If you’ve never been to Hawaii (or even if you have!), this wedding just might make you and your sweetheart want to start packing your bags!
Surrounded by 40 of their friends and loved ones, Bre and Doug had a heartfelt ceremony on a Maui beach, followed by a gorgeous reception at Olowalu Plantation House. Here’s what photographer Naomi Levit had to say about their destination wedding:
“Olowalu Plantation House is such a rad place to get hitched. It has a huge variety of gorgeous backdrops that make this location awesome. Bre and Doug were all smiles throughout their day … The vibe was mellow and the joy was abundant.”
Thanks so much to Naomi Levit Photography for sharing this lovely wedding with us!
Bre, 30 & Doug, 33
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Wedding Date: July 28, 2016
Number of Guests: 40
Wedding Cost: ~$22,000
Wedding Ceremony Location: Olowalu Plantation House
Wedding Reception Location: Olowalu Plantation House
Why did you have an intimate wedding?
We knew we didn’t want a big wedding to begin with and we both love Maui (and so do our parents) so we decided a beach wedding was the way to go!
What are some the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?
Since it was a destination wedding, we didn’t get a chance to visit venues and taste food/cakes. We relied on advice from our wedding planner Makena Weddings for all of our decisions and were very happy with everything she helped us pick out. 
Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?
No, we invited all our family, even though we knew many couldn’t come, and our closest friends.
Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?
From the beginning, we wanted a small destination wedding so we planned a reception to have back home after the wedding. Having two receptions was a lot of work but definitely worth it because we got our dream beach wedding and still were able to celebrate with all our family and friends back home.
What were the highlights of the ceremony?
Being on the beach in front of all our friends and family was amazing. Our officiant, who we just met the day before, made the ceremony special and added humor throughout the whole thing. Our photographer knew exactly where to get the best photos during the ceremony and reception. We are in love with all of our wedding photos!
What were the highlights of the reception?
The location was breathtaking and everything was set up just as we had pictured it. We got to enjoy amazing food with all our friends, watch the sunset and then danced the night away.
What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?
Having a small destination wedding on Maui was the best decision we made. We were able to spend quality time with our friends and family before, during and after the wedding.
What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?
Decide what is most important to you and don’t let all the little details stress you out. The day of the wedding goes so quick so don’t forget to stop, take a breath and enjoy every moment!
Vendors:
Photographer: Naomi Levit Photography
Planning: Makena Weddings
Venue: Olowalu Plantation House
Flowers: Kihei Wailea Flowers by Cora
Catering: Cafe O Lei
Cake: Maui Wedding Cakes
Hair/Makeup: Regina Campisi
Officiant: Reverend Al Terry
Musician: Charles Nahale
DJ: DJ Money Mike
Rentals: Paradise Event Rentals
Stationery: Paper Delights
Dress: I DO Bridal
