Maui wedding planners, maui photography, Hawaii weddings

Getting Maui'd

2012-01-04T18:11:00.000-08:00

Why should you elope to Maui and get yourself Maui'd? Perhaps this picture will convince you:

Dennis has been marrying folks for years and these beaches are available to you, on the shores of one of the finest islands in the world, with just a phone call.

You can rent a hall or church in your home town, but only Maui offers this kind of incredible, pristine beach to share your vows.

Call us at Marry Me Maui Wedding Planners: 1-800-745-0344

Your Wedding in Maui

2011-12-29T13:27:00.000-08:00

Who ever said you can't do it all on your Maui wedding day never met Brian and Hedeieh. These two wanted a private garden setting and a beach shoot so we set them up with a ceremony in front of a beautiful gazebo on a private lawn surrounded by manicured lawns and exotic wildlife followed by a sunset portrait session on a nearly deserted beach the next evening. The weather cooperated perfectly as it nearly always does. This couple was quite adventurous and we wound up in the ocean trying not to get electrocuted by our 510 volt battery pack! As usual, we survived to shoot another day and Brian and Hedieh got some very cool images of their Maui Wedding and Maui Photography Session. Mahalo!

Trash the Dress!

2011-12-19T22:44:00.000-08:00

Why not? You won't wear it again, the water's warm, the temperature is around 80 degrees and you have a change of clothing in the car, something really comfortable and sexy to slip into for that romantic dinner you've got planned for later. This isn't Kansas, not that Kansas isn't cool, it's just that you flew in a plane for 5 or 10 hours to elope on Maui, why not get a little crazy? Our Professional Maui Photographers can capture your trash the dress session in breathtaking images that you will enjoy, and laugh about, for a life time.

Maui Vow Renewals

2011-11-14T12:20:00.000-08:00

Anniversaries.What to get the girl or guy who has everything? After 10, 20 or 50 years of marriage we may begin to run out of original and creative ideas to show our spouse how much they mean to us. Our suggestion would be a Maui Vow Renewal. When you contact your Maui Wedding Planner, ask us about our vow renewal packages. We can keep it secret from your spouse so it can be a surprise or maybe you want to share this romantic idea with them so they can suggest amenities to make the ceremony that much more special. There's plenty of sandy beaches here in Maui with the views that Maui is famous for. We can provide your professional Maui photographer, musicians, minister, doves, make-up, flowers, virtually anything you can think of to put the finishing touches on a celebration of life. We can also connect you with our travel agent partner who can help you with hotel, auto and air bookings.

These images were shot for Jan and John at Makena Cove in celebration of 50 years of marriage. We scheduled a morning ceremony there to avoid the beachgoers and other wedding celebrations that typically happen at the end of the day. Makena Cove is small and subject to wave and tide conditions, but when it's a calm day and the waves are manageable, this little cove is an incredibly romantic and beautiful spot for your Vow Renewal Ceremony.

A trip to Maui, a Vow Renewal on the beach. What better way to show your spouse how much they mean to you? Give us a call 1-800-745-0344.

A Hui Hou.

Wedding Hawaii

2011-10-28T14:12:00.000-07:00

We love to get comments like this:

"Thank you for a wonderful, stress free wedding day - everything was absolutely perfect!".

That's from Kathy in the photo above. She did her Maui Wedding the right way: Private home rental, beach wedding in the late afternoon at a beach we recommended, dinner at a golf course restaurant nearby the beach. All the venues were within a couple of miles of the house they rented in the south side of Maui so driving was easy and the timing was generous. Marry Me Maui Wedding Planners provided the photography, hair and make-up, musician, minister and coordination at a reasonable price. We also gave Kathy all the information she needed to plan a wedding centered around her accommodations without having to drive all around Maui to get things done. Kathy now gets to have superlative photography like this along with memories to last a lifetime.

Give your Maui Wedding Planners and Maui Photographers a call for your Wedding in Hawaii.

Marry Me Maui Wedding Planners

808-242-1100

Hair and Makeup Services for your Maui Wedding

2011-10-21T11:45:00.000-07:00

One of the services we always like to provide to our brides is in room hair and makeup. There's going to be a lot of activity going on during your wedding day and giving yourself time to have one of our professional stylists do your hair and makeup is one of the best investments you can make. Our stylists have 20 plus years of experience and will come to your room. If you have a bridesmaid or two, the stylist can work their hair also.

It's important to have your hair done for your Maui wedding because the trade winds, which make Maui's weather so moderate, always blow and during your professional photo shoot, you don't want your hair blowing in your face! In addition to the hair, the professional makeup services we provide will insure that you look your best during the wedding and the photo shoot. Some brides want to do the hair themselves or have a friend do it but we suggest our stylists because we want your wedding day to be stress free. Depending on your accommodations there may be a salon in your hotel or 10 minutes from your condo but you'll have to make the appointment and leave your room when for about the same cost, you can have our professionals do that service in your room. They don't serve champagne in the salon's but you can have some with your closest friends and family in your room while our stylists take care of you! It's fun, convenient and reasonably priced so why not pamper yourself on your wedding day? You deserve it.

Maui Beach Weddings

2011-09-09T15:19:00.000-07:00

On a planet of 6 billion souls have you ever wondered how you could find a secluded, pristine tropical beach, almost totally devoid of other people for your wedding day? Well, you could call us, Marry Me Maui Wedding Planners and we can tell you. Of course, we can't predict how many people will be on a given beach on a certain day but we are aware of the ones that are lightly used and if the circumstances are just right, you can have a day as special as the one Belgica and Rob had when they got Maui'd in June. Even if there's other people around, our professional Maui photographer, Joe D'Alessandro, will be sure to edit them out when he does his fully retouched edit. Of course you will receive the high resolution digital files along with full reproduction rights when you book one of our Maui Wedding Packages so you can do what you want with the pictures and enjoy them for life. Visit our Maui Wedding Planners site, email or call us at 1-808-242-1100 and we'll hook you up.

