On September 16, 2010, Seattle based MC/DJ and Event Wedding Coordinator Mari Odette married Software Engineer Chad Kanotz.
Our destination wedding took place on the beautiful island of Kauai, Hawaii. It is the island of my ancestors and my favorite Hawaiian vacation spot.
We were joined by a group of our friends and family. Us and four friends departed on a flight from Seattle on 9/11/10. We received many “tongue in cheek” comments in regards to traveling on 9/11 but disregarded them. My Man of Honor was traveling on the same date, different flight from Seattle and my (Bride’s) brother departed from LAX.
All three flights departed on 9/11/10 and all three flights had medical emergencies, one being returned to Seattle within two hours of takeoff. Once in Kauai everyone had stories to tell about their in-flight adventures and we documented all the stories on video!
I had planned everything in advance via phone and internet. Chad and I wanted a simple beach wedding with a traditional Hawaiian ceremony followed by a traditional Hawaiian Luau.
Saturday consisted of checking into the condos, hitting Costco for necessities and making a game plan for sightseeing. After hitting the beaches and caves on Sunday the group headed to Poipu for a sunset cruise on Captain Andy’s Catamaran. “Sneaky Tikis”, pupus and hawaiian music made the perfect setting to view the sunset off the Napali Coast.
On Monday Chad and I woke up bright and early to get our marriage license. It was such a quaint experience! The License agent is located in the Pono Market in Kapaa. Just envision a “quickie mart/deli” with a coffee stand. The barista doubles as the marriage license agent and in between making lattes he fills out the marriage license, gathers the legal signatures, adorns the bride with a lei and snaps a photo for the “wedding wall” which boasts hundreds of smiling couples.
We grabbed some Musubi from the deli and headed north to meet up with Julie from Makame weddings to find the perfect beach location on the Northshore for the ceremony.
We immediately fell in love with Annini Beach which is between Kilauea and Hanalei.
Later Everyone decided to head to Kipu Falls – a little waterfall that locals go to jump from 20ft high rocks into the crystal clear pool below. There’s also a rope swing but I was told the climb back up the rickety ladder was scarier than the jump.
(No – I didn’t attempt a jump because I have to be alive to perform all the weddings I have booked into 2011)
Chad is very afraid of heights but took the plunge and survived! This is a must do if you’re in Kauai.
The rest of our time prior to the wedding on Thursday was spent visiting waterfalls like the one made famous in Fantasy Island, checking out caves, snorkeling off Poipu beach, driving up Waimea Canyon, sampling different restaurants and enjoying “local” food and Shave Ice.
Thursday arrived and it was time to get “wedding ready”! A peek outside presented clouds and rain – the first rain since we’d been on the island! Our coordinator called warning us that we needed a backup plan just in case since it was a total “storm” in Hanalei. We decided that if it didn’t clear up by 10am we’d make a new plan. Our goal was to be married at high noon, barefoot in the water.
I got into my Champagne colored short formal dress, had my hair done with the help of my mother in law and friends and received a call that the sky was clear and blue!
My brother Walter (professional videographer) documented the entire trip as well as “webcast” the ceremony so all of our friends and family that couldn’t join us could still be there with us. Our photographer, Bobby Schutz was at the beach upon our arrival snapping shots as we arrived. Our minister, Koko Kanealii prepared for the ceremony as his wife and our coordinator Julie readied the leis (which we purchased from J C’s Flowers & Mini Mart and they were inexpensive and beautiful).
Upon the blowing of the Conch the ceremony began. My son walked me down the sandy beach as I held my gold rhinestone slippers in my hands to my waiting groom standing in the water barefoot with his best man and my man of honor beside him. The conch blew once more calling our ancestors to join us and bless our union.
The ceremony was perfect and exactly the type of Traditional Hawaiian feel I expected and imagined. After the ceremony Bobby took group photos and then took Chad and I alone to take our Newlywed pictures. We were lucky to find a rope swing attached to a large banyan tree on the beach and the pictures came out wonderfully. He took us to the Kilauea lighthouse and a couple of other nearby locations off the beach to get more shots.
After our “photo shoot” it was time to rejoin the rest of the group to head to Smith’s Tropical Paradise for our wedding celebration luau. Smith’s has a reputation from “locals” of being the “best” luau on Kauai. It held up to our expectations. The music was great. The food and the Hula show afterward were both wonderful.
Kauai was an awesome choice for a Destination Wedding. We dreamed of being married without it feeling like work for me and mission accomplished!
Like most of my clients we had a tight budget and pulled it off for just around $5,000.00. If you’re planning to get married, honeymoon or vacation in Kauai it will be a relaxing and fun adventure!