We did it.
We got hitched.
And it’s rather appropriate that my blog — which was hacked and had been down for weeks — was finally revived (with the help of Brian Dote of Tapiki) the day after Independence Day and exactly two weeks after our wedding.
Kismet?
So here’s the deal: Derek and I tied the knot on June 21 — summer solstice — at a beach in Aina Haina. We celebrated with family and friends in a small reception — about 160 people — at the Waikiki Aquarium.
We ditched the formal wedding for a casual outdoor, pau hana-style event — with an outstanding live jazz band — under the stars in Waikiki. No dress code, no program. It was a very laid-back affair.
Instead of a buffet, we did food stations, with dishes from Tanioka’s Seafood & Catering, Rainbow Drive-In and Alicia’s Market. We had huli huli-style chicken, Ono Pops and a live sushi chef. And the cake — designed and baked by Aloha Cakery — was really a bunch of beautifully decorated cupcakes with an ocean theme.
Seriously, it was perfect.
Here’s what our wedding entailed — and what the Big Day looked like:
The cake!
Here's our cake — three tiers of cupcakes by Aloha Cakery in four different flavors: carrot cake with cream cheese filling, lemon cake with lemon curd filling, dark chocolate cake with mocha filling, butter cake with strawberry filling. These cupcakes were moist, delicious and utterly addictive.
Thanks for sharing this special occasion with us!
22 Comments
Congratulations, Cat! Love the photos. 🙂
Congrats Cath! Glad to see your blog is up and running again!
Great approach to a wedding and reception. Simplify the day to accent what really matters….love it! Congratulations and best wishes.
i’ll bet the old guys cried too. this one did. when you wake up tomorrow, thirty years will have gone by. think you’re in love now? just wait until then! have a journey.
Best wishes.
Just a note, had to get to this entry via link posted on FB. Going directly to the website “Top 10 Maui Moments” was first on the home page.
Nice! And glad I can finally comment on your blog to congratulate you! You guys look sooooo happy! (Not that you didn’t before.) Best wishes for a wonderful life together.
Yeah!! So happy the blog is back up and we get to “go” to your wedding! It looked beautiful and special and fun! Kind of how I see you, Cat. 😉 Congratulations and mahalo for sharing it with us!
congrats and “Welcome to the club”
congratulations! 🙂 What a fun-looking wedding day! You look gorgeous! All the best, Cat & Derek!
Congratulations! Thanks for sharing!
Great Pixs!
Happy for both of you!
Glad that your blog is up and running again too!
Hey Cat … AWESOME!!! …
… seeing this just put a big smile on my face …
Congratulations, Cat! So very happy for you!!
CAT: Aaaiiiyyyaaahhh! Fuud Pix! Tenks! and congratulations to you both. Thanks for letting your Dad give you away…I know it made him very proud and happy. Are you taking Derek’s name?
love it! making me tear up now! congrats guys 🙂
Congrats Cat!!!
Great choice for your reception.
Definitely a local wedding: “a small reception — about 160 people”
Thanks for sharing your day with us Cat. Congrats to you and Derek and best wishes to the both of you!
Congrats Cat! Thanks for sharing your awesome pictures. We attended a wedding @ the Aquarium and it was laid back too. Welcome to “the club”. Here’s to many years of making beautiful memories together!
Huge congrats!!! Love that you got married on June 21st, that’s the day of our wedding anniversary. The photos were really awesome. Hope you guys have many, many happy years together!! 🙂
Congratulations! Looked like everything went just as planned…you both looked well relaxed and happy in all the pictures. Ono pops sounded like it was a hit! Wishing you both endless happiness.
A happy wife happy life!
Congrats to you and Derek. Talk about kismet…my first visit to Ala Moana during vacation and I run into you and your mom. It was a pleasure meeting you IRL. I wish the two of you nothing but happiness and joy. BTW – the day after Independence Day is my anniversary.
a little late but congratulations!! looks like it was a perfect day and the perfect wedding for you and derek! you both look so happy… isn’t life grand? 😉 enjoy each other! thanks for sharing your special day with us!