Personalized professional planners, killer images, secluded locations.

Marry Me Maui Wedding Planners

When to book a semi private venue for your Maui Wedding

2011-07-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

Beach weddings on Maui offer a unique opportunity for couples who want to be out in nature, in beautiful surroundings. Bare toes in the sand, the ocean a mere few feet away and the breeze caressing your face are all good reasons to do the ceremony on the beach. Plus, it's free! There are times however where a private or semi private Maui wedding venue is a much better choice for you and your guests.

When we are doing the planning for groups of 30 or more, we will never recommend a public beach. Here's why:

As you may know, the state of Hawaii does not allow us to place chairs, arches, huppas, tiki torches etc. on a public beach. When we have 30 or more people on a beach, they are standing all over the place. Often they wander behind the bride and groom to get some pictures which can interfere with your photographers' ability to get the shots you are paying her for. Without clear boundaries, guests may move in to occupy the spot the photographer was using a moment ago thus preventing him from going back to that prime spot. If there's a videographer on the scene, this will add to the chaos.

A large group will be spread out pretty far. In an uncontained environment this will always lead to people moving about, which can be distracting to the couple. Your guests will be behind or to the side of the minister who will have to speak quite loudly in order to overcome your guest's placement, the wind and the sound of the waves. For a small intimate grouping, this is not a problem but for a large group of 30, it can and often does lead to a great deal of discomfort on the part of the bride and groom. As a Maui wedding photographer myself, I have overheard many guests at these overly large beach weddings complain that they can't hear a word the minister is saying, and isn't that the whole point of the wedding in the first place?

We have found that for a reasonable fee, a semi private venue solves all of these issues . We can place chairs for guests, erect arches, there's plenty of parking and the musicians can plug in their battery operated amplifiers so the guests can hear the soundtrack to your beautiful Maui wedding. In addition, we can usually take the bride and groom down to the beach after the ceremony for a 20 minute portrait session in the sand with a magnificent Maui sunset as the backdrop. All this while keeping the guests in their chairs which reduces the noise and chaos, stays out of the way of your professional photographer and videographer and allows the minister to be heard.

Don't get us wrong, we LOVE beach weddings and we do them all the time. Our number one priority is the satisfaction of our clients on this once in a lifetime day and in order to accomplish that, sometimes a semi private or private venue is the best way to achieve that goal.

Maui Wedding Planners

2011-06-10T16:19:00.000-07:00

Kristen and Thomas wanted to get some killer shots by a waterfall before their Maui wedding so we hooked them up with one of the few accessible waterfalls on the relatively dry Makena coast. It happens to be in a fabulous hotel surrounded by manicured gardens. We love being able to accommodate our client's desires and while there are some things we can't do, we are typically able to find what our clients need for their perfect wedding in Hawaii. Our Maui wedding photographer, Joe D'Alessandro, captured our photogenic couple beautifully. Mahalo Kristen and Thomas for letting us be a part of your day!

Maui Wedding Site

Maui Wedding Location

Wedding in Maui

Wedding Couple, Maui

Maui Bride

Maui Weddings

2011-05-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes there's no need to write anything, we can let the clients speak for us:

Aloha Co and Joe, Just wanted to thank you for all the work with arranging our wedding ceremony. You made it all worry and stress free for us and we greatly appreciate everything. The ceremony was amazing and we are still talking about it 5 months later. And the pictures are wonderful!!! You were able to capture our day perfectly and we will treasure them forever. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Jim and Gloria Holka

You're welcome Gloria and Jim! Aloha.

Maui Beach Weddings

2011-03-06T13:02:00.000-08:00

The great thing about Maui, actually all of Hawaii, is that the beaches are all public. There are no private beaches, parking is free, although limited, and the beaches are beautiful, pristine environments. That being said, we have some of our own rules regarding Maui Beach Weddings: The main one is that we will not perform a ceremony on a public beach for more than 25 or 30 people. There are several reasons for this. Parking is the main one. The comfort and satisfaction of our couples is another. A large group leaves a big footprint and since there are always other people on the beaches (They are public), a large group has a hard time fitting on a beach. Also, a large group will not be able to hear even the loudest officiant, especially when competing with the sounds of wind and surf. Since we are not allowed chairs, arches or any types of "props" on a public beach, a semi private or private venue is an ideal place for a large group. We can have chairs, arches, etc., all in a lovely contained outdoor environment (most private venues include a covered back-up in case of rain) where you will be comfortable and your guests will be able to hear and enjoy the proceedings in comfort. Some of these venues are relatively inexpensive, parking is more than adequate and there are facilities including washrooms and, of course, a place to have a quick Mai-Tai. So feel free to call us about your Maui Wedding Plans no matter how large a group you have. We will steer you in the right direction.

Maui Wedding Planners, Maui Photographers

2011-03-01T11:51:00.000-08:00

Occasionally, it rains on Maui. Not very often, but once in a while, we'll have to pull out the umbrellas. The two main resort areas, Kihei/Wailea/Makena and Lahaina/Kaanapali, get about as much rain per year as Santa Fe New Mexico, which is to say it's generally dry in those areas but when the Kona's kick in, moisture is sucked up from the south and it may rain for a couple of days. This was the case with Helga and Cecil. They shrugged off the weather and had a great time. The lanai at the condo they were staying at was huge and more than accommodating for the 15 people in attendance, so we had the ceremony there. Everybody had a great time. Thanks Helga and Cecil for not letting the weather get in the way of your big day!

