Outrigger Kona

Let’s set the scene for a special Big Island venue wedding: salty ocean breeze, lush tropical foliage, and a love story that began in the most delightfully nerdy of ways, college lab partners at Texas Tech University. Piper and Kollen weren’t just working on chemistry experiments; they were becoming the experiment. (Spoiler: it totally worked.)

After years of friendship that slowly turned into late-night talks, desert hikes, and joint dog-parenting duties (shoutout to Maggie and Molly), Kollen proposed to Piper in Sedona in November 2024. It was romantic. It was heartfelt. And it was 100% them. So when it came time to plan their wedding, they wanted something equally meaningful and a little outside the box. Hawaii was calling.

For Piper, who had been to Maui before, Hawaii felt like a dreamy return. For Kollen, it was his first time ever seeing the islands, and he stepped into it not just as a visitor, but as a groom. Their venue, Outrigger Kona Resort, brought the wow with sweeping ocean views, emerald lawns, and a gentle sea breeze that felt like this is your beginning.

Keep reading to see more of their big day!

A Dream Come True

The ceremony unfolded under a canopy of trees at Outrigger Kona Resort, with guests dressed in tropical florals, a teary groom waiting (barely holding it together), and Piper glowing in an effortlessly elegant gown. Laughter mingled with lei-scented air. The kiss? Movie-worthy. The bridal party? Playful and joyful (yes, we’re obsessed with the “everyone-cover-your-eyes” photo). And the portraits in the white gazebo? Just chef’s kiss.

It was the kind of wedding that felt light and vibrant and warm all the way through. A day soaked in sunshine and deep connection, just like their relationship. Piper and Kollen, two science-loving souls who found their perfect formula in each other, now have the start of a new adventure, this time, as husband and wife.

And after the “I do” and a celebratory kiss that got an audible aww from their guest? It was portrait time.

Cue: swoony newlywed moments in and around the resort’s white gazebo, surrounded by bold tropical foliage that felt straight out of a botanical fairy tale. Kollen pulled Piper close as they twirled between banana leaves and ti plants, kissed under the gazebo roof like a movie finale, and wandered down to the lava rock shoreline, where the light played off the ocean in soft, cinematic blues. The contrast of that striking black lava with the soft romance of her dress and bouquet? Just gorgeous!

It was tropical and elegant, emotional and joy-filled —a celebration of not only where their story began but also where it was heading next. And if you ask us? These two are just getting started.

Congratulations, you two! It was a joy to bring your dream wedding day to life! We wish you nothing but love and joy in your bright future ahead! You two are made for each other!

BIG ISLAND VENUE WEDDING – EVENT DETAILS

Time Of Day: Morning

Big Island Wedding Package: Outrigger Kona Ceremony Package Lawn by Simple Hawaii Wedding

Big Island Venue Wedding Location: Outrigger Kona Resort

Onsite Coordinators: Kalinda

Florals: Attendant Bouquets, Leis Rustic Hawaiian Bouquet – Pastel by Grace Hawaii

Acoustic Musician: Dennis Garcia

Officiant: Michaela Larson

Wedding Photographer in Hawaii: Tetiana of Karma Hill Photography

Are you looking for an oceanfront and private Big Island wedding venue for your big day? Look no further than one of our newest venues, the Outrigger Kona!

Located on the stunning lava rock cliffs overlooking Keauhou Bay, this historic venue of 22 oceanfront acres is a true gem. Not only does it offer exquisite views of the ocean and surrounding landscape, but the property is also steeped in rich Hawaiian history. Imagine exchanging vows with your loved one in a place that was once a Hawaiian settlement, with parts of the original lava rock walls still standing as a testament to the island’s heritage!

We partnered with The events team at the Outrigger Hotel, Big Island Hawaii Hair and Makeup , local florist Maria’s Floral and of course, our sister company, Karma Hill Photography to showcase this amazing wedding venue in a fresh and tropical-styled shoot. Everything was just perfect, down to the very details, and we’re so excited to share these beautiful photos with you. We truly think it captures the natural beauty of a Hawaiian wedding! With its lush verdant setting, oceanfront view, and Hawaiian history, what’s not to love?

The Oceanfront Lawn

If you’re looking for a beautiful and unique spot to exchange your vows, look no further than the private grass lawn at Outrigger Kona. This stunning ceremony location offers breathtaking views of the ocean and surrounding landscape, making it the perfect backdrop for your special moment.

