding with friends and family that are thrilled for the couple. Nicole and David were the absolute cutest and were so excited to get married. Their wedding parties were full of great energy and the day was one of those perfect Maui days. They honored each other in a very heartfelt ceremony led by Ayesha of Merry Maui Weddings. We had a great time during family photos and the lighting during the romantics was my all time favorite… soft, sweet and perfect for light play. We ended up over at Lava Rock for the reception where they rented the whole place for themselves. The patio was set up very nicely by the aunties and they were ready to sing and dance the night away. Thank you so much for having me and I wish David & Nicole nothing but the best on their journey to come.

Vow Renewal Never Looked So Good....

When I saw Kate & Rob step out of their Jeep, I would have never guessed they were renewing their vows after 20 years! They were so youthful and sweet to each other. They had two teenagers who were also very fun-loving and kind. We headed to my favorite secret spot on the South Side and did a bunch of family portraits first. Kate said it had been over 10 years since they had family photos so I took full advantage of the soft light and gorgeous backdrop we had that day. We all gathered in closely as Kate & Rob renewed their vows. It was full of laughter and love. I hope I can look that great after 20 years of marriage…. seriously. Congratulations to 20 years and here’s to 20 more!

Love and Laughter is the best medicine

These two met in college and it was very evident that their love for each other was strong. Kimberly and Jared chose to have a simple, beach elopement so they could just be together and exchange their vows without distraction. They had the sweetest words to tell one another and the sun glowed upon them as elegantly as they were together. We had the cove all to ourselves and every time I asked Jared to make her smile, he fully delivered. I know that they will have a joyful, loving journey ahead. Congratulations to the both of the. Much Aloha Always…

A stylish elopement on the South Shores of Maui

It was a beautiful afternoon for an elopement when I greeted Natica & AJ. They both came out of their car dressed stylish and ready for an intimate beach ceremony. The tide was high so we landed at a secret little cove where they opened their hearts to the journey of marriage. AJ just adores Natica and who wouldn’t? She created her own dress and had an undeniable cuteness about her. They had such great energy between them which made photographing them an absolute dream. They embraced the choice to have just the two of them to exchange wedding vows before heading to Canada for a huge family wedding & celebration. I can’t thank them enough for allowing me to capture the love between them. Enjoy your sweet journey ahead and I can’t wait to see you again.

Elopement ~ Phillip & Angie

Intimate elopements are some of my favorite kinds of weddings. Phillip and Angie traveled to Maui from Germany to get married on a white, sandy beach in Hawaii. The connection they had was so genuine and Phillip had an admiration for Angie that was undeniable. We had a great time exchanging ideas for romantics and they pictures tell a lovely story of their sweet beachside elopement.

Five Palms Wedding . Jade +Otto

It’s always so wonderful when everything just comes together simply, gracefully and with ease. Jade & Otto embodied all of those qualities as well as their guests. Everyone was filled with such respect and love toward each other that they truly represented “ohana” which means family in Hawaiian. We all celebrated on the south shores of Maui at the stunning Five Palms Restaurant which sits in one of the most picturesque locations on the island. The breeze was soft, the light was just right and the moments of joy & laughter were everywhere. It was so great that the bridal party creatively posed together and had such fun with those shots. Jade and Otto just adored one another so much. Every moment was beautiful beyond words. I am truly grateful to connect with such loving people. Congratulations Jade & Otto…..