You’ll Never Believe How Much Of This Luxe Hawaiian Wedding Was DIY

Couple sharing a kiss at an outdoor wedding ceremony, blissful moment

The bride and groom always envisioned their wedding on their favorite island of Kauai, but a traditional, colorful Hawaiian wedding just wasn't for them. They wanted a neutral monochromatic palette, but guess what...nature has plenty of neutrals, so that's exactly what they tapped into. Their wedding design incorporated natural shades of tan, deep brown, black, white, and dark green. Plus, you'll never guess how much of this wedding was DIY. From the stunning invitation suite and the table numbers to the custom Mai Tai wall, you won't want to miss any of these incredible details!

Sun Soul Style Interiors and Tie The Knot Hawaii worked with the couple to bring their monochromatic island wedding to life. They fell in love with Waimea Plantation Cottages at first sight, from the ocean views to the stunning natural scenery, they knew it was the perfect spot for them to tie the knot. Flowers By Emma Kauai created these stunning floral arrangements using white orchids, Calla lilies, palm fronds, and even lava rocks! We love the way Lauren Scotti focused on contrast in these gorgeous photos, it really brings the color palette to life and makes every detail pop against the lush green backdrop. Read on to hear more from Christina of Sun Soul Style Interiors and check out the full gallery for even more of these incredible photos.

Wedding invitation suite with a tropical aesthetic and rings

Heart-shaped woven purse with initials on palm leaf background Pale pink cards with names on a green palm leaf background

Elegant wedding dress hanging on a wooden hanger for the ceremony

Beautiful bride with hair done, preparing for the big day

Bridesmaids toast with champagne on a porch before the wedding

Elegant bride in white dress, back view, with delicate tattoo

Elegant woman with orchids and fresh coconut drink outdoors

Bridesmaids in black dresses with bouquets of white orchids

Man adjusting his watch getting ready in white shirt and black pants

Groomsmen walking towards the camera in suits at a wedding

Groom awaits bride in garden on wedding day ceremony

Groom embraces bride tenderly in outdoor wedding setting

Bride and groom dance happily under a tree on their wedding day

THE PERFECT LOCATION

Wedding ceremony setup under a large tree, with petals and benches

Kauai was Aryn and Brandon’s special place–the high school sweethearts had been taking trips to the island to visit Aryn’s grandparents since they started dating over a decade ago. So, when the couple got engaged, there was no question that they wanted to share the magic of Kauai with all of their friends and family. While they hadn’t spent much time on the West side of the island, they immediately fell in love with the old-world feel of the Waimea Plantation Cottages. The original cottages of the sugarcane plantation dot the oceanfront property, creating a setting perfect for an intimate weekend wedding; “We loved the sense of privacy it offered that you just don’t get at a bigger resort. It very much felt like a hidden gem.”

Wedding sign welcomes guests with a warm message and invites to sit Wedding program fan listing names on a rustic wooden surface

Romantic wedding couple embracing, flower lei, soft focus and greenery

NATURAL NEUTRALS

Bride and groom walking on a lawn during a beautiful wedding day

The couple hired local wedding planner Heather Singleton of Tie The Knot Hawaii and designer Christina Higham of Sun Soul Style Interiors to bring their dream wedding day to life. In terms of decor, one thing was for certain–black and white would reign supreme! The couple gravitated toward the monochromatic palette in their own lives, from their wardrobe to their home decor and even the color of their cars. So, while the quintessential Hawaii wedding leans heavily on the bright punches of oranges, pinks, and reds of tropical florals, Christina came up with a palette that pulled from natural elements and textures like black lava rocks, iridescent shells, white orchids, and dried palm leaves to create a look that was truly unique and personal for the couple. Orchids were featured heavily throughout the event decor, romantically draped across locally gathered lava rocks by florist Emma Chidgey of Flowers By Emma Kauai, and hung above the bridal party head table by aerial lighting and floral specialist Hilight Installations.

Wedding party walking joyfully under sunny sky with palm trees

THE KING AND QUEEN OF DIY

Wedding reception sign with Oh Mai We Tied the Knot message

Aryn and Brandon, creatives in their own right, took on a lot of DIY projects themselves. Aryn is a trained graphic designer and designed and printed all their save the dates, invitations, menus, and programs, as well as decals for the bar menu and Mai Tai wall. Aryn’s dad also 3D printed the table numbers, and came out to the island early to build the Mai Tai wall–complete with Mai Tai's mixed by the father of the bride himself! Additionally, Aryn and Christina spent a year hunting Etsy for the napkins, shell name cards, raffia pillows, shell accessories, and details–the list goes on! Guests were greeted with fresh coconuts on ice (with the option for a rum shooter, of course!), and took their seats under the majestic banyan tree. Aryn walked down the aisle to “Sea of Love” by IZ. The ceremony was officiated by Brandon’s brother and the couple wrote their own vows. The couple said, “I do” and sealed it with a kiss to John Legend’s “A Good Night.”

Vintage turquoise van on green lawn near the beach with decor

Outdoor lounge setup with white tent and Happy Place sign

LOCAL DELICACIES

Elegant outdoor wedding reception table with floral decor

The ceremony was followed by cocktails and dinner highlighting some of the couple's favorite local vendors. All cocktails were mixed with fresh juice and kombucha from the couple's favorite juice shop, Kauai Juice Co. Dinner was provided by local caterer Destination Events and included fresh poke, local short rib, fresh-caught ono, and a lilikoi cake by Ko Bakery. Local musician John Rivera serenaded guests throughout cocktail hour and dinner, playing “Consider Me” by Allen Stone for the couple's first dance. Later in the night, the bride changed into her second look, a cocktail dress by V Chapman, and DJ Mike Lopez kicked the party up a notch, while guests were fueled with a favorite local snack, spam musubi, to keep the night going! The couple reflected on one of their most memorable moments, “Looking around at dinner and taking a moment to soak in that all our family and friends were all in one place, let alone Kauai, especially after the crazy year we had just had. The tent was so stunningly lit up and booming with love and joy. It was incredible.”

Elegant hanging floral arrangements under a white tent canopy