Maui Hawaii Wedding Planners and Photographers

2011-02-09T18:04:00.000-08:00

Gloria and Jim stepped it up with a few extra amenities for their Maui wedding. Our Harpist, Kristine, was on hand to provide a melodic backdrop of sweet classical music (she can also play Stairway to Heaven on that thing), while Laki performed another Hawaiian wedding ceremony as only he can. We had a gorgeous afternoon at the beach with Maui Wedding Photographer Joe D'Alessandro providing uncompromising imagery.

Hawaii Wedding Planners, Maui Wedding Photography

2011-01-17T23:11:00.000-08:00

There are so many details to consider when planning your Maui destination wedding. Location, flowers, ceremony, the list goes on. One of the most important details has to be the photography. The images taken at your Maui wedding will last you a lifetime and retaining Marry Me Maui to plan and photograph your wedding will insure that these will be archival images you'll want to share with everybody in your family. Retaining the best doesn't have to break the bank. Our Maui Wedding Packages are reasonably priced, our service is personal and the images are spectacular. Please consider us for your Maui wedding. You'll be glad you did.

Maui Hawaii Destination Wedding

Maui Wedding Planners

Hawaii Destination Weddings

Maui Weddings at Kapalua

Maui Sunset Wedding Photography

Maui Wedding Cake

Maui Wedding Planners

2010-12-15T13:11:00.000-08:00

Some of the beaches here in Maui are not very well known. One particular beach, who's name we will not reveal (well maybe if you book us!) is in Makena and accessed via a rocky path that looks like it's going into a private backyard but actually leads to a pristine sandy paradise of fine sand and deep azure ocean. The narrow path tends to keep the groups with large coolers away and we often bring our smaller groups down for a sunset wedding. Such was the case last night with Christy and Dennis, who had a magnificent sunset and wonderful Maui wedding.

For information on the perfect secluded spot for your nuptials, feel free to call us at 1-808-242-1100 or drop us an email. You'll be as happy as Christy and Dennis!

Maui Wedding Planners / Christy and Dennis

Maui Sunset Wedding with Christy and Dennis

Hawaii Weddings

2010-11-12T13:40:00.000-08:00

A Maui Wedding is a beautiful thing. Whether you have the ceremony on one of our pristine public beaches or world class private venues, you'll be blown away by the breathtaking beauty of the Valley Isle. Megan and Eric had that opportunity on 11-11-10. They eloped to Maui and we hooked them up on a fairly secluded south Maui beach. We had a cool evening with a fabulous sunset and Pastor Vance Maui'd them the way only he can. Of course, our Maui Photography captured the beauty and essence of the day, some of which we will share here with you.

If you are looking for a Hawaii destination wedding planner, please consider Marry me Maui Wedding Planners. You can reach us at 1-800-745-0344.

Mahalo!

Maui Wedding Couple

Maui Wedding

Hawaii Beach Wedding, Maui

Megan and Eric, Happily Maui'd

Maui Wedding Toast

Another gorgeous Maui Sunset

Maui Weddings

2010-10-22T15:35:00.000-07:00

Hatigje and Jon got Maui'd on 10-20-10 on beautiful Keawakapu beach in Wailea. There was some rain squalls at out original location so we quickly got everybody arranged in a convoy and hightailed it through the rain to our secondary location. While we still had some showers during the ceremony, the happy couple handled it perfectly and didn't allow mother nature to ruin their day. After the ceremony it cleared up, the sun came out and we had a magnificent sunset. Mahalo Hatigje and Jon for letting us be part of your day! For the most romantic Maui Weddings and professional Maui Photography, call Marry Me Maui Wedding Planners: 1-808-242-1100. Mahalo!

Maui Weddings

2010-07-19T18:19:00.000-07:00

On July 18th 2010, we had the pleasure of Abbey and Christopher's company as we celebrated their wedding on the soft white sands of Makena while the sun set. Ron Kuala'au serenaded us with his Martin ukulele while Vance brought tears and laughter to the tight knit group of friends and family. Dellables created her usual superlative floral designs and Co from Marry Me Maui Wedding Planners directed the whole event with her typical precision and warmth. Maui wedding photography by Joe D'Alessandro.

Weddings in Hawaii

2010-06-26T11:44:00.000-07:00

Marry Me Maui Wedding Planners has the privilege of working with couples from all around the world. Our in-house photography team, with decades of professional experience, gets the opportunity to photograph those couples in some of the most superb and pristine environments in the world. Maui's beaches are incredibly beautiful. The sand varies in color from beach to beach but the ocean is deep blue and the beaches in all the resort areas face west, for those incredible sunset portraits. Where else can you get maui'd with green sea turtles near shore and, at certain times of the year, endangered humpback whales cavorting at sea?

A Maui wedding at Kapalua Bay is one of our favorites. While the beach may experience the passing shower now and again, it is usually mostly sunny, breezy and lightly used. We always have a "plan B" in case of rain but that happens very infrequently.

Hawaii Sunset Weddings

2010-06-18T18:20:00.000-07:00

Catherine and Mark travelled all the way from the UK to get Maui'd! We were so pleased they chose our wedding planning services. We had a beautiful afternoon ceremony at Kapalua Bay and they had a wonderful time. 27 hours in a plane is a long way to go but Maui in THE destination island on the planet. Before you get here, be sure to book Maui's premier wedding planning company; Marry Me Maui. You'll have plenty of great memories to bring home with you.
Mahalo Cathrine and David!

Maui Commitment Ceremonies

2010-06-09T15:40:00.000-07:00

We had the pleasure of performing a commitment ceremony on one of our favorite Makena Beaches last week. It was a perfect day, soft breeze and gently setting sun. Some of the beaches on Maui are the perfect venue for a commitment ceremony and even though there may be other people on the beach, they are few and far between and always respectful of us. The Rev. Diana George gave Barb and Tish a wonderful ceremony as the sun sank into the sea...