Whether you’re dreaming of an intimate ceremony with just your closest loved ones or a grand affair with all your family and friends, the private grass lawn can accommodate your needs. But it’s not just the private seclusion that makes the lawn such a great choice! The lush greenery and rolling hills in the surrounding area create a serene and peaceful atmosphere, making it the picturesque location to say “I do.” Although there is no sandy beach access, there are plenty of little pockets for photo opportunities around the property. Maria’s Floral enhanced the tropical beauty of the setting by using a fresh white and green color palette for our styled shoot! It looked so modern and elegant with the orchids and pastel anthuriums…

The Chapel

The variety and flexibility of this Big Island wedding venue are just a few reasons why we love this venue. If you’re worried about unpredictable weather, the white chapel nearby provides a beautiful rain backup option. Moreover, it also offers a more traditional wedding ceremony setting. This beautifully designed chapel offers a quaint and intimate feel that is perfect for smaller weddings or elopements. Plus, the air conditioning will ensure that you and your guests stay cool and comfortable even on the hottest Hawaiian days!

The chapel is intimate yet with a bright and airy atmosphere that gives off a sense of calmness and serenity. The white walls and high ceilings create a stunning visual effect, adding to the overall beauty of the space. Even if it’s a rainy day, you still feel like you’re outside with the big windows overlooking the ocean. The chapel’s design and creamy white interiors make it a versatile location for any type of wedding theme or style.

The white and fresh tropical color palette used throughout this styled shoot only accentuated the airy nature of the chapel!

Natural Beauty

When it comes to beautiful and unique photo opportunities, the Outrigger Kona has got you covered! From the white gazebo overlooking the ocean to the towering travelers palms act like a natural archway for newlywed portraits!

The white gazebo is a stunning location that overlooks the ocean, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. This tranquil spot is perfect for romantic couples portraits or group shots with your wedding party. You’ll love how the white gazebo contrasts with the blue sky and ocean, creating a crisp and timeless look for your photos.

But if you’re looking for something more dramatic and adventurous, the lava rocks down by the water’s edge offer an unforgettable backdrop for your photos. These jagged rocks and crashing waves create a unique and unforgettable atmosphere that’s perfect for couples who want to capture the adventurous and raw spirit of Hawaii.

For this styled shoot, we took full advantage of many gorgeous photo opportunities throughout the property!

THINGS TO CONSIDER

One of the most unique features of this venue is the access to ocean cliffs for romantic couples’ photos. It’s important to note that in order to host a ceremony at the Outrigger Kona, there is a requirement for fa minimum two night stay for the wedding couple. But don’t worry, this is more of a perk as you want to be just steps away from your ceremony on the day of, and steps away from your honeymoon after your celebration!

From stunning oceanfront views to a range of ceremony locations, rich Hawaiian history, and access to amazing photo backdrops, this venue has it all! And with a dedicated team to help bring your vision to life, you can rest assured that your special day will be everything you’ve ever dreamed of and more! Mahalo to our wonderful team of creative partners who helped bring our styled shoot to life!

BIG ISLAND WEDDING VENUE – STYLED SHOOT DETAILS

Big Island Wedding Photographer: Karma Hill Photography

Florist: Maria’s Floral

Hair & Makeup: Big Island Hawaii Hair and Makeup

Big Island Wedding Venue: Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa

Curious to see our other beautiful wedding venues on the Big Island? Check these ones out!

Aloha! We are so happy you have found us! We are beyond excited to launch our newest brand in our lineup of simple, beautiful, and high-quality wedding planning brands across the state of Hawaii, Simple Hawaii Wedding.

Are you considering a small destination wedding in Hawaii? If so, GREAT CHOICE, you have come to the right place for planning a breathtaking intimate wedding in Hawaii!

Why We Love Intimate Weddings

A Simple Hawaii Wedding allows you to truly focus on what’s important: your love and commitment to each other. With a smaller guest list (or no guest list), you can spend more quality time with your loved ones and create meaningful memories that will last a lifetime. Fewer people at your wedding means you can focus on the relationships you hold dearest (sorry work friends). By choosing a small destination wedding in Hawaii with Simple Hawaii Wedding, you’re prioritizing your relationship with your partner and creating a special experience for your closest family and friends.

Our Story

Our founder, Karma Hill, was already a prominent figure in the wedding industry as a photographer when she recognized a need in the Maui wedding market for a brand offering a simple planning experience for couples booking a destination wedding from afar, paired with high-quality vendors and a professional team of planners.

Karma witnessed numerous planning brands adopting a “budget” approach when it came to small weddings. These brands resorted to lower-cost vendors, limited their options to only beach locations or free alternatives, and compromised on the elements that contribute to a beautiful and unique wedding experience. She recognized a sizable group of couples desiring a simple, well-planned wedding offering with superior location choices, the highest quality floral arrangements, photography, customer service, and overall experience.

