This is the first in a series where we share personal accounts from couples that have been married on Maui and all the fun that surrounds it. Let us know if you’d like your story shared! All photos by BGI Photography.
Trista and Michael first visited Maui in August 2015 and immediately knew “when” they got married, it would be on Maui – specifically after they hiked the island and visited just a small portion of its beauty. The first time there they spent 10 days, and it was not close to enough! They visited Makawao Jewelers and Trista fell in love with a set of orange garnets that John was selling. Needless to say, they both were not ready to tie the knot yet, but Michael KNEW he had to get that stone for her. So, when he eventually proposed, she would have it and specifically remember their first Maui trip together.
As soon as they got back from Maui, Michael called John at Makawao Jewelers and ordered the pair of orange garnets without Trista knowing 🙂
Valentines day 2016, Michael gave Trista a white gold necklace with one of the garnets as a centerpiece – she immediately recognized the stone and knew he had gotten it from Maui… she also knew it was a pair!
Their second trip to Maui was in July of 2016. They spent 13 days there and explored even more of the island. They decided Oneuli Beach was the place they would have their wedding and begun to dream of all the beautiful places they could have wedding photos taken. At this point they were not even engaged!
In July 2017, Trista and Michael were on a family vacation at Tybee Island /Savannah GA, and in front of their kids and family – Michael proposed to her at Forsythe park. Brooke G from BGI photography flew into Georgia to take their engagement photos there as well. Trista saw the ring and knew they would soon be planning their dream Maui wedding. She noticed the center stone matched the Valentine’s day necklace and was the matching gem from Makawao Jewelers!
From July 2017 to Feb 2018, they coordinated about 20 guests to make the trip to Maui and give them personal tours of the island during their stay.
Trista and Michael planned a 20-day trip to include 7 vacation days, 6 wedding activity days, and a final 7-day honeymoon all on Maui.. They had an itinerary for picture opportunities, and most guests came along for the hiking while Trista and Michael took pictures with Brooke G from BGI Photography. They were so pleased to spend their special wedding with family and get to show them the wonderful sites Maui has, and all the same things they enjoy every time they visit!
Our Maui wedding vendors:
- Our wedding flowers were made by Trista’s mom – Toni.
- Our wedding officiant was Kevin Rebelo from HawaiiWedding.com – we loved him!
- Photography – BGIPhotography.com
- Gem for Ring- Makawao Jewelers
- Ring Design – our custom design from our St. Louis MO jeweler
And a little about our Maui wedding itinerary:
Thu Mar 1st -friends and family arrived
Friday Mar 2nd– wedding day – 5:30 pm ceremony at Oneuli beach
Saturday – Kings Highway, La Perouse Bay – etc – they had their reception at Myths Luau at Royal Lahaina resort
Sunday – Honolua Bay, west Maui loop, olivine pools, blowhole, etc
Monday – Road to Hana, Arboretum, Pipiwai Trail, Wainapanapa state park, Oheo Gulch, Kuapo Church
Tuesday – beach day at Kapalua Bay, most guests left later that evening
We enjoyed the rest of our time on the island up north together relaxing at Kaanapali Beach dreading our return to Missouri!
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Thank you so much, Trista and Michael, for sharing your experience with us! It’s a real pleasure hearing the experience from the bride and groom and seeing the other side of things! If you or someone you know has a great Maui wedding story, send it our way with photos. We’d love to share it. Mahalo and congratulations!
