This Couple Put Two of Hawaii's Best Features—Its Palm Trees and Cuisine—on Display at Their Oceanside Wedding

azuki sam wedding couple on grass
O'Malley Photographers

After a dating app brought them together in February of 2017, Azuki and Sam had a memorable first date with drinks, dinner, and live music. Exactly one year later, Sam decided to recreate their first date and propose to Azuki—but he ended up straying from his plan and popping the question at their London home over breakfast instead. "It was probably for the best as I couldn't stop crying with happiness for a long time!" Azuki says. While Sam proposed with his great grandmother's engagement ring, the pair later designed another one together.

With family in Japan, South America, the United States, and New Zealand, the couple decided to host their wedding in Hawaii, a location both Sam and Azuki enjoyed visiting growing up. With a ceremony overlooking the ocean and a tented reception underneath the palm trees, the color palette was kept neutral to keep all the focus on the lush surroundings.

A "smart casual" dress code allowed their 96 guests to skip the ties and floor-length gowns and embrace the laid-back paradise vibes. The casual event—which unfolded on the couple's anniversary, February 4, 2017, on Lanikuhonua Beach in Oahu—however, was full of surprises, thanks to the duo's planning team at Moana Events. The couple had full trust in their planners—they didn't even visit Hawaii while they were preparing for their big day.

Watch Azuki and Sam's wedding video by Elysium Productions.

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Island-Inspired Invitations

azuki sam wedding invites neutral colors
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Azuki and Sam wanted their invitations to reflect the island feel of Hawaii without using cliché tropical colors. They worked with Ink & Press to illustrate anthurium and hibiscus flowers in gray, a detail that was also seen on the menus. An illustrated map of Oahu was also included, and the suite was tied together with a soft pink silk ribbon and a unique wax seal.

  • More Destination Wedding Invitations We Love
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On Location

azuki sam wedding beach palm trees mountains hawaii
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Lanikuhonua actually boasts two wedding venues—Azuki and Sam opted to reserve both of them. "We didn't want to risk having another wedding taking place at the same time that would disturb ours," explains the bride. "It would also allow us to have separate spaces for the reception, cocktail hour, and dinner, so there was a 'wow' factor when guests walked [from one place to the next]," Azuki says.

  • What Your Wedding Venue Says About You
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All the Girls

azuki sam wedding bride with family
O'Malley Photographers

The bride tried on about 20 wedding dresses at The Wedding Club in Knightsbridge, England, before falling in love with a lace Berta gown. The form-fitting dress featured a plunging illusion neckline; a cathedral veil, also by Berta, gave her look the ultimate bridal feel. Her mom's earrings and strappy heels from Stuart Weitzman completed her ensemble.

Here, Azuki is pictured with her mother, wearing a traditional hanbok, and her sister, the maid of honor.

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Garden Flower Bouquet

azuki sam wedding bouquet on wooden table with shoes
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Azuki's bouquet included a mix of garden flowers, like sweat peas, tulips, ranunculus, and garden roses, all tied together with a silk ribbon.

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The Groom in Blue

azuki sam wedding groom dark blue suit
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Sam wore a custom blue suit from Thom Sweeney with a white shirt and a pair of cuff links that were a gift from his brother.

  • Should the Groom Splurge on a Custom Wedding Suit?
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The Wedding Party

azuki sam wedding party palm trees
O'Malley Photographers

In addition to Azuki's sister, the couple's wedding party was comprised of two bridesmaids and one bridesman, along with Sam's three groomsmen and his older sister, who served as his best woman. The bridesmaids wore long pink dresses from Revolve, while the groomsmen matched Sam in navy suits. Azuki's male attendant wore a nude suit; Sam's sister donned a navy dress that matched the bridesmaids' in style, but the groomsmen's suits in color.

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Seaside Ceremony

azuki sam wedding ceremony chairs set up by water
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During the ceremony, Azuki walked down the aisle, accompanied by her sister, to Ed Sheeran's "Perfect" performed on ukulele.

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A Modern Backdrop

azuki sam wedding ceremony arch peach flowers
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The couple exchanged vows under a contemporary gold wire wedding arch that was covered in anthurium. The ocean also served as a stunning backdrop.

