A Tropical Black-Tie Beach Wedding Weekend in Hawaii

Framed by black lava rock, salt air, and the impossibly blue Pacific, Olivia and Alex’s three-day celebration captured the easy glamour of island life with a refined, deeply personal point of view. A black-tie barefoot ceremony beneath a sculptural heliotrope tree introduced the weekend’s mood: elegant, intimate, and instinctively connected to the landscape. The design language was subtle yet considered, with scallop shell butter dishes, earthy florals, capiz shell details, handmade paper, and candlelit tables that mirrored the textures of sea and sand. Guests moved through the celebration by bike and golf cart, drifting from beach mornings to lagoon-side dinners and a dance floor beneath the stars. Olivia’s wardrobe brought a polished contrast to the raw beauty around her — from a sleek Jacquemus silhouette and vintage Yves Saint Laurent lace to a timeless Kyha gown worn with a veil embroidered in her late father’s handwriting. Through every frame, THE WED member Bianca Virtue captured the atmosphere with effortless sensitivity, while invitations and paper details by our member Paper Cliché completed the story with tactile elegance.

Our Love Story

^{The Day We Met}

I never expected to meet my husband the way I did. We were both out with friends at the Waterfront in Venice when I noticed Alex waving at me from across the room (an unusual first move, but apparently an effective one). Shortly after, he walked over and a mutual friend introduced us. Although we both went to USC, our paths never crossed despite sharing many mutual friends. In the months that followed, Alex drove from San Diego to LA every single weekend to see me—and that’s when I knew he was special.

^{The Proposal}

Alex proposed to me on the beach in Kona, Hawaii, my favorite place in the world. We went to watch the sunset before dinner, and he asked me to marry him right beside the shore. It was so us, and I loved getting to experience it with just him before coming home to celebrate with friends and family. My dad unexpectedly passed away three weeks before our engagement, and the night before we left, I almost canceled the trip. I had a strong feeling Alex was going to propose, but I wasn’t in the right headspace to be traveling. My dad knew I was likely getting engaged on this trip, so I felt something inside me telling me I had to go. And I felt my dad shining down the entire time. I will forever be grateful that Alex was able to ask my dad for my hand before we lost him. Deep sadness and great happiness can exist at the same time.

^{The Engagement Ring}

I wanted a simple, timeless engagement ring—something understated but still striking. Alex and I spent several months searching for the perfect stone and eventually narrowed it down to two emerald-cut diamonds. At that point, I let Alex choose, and he picked my favorite. It’s a slightly elongated emerald-cut solitaire on a thin white gold band. When it came to picking my wedding band, I opted for a matching thin white gold band with no diamonds. It’s as minimal as can be, and so me.

Our Wedding

^{The Vision}

Our wedding weekend was a love letter to the land and sea. Alex and I both share a deep love for the beach, and every detail reflected the ocean, nature’s soft textures, and Hawaii’s organic beauty. At the heart of our vision was a black-tie, toes-in-the-sand ceremony, set against the natural landscape of Kona’s shores. From scallop shell butter dishes to earthy florals, our minimalistic, sea-inspired touches echoed the colors, elements, and gentle rhythm of the ocean.

^{Our Team of Vendors}

We planned our wedding in just seven months, and somehow every one of our first-choice vendors was available—it truly felt meant to be. Bianca Virtue captured the weekend with such an organic eye, preserving the quiet, in-between moments just as beautifully as the big ones. Morelife Films, who traveled from Australia as well, brought a playful, lighthearted rhythm to their storytelling that felt so true to us. Belle de Jour’s florals felt like a natural extension of Kona itself, and our planner, Kate Hickey, worked tirelessly to weave every element together with intention and care. Live music carried us through all three nights, each performance setting its own tone and energy for the celebration. Together, our vendor team created something even more beautiful than we could have imagined.

^{The Location}

Black lava, thatch-roofed hale, and winding dirt paths—Kona Village, a Rosewood Hotel, was an absolute dream. Tucked along one of the most beautiful shores in Kona, the resort offered the privacy we had always hoped for; it felt as though we were the only guests on the property that weekend. The landscape is raw and striking—jet-black lava meeting bright blue water, the warm breeze carrying the scent of salt and plumeria. There’s a quiet, intimate rhythm to Kona Village, where days unfold slowly and barefoot, immersed in the natural beauty of the land and sea.

Our priority was to create a wedding weekend that felt like adult summer camp, and Kona Village embodied that spirit effortlessly. With bikes as the main mode of transportation and no televisions in the rooms, everyone naturally unplugged. Days were spent drifting between the pool and beach, crossing paths while biking along the dirt trails, lingering over coffee, and gathering together from morning to sunset. Nearly all of our guests stayed on the property, making the weekend feel intimate, connected, and entirely our own.

^{The Ceremony}

We were married barefoot on the sand beneath a heliotrope tree, its sculptural branches stretching toward the ocean as waves crashed just beyond us. We kept the setting intentionally simple, letting the land frame the moment. A lava rock beside us felt deeply symbolic—steady, grounding, and a quiet reminder of the strong foundation upon which we were beginning our marriage. Our guests began clapping and cheering as the bridal party walked to “What a Wonderful World,” played on strings—an energy we hadn’t expected, but one that felt so us.

