Guests gasp as they enter this unique locale. I mean, the Pacific is right
there. Although, by law, there are no private beaches in Hawaii, this is as
private as it gets. When our daughter married, we chose this location because
of its privacy and unparalleled view. The White Orchid staff is always
attentive and courteous. Lauren and Trey are both truly great people. True
beauty emanates from the inside out and both of them have qualities that are
endearing. The following evening we did a "kick your shoes off" shoot at Ulua
Beach in Makena. Talk about paradise! MORE PHOTOS
White Orchid Beach House, Makena, Maui, Hawaii
Guests gasp as they enter this unique locale. I mean, the Pacific is right
there. Although, by law, there are no private beaches in Hawaii, this is as
private as it gets. When our daughter married, we chose this location because
of its privacy and unparalleled view. The White Orchid staff is always
attentive and courteous. Lauren and Trey are both truly great people. True
beauty emanates from the inside out and both of them have qualities that are
endearing. The following evening we did a "kick your shoes off" shoot at Ulua
Beach in Makena. Talk about paradise! MORE PHOTOS
Gannon's Wailea, Makena, Maui, Hawaii
Breathtaking views, immaculate grounds and gourmet cuisine by Bev Gannon, make Gannon's an ideal location for a wedding or event of any size. Molokini Overlook, as well as the lower lawn are both wonderful venues. For beach photographs, Po'olenalea beach is less than two minutes away by car. Now that I think about, I think I'll take my wife to Gannon's for dinner tonight. Gotta score as many points as you can guys. MORE PHOTOS
Maria Lanikea Catholic Church, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii
Maria Lanakila Catholic is located in downtown Lahaina about a three minute walk
from picturesque Main Street. We stopped at Lisa and Jeff's favorite yogurt
shop for a taste and just enjoyed the area for about fifteen minutes. Their
reception was at the Plantation House in Kapalua. The following day they met me
at Ulua beach in Wailea for beach photos. MORE PHOTOS
Grand Wailea, Wailea, Maui, Hawaii
One of the most visually striking hotels on Maui, the Grand Wailea Resort offers
wonderful options for ceremonies and receptions. The cute little chapel is the
most popular, of course.
Reception options are endless and the grounds and lobby are amazing. As you
drive onto the property you are greeted by an enormous Niagara Falls like
waterfall. The property is laden with gazebos, waterfalls, ponds, bridges and
fountains. It's great to take the time to photograph at these many locations
and end up on the beach at sunset. I highly recommend arranging your wedding
date based on their schedule, and opt for a ceremony time an hour and a half
before sunset. Noon weddings deliver very harsh light for photography. MORE PHOTOS
Haiku Mill, Haiku, Maui, Hawaii
As you enter the Haiku Mill, suddenly you are transported to a surreal
fantasyland. I've photographed wedding all over the Napa Valley and nothing
there can match the ambience of this unique location. Rather than removing the
wedding couple from their event for beach photos, I always offer to include a
beach session, gratis, while they are on island. MORE PHOTOS
Sugarman Estate, Makena, Maui, Hawaii
The Sugarman estate is in Makena and is a totally private oasis of scenery. The
grounds must be at least an acre, plenty of room to accommodate 250 guests and a
tent big enough to hold them all easily. The beach is very small, but totally
inaccessible to the public except by Kayak.
The small home is very pretty and is available for dressing and primping
purposes. I've photographed events there from 20 guests to 200 guests. MORE PHOTOS
Wailea Marriott, Wailea, Maui, Hawaii
The Wailea Marriott has a lawn area that they use for weddings, but if you are
looking for a private setting, there are better options. They don't have a
wedding department, per se, but the planner that handles weddings for them is
very good. The hotel is oceanfront but not beachfront but Mokupu beach is a
five minute walk and is much less crowded than Wailea beach which fronts the
Grand Wailea. The hotel has a very good luau and an excellent restaurant called
Mala. Here on Maui most hotel restaurants are independently owned, so don't confuse
Mala with a typical hotel restaurant. MORE PHOTOS
Po'olenalena Beach, Wailea/Makena, Maui, Hawaii
Po'olenalena is a really pretty beach. The prime location is
on the far right next to the rocks. It would be worth arriving there early to
secure your spot. Otherwise, there are no foreground goodies to spice things
up. I've seen four weddings occurring simultaneously probably 100 yards apart.
