A Hawaiian Wedding!

Sarah & Dan are in love! Their friends and family love them more than anything – they literally traveled from all over the world – Alaska, Germany, South America, Boston – EVERYWHERE just to be with them!  The celebration was too much fun too!!  We all got there a few days early, did some sightseeing, got our nails done, Dan’s parents hosted a BBQ the day before the wedding… and then the WEDDING!! Wooohooo!!  Sarah’s Mom Barbara did SUCH a great job with all of the details and the BEST thing she did in the planning was to hire Carolee & her crew at White Orchid Wedding planning – I can’t say it enough.  The day was dreamy, perfect and I am so glad this is the first wedding of 2012 – it really set the tone for an AWESOME year!

P.S – this is a GIVER wedding too!!  Barbara bid on me in the auction at Get Hitched Give Hope!!  This wedding helped to grant final wishes of very deserving people – AMAZING!!  Thank you Barbara for being a giver, and for an amazing time on the Big Island!

The wedding was at the Hawaii Island Resort – a yoga retreat on the Big Island. **GORGEOUS!!**

While the girls were getting ready in the honeymoon suite, the rest of the family & guests were down at the poolhouse making leis and beautiful pieces for their hair.

The girls had a peaceful morning of champagne and fun stories – but the boys… I haven’t heard this much laughter in a really long time – they had a GREAT time getting ready for the wedding!

Nathan blew a conche to let the guests know they should head down to the ceremony site that overlooked the ocean – what a gorgeous view!

Hawaiian ceremonies are now my favorite!!  Kissing is encouraged throughout the ceremony – AND did you know that eskimo kisses are also a hawaiian tradition too?  Alaska and Hawaii have so much in common. ;0)

This dance was dedicated from Sarah & Dan to Barbara as a thank you for all of her hard work – she did such an amazing job!  What a beautiful dance too – brought tears to her eyes!

Let me just say – most hilarious and sweet father of the bride toast – Gary, you did a GREAT job with this!!  We laughed, we cried, we drank… a lot!!  Great toast!

The party went until the wee hours in the morning – 

A big thank you to my Mom – Linda! You are the BEST!!  Thank you for taking a week off of work to come down and hang out, help me take photos (great 2nd shooter!) and to dance your feet off with me!  What fun we had – lets go again next year!  I love you!!