Intimate Sandbar Wedding in Hawaii: Katie + Joe

Together Katie + Joe have traveled to many amazing destinations, so it’s not at all surprising to hear that their wedding took place in a gorgeous place, totally on par with their other epic adventures! Joe proposed to Katie in Lanikai, Hawaii on the pillbox trail at sunrise. Later that day, they celebrated their engagement by sailing out to the sandbar with their family…and they loved that experience so much that they wanted to figure out a way to get married out there! (Hear a bit more about how picking this location was actually a risky move a little further down in the post when K + J share their favorite moment!)

This is truly one of the coolest spots we’ve seen for a wedding + their gorgeous images by Geoff Duncan make it all seem surreal! Katie said, We wanted the day to feel like our guests were on an adventure with us… not just at our wedding ceremony. And that, friends, it’s a pretty great way to look at things – especially for a destination wedding!

We love how it looks like everyone was having such a great time! (And a pretty sweet ceremony arrival – by yacht – to the sandbar out in the middle of Kāne‘ohe Bay!)

The pretty peach bouquets + flower crowns were by Picket Fence Florist.

Don’t you LOVE Katie’s relaxed bridal look? It definitely wouldn’t have made any sense to wear a stuffy dress in the middle of the ocean! Her ceremony skirt was from BHLDN, which she paired with a crop top by Alexis Lissette Top from Revolve. (Underneath she wore a blue bathing suit from Still & Sea!) Oh, and her bridesmaids wore the sweetest beach dresses by Tula Rosa from Revolve.

Later that evening, everyone slipped on their finest threads (Katie in BHLDN + Jeff in an awesome custom suit by My Suit in NYC) and met back at the beach house in Kailua for a big dinner + party!

Katie says, Since Joe is in the wedding industry (check out his work – Joe Simon Films!), we were attempting to have the least ‘wedding’ like wedding that we could since he’s been to a few (hundred)… to us that meant the least amount of vendors/strangers as possible. We were lucky enough to have our talented friends and family help us out with most of the wedding, which created an even more personal day… their contributions and getting to hang with them while prepping meant the world to us.

They flew in their friend Greg, Chef at Grain & Gristle in Portland, Oregon to prepare a delicious five course meal using all local ingredients.

And we’re ending with a super sweet film Joe captured + compiled of all the travels + adventures he + Katie have had together! It’s such a fun + gorgeous video and is sure to give you a major case of wanderlust!

photography: Geoff Duncan // venue name: Ceremony at Kane'ohe Bay Sandbar and Reception at Place in Paradise, in Kailua, Hawaii // event design: bride and groom, sister, mom + a whole lot of Pinterest // florals: Picket Fence Florist // hairpiece: Picket Fence Florist // bride's shoes: Betsy Johnson from BHLDN // hair stylist: Jennifer Trtek // makeup artist: Jennifer Trtek // groom attire: Custom made by My Suit // videography: Joe Simon Films // catering: Gregory Smith of Grain & Gristle // music: Friend Mat Thompson + Spotify playlist // officiant: Brother in Law, Evan Wilson & Friend, Aaron Bass // event planner: Lisa Schultz // wedding dress attire: Ceremony skirt from BHLDN, Ceremony crop top was Alexis Lissette Top from Revolve // bathing suits: Still & Sea // reception dress: BHLDN // bridesmaid dresses: Tula Rosa from Revolve, Erin Featherston from Nordstrom // reception signage: Aron Hoag // champagne: Aloha On The Rocks // shave ice: Aloha On The Rocks // rentals: Pacific Party Rentals