Vibrant Rustic Hawaiian Bouquet

Some love stories take their time, and Lindsay and Mark’s Big Island venue wedding is the perfect proof that the best things are worth waiting for. They first met in high school, then life carried them in different directions for 25 years. After both walked through recent divorces, fate stepped in, and what started as a friendship quickly bloomed into something much deeper.

Now, they’ve found what they were missing all along, each other. Lindsay, a veterinarian for 16 years, and Mark, who works in supply chain management (and competes in USPSA shooting), share a love for golf, hunting, travel, and spending time with family. They even have a bucket list to play golf in all 50 states, Hawaii included. So when their big day arrived, we were beyond pleased to bring their dream wedding to life!

Toes In The Sand

A small, intimate wedding felt right for them, so they chose the Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island, a place where soft white sand, swaying palms, and the ocean’s edge created the perfect backdrop for their ceremony. That’s what’s so special about venues on the Big Island; you can have a sand in the toes experience with chairs on the beach for your guests. And to top it off, a stunning arch too! It’s really the best of both worlds…a beach and venue wedding in one! Surrounded by family and close friends, Lindsay and Mark promised forever in a setting that felt as relaxed and genuine as their love. It was picture-perfect at every angle…

And then came their newlywed portraits and dance! As the golden light spilled across the dance floor on the sand, we stole a few quiet moments just for the two of them. Mark looked every bit the proud, beaming groom, and Lindsay was radiant, her smile brighter than the Hawaiian sun. The way they laughed together, the way they held each other, it was the kind of joy you can’t pose, only capture. The setting couldn’t have been more romantic!

When the sun dipped further, they slipped away to the ocean, strolling by the water and the iconic Big Island lava rocks. The lava rocks, the sea, and the fading sunlight framed them perfectly, creating images that feel as timeless as their love story.

Congratulations, Lindsay and Mark! Your wedding was as incredible as your journey, and it was an honor to capture a day so full of love, laughter, and the beauty of second chances!

BIG ISLAND VENUE WEDDING – EVENT DETAILS

Time Of Day: Sunset

Big Island Wedding Package: Fairmont Orchid Ceremony Package by Simple Hawaii Wedding

Big Island Venue Wedding Location: Fairmont Orchid

Onsite Coordinators: Kalinda

Florals: Leis, Attendant Bouquet, Arrangements, Boutonniere, Arch Flowers, Rustic Hawaiian Bouquet – Vibrant by Grace Hawaii

Acoustic Musician: Dennis Garcia

Officiant: Sonja ‘Kanani’ Enos

Wedding Photographer in Hawaii: Pomaika’i & Aumrae of Karma Hill Photography

Some love stories don’t begin with fireworks, they begin with baseball, Bumble, and the unexpected magic of second chances.

Opal and Grantley’s Big Island venue wedding at the Royal Kona Resort was more than just a ceremony. It was the celebration of two hearts and two families becoming one. Grant, the proud owner of Papa’s Plumbing (and a man who is seriously into fishing), met Opal online back in 2019. Opal, a rockstar at EBMUD and full-time MVP mom, knew early that this love felt different. Deeper. Steadier. Forever.

And their wedding? Let’s just say: it was absolutely perfect.

The Setting

Set on the stunning shores of the Big Island, the same place they fell in love with on their first-ever Hawaii trip earlier this year, Opal and Grant looked like a couple straight out of a love story. Opal was radiant in white, glowing with happiness. Grant was cool, collected, and clearly smitten, his smile said everything. His eyes lit up when he saw her! And if you’re wondering just how romantic Grant is, he proposed on the baseball diamond, at home plate, in front of their whole community!

But the best part? The kids. Opal’s kids Olivia (16), Connor (10), and Grant’s twins, August and Scarlett (9), stood proudly beside them. This wasn’t just a wedding, it was a blending of families, a declaration of unity, and a tribute to the love they all share.

Just Perfectly Us

Their oceanfront ceremony at Nohea Point at the Royal Kona Resort was nothing short of breathtaking. Tucked beneath swaying palms and fronting the sparkling blue Pacific, the setting felt like it had been plucked from a postcard and handed directly to them, protected, peaceful, and intimate, yet buzzing with joy from their beloved family and friends.

From the gorgeous tropical florals to the peaceful privacy, their wedding day was intimate, emotional, and filled with island magic. For two people who cherish fishing and family above all else, this ceremony was the perfect beginning to their happily ever after. Their ceremony was full of tradition, blessings, and most of all, an unwavering devotion to one another.

And let’s talk about those photos! The kiss under the thatched-roof hale with the ocean glowing behind them? Honestly, that image alone might power the Big Island for a week. The way Grant gently kissed Opal’s forehead, the sweet giggles, the bouquet bursting with island color, it all felt like the perfect culmination of their love story

From the sea breeze to the joy on their kids’ faces, this Big Island wedding was full of heart, laughter, and island sunshine. Opal and Grant’s “forever” is just beginning, and it couldn’t have started in a more magical way. Congratulations, you two!

