Destination Tropical Wedding Weekend at Hale Wailele Estate in Hawaii

When the bride's family, residing in the southern part of North America, and the groom's family, located in Asia, Australia, and England, sought a unique way to celebrate their union, they decided on a destination wedding. Rachael and Jason chose the Big Island of Hawaii as their destination, specifically the Hale Wailele Estate.

Situated in Kailua-Kona on the western coast of Hawaii's Big Island, Kailua-Kona is a picturesque seaside town renowned for its volcanic oceanfront, diverse terrain, and lush landscapes. The entire weekend was adorned with vibrant shades of blue and lush greens from native plants. Hale Wailele, a stunning estate perched on the hills of Kailua-Kona, served as the central hub for the weekend's festivities, marking this special celebration and wedding.

With numerous suites on-site, the main family and bridal party stayed at Hale Wailele, while other guests traveled up for various activities throughout the weekend. The couple hosted welcome drinks and dinner at Huggos on the Rocks in anticipation of their guests' early arrival. The following day, at Hale Wailele, the couple participated in a Chinese tea ceremony, adorned the venue with 1000 handmade paper cranes, and held their rehearsal by the pool amidst a light rain.

Their wedding day was an all-day affair, with bridal party members relaxing on lawn chairs and in rooms as they prepared for the day's celebrations, which concluded with everyone joyfully jumping into the pool after a night of dancing. Finally, on the last day, the couple hosted a farewell brunch and pool party at the house, where party balloons floated in the water, and the remainder of their wedding bar was enjoyed by all.

To begin recounting every moment and memory from this couple’s destination wedding weekend in Hawaii would be to write a small novel in their honor. Some frozen moments in my mind include when the bride, Rachael, a singer and songwriter, performed a song she wrote for her new husband during cocktail hour, leaving not a dry eye in the crowd. There was also the sight of the bridal party carefully walking across the floating rocks in the koi pond garden at the entrance of the estate, the heartwarming image of both mother-in-laws dancing together at the reception, an aunt in remission from cancer joyfully swinging her wig through the air on the dance floor, and Jason eagerly awaiting his bride while their Hawaiian officiant blew a conch in the middle of the aisle. Additionally, the touching scene of the groom’s father delicately placing 1000 handmade paper cranes in the trees, volcanic rock ledges, and windowsills for the tea ceremony the day before the wedding is etched in memory.

One of the reasons I love weekend weddings is the flexibility to offer dawn-to-dusk photo coverage, allowing me to be on-site for any special moment that occurs. This approach enables me to learn the guests' names - fostering a sense of comfort around being photographed, and grants the freedom to capture more creative shots. True candid photos and “real” moments get to shine through when I can be present in a space without the day needing to move along to a strict timeline. Perhaps one of my favorite photos I captured from this weekend was the bride showing her future-cousins the coi fish in the floating ponds in the time between the tea ceremony and rehearsal - it was such a little moment, now captured as a memory for all time to come. Some of my favorite bonus photo moments provided for the couple's celebration included drone footage of the island and their venue, as well as film photographs showcasing the native plants and scenery around Kailua-Kona and Hale Wailele. For couples choosing a destination wedding, I aim to create lasting memories not only of their celebrations but also of the unique places selected for their rehearsal dinner, wedding, and farewell brunches. I want the why behind their reason for selecting a certain destination to be remembered as much as the celebrations themselves.

shot on digital, 35mm, and 120mm film

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Vendors

Photo: Vanessa Todd
Coordinator: Savvy Weddings
Venue: Hale Wailele, Hale Wailele Weddings
Welcome Drinks: Huggos On The Rocks
Rentals: Kona Event Rentals and Kea and Loa
Florals: Daisy Dukes Flower Farm
Hair and Makeup: Indigo Grace Artistry
Live Music: Nina Marie is Free
DJ: Hawaii Sav
Officiant: Kahu Tom
Bar: Black Book HI
Catering: Tatyana Kulakevich at Grazing Thyme
Guest Book: After The Tone
Bride Dress: Daydream Bridal
Bridesmaids Dresses: Jenny Yoo NYC and Bella Bridesmaids
Grooms suit:  Indochino