Maui Wedding, Kapalua Bay

2010-06-06T11:37:00.000-07:00

Mary Kate and Dan tied the knot on a cool, cloudy morning at Kapalua Bay on June 3, 2010. It was a beautiful ceremony with 15 of their closest friends and relatives in attendance. Morning weddings on Maui have their own special feel and while we don't get those sunset shots, the bride, groom and family have the entire day free to explore and celebrate. Mornings are cooler than the afternoon and morning weddings make for a great way to start the day

What about sunset you say? Mary Kate and Dan booked us for the next evening, in a different location, to do a sunset shoot. We could also "trash the dress" if that's what you have in mind.

Mahalo Mary Kate and Dan, best of luck to you in your future together.

Maui Weddings

2010-05-25T16:25:00.000-07:00

"Where do I start...?" Well, with a professional Maui wedding planner of course! With Marry me Maui Wedding Planners working for you, you're going to save time and believe it or not, money! Instead of clicking on links from another google search, you'll be guided by professional planners who know the venues, beaches and vendors better than anyone. Here's a quote from a recent bride:
"You did an absolutely fantastic job. The planning process was a breeze. Who would've thought you could plan a wedding in 10 minutes? The day was all we had hoped and wanted." (Melissa and David). 10 minutes indeed! We spent a lot more time than that getting everything just right but you'll never know. All you have to do is show up on a crisp Maui afternoon, we'll take care of the rest. Call us, no obligation, no hassles, and talk story, 1-800-745-0344.

Professional Maui Wedding Photography

2010-05-05T12:59:00.000-07:00

There are a some old adages that are usually true. One is that "you get what you pay for". Time and again when we purchase the cheapest item we end up buying another one after it breaks costing us more than if we'd just went with the quality product first. With a Maui destination wedding, there are no do-overs so you need to make sure you get it right the first time.

Another old adage is that "patience is a virtue". Fast food never tastes as good as a home cooked meal which may take hours to prepare. The same is true for photography. Sometimes, a potential client will not book with us because they feel the wait for the images is too long. Patience, my friend. We do this the old fashioned way. We go through all the images, picking out the best and then retouching each one individually to remove unsightly blemishes, optimizing the images for reproduction. This is time consuming and we are fortunate enough to have many clients who are also waiting for professional wedding images. Interestingly enough, when we ask our potential clients why they called us they typically tell us it's because of the high quality photography on our site. Well, there's a reason for that quality...

We could charge less, hire an amateur photographer who gets off his day job at 5 and dump unedited jpegs onto a cd and get your pictures to you in 24 hours, but those images wouldn't look any better than the ones your mother in law shot with her ninety nine dollar kodak camera. That's not what y0u came all the way out here to Maui for and that's not why we went into this business. Photography is our passion. Sounds corny but it's true. We don't want to cut any corners. Period. If the imagery is as important to you as the wedding, then we're the Maui wedding planners you want.

Please call us at your convenience 1-800-745-0344. We'd love to hear from you.

Hawaii Destination Wedding

2010-05-01T14:23:00.000-07:00

20% of today's weddings are destination weddings. There are some things to keep in mind while planning your Maui Wedding.

Destination. Some of your family or guests may not even own a passport. They may never have been out of the country and their fears, realistic or not, about your destination location should be considered. Hawaii has the advantage of being one of the most spectacular locations on the globe with incredible scenery, sparkling beaches and Aloha. Maui also has the advantage of being part of the United States, a big bonus for many relatives and friends.

Be careful where you send your guests for accommodations. 5 star hotels are nice but they can run 500.00 per night. Ask us about the condos across the street from the beach where two bedrooms and a full kitchen can run $250.00.

For you international brides, currency rates are in your favor. with a weak dollar, Australian and Canadian couples can get their Maui dream wedding at a discount now.

Since your guests will be bearing a large travel expense for your wedding, be sure they know you're not expecting large expensive wedding gifts. Small offerings which cost less than $100.00 are appropriate for destination wedding gifts.

Please contact the staff at Marry Me Maui Wedding Planners for your questions about how to plan your Maui wedding. You'll find us a wealth of information.

Maui Wedding Photography

2010-04-21T16:42:00.000-07:00

When our couples first contact us, they usually tell us about the beauty of the Maui wedding photography on our website. We love that because we are also professional photographers and we love what we do. A few things about professional photography should be discussed.

Some brides are bringing "a friend who's a photographer". That's great. You should have the friend photograph the other friends and family while the day unfolds to get those background shots that are so much fun. Leave the wedding ceremony and formal portraits/sunset session to the professionals who live and work on Maui and know how to deal with all the challenges an outdoor shoot in Maui creates. We have a team that works with off camera lighting, reflectors and diffusers, to create a magazine look to the imagery. We know how the timing goes and won't miss the sunset, which here by the equator happens real fast. We use our in house photographer for all our weddings. He works 3 to 5 weddings a week, continuously honing his craft and creating killer images for our happy couples.

Maui Weddings

2010-04-09T18:42:00.000-07:00

Many brides will ask us when is the best time to schedule their Maui wedding. This is a very important question. Couples from the mainland are sometimes surprised to hear that temperatures on Maui in the middle of the day can reach 85 degrees, even in February. Not the best time to do an outdoor ceremony. We generally try to wait to do the ceremony an hour to an hour and a half before sunset, depending on the size of the party. By this time, the beaches are beginning to thin out and the temperature is starting to cool. Since most ceremonies take about 15 minutes, this timing leaves us plenty of time for those killer Maui wedding images our clients are after. Toward sunset, the light begins to soften and the temperature cools. The soft evening breeze calms down and sunset settles in. Sunset happens fast here. The term "golden hour" was obviously coined on the mainland. on Maui it's more like the "golden half hour", which is why it's so important to hire a seasoned professional photography team, like Joe D'Alessandro Photography, to capture this unique once in a lifetime moment.