With the boulders and palm trees in the foreground and the West Maui mountains
in the background it is very photo friendly. MORE PHOTOS
Makena Surf Beach, Makena, Maui, Hawaii
There are two beaches, equally beautiful, in front of the Makena Surf Condos.
Less known about than other beaches, they are rarely crowded. If you have two
million dollars lying around you could pick up one of these ocean front
beauties. MORE PHOTOS
Kukahiko Estate, Makena, Maui, Hawaii
Kukahiko Estate is a great alternative to a beach wedding. Although there is
no beach at this location, it is very private and picturesque. There is a small
home on the property which is available for dressing and an ocean front patio
for hors d'oeuvres, champagne and cake. It is in Makena about ten minutes from
Kihei.
MORE PHOTOS
Royal Lahaina Resort, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii
Set aside from the madness of the high rise hotels on Kaanapali Beach is the
quaint Royal Lahaina. This large property has a feeling of separation and
spaciousness that is very appealing. At the far end of the property is a large
suite with its own pool and waterfall. Great place for everyone to dress and
for a honeymoon night. Great locations for very small events as well as larger
ones. Once again, however, it is illegal to photograph couples in wedding
attire on Kaanapali Beach. 10,000.00 fine for doing so. I have, however,
sneaked the couple onto the beach for a few minutes, carefully watching for the
beach Nazis. MORE PHOTOS
Kapalua Bay, Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii
Kapalua Bay Is a large half mom shaped beach which is generally pretty crowded. There are
great places to shoot with boulders and foliage for foreground interest. It is
surrounded by a new condominium complex and popular Merriman's Restaurant
overlooks the bay. The food there is excellent ! MORE PHOTOS
Old Lahaina Luau, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii
Old Lahaina Luau has an area set aside for wedding ceremonies which is very attractive and has
great light for photography. It is one of the best luaus on Maui and the food
is very good. Plus, the Pacific is a wonderful background for a luau. This
gives you everything in one package: ceremony site, catering and entertainment,
assuming you don't mind sitting with a couple of hundred strangers.
But look at the bright side.......you don't have to buy them dinner. When I
used to photograph huge events in San Francisco that was not the case. MORE PHOTOS
Merriman's Restaurant, Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii
Merriman's on Kapalua bay is perfect for small events. Everyone raves about the
food and they have a very nice lawn area for weddings, which overlooks the
Pacific. A great option to indoor dining are the charming cabanas on the large
patio. MORE PHOTOS
Plantation House Restaurant, Ka'anapali, Maui, Hawaii
As you can see, the views from the Plantation House are amazing and the food is
excellent. Although I've mainly photographed receptions at this location, I've
photographed indoor and outdoor ceremonies as well. For beach photographs,
Fleming Beach Park is just a few minutes away. They offer a buy out if you
would like the entire restaurant to yourself, for large events,or they have a
very attractive room for smaller groups. MORE PHOTOS
Ka'anapali Shores Resort, Ka'anapali, Maui, Hawaii
Gary and Ania had their wedding ceremony at Kaanapali Shores Resort. Great
place for a wedding with the Gazebo and lush foliage. Between the wedding and
reception we stopped off at D.T. Fleming Beach Park for photos. I love it when
couples can just be themselves in front of the camera. Intricate, tedious
posing sucks the life out of pictures, in my opinion. I believe that all photos
should possess intimacy, excitement and believability. The shooting session
should be fun, not drudgery. I believe the ingredient of enjoying each other is
what makes the photos come alive. Following the beach shoot we went on to the
Plantation House where everyone had a great time. MORE PHOTOS
Honua Kai Resort, Ka'anapali, Maui, Hawaii
Honua Kai Resort is on Kaanapali Beach. The ceremony and reception were held
in a HUGE suite on the top floor with amazing views. We sneaked onto the beach
for five minutes and returned for dinner. Wonderful space for around thirty
people. MORE PHOTOS
Mama's Fish House, Paia, Maui, Hawaii
Mama's Fish House? Wow, that sounds like a romantic spot. Guess what...it is.
