Some weddings you will just never forget!
After 18 years in the wedding planning industry and being directly involved in over 2000 events, there are those that I will just never forget!
Kirsten & Mike contacted me to plan their dream, destination wedding with an intimate guest count of their closest family & friends from Canada. The beautiful ocean front, Kukahiko estate was selected, date set, and details finalized over a 9 month period.
About 10 days prior to their October 18, 2014 wedding date, we started hearing reports of tropical storm “Ana” headed our way and was expected to be upgraded to a hurricane, reaching Maui on Saturday, October 18th! Now Hawaii is very fortunate to be rarely effected by hurricanes due to it’s position in the middle of the Pacific ocean, most storms run out of energy or change course, our last direct hit was to Kauai in 1992.
I let the couple know that we would keep a close eye on the storm, but we had back up plans to consider.
A: Move forward with the wedding date of October 18th, depending on weather continue with the original plan or move ceremony to the covered lanai & reception in the estate.
Plan B: Move the wedding back a day to the 19th.
Plan C: Move the wedding up a day or two depending on guests arrival, vendor availability, etc.
No one wants to move a wedding date, especially your wedding planner, but for the safety of the guests & vendors traveling to the property, it does need to be considered.
Two days prior to the event, we had to make “the call” & decided to move ahead with Plan A. It looked like Ana was slowing down and would hopefully not reach Maui until Saturday night, rather than Saturday A.M as previously forecasted.
We set up the arch & wedding décor on the oceanfront lawn, but also had a covered area cleared, just in case we needed to move there ceremony before the 4:30pm start time.
We decided it would be best if the Grand dining table was set up in the Kukahiko estate itself, as we would not be able to move the elaborate centerpieces quickly in case of rain. It ended up looking incredibly romantic and most guests had no idea that it wasn’t where we normally had dinner served.
The wedding day was beautiful, a bit overcast, but no rain and very little wind! The couple exchanged their vows ecstatically, knowing how blessed they were!
It’s very important when choosing your wedding coordinator to make sure they are experienced and are able to help you create a backup plan! Most estates on Maui require a “Maui based” wedding coordinator, they want someone who is familiar with the property & with the Island, so should you!
We would love to be a part of your special day, contact www.aperfectparadisewedding.com for more information on planning your Maui Dream Wedding!