Maui Weddings

2010-02-14T12:16:00.000-08:00

Maui Weddings are something special. You combine a romantic wedding with a fabulous honeymoon, all while saving some money. In these uncertain economic times, what better excuse for a Maui vacation than: "We're getting married on Maui and taking a honeymoon, so we'll save money"? That's where we come in. As Maui's premier wedding planner, we'll make sure you not only have a memorable event but we'll make sure you have the killer images to go with it. We can also steer clients toward some of the more interesting attractions on Maui such as Hanggliding Maui, described in "Maui Revealed" as the safest and most exciting way to see the Hana coast from the air.

Be sure to call Marry me Maui Wedding Planners before you book your Maui wedding. We are friendly, professional and affordable.

Why a Full Service Maui Wedding Planner?

2009-12-07T11:44:00.000-08:00

We all want to save a few bucks when we can, there's nothing wrong with that, but what may seem to be a deal today may turn out to be a burden tomorrow. Take our florals for instance. Our custom Maui floral designer will not only create a brilliant and beautiful full bouquet for your wedding day, we guarantee it will be fresh. Flowers are very perishable; a day or two in the fridge can ruin a bouquet. Why should you care? Because if you ordered it from a retail florist and the event should be delayed due to weather or rough seas, they will charge you to make a fresh bouquet. We will not. There's a common misperception that a wedding planner is more expensive than doing it yourself. If there's a glitch in your plans or some unforeseen circumstance that you can't handle because you are on vacation, it may wind up costing you double. Always work with the professionals who know the island and the vendors. You'll be glad you did.

Maui Wedding Photographers

2009-10-24T20:25:00.000-07:00

Imagery is very important to us. At Marry Me Maui Wedding Planners, we take great pains to create fabulous, dynamic wedding images that you'll cherish forever. Our in house Maui wedding photographer has 23 years of experience here on Maui, always brings an assistant/second shooter, and knows how to put the couple at ease for a fun and creative shoot.

Flowers are an integral part of the day. Our custom Maui floral designer, Dellables, creates insane bouquets to your specifications, They can do arches, flower circles, petal aisles, pretty much anything you desire for your day. Della is a breeze to work with and attentive to every detail.

These vendors are just part of the team we use to create beautiful and memorable Maui Weddings. They exemplify the professionalism and creativity we put into every Maui Wedding.

Why a Professional Photographer?

2009-10-07T14:28:00.000-07:00

"I have a friend who will be doing the photography..."

We hear this every once in a while when folks contact us to book a professionally produced Maui wedding package. It's always great to get the photography of your once in a lifetime event for free, or is it? There are many challenges to shooting a Maui wedding. Timing is the first that comes to mind. When the sun starts to drop out here by the equator it goes fast. A professional, who has been shooting Maui sunset weddings for decades, knows how to squeeze every second out of that short time frame. A seasoned professional will bring an assistant, lights, diffusers and reflectors, and know how to us them and when. Placement of the couple and minister during the ceremony, formal portraits, staged shots of the couple at sunset, etc. A 6 hour wedding shoot is very demanding and your photographer should know how much work it is. Then there's the issue of your friend wanting to enjoy themselves during the festivities.

My suggestion to the folks who want to have their friend shoot the wedding: Hire a professional Maui wedding photographer for the ceremony, formals and sunset shots. Let your friend do the reception. They can also take shots of the crowd during the wedding, these are shots that are well worth having.

Discount Maui Weddings

2009-09-01T01:10:00.000-07:00

Images from June 2009

The Westin Maui, June 2009

Everyone wants a good deal. That's a fact not only in times of economic uncertainty but also when times are good. Balancing quality with price is a difficult game and the best price does not always mean the best wedding. Sure, a beach wedding on Maui is a beach wedding on Maui, or so it may seem, but it pays to ask yourself a few questions before booking the cheapest package you can find.

Has the wedding planner been working in the wedding industry on Maui for 23 years?

Is your planner fully insured? Is their website informative and up to date with killer images from last month's weddings? Are all the fees listed plainly, with no surprises? Does the planner work with professionals only, not car salesmen by day and photographers by night? Has your planner been living on Maui for so long that they are aware of the beaches that work best for your group, at any particular time of year, or when a private venue is more appropriate? Is the planner aware of state regulations concerning beach weddings and in full compliance with the law? Is the photographer represented on the website the photographer who will shoot your wedding?

Marry Me Maui Wedding Planners can answer in the affirmative for all these questions. The images you see on this blog and on our site are taken by the same Maui photographer who will photograph your wedding. Our Maui Florist will custom design your bouquet to your specifications. Our ministers and musicians are the best on the island with years of experience, talent and filled with Aloha.

The cheap guys have to make up for low prices with volume. That means double booking, on site people you've never spoken to, luck of the draw photographers, etc.

If we can't plan your wedding due to a previous booking, we will direct you to real professionals who can. That's just part of our Aloha spirit.

At Marry Me Maui, our pricing is fair and our service and quality extraordinary. We never double book and always give our clients our personalized attention. Give us a call: 1-800-745-0344. You'll be glad you did.

Maui Wedding Planners

2009-08-18T17:27:00.000-07:00

Eye contact. That's our tip for couples today. Nothing is more important than eye contact for those memorable wedding photos. Most of our Maui Wedding ceremonies last about 15 minutes; short and sweet. 15 or 20 minutes for your photographer to capture something that happens once in your lifetime. Not to put too much pressure on the wedding couple, but the beauty of your Maui wedding images depend not only on the professionalism of your photographer, but also by your facial expressions, relaxed attitude and eye contact with each other and the camera. During the ceremony, your attention should be on the person you are marrying. Looking into each others eyes during the vows, lei ceremony and ring exchange not only creates incredible images but also bonds the two of you during what is a very intimate moment.