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Throwing Shade

azuki sam wedding guests holding parasols during ceremony
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To shield guests from direct sunlight, Azuki and Sam provided parasols, which several attendees utilized during the service.

  • More Ways to Create Shade at Your Warm-Weather Wedding
10 of 22

A Bilingual Officiant

azuki sam wedding ceremony
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The couple's ceremony—which was not religious—kicked off at 4 p.m. "We had an officiant who was also able to speak Japanese, which was great for my family who had traveled from Japan," explains Azuki.

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The Cocktail Hour

azuki sam wedding waiter holding tray of food
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Cocktail hour took place in front of the ocean, where guests enjoyed passed appetizers like fresh ahi poke in mini waffle cones and mini duck tacos. The couple hired a local musician, John Riviera, to play island music while guests visited the bar or ordered drinks from servers.

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Setting the Bar

azuki sam wedding cocktail hour bar with flowers
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Muted florals dressed up the white bar, which was draped with a sign that listed out the evening's libations.

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The Escort Cards

azuki sam wedding wall of escort cards
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Guests found their escort cards on a mauve display decorated with a greenery garland. The custom printed notes featured a champagne-hued wax seal, a detail that first appeared on the invitations.

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Into the Tent

azuki sam wedding reception tent
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Post-cocktail hour, attendees moved to a white sailcloth tent that was adorned with thousands of twinkle lights for the reception.

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A Unique Setup

azuki sam wedding reception tables under tent
O'Malley Photographers

The couple's planners came up with the idea to set up the reception tables in two large X-shapes around the tent poles, allowing guests to face each other. The beams were wrapped with greenery garlands and pale pink roses.

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Take Your Places

azuki sam wedding reception place setting
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The couples chose gray linens with matching gauze runners for the tables. Pops of gold were incorporated through the silverware and gold-rimmed glassware. Timeless white plates held menus tied in elegant pale pink ribbon.

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A Hawaiian Menu

azuki sam wedding food on white plate
O'Malley Photographers

Local Hawaiian ingredients were highlighted throughout the dinner menu. The meal started with a salad topped with poached pears and local vegetables; for the entrée, guests chose between miso Chilean sea bass with pickled vegetables or deconstructed beef Wellington with mashed Hawaiian taro. When it came time for dessert, guests enjoyed a white chocolate gelato heart with fresh guava coulis. "The food was amazing—our guests are still talking about it!" Azuki says.

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Sunset Photos

azuki sam wedding golden hour sunset portrait on the beach
O'Malley Photographers

Between courses, the couple snuck onto the beach with their photographer to take advantage of golden hour and a sunset backdrop.

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A Simple Cake

azuki sam wedding white cake with name topper
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In addition to the dessert offered with dinner, Azuki and Sam also offered guests slices of a three-tiered white wedding cake decorated with a soft ribbon, a simple orange bloom, and a "Mr. and Mrs." cake topper.

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The Surprises

azuki sam wedding mother of the bride dancing
O'Malley Photographers

As a surprise for the newlyweds, their family (Azuki's mom, included!), friends, and bridal party planned a flash mob to hits from The Greatest Showman. The couple's planners also worked with Azuki in the months leading up to the wedding to shock Sam by bringing in a group to perform the traditional New Zealand haka dance—a meaningful gift for the kiwi groom.

  • Wedding Planners Share Their Favorite Ways to Surprise Your Guests During the Reception
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The After-Party Send-Off

azuki sam wedding reception couple toasting
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Guests joined the happy couple at the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina for an after-party that lasted until 1 a.m. The couple then jetted off to Vietnam for their honeymoon.

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Sources

azuki sam wedding palm tree by water
O'Malley Photographers

Photography, O'Malley Photographers

Venue, Lanikuhonua (wedding), Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina (after-party)

Event planning and Design, Moana Events

Videography, Elysium Productions

Catering, Chef Chai

Flowers, Mandy Grace Designs

Stationery, Ink & Press Co.

Bride's Gown, Berta

Bride's Accessories, Berta (veil), Stuart Weitzman (shoes)

Hair and Makeup, Cheryl Hazelgrove

Bridesmaids' dresses, Revolve

Groom's attire, Thom Sweeney

Cake, A Cake Life

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