Nope, this is not your typical wedding in Hawaii. First of all, the 20-acre olive grove that sits at the heart of Maui feels much more Mediterranean than what we usually see in Hawaiian weddings. Talk about unique! Pair that with the super glam stylings of the whole day and Keli and John's best day ever is definitely a can't miss event.
Keep scrolling to find out how these two lovebirds met and read about how John popped the question. Plus get an inside view of what went into creating this ultra fabulous wedding day straight from the bride's mouth. You can catch every single wedding photo taken by Chris J. Evans when you visit the full gallery.
The Wedding: Down a winding tree-lined road in Kula, Maui sits a Tuscan-inspired villa in earthy shades of terracotta and tawny yellow. The 20-acre olive farm is an exceptional setting for a chic wedding. At an elevation of 2200 feet, The Villa at Calasa Olive Farm boasts incredible bi-coastal views of Maui, enveloping silvery olive trees and grapevines in the cool upcountry mist. It was the perfect location for Keli and John's destination wedding.
I had one word that I envisioned for our wedding and that was enchanting. I wanted everything to feel like you just walked into a modern day fairytale. We went with rose gold, blush, and White for our color story. From the romantic chandeliers to over-the-top florals and even the custom bar menu, every detail was perfect!
That Special Moment: There are about a million things that I can say about all the details about our wedding. One thing that was really important to me was having my late father represented in our wedding. He was a pastor, a family man, and my biggest fan. I had both my brothers walk me down the aisle and my cousin Jon (who is a pastor) marry us. He used entries from my dad's journal and those three men in my life truly made me feel as though my dad was watching.
The Dress: Being a former Miss America contender, I had to go to NYC and visit Kleinfelds. I went in looking for something form-fitting and sparkly but everything felt too pageant. The very last dress that I tried on was a Mark Zannino ball gown with a white beaded bodice. I finally felt that amazing feeling and I said yes to the dress!
For the reception, I channeled my inner Marilyn Monroe and went with a form-fitting mermaid style dress. John even changed for the reception too—from a traditional black tux jacket to a custom white dinner jacket. He looked handsome!
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