My mom, Carol, and my younger brother, Rory, walked me down the aisle to one of my dad’s favorite songs, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Just as we began walking, the softest rain started to fall—gentle drops that felt like kisses from heaven. In that moment, I knew my dad was with us. My older brother, Ellery, officiated the ceremony, and exchanging vows was our favorite part of the entire day. We recessed to “Here Comes the Sun,” and just like that, the celebration began.

^{The Cocktail Hour}

Cocktail hour began on the grass beside our ceremony, framed by a crescent of hale that felt like our own little village for the weekend. A saxophonist and guitarist set the tone as everyone mingled with drinks in hand, the atmosphere relaxed but undeniably celebratory. The bar quickly became a gathering place, and the joy was palpable. My cousin Alexa drifted through the crowd with a Polaroid camera, adding snapshots to a vintage surf book where friends and family left us handwritten notes—a keepsake we’ll treasure forever. As the sun began to dip, guests were whisked away by golf cart to the reception, the celebration continuing across the property.

^{The Reception}

In the heart of the resort, the reception unfolded on the lawn beside a lagoon, glowing under twinkle lights and candlelight as the band played. We entered to “Levels” (one of Alex’s only requests), and from that moment on, it was a party. The tablescape echoed the landscape with linen, handmade paper, and subtle shell details.

Guests dined on lobster, lamb, and agnolotti before the Kona Village chef prepared a tropical trifle cake live. My mom gave a deeply heartfelt speech woven with messages from my dad, followed by very personal toasts from our maid of honor and best man. We surprised everyone with a silent disco led by my brother Rory before three DJs started mixing, and we danced all night under the stars—the highlight of the night.

^{The Special Touches}

The most unforgettable detail was my dad’s handwriting, embroidered onto my veil from a note he wrote in 2006: “I LOVE YOU WHOLE TONS, OLIVIA. LOVE, DAD.” Alex and I began the day with an ocean dip, the most grounding start to the day. Dancing with my mom to “Blackbird” at our reception was an incredibly special moment. Our moms and we created the shell wax seals on our invitations with shells Alex and I have collected around the world, and I loved creating the bar menus framed in capiz shells. We named one of our signature drinks “The Mes,” a cherished nickname for my dad. Having our brothers speak at the rehearsal dinner added a warmth to the weekend that we’ll carry forever.

^{Our Favorite Moment}

Our ceremony was the most special moment. We were barefoot on the sand with the most perfect weather, surrounded by family and friends who are family. The ceremony felt so us. There was laughter and tears, along with a grounding sense of love and confidence. With my mom and younger brother by my side and my older brother officiating, it became a true family affair, and our deeply personal vows made it impossible to forget.

Our Style

^{The Bridal Looks}

My bridal vision was minimalistic, romantic, and effortlessly chic. On our first night of events, I wore a Jacquemus gown with a dramatic, elongated racerback silhouette. I paired that with a silver shell Simkhai bag and a yellow oval diamond necklace I designed with MacKenna Thaler Jewelry in honor of my dad—Alex’s wedding gift to me. To our rehearsal dinner and welcome party, I wore a silk lace Yves Saint Laurent gown that I had searched months to find—delicate, timeless, and feminine—without a doubt the most special dress I have ever worn. I paired it with a white Chanel bag and a diamond drop necklace, a gift from my family also made by MT Jewelry.

For my wedding day, I chose to step out of my comfort zone and wear a very classic bridal dress. I selected a drop-waist strapless gown from Kyha, with no jewelry except for my simple diamond studs from Audrey Nicole Jewelry. My lace veil spoke for itself with my dad’s handwriting embroidered onto it. I had planned to wear Jimmy Choo tulle shoes after my ceremony, but ended up staying barefoot the entire time and wouldn’t have changed a thing. During our reception, I changed into a silk slip dress from Victoria Beckham with lace detailing and dangling strings. And we danced the night away.

^{The Groom Looks}

Alex started the weekend off in a linen outfit we found in St. Tropez. For our rehearsal dinner and welcome party, he wore a custom light taupe suit that perfectly complemented the tonal hues of the nature around us. For our wedding, he wore a custom black tux with Prada slippers—except 30 minutes before our first look, he realized his pants weren’t there. After four different guests switched pants, Alex wore one of his groomsmen’s pants, and it all worked out.

^{Our Bridesmaids’ & Groomsmen’s Looks}

The only direction I gave to my bridesmaids was to wear a long butter-yellow dress. They all chose something a little different, yet they complemented each other perfectly. Alex’s groomsmen all wore crisp black tuxedos. We always knew we wanted a black-tie wedding, where sophistication met the raw, natural beauty of the beach.

Our Advice

^{For the Planning Process}

Pick every single detail based on what you love, not what is trending. The most special part about a wedding is that it feels so unique to that couple. Embody that—don’t try to be like everyone else.

^{For On The Day}

Be present. Stay together all night long. Don’t stress about the little things. Something will probably go wrong, but that just adds character to the weekend.

^{For Post-Wedding}

Write down all your favorite memories from the weekend. It’s so easy to forget the in-between stories that make your wedding so special.