Maui Weddings

2009-07-07T16:04:00.000-07:00

Photography coverage for your Maui wedding should include much more than just the ceremony and a few family portraits afterwards. Some of the hotels and most of the condos on Maui allow guests to use the grounds for photography. All of the properties here are beautifully landscaped and offer many opportunities for beautiful, dramatic pre-wedding portraits. A half hour or an hour is all you need to get some great candid shots of the bride and her party getting ready and then some shots around the property. Have your Maui Wedding Photographer call the hotel ahead of time to be sure it's OK to shoot.

Maui Weddings

2009-06-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

Somebody in your wedding entourage is probably a photo enthusiast. They have a nice digital camera and spend a lot of time shooting at family reunions and Fourth of July picnics. Their images are very nice and they love to share them. We all love having them around and seeing the images afterwards. When you invite them to your Maui wedding, they get very excited to have the opportunity to record your day in mega-pixels and follow the professional photographer you've hired. The only problem with this, from the professional's point of view, is that when somebody is standing over their shoulder with a camera, especially someone the family knows well, the person you've hired to take professional portraits will have a bunch of shots with half the people looking at him and the other half looking at your photo enthusiast. Instead of telling your friend not to take pictures, have them take shots of the other guests who are not being photographed. They can capture an entirely different perspective of the day without causing your photographer to miss the shots you've paid him good money to capture.

Maui Weddings

2009-06-10T14:38:00.000-07:00

We always get asked about the right time of day to do a Maui wedding ceremony. Many of our clients want to do a luau as a reception, which usually start about an hour before sunset, pushing the wedding to the middle of the afternoon. While a luau seems like the Hawaiian way to end your wedding day, the timing makes photography very difficult and limits your photographers ability to capture those portraits at the golden hour. We usually recommend that couples save the luau for the day before or after and schedule their Maui wedding for about an hour and a half before sunset. This gives us time to spend about 45 minutes exclusively with the couple to get those romantic, golden images and dramatic sunset backgrounds. We also remind them that even in January, temperatures on the beach at 3 in the afternoon can reach 85 degrees, making even an informal affair rather warm. As sunset approaches, the temperature cools, the gentle trades pick up and the colors get truly spectacular.

Maui Wedding Flowers

2009-05-07T16:33:00.000-07:00

Planning a destination wedding on Maui has a distinct advantage over other locales in that we have some of the most professional, creative and experienced wedding vendors anywhere. One of our favorites is our Maui Wedding Bouquet specialist, Della Peacock from Dellables. Her designs are beautiful, romantic and unique. Each one is custom made by hand with input from the bride. Della also provides Arches, flower circles and anything else you can imagine.

Maui Weddings

2009-04-29T15:06:00.000-07:00

Romantic starlit dinners, warm sunsets at the beach, a soft gentle breeze blowing through a bride's veil, all these things are part of your romantic destination wedding on Maui. As wedding planners on Maui since 1997 and wedding professionals since 1985, Marry Me Maui wedding planners are the perfect choice for your Maui destination wedding. We are intimately familiar with the best beaches and private venues on Maui and contract with the most respected vendors on the island. Our in house Maui Wedding Photographers are the best on the island and will create a warm palette of colors to illustrate your most special day. All our reasonably priced packages include a cd of images along with reproduction rights. With the cost of travel and accommodations dropping, now is a great time to plan your Maui Wedding.

Maui Weddings

2009-03-31T22:12:00.001-07:00

Maui's fabulous locations just seem to bring out the best in everybody; brides, grooms, ministers, planners, the family and photographers, all get a little high on the incredible sunsets and unbelievable beaches. We are lucky in Hawaii that ALL the beaches are public and the vast majority of them are suitable for a romantic fairy tale wedding celebration. During our winter months, the temperatures stay around 79 degrees with cool trades and the occasional Humpback whale breaching in the distance. The summer is a little warmer and might be a good reason for chucking the tux in favor of a more casual and cool look. Whatever the season, we are here: Marry Me Maui Wedding Planners and we know the best beaches during any season on the number one destination wedding island in the world: Maui.

Weddings In Maui

2009-03-24T16:32:00.000-07:00

Maui's beaches are spectacular. From Makena to Kapalua, Maui offers views that are unique in Hawaii. The Maui wedding coordinators at Marry Me Maui are intimately familiar with all of Maui's beaches. We also offer some of the best Maui Wedding Photographers on the island. The images are a very important part of your Maui wedding and our seasoned pro's know how to capture the magic of the moment. Your Maui photography CD will contain a wide variety of beautiful, high resolution digital files that highlight Maui's beauty and your love for each other.

Maui weddings

2009-03-08T20:17:00.000-07:00

So we're in a recession. Big deal. We think it's an opportunity. Hawaii airfares are at an all time low. 5 star Maui hotels are offering great rates and even in a recession, the beaches of Maui are among the best in the world for a romantic escape where you can combine your Maui wedding with an exotic Maui honeymoon for far less than you'd spend at the country club and church back home. The wedding planners at Marry me Maui Wedding Planners Inc. can put together a reasonable priced Maui Wedding Package for you. Our photographers are artistic and contemporary, familiar with any venue you can imagine and we can direct you to the most quiet beaches on Maui, places known only to the locals. Give us a call 1-800-745-0344 or email us directly at info@marrymemaui.com You will be glad you did.

Exotic Locations Demand Professional Imagery

2009-02-11T14:57:00.000-08:00

You call the planner on Maui, you've never been there so you rely on his expertise to guide you in the right direction. Hopefully, they've been living on Maui for a while and haven't gotten too lazy to take you to the best beach spots. Not every location is the same. While every beach on Maui is awesome, all beaches are not created equal. Paipu Beach in Makena is our favorite spot. Smooth sand, palm trees and a rocky, hidden path combine to create a beautiful and secluded cove perfect for a small wedding. Of course, you can get married on the beach behind your condo but is that really the way you want to go? By using a professional, local Maui wedding planner who have been in the wedding business since 1985, you can rest easy knowing we've got everything covered.

