Handmade Maui Elopement: Candace + Mark

maui elopement

Happy Friday, lovelies! It’s all about Maui today, starting with Candace + Mark’s sweet, handmade elopement which took place in an idyllic cove off the coast of the beautiful Hawaiian island. Candace + Mark wanted their day to be intimate + personal, so they decided to exchange their vows with just the two of them + their four kids, so that the day would be focused on their new little family. And since Candace is an artist, she created some of the most unique and beautiful details, like hand painted watercolor invitations and super cute paper + brooch bouquets. She scoured flea markets, Etsy + Ebay to find just the right elements to incorporate and mixed + matched lots of fun prints and patterns to visually portray her and Mark’s one-of-a-kind style. Big thanks to Sloan Photographers for the stunning photos!

Be sure to check back in a bit for even more Maui fun with a recap of our stay at a brand new resort on Maui, which is perfect for honeymoons + anniversaries!

pin bouquet

first look

maui elopement

maui elopement


Sloan Photographers did such a perfect job of capturing Candace + Mark’s day, right?! I love these portraits of the happy couple along the rocky Maui cliffside…

maui elopement

maui elopement

maui elopement


From the bride, I created the bouquets + boutonnieres with paper flowers made from pages of books that Mark + I have read together, vintage knobs and hat pins, a brooch that belonged to one grandmother, and crocheted mustard doilies made by my other grandmother…

maui bride

maui elopement

maui elopement

maui elopement

maui elopement

maui elopement

maui elopement

maui elopement

hawaii boutonniere


The shoes were the biggest challenge of the wedding! My husband had already found amazing shoes for himself + I knew I wanted sky blue vintage t-straps that I could hand paint. I couldn’t find them anywhere. I finally found one pair on ebay and they were perfect and my size! They were nine dollars + being sold by someone in Nashville. When they arrived someone had written “Jesus Saves” on the sole with magic marker.

teal shoes

maui bouquet

maui elopement

maui elopement

Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding

Getting married twice! Our Hawaiian musician was also an ordained minister, and after our brief wedding ceremony was over he jumped in with a beautiful (but unplanned!) blessing and married us all over again in Hawaiian. It was really beautiful.

maui elopement

maui elopement

maui elopement

maui elopement

maui elopement

maui bouquet


Candace’s gorgeous, vintage 1920s dress was an Etsy find! It was four sizes too big, so she had it completely taken apart, re-cut + sewed back together by a talented seamstress. Her pale pink floral headpiece was purchased at an antique mall.

bridal hair piece

maui elopement

bouquets

maui elopement

maui elopement

maui elopement

Our Advice To Those Planning Now

Don’t ask everyone for their advice and opinions. Trust your instincts, be true to your vision, and don’t worry about what anyone else will think.

photography: Sloan Photographers // venue name: Makena Cove Maui, Hawaii // wedding dress: Vintage on Etsy // hairpiece: antique mall // bride's shoes: groom's were Cole Haan "Air Colton" Wingtip Oxfords // hair stylist: My daughter, step-daughter and I decided to do our own hair and makeup to keep the morning that much more private and intimate // makeup artist: My daughter, step-daughter and I decided to do our own hair and makeup to keep the morning that much more private and intimate // groom attire: Shirt from Billy Reid Bagwelt and Tie from Duchamp Wild Bouquet // accommodations: The Plantation House in Paia, HI // floral design: DIY by bride // ceramic pie tins: Warrenfeltz Potter // lovebird pie topper: Dances With Clay // girl's dresses: Mod Cloth // boy's outfits: ebay finds // dress steaming: Vanessa Thompson at Silver Stitch

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