BIG ISLAND VENUE WEDDING – EVENT DETAILS

Time Of Day: Sunset

Big Island Wedding Package: Royal Kona Ceremony Package Nohea Point by Simple Hawaii Wedding

Big Island Beach Weddings: Royal Kona Resort

Onsite Coordinators: Kalinda & Lisa

Florals: Boutonniere, Attendant Bouquet, Rustic Hawaiian Bouquet – Vibrant, Leis by Grace Hawaii

Officiant: Michaela Larson

Wedding Photographer in Hawaii: Tetiana of Karma Hill Photography

We are thrilled to announce our newest wedding venue on the Big Island of Hawaii, the Royal Kona Resort, a classic historic oceanfront hotel in the heart of Kona! This gorgeous venue offers several beautiful private oceanfront ceremony locations where you can celebrate your love story in a stunning location with the mesmerizing sunset and crashing waves as your backdrop. Kona’s natural beauty provides a captivating setting for an unforgettable and inspired celebration, and this new venue has some of the most private ceremony locations for a hotel that we have seen!

We are thrilled to share our unforgettable styled shoot at our newest Big Island wedding venue! You’ll love the tropical variety of this venue, from the thatched ceremony altar to the swaying palm trees…

Nohea Point

Nohea Point is our personal favorite, and it features a thatched gazebo surrounded by lush foliage overlooking the Pacific blue ocean, a private lagoon, and sparkling Kailua Bay. It is totally separated from the main hotel walkways and protected by a gate for privacy. So you won’t have anyone besides your loved ones walking near your ceremony! The thatched hut truly gives off tropical vibes and provides an elevated landing to exchange your vows with the ocean in the distance. The towering palm trees add to the tropical magic of the setting. It will make you think, “Wow, we’re actually getting married in Hawaii!” It’s what tropical wedding dreams are made of…

Our amazing floral partner, Grace Flowers Hawaii, brought the wow factor with the vibrant tropical flowers for our styled shoot! We love to feature seasonal and local blooms, like ginger, anthuriums, heliconia, and bird of paradise with tropical greenery like monstera. Grace Flowers didn’t disappoint!

The floral sconces and arch arrangements were the perfect decor to frame the aisle! One of the benefits of using floral sconces to frame the aisle is that they create a stunning focal point that draws the eye toward the altar. They also provide a sense of symmetry and balance to the intimate ceremony space. Moreover, the versatility of this venue makes it ideal for including floral stunners as part of your wedding decor. And who are we kidding? We can never say no to more flowers!

Sunset Cove

Another ceremony option at this Big Island wedding venue is Sunset Cove, it’s an enchanting spot by the water’s edge on a cliffside location surrounded by white sand. The mesmerizing backdrop of lava rocks and striking sunset provides an idyllic atmosphere for one of our stress-free Hawaii wedding packages! It also provides an elevated stone landing for your vows and a beautiful backdrop with the ocean in the distance. Your guests can sit comfortably and literally have their toes in the sand while you walk up the sandy aisle!

For this styled shoot, we included a bamboo arch with coordinating tropical arrangements to beautifully frame the altar and our lovely model, Lakota, who is the epitome of a bohemian beachy bride, thanks to the talented beauty team at Indigo Grace. Simply stunning!

Convenience and Beauty

The affordability of accommodations for your guests and great options for a post-ceremony celebration right on-site make this venue even more appealing! You can add on a cocktail hour or catered dinner directly after your ceremony. Our team will connect you with the hotel food and beverage team for a seamless transition. If you’re looking for a Big Island venue that offers both convenience and tropical beauty, this is the one for you!

What’s more, there are lava rock formations fronting the sunset cove location that truly make for some incredibly gorgeous portraits, as you can see below! The lava rocks and tidal reflections create a truly unforgettable atmosphere for your wedding day. Couples can take advantage of these natural wonders by incorporating them into their ceremony decor. Or another idea is using them as stunning backdrops for newlywed wedding portraits!

We can’t stop gushings over this Big Island wedding venue! From the sandy aisle to the thatched ocean-side hut, it’s an idyllic and convenient location to tie the knot in paradise! Mahalo to Grace Flowers Hawaii, Indigo Grace, and of course, Royal Kona Resort for bringing this vibrant vision to life!

BIG ISLAND WEDDING VENUE – EVENT DETAILS

Big Island Wedding Venue: Royal Kona Resort

Wedding Florals: Grace Flowers Hawaii

Big Island Wedding Photographer: Karma Hill Photography

Hair & Makeup: Indigo Grace

Curious to see more beautiful Big Island wedding venue options? You’ll love these ones too!

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!