Kirbi + Riley
Wedding Date & Location:
February 22nd, 2024, at Papaoneone Beach in Makaha, Hawaii
When Kirbi and her fiancé first started planning, they imagined a classic small-town wedding surrounded by everyone they knew. But as the vision evolved, they realized what mattered most was celebrating their love in a way that felt truly personal, and that meant trading a big backyard bash for an intimate sunset ceremony on the beaches of Hawaii. With just close family, a relaxed morning filled with coffee, surfing, and sunshine, and the most magical ceremony (complete with whales in the background!), Kirbi’s day was effortlessly joyful and deeply meaningful. Her story is a beautiful reminder that your wedding should be exactly what you want — and sometimes, keeping it simple is the secret to making it unforgettable.
What was the vision for your wedding?:
My original vision for my wedding was the typical small-town backyard wedding with all of our friends and family. When we got engaged, we decided that we wanted the day to be about us and not all of our guests, so we decided on Hawaii with just close family. The vision for my wedding in Hawaii was to be small and intimate on a beach at sunset. I did not want to stress, and I just wanted to enjoy the day with my husband. My vision came to life on my wedding day, and it was more than I could ask for.
How did it go on the day of?:
Our wedding day was one of my favorite days. We woke up and had a slow morning, coffee and acai bowls on the patio, enjoying the morning sunshine. The boys went golfing, and I took that time to myself to write my vows and truly just be thankful for our journey and that we were finally on our wedding day. I headed down to the beach where my parents had a beach cabin and spent some time with my mom. My hair and makeup girls showed up, and they were such a treasure. They were so fun, welcoming, and loving, they were the MOST talented, and I would recommend them to anyone getting married in Hawaii. While I was getting my hair and makeup done, my husband surfed with his brothers and cousin. Can't really ask for a better wedding morning of golfing and surfing before your ceremony. I got my dress on, and pictures started. I took my first look with my dad; it was such a special moment. Riley was down on the beach, and that is where we did our first look. We were the only ones on the beach; it was magical. We privately said our vows and had a moment to ourselves before family pictures started. After pictures, we drove to Papaoneone Beach, where our ceremony would take place. This was a local beach where not many people get married, so all of the locals came out of the condos to watch and cheer for us. Our officiant, Darren, made our ceremony so personal and special to Hawaii. We said our vows, participated in the traditional Hawaiian Lei ceremony with our family, and combined sand that will forever be on that beach. As our ceremony was going there were whales playing in the background, and it was truly the most stunning sunset I have ever seen in my life. If I could relive that day over and over again, I would, I could not have planned a better day if I tried. I feel so lucky!
What is your #1 tip to future brides?:
Do what makes YOU happy! Go where you want to go, do what you and your future partner want to do, and invite who you want to invite. You will make people mad no matter what you do, so make it special to you! I would also like to add that my dress was PERFECT for the beach, it did not get dirty and the sand shook right off, do your research on fabric, it will make your day go smoothly!