Maui Wedding Video

2009-01-28T12:52:00.000-08:00

Maui wedding couples are often asking us if they can video their own wedding. Either a brother, friend or tripod will hold the camera and they will have a video of one of the single most important events of their lives, something to show their children in 10 or 20 years. Well of course you can, but what are you going to get out of it when you're done? Probably a horrible backlit shadow wedding filled with the noise of Maui's trade winds and the booming of the surf. Awesome sounds in the right proportion but what you want to hear on a video of your wedding is, well... your wedding! Wireless microphones make this possible and unless you're uncle is willing to pony up about 500.00 for the system and then attend a community college class in video production, you're better off hiring professionals who do it everyday. Our good friends, Mike and Melinda at Surefire Productions, have been producing professional wedding videos for years and our clients love them. With a professional videographer and photographer, your guests can spend less time staring at your wedding through their cell phone, trying to get a picture, and more time enjoying your moment in the sun without any undue distractions.

Hawaiian Weddings

2009-01-13T15:25:00.000-08:00

Many wedding couples want sunset beach photos even when they're not getting married on the beach. For small groups of 10 or so, we can usually leave the venue after the formal portraits and drive to the nearest beach for some quick shots. When a larger group is involved, it's often best to book a separate Maui sunset portrait package for a day or two after the wedding. By doing this, the couple gets to spend the better part of an hour with the photographer doing beautiful sunset, beach and water shots in an unhurried fashion. It's a way to get the shots you want without adding extra stress to your wedding day. We can arrange for your Maui portrait session with our photographer.

Hawaii Wedding Packages

2009-01-04T13:57:00.000-08:00

What's in a "Hawaiian Wedding Package" anyway? Usually there's a lei exchange and the minister will blow a conch shell to start and end the proceedings. You may request a slack key guitarist or ukulele player, maybe even a couple of hula dancers to do several beautiful dances for you before, during and after your wedding vows. Of course, there's a beautiful Maui Sunset and Photography. The Maui Wedding Photography offered by Marry Me Maui Wedding Planners is always professional, friendly and beautiful. Your online gallery can be shared with friends and family who were unable to make the trek to Maui and your leather album will be a keepsake for years to come. When you book with a planner, make sure the photographer has an extensive online portfolio and that she's the one who will be shooting your once in a lifetime event.

Aloha.

Destination Weddings

2008-12-27T11:36:00.000-08:00

Fear and loathing of the current economic crisis gives rise to opportunity. A destination wedding in Maui can be the perfect solution to the big wedding blues that many couples are experiencing. For a fraction of the cost of that hometown wedding with a guest list of 200 and a nerve shattering reception, a bride and groom can get away to Maui's pristine beaches for an incredible wedding experience coupled with a world class honeymoon. We have many reasonably priced wedding packages that include professional photography online galleries and wedding albums. The best part of your Maui wedding is the location: Sandy beaches with tropical sunsets and the best part is they're free.

Airline prices are dropping and five star hotels are offering cut rates to draw business. The requirements for a marriage license in Hawaii are minimal, unlike the Caribbean or Mexico, third world countries that lack the infrastructure and amenities of the US. So check our Maui weddings website. Compare prices and photography with other companies and give us a call. We can handle last minute requests for your romantic spur of the moment tropical wedding in Paradise.

Maui Wedding Packages

2008-11-28T22:15:00.000-08:00

Maui Wedding Packages come in all different prices. Some companies promise everything for a ridiculously low price. We all know you get what you pay for and a wedding isn't any different. The low cost, "we-will-not-be-undersold" wedding planner will cut corners somewhere to keep the price down and that somewhere is generally the photography. Experienced professionals, in any field, aren't cheap. They have spent years honing their craft and are adept at delivering the goods. There's not much time at a Maui Sunset Wedding to capture all the emotion and beauty. Our professionals have the experience and talent to coordinate a successful sunset wedding photography session. Our Maui wedding Packages include state of the art digital flush mount collage albums, online galleries and DVD slideshows. We know you'll love the images we provide for you to remember a once in a lifetime day.

Maui Weddings

2008-11-16T15:47:00.000-08:00

We've talked about all the hoo-hah regarding beach wedding permits and restrictions put in place by a misguided state department of land and natural resources. These guys want to turn Maui into a museum where you can look but don't touch. Even though these regulations are currently in place and being followed by reputable planner like Marry Me Maui Wedding Planners, change is in the wind. The First Amendment to the constitution of the United States prohibits the government from establishing a religion or preventing the free exercise thereof. The right of entry permit clearly abrogates this constitutionally guaranteed right and will be challenged in court very soon. Stay tuned to this blog in the days and weeks ahead as we follow the course of this litigation. This very same lawsuit was upheld back in 2001 and the state was told to treat beach weddings the same as a birthday party, only with more deference. It shouldn't be long until we're back to business as usual. In the meantime, don't hesitate to book a Maui beach wedding. We have all the permit regulations covered and can guarantee you a once in a lifetime experience on the shores of the Pacific.