As far as I'm concerned, it's not only romantically unique, but it has the most
appealing atmosphere some of the best food on the island. They also have quaint
cottages available on the property for the couples honeymoon night. I can't
guarantee a sunset. That depends on the time of the year. Well worth that
small drawback, if you ask me. MORE PHOTOS
Keawala'i Church, Makena, Maui, Hawaii
Keawala'i church is a quaint, very Hawaiian location in Makena, Maui. The
grounds are tropical and the lighting is great for the obligatory family
pictures following the ceremony. The minister is very accommodating and even
provides me with a ladder in order to get a photograph of all guests and family
members. It is located on the blue Pacific adding to the ambience. MORE WEDDINGS
Westin Ka'anapali, Ka'anapali, Maui, Hawaii
The Westin on Kaanapali beach has a lot going for it. Several great ceremony
sites, waterfalls, a tropical lagoon complete with live, not plastic, flamingos,
swans and a cute little cavern behind the immense waterfall. The light is
always great in that area which makes me happy. Do keep in mind, however, that
photographs of people in wedding attire are not allowed on this beach. We did
sneak out there for five minutes but did the majority of beach photos the next
morning. Ask the wedding planner at the Westin about this policy, as things do
change here on Maui. MORE PHOTOS
Makena Cove, Makena, Maui, Hawaii
Makena Cove, also referred to as Secret Beach, is the prettiest little beach on
Maui. When planning a beach wedding, it is best to have the event on week days.
Locals flock to the beaches on weekends and who can blame us. Permits are
required through your wedding planner, who can also inform you if any other
weddings conflict with yours. Two weddings simultaneously is not a problem,
however I have been there when three are going on at the same time, which makes
it difficult to use all the prime locales. The Wailea-Makena side has far more
beaches than the Kaanapali side of the island. In fact, on Kaanapali beach it
is illegal to photograph people in wedding attire on that beach. The best beach
on the West side is Kapalua Bay beach. MORE PHOTOS
Four Seasons Resort, Wailea, Maui, Hawaii
The Four Seasons Resort, Wailea, lives up to its reputation. There are three
locations available:
Plumeria Point for smaller events, Plumeria Lawn which works well for fifty or
so guests and Ocean Front Lawn which will accommodate a hundred or more. Of
course, the food is amazing. Care for an amuse bouche, no problem, or drinks in
pineapples? How about your own private luau? Events such as these would take
place on Ocean Front Lawn. They allow strictly, one wedding per day, no
exceptions. The Four Seasons insists that
no other brides are present on the grounds when weddings are taking place. They
make their own wedding cakes which are amazing. I've seen groom's cakes in the
likeness of Ferraris, no joke. They routinely bring to life whatever a bride's
wedding dreams may be. MORE PHOTOS
Fairmont Kea Lani, Wailea, Maui, Hawaii
The Fairmont Kea Lani Resort, Wailea has wonderful areas to create photographs
and a very friendly staff. I believe they limit their weddings to two per day,
which gives the coordinators time to give brides the personal attention that
they should expect from a high end resort. The
most popular site is the oceanfront terrace which sports amazing views and will
comfortably seat 30 guests. The beach is wonderful for photographs and not
nearly as crowded as that of the Grand or Four Seasons. They are very pet
friendly as you can see. We stayed there for about two weeks, awaiting the
closing of our home in Kihei. I've photographed over one hundred weddings there
and really enjoy the property. What a treat it was to be a guest. All the
rooms are suites and everyone treated our spoiled dog Anna like a celebrity. We
thought about renaming her Princess Kea Lani, which means heavenly white in
Hawaiian; very apropos. Their new restaurant, Ko has gotten rave reviews and
Nick's Fish Market is great as well. MORE PHOTOS
Ritz Carlton, Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii
The Ritz Carlton resort, Kapalua, has many great sites for weddings of any size.
All have sweeping views of the Pacific and many spectacular photo ops.
Following the ceremony the coordinator takes the couple and photographer for a
joy ride around the grounds (great fun) to the beach and to the amazing cliff
overlooking the ocean. There is no sunset on Fleming beach, however, from the
cliff you have sunset photo opportunities. The staff is cordial and
accommodating, as you would expect. Reception options are excellent. Right
next door is a beautiful little Catholic Church, if that is your preference.
There is also a chapel on site. MORE PHOTOS
Olowalu Plantation House, Olowalu, Maui, Hawaii
Olawalu Plantation is located between Kihei and Lahaina. It is very spacious
and private and features a quaint old Hawaiian style home for dressing. It is
very popular, so book it as far in advance as possible. Your coordinator can
help you with the details. Wind is always a factor here on Maui, mainly in the
late afternoon, but it generally subsides by sunset. It is rarely windy after
dark. As you can tell from the photos, there are great places to create
pictures at Olawalu. I've photographed weddings at this locale from two people to two hundred. When
you enter this venue you feel extreme peace, very therapeutic for anxious brides
and grooms. MORE PHOTOS
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