Jessica and Martin got engaged in October 2024 and started planning a Big Island wedding for October 2026. On the big day itself, October 10, 2026, they traveled from their home in the Los Angeles area to celebrate with a ceremony at Hale Kukui Orchard, the clifftop Hamakua coast venue overlooking Waipiʻo Valley, and a garden reception at Pu'uwai Gardens. Thirty-five guests — the family and friends who crossed the ocean to celebrate with them — filled bamboo chairs on the lawn.
Jessica described the day best: “Big island, big feels — a holy matreo-mony indeed, married my best friend. 10/10, no notes.”
When she planned the day, Jessica knew exactly what she wanted: “an elegant Hawaiian tropical garden aesthetic with both ivory, green, brown, lush tropical greenery, white florals, natural rattan or wood textures… for a romantic, sophisticated island feel.” The result: bamboo chairs on the lawn, two lush ground arrangements framing the vows, a bouquet of tropical roses, orchids and anthurium, and candlelight in the garden after dark.
A ceremony with a view over Waipiʻo Valley
Their ceremony took place at Hale Kukui Orchard, a clifftop venue on the Hamakua coast with a lawn that looks straight down the Waipiʻo Valley cliffs to the ocean. Green lawn, open sky, and that sweeping valley view set the scene for the start of their marriage. From their very first inquiry, the couple's vision was clear: an outdoor ceremony with island mountain ranges as the backdrop, minimal natural decor, and an atmosphere that felt intimate, authentic and serene. Hale Kukui's lookout delivered exactly that.
From ceremony to reception at Pu'uwai Gardens
After the vows, the celebration continued at Pu'uwai Gardens, a nearby open-air garden farm venue. Two venues means two locations to move a full guest list through, plus a vendor team supporting both. That’s the behind-the-scenes work a Big Island wedding planner handles, so the couple can stay present with their people instead of managing logistics.
Their reception vision, written in their inquiry almost a year earlier: outdoor at sunset, bohemian-inspired, relaxed yet elegant, with a simple buffet of fresh, local flavors, specialty cocktails, a dessert spread, and a DJ for a fun, celebratory atmosphere. At Pu'uwai Gardens it came together exactly that way — a hand-lettered bar menu with the couple's signature cocktails, a Matreo Mai Tai among them, a simple white cake finished with orchids, and a family-style dinner under the palms.
Planning notes from a two-venue Hamakua day
A few things that made this day work, from the planner's seat:
- Two venues, one guest list. Moving 35 guests from a clifftop ceremony to a garden reception takes timing and a vendor team that knows both properties. Build buffer into the schedule and give guests clear directions for both stops.
- Cell service is unreliable past Honokaʻa. We told guests to download offline maps and take the upper Mamalahoa Highway — and this October weekend was also the Ironman Championship, when island traffic and accommodations run hot. If your date overlaps a major island event, plan extra travel time.
- Music across two locations needs its own plan. Ceremony sound at one spot and cocktail music at the other changes the setup — confirm that with your musician when booking, not on the day.
Jessica and Martin's note afterward says it better than we can: “Our wedding was so much more than we could imagine! We love the pictures and can't wait to see the final results… We will remember our special day forever. :)”
The vendor team behind the day
A celebration like this is a team effort. Mahalo to every vendor who made Jessica and Martin’s wedding personal and seamless:
- Wedding coordinator: Sandra, Big Island Elopement (@bigislandelopement)
- Photographer: Kris, Couple Cups (@couplecups)
- Florals: Lisa Salazar, Mauka Floral Co. (@maukafloralco)
- Venue: Hale Kukui Orchard (@halekukuiresort)
- Reception venue: Pu'uwai Gardens (@puuwai.gardens)
- Buffet, dessert & cake: Laura Berry
- Drinks: Travis Lau, Drink TLC (@drink.tlc)
- Rentals: Kea & Loa (@keaandloa)
- Music: Aloha Wedding Songs @alohaweddingsongs
- Dress: Madi Lane Bridal (@madilanebridal)
- Hair: Mara, Beauty Lux Salon Hawaii (@beautyluxsalonhawaii)
- Makeup: the bride's sister @riraffe
- Officiant: Michaela Lehuanani Larson, Hawaii Officiant (@hawaiiofficiant)
Planning a wedding at Hale Kukui Orchard, a Waipiʻo Valley elopement, or a celebration somewhere else on the Big Island? Explore our Big Island elopement packages, browse our Big Island locations guide, or get in touch.