Maui Weddings

2008-11-02T16:52:00.000-08:00

Maui Wedding Photographers come in all different shapes and sizes with varying degrees of experience and professionalism. Some have worked as a photographer for half their lives, honing their skills as portrait, wedding and commercial photographers, improving their craft and artistry while providing superior quality work for their clients. Others are amateurs with a day job. How can you tell? One way is by using the age old axiom: "You get what you pay for". Certainly, you don't want to get ripped off or pay too much, but when a Maui wedding planner offers you a wedding package with a photo album for $295.00, you can be pretty sure you're not hiring a professional. Professionals charge a fair price for their work. Our Maui Wedding Photographer spends more time on the edit than on the shoot. This means he is spending quality time with the images, working his magic in photoshop to be sure you're getting killer images. If you're getting the images before you leave the island, your photographer is either not busy (bad sign #1) or she's shooting in jpeg format and dumping the images onto a cd without a full edit (bad sign #2).

A strobe on camera is the only way amateurs know how to light a scene. Certainly, there's a time and a place for it but a professional knows how to use a wireless strobe off camera to create a professional looking sunset portrait that you would actually want to blow up and hang in your living room. After all, once the tan has faded and the Visa bill is paid off, all you have left are the images. Be sure you're hiring a seasoned pro who knows what he's doing.

Maui Weddings

2008-09-30T22:03:00.000-07:00

Maui Weddings can be a most memorable and romantic way to celebrate your love and commitment to your special someone. The staff at Marry Me Maui are ready to plan your day. We contract with the best photographers on Maui. Our in house photographer has been professional for 23 years and has worked all across the United States. The competition is stiff on this island with some company's promising a beach wedding with pictures for $200.00. Sounds good until you see the pictures and wonder why you paid for them. We offer online galleries and beautiful, professionally designed leather albums, DVD slideshows and more. Our prices are reasonable and the service courteous and professional. After 23 years in the wedding business on Maui, we know the island like the back of our hand. Please contact us for a free consultation. You'll be glad you did.

Maui Weddings

2008-09-05T16:38:00.000-07:00

Maui Weddings are an incredibly romantic and surprisingly economical way to celebrate your marriage. While it may seem counter-intuitive, you are actually blending the wedding and the honeymoon into one, which saves you money. With premier venues like the Olowalu Plantation House and the Sugarman Estate, to name a few, Maui offers premium outdoor wedding locations more spectacular than what you can find around your home town. Add to that incredible resorts and opportunities for fine dining, Maui presents a clear choice for your romantic destination wedding.

Maui Hawaii Wedding Planners

2008-08-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

When considering a location for your romantic Maui wedding, don't overlook the many quality private venues available for your beachfront ceremony and reception. While having your toes in the Maui sand while reciting your wedding vows is very cool, there are many variables that your wedding planner cannot control. In the event of an unexpectedly crowded beach, rain or a winter storm that has washed away the shoreline, we have very few options in a public venue. A private venue, on the other hand, offers privacy, flexibility and "Plan B". We can procure many different venues, from 300 to 3000 dollars, which offer spectacular scenery, reception options, and flexibility. Before you tell yourself you can't afford it, consult with your wedding professional. You'll be surprised how far your dollars can go.

Maui Brides

2008-08-10T15:00:00.000-07:00

Beach weddings can be very romantic as well as economical. While private venues charge for their lawn, a public beach is free with the exception of a right of entry permit which runs about 20 bucks. Some beaches have low palms, others have beautiful lava formations. Sometimes we take a little trek off the beaten path to hidden beaches that only the locals know about. Please feel free to ask us about them. If you want guaranteed privacy, a private venue is recommended. Either way, you can't go wrong on Maui, the number one island destination in the world.

Maui Wedding Albums

2008-07-12T14:34:00.000-07:00

Your Maui wedding album will be the most lasting legacy of your Maui wedding. A fine leather collage album printed on a stiff substrate bound in fine leather is one of the best ways to show friends and family the beautiful day you had in paradise. The Maui wedding photographers at Marry Me Maui have been creating these beautiful keepsakes for years. We have plenty of Maui wedding packages that include these albums. Even if you choose an ala carte package, don't forget to include one of these albums. Your children will be glad you did.

Maui Wedding Webcasts

2008-06-30T15:23:00.000-07:00

Finally, our friends at Surefire Productions here in Maui have implemented live webcasting for our Maui weddings! This means your friends and family who couldn't make it out here can view the wedding live on their computers. Now you've got no reason to not come to Maui! Everyone can be part of your day. Be sure to check our site: Marry Me Maui Wedding Planners for complete details. We also can provide the best Maui wedding photographers to capture the day in beautiful dynamic imagery perfect for your Maui wedding album.

Maui Beach Wedding Permits

2008-06-26T21:24:00.001-07:00

The state of Hawaii has implemented a permit process for beach weddings. You may have heard this and are wondering how it affects your plans. The answer is "it doesn't". The wedding professionals on Maui and especially at Marry Me Maui are all over it. We have the forms, the insurance and the permits needed for a stress free wedding. We are even paying for it. No problems. All this ruling does is add an extra layer of protection to Maui weddings, knowing your planner is fully bonded and insured. The word for the day here in Maui is: E komo mai. Welcome.

Maui Weddings

2008-06-02T18:30:00.000-07:00

Destination weddings in Maui are very romantic. The venues range from beautiful beaches to private estates, the weather varies from 75 to 85 degrees throughout the year and in the resort areas it rarely rains. Weddings are big business on Maui with some 8000 performed every year. This means there are lots of vendors and planners. When choosing a planner, check their website. Be sure it is informative and that the imagery and style reflect the type of professionalism and creativity you expect for your wedding day. The wedding planners at Marry Me Maui have been in the wedding business on Maui since 1985. We know the locations and the vendors and only contract with the best.

Maui Weddings

2008-05-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

A destination wedding in Maui is a dream come true for many brides. It's a dream that can be realized with a little help from your friends at Marry Me Maui Wedding Planners. We have many affordable packages to choose from. Marry Me Maui contracts with the best and most reliable vendors on Maui. We know who they are because we've been in business on Maui since 1985. Bookmark this blog as it will be updated regularly with new images and new thoughts.