Detailing My Kauai Wedding Vendors

I’ll start by saying that everyone works with a different budget for wedding vendors and everyone has different preferences on which vendors to include in a wedding day. This post details my personal experience based on what I chose was important to include in my wedding day.

Firstly, there are many things to consider like availability, rate and additional travel fees, and whether you genuinely like the vendor and want to invite them to share in your wedding experience. Vendors are very much present and part of the day so it was important to me that I made a personal connection with the ones who I would be interacting with the most. Trust is key when you’re leaving the most important day in someone else’s hands! I’m sharing how I approached finding my wedding vendors and my all-star vendor team who helped produce the most magical day for us in Kauai.

Rule Number One: Start with Instagram! I found most of my vendors through Instagram by searching with hashtags like #kauaiwedding and #kauaiweddingphotographer which led me to real photos of what a wedding in Kauai actually looked like, and photos that tagged vendors I could realistically book. Photographers and other vendors use these types of hashtags to get discovered and they often tag the other vendors who participated in the same event in the photos so you can easily discover a wider range of realistic options for the region you’re working with.

Rule Number Two: Reach out to several same vendor type options before making a decision. It’s easy to get caught up with one or two options that seem great out the gate but prices and customized options can vary quite a bit and it’s important to request multiple quotes to ensure you are staying within budget and getting what you need to make your vision come to life.

Rule Number Three: Utilize Pinterest and Instagram to help convey the wedding details you have in mind so your vendors can best understand if they have what you’re looking for. Vendors will need to know the overall inspiration and sharing photos of what you’re hoping to recreate is the best way to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Venue: Princeville Ranch

Our venue needed to check several boxes but the most important was an indoor/outdoor landscape as close to nature as possible, outdoor dining space with an overhang in case of rainy weather, and the ability for maximum customization. It was also important to us that we could bring in our own food and beverage vendor (instead of the venue requiring you to use their food and beverage) so we could control the budget in this facet. I came across Princeville Ranch….and check, check check! Also, look at this beautiful landscape!

Photographer: Julia Kathleen Photography

It’s hard to choose the best things about working with Julia because she is so damn talented at what she does and overall a lovely person. I found Julia on Instagram (actually, my bridesmaid led me to her IG page!) and from the start I knew Julia was the one. Even though she was always my favorite, I explored several other photographers beforehand to better understand the destination wedding photography options in the region. Julia walked us through the entire photography process and made us feel completely comfortable and like ourselves in front of the camera. She was fabulous at capturing the standard shots but also the moments in between the bigger moments. We did a couples engagement shoot together a few days before the wedding so we could all meet in person, get comfortable having our picture taken, and have additional keepsake photos from the wedding weekend. During the few hours of our couples shoot and shortly afterward was the only time Alex and I had alone time in Kauai before the wedding, and we’re so grateful we could steal away and make some memories with just ourselves before the big day!

Wedding coordinator: Aloha Fridays

Mona Garcia is the owner of Aloha Fridays and is the kindest, dearest soul. She is incredibly passionate about what she does and this is clear in the way she managed every detail to ensure the day was seamless. We opted for Mona’s day-of coordination services which begins about a month before the wedding day. At that time, she took over all vendor relations to coordinate timelines, deliveries and pick-ups, and plan the run-of-show for the day. Mona was the point person for all vendors the day of the wedding, handled major set-up down to the little details, and kept the day moving along right on schedule. Mona brought our vision to life!

Hair and makeup stylist: Shelly Renee

Shelley Renee is an angel! Her positive energy was exactly what we all needed the morning of the wedding, especially as it was raining on and off up until our arrival to the venue. Shelley did my hair for the welcome party as a trial and spent the next day with my bridesmaids and I as she did our hair over the course of the morning. I opted for both hair and makeup and she did all my bridesmaid hair in the style of their choice. Shelley pinned gathered plumeria flowers in each of their hair which completed their looks beautifully with a special island touch.