The Evolution

Karma took this premium quality wedding concept and created Simple Maui Wedding. After planning over 1000 weddings on Maui, Karma, and her team knew the service they offered on Maui would benefit other Hawaiian Islands as well. In 2017, Simple Oahu Wedding was launched and has since offered the same simple planning experience for our Oahu-bound couples.

When it came time to choose the next island to expand this concept to, the Big Island was an obvious choice! With its amazing weather on the Kona/Kohala coast, incredible venue options, beautiful beaches, and amazingly talented wedding vendors it was a natural fit.

What Do We Offer?

We offer a planning experience that is SIMPLE! You are likely planning your wedding from thousands of miles and perhaps a few time zones away. We want to make your planning experience FUN and stress-free. By leaving the details to us, you can focus on enjoying your engagement and getting excited about your upcoming wedding and honeymoon in Hawaii!

Who Are We Best For?

We are experts in crafting intimate Hawaii wedding packages designed for up to 50 guests. We firmly believe smaller weddings create the ultimate wedding experience, especially when it comes to destination weddings. Weddings that are too large expand into a family reunion scenario where everyone vies for your attention, detracting from the magic of your special day. It can be hard curating a smaller guest list, but it is very much worth it!

Why We Like Intimate Ceremonies

Have you ever had a friend who was planning a large wedding (even locally) and heard how stressed they were basically adding a full-time job to their lives? We are the opposite of that! Our perfectly curated packages include everything you need to get married on the Big Island of Hawaii. We specialize in ceremony planning and all of our packages include one of our: Hawaii wedding venues or Hawaii Beach wedding venues, photography, officiant, floral, planning, and of course an amazing onsite coordinator to assist you on the big day-to-ensure everything goes smoothly.

Our Special Sauce

Photography

We believe our “special sauce” is creating the perfect ceremony accompanied by breathtaking photography that transports you back to the magic of your wedding day.

Each of our wedding packages starts with award-winning photography by our in-house brand, Karma Hill Photography. Founder Karma Hill hand-picked and personally trained each photography team member in the Karm Hill Photography signature style. Their style is characterized by ethereal, light-filled imagery and cinematic composition.

Floral

We have the privilege of working with the finest floral artists on the Big Island our esteemed partner, Grace Flowers Hawaii. Renowned as one of the most reputable and long-standing florists on the Big Island, Grace Flowers is responsible for crafting our exquisite custom bouquets. We offer a diverse selection of stunning fresh flowers, carefully chosen for your ceremony. While many couples opt for our thoughtfully curated bouquet offerings, we also provide the opportunity to create a personalized floral look exclusively for you. Whether you have a specific bouquet in mind or wish to enhance your ceremony with additional decorations like arches, arrangements, or bridal party florals. Our team will expertly guide you toward the best options that align with your budget and vision.

How We Do Things Different

When choosing a wedding planning company for your special day, it’s essential to be aware many packaged services cut corners. This is usually done by selecting photographers and florists based solely on their affordability not quality and skillful execution of their craft. We take a different approach. We only work with the best vendors in the business, carefully selecting renowned brand names to guarantee you the highest quality service and exceptional style. This guarantees you receive the utmost expertise and style for your wedding ceremony, leaving no room for uncertainty in terms of quality or aesthetics.

What Happens After the Ceremony?

Once you have finished your group and couples photography after your ceremony what comes next?

Most of our couples opt for a nice sit-down dinner after their ceremony with their closest family and friends. We offer recommendations for the best places to go that can accommodate your needs and desires. Whether you want to have a section in a restaurant or a totally private dinner oceanfront. We can help you find the perfect post-ceremony option.

While we don’t plan receptions, we can connect you with some great options from our hotel and restaurant partners who specialize in food and beverage and we can handle reception floral and photography. From a private dinner for two with toes in the sand, or a full reception with dancing and all the traditional elements after your ceremony it’s all possible. With guidance and recommendations from our team, you can make the best choice for your vision and budget.

Clients love the flexibility of creating their own after-wedding reception and avoiding the cost of having a full reception planner when there really isn’t a need for one. Our hotel and restaurant partners have full teams of great people who specialize in the food and beverage portion of your day.

Our Team

We have an amazing professional team of planners with thousands of weddings and decades of experience. We pride ourselves in great service with quick replies and honest answers to both easy and difficult questions. Our goal is to make the planning experience fun and stress-free, so you can enjoy your special day without any worries.

We can’t wait to meet you and be a part of your once-in-a-lifetime event!