• NEW Wedding Ideas

When real life couple Candace and Aaron eloped in secret a few years ago, they always planned to have a big celebration with their friends and family. So with the help of Esselle Weddings & Events they came up with this hybrid photo shoot +  RL celebration at the lovely Kahalu’u Gallery and Gardens.

They finally got the party they’d been dying to have and they kept it authentic to themselves with bold colors, dreamcatchers, and tons of twinkle lights. Catch the stylish festivities below + in the full gallery photographed by Seeking Films, and don’t miss their budget breakdown after.

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From Esselle Weddings & Events

Steph from Esselle Weddings & Events was inspired to create a moody styled shoot after meeting with the owners of the Kahalu’u Gallery and Gardens. Seeing this small garden space, she thought of all the great intimate weddings that take place in Hawai’i and how Brides are always wary to play with colors, themes, and edgy details. After weeks of chatting with vendors, researching new trends, and meeting the perfect couple for this shoot, the planning and details came together within a month!

wedding celebration + photo shoot

Real life couple Candace and Aaron have always been chasing their dreams while marching to the beat of their own drums. A few years ago, Candace and Aaron secretly eloped, promising to one day give their closest friends and family the celebration they’ve been dying to have. As a self proclaimed rain lover and moon child, Candace let go of all the traditions of a wedding and created a hybrid photoshoot and wedding celebration. She wanted fierce, jaw-dropping, and out of the norm details for her celebration held at the Kahalu’u Gallery and Gardens located on O’ahu. She wanted to embrace the scenery, nature, and art while showing her friends and families how weddings don’t have to be this pink and posh regal affair.

Moody details

Together with Stephanie at Esselle Weddings, they designed a dark moody wedding niche with a homemade “mini” arrowhead arch created by the Bride’s father. Combining her love of crafts, a larger than life dreamcatcher was commissioned by Rose Bud Dreamcatchers that combined her colors and love of crystals, like quartz crystal, jade, and rose quartz beads. Her tablescape was moody and dramatic with lush bold florals created by Jeff Alencastre of Creative Concepts combined with crystal detailed favors collaborated by Leizer Etched and Furever Crystals, along with leis provided by Hawaii Lei Stand.

first dance under twinkle lights

During the photo shoot portion of the day, the weather took a turn and began to pour rain and thunderstorm. Candace and Aaron loved the rain and continued to shoot during the weather storms. As the skies cleared, their guests entered the venue and enjoy an evening under the stars with music provided by Shay Marcello, bassist for the Rebel Souljahz.

His and Hers self-service bar carts allowed guests to get creative with their beverages, while the Groom gingerly enjoyed his custom dessert bar provided by Ciena Yim and Aileen Nguyen of IDK Desserts. A crepe cake was also brought in by Room for Dessert Hawaii. To end their evening, Candace and Aaron enjoyed their first dance as husband and wife against the twinkle-lit hedges of the gallery with footage shot and provided by Trevor of Seeking Films and Jason of Inspired Films Hawaii.

Budget

Curious what a wedding like this may cost you? The vendors were kind enough to share their totals with us below.

Photography: $2,800
Videography: $3,000
Florals: $2,000
Musician: $1,000
Rentals: $4,000
Desserts: $1,000
Styling and Coordination: $5,000
Wedding Dress: $100
Groom’s Attire: $200
Wedding Shoes: $900
Crystals and Favors: $500
Linens and Lighting: $2,000
Lounge Rental: $1,000
Total: $30,000

• Bridal Boutiques: Lulu's
• Cakes & Catering: Room For Dessert Hawaii
• Dreamcatchers: Rosebud Dreamcatchers
• Event Planning & Design: Esselle Weddings & Events
• Event Planning & Design: Ambient Rentals
• Event Planning & Design: Elegance with Grace
• Favors & Gifts: Leizer Etched
• Favors & Gifts: Furever Crystals
• Flowers: Hawaii Lei Stand
• Flowers: Creative Concepts by Jeff
• Groom & His Men: Cole Haan
• Hair, Makeup & Beauty: Legacy Artistry
• Jewelry: Brilliant Earth
• Paper Goods & Calligraphy: Valligraphy
• Photographers: Seeking Films
• Rentals: Accel Event Rentals
• Venues: Kahalu'u Gallery and Gardens
• Wedding Films: Inspired Films Hawaii
• Wedding Shoes: Christian Louboutin