Lei-Adorned I Dos: A Utah Wedding Photographer’s Maui Destination Wedding

When it’s time for a talented Utah wedding photographer to get married herself, you know her Maui destination wedding day is going to be jaw-dropping. After getting engaged on a beach in Thailand, Jenna and Jaden knew they wanted to move the celebration to another beach in Hawaii, and brought some of the most talented Utah wedding vendors along with them.

Photography is what brought Jenna and Jaden together in the beginning; they originally met in high school, and as Jenna was starting up her photography business, she asked Jaden if he wanted photos taken at the sand dunes, and during the shoot, they inevitably felt the spark that led to them falling in love.

And as a photographer, first and foremost, Jenna knew exactly who she wanted to shoot her dream Hawaiian wedding.

“Mikki absolutely crushed it. I always looked at her as inspiration for my own photography. I would run into her at weddings and events, and she’s done some of my friends’ weddings, and I just knew she needed to be my wedding photographer. It was non-negotiable for me. I feel so lucky that she was my photographer.”

And we feel even luckier that we get to see these gorgeous photos, too!

A Utah Photographer’s Turn to Say I Do

As a wedding vendor, Jenna initially felt overwhelmed when planning her own big day. “Because you do all these weddings, you see all the different styles. I always say I wish I could get married a hundred different times and do a hundred different weddings because all the styles are so cool; so I looked at what I like to photograph the best, and that’s why I chose my colors. I love the light blues and greens and whites because they photograph really well and they’re simple.”

When you find inspiration all around you every day, it’s hard to narrow it down, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t find what you’re drawn to. And that’s also what helped Jenna and Jaden decide to have a Maui destination wedding.

“I knew, because I am a wedding photographer, that I wanted to do something a little bit different than the typical Utah wedding. But the funny thing was, I wanted all of these Utah vendors because I love all of them.”

Even though wedding planning started off as a daunting task, it ultimately helped immensely that Jenna knew so many vendors and had been around some of the best weddings in Utah.

“I would say it was stressful at first, but it actually helped me a lot too, because I’ve seen what I like and what I haven’t liked in the past; it helped me make timelines and see what the aesthetic would be, because I took all my favorite weddings that I’ve ever shot and tried to make it into my own.”

Breezy Beachy and Coastal Chic

And it absolutely paid off! From their bridal beach photos to a cute white bikini moment and an even more gorgeous rehearsal dinner on a sailboat, every detail of Jenna and Jaden’s Maui destination wedding was curated to perfection.

During the planning and design process, Jenna pulled a lot of inspiration from the coastal hues of Maui and the breezy textures and fabrics of the islands.

“I loved the look of light fabrics like linen and soft cotton, stuff that feels natural and effortless. I wanted everything to have that easy, coastal vibe with soft neutrals, woven details, and a relaxed feel that reminded me of the beach.”

Their dress code for their guests was ‘beach formal’ with black tie optional. Just because you say I do next to the beach doesn’t mean it can’t be as elegant as this.

“I did a dress code, and I loved it, which could be looked at as high maintenance, but I thought it was fun. And I’d rather have guidance as a guest.” Their guests understood the assignment, too, elevating their wedding weekend even more.

Bridal Bikinis and Beach Cruises

To kick off the celebrations, Jenna and Jaden took to the beach with their guests to enjoy the sun and sand, and of course snap a few cute pictures too.

“We flew out a week before; I didn’t want my wedding just to be a day, I wanted it to be a whole week-long thing. So we did a beach day, and it was one of my favorite days; we texted our whole wedding, ‘We’ll be at this beach at 11:00, be there.’ And everyone showed up, and it was so fun.”

Then they continued the celebrations with a first look and bridals the day before, followed by their chic coastal cruise with all their guests wearing white, looking like they walked right out of a fashion editorial.

“It wasn’t a super formal rehearsal dinner by any means; we didn’t do speeches or anything like that. We had music blasting, drinks and appetizers that were handed around, and we sailed around the Nā Pali Coast. It was perfect and beautiful, the weather was great. I was so grateful for all of it.”

Starting The Morning Off Right

And then came the Maui destination wedding day, but it didn’t start off like a typical wedding day. They woke up and went into town with their bridal parties to enjoy breakfast and get excited about the day ahead.

“We went and grabbed breakfast; it was super fun and casual, and everyone was so excited. It was funny, too, because we were all staying in Maui, so cars were driving by with people who were my guests, and they were honking at all of us. It was such a vibe.”

Then, Jenna and Jaden stole away for a moment alone for lunch, and it ended up being Jenna’s favorite part of the whole day.

“We took 30 minutes and went and picked up sandwiches, just the two of us. It was a little drive, and we talked about what was happening. Some people don’t see each other until they’re walking down the aisle; I thought it was so fun to have the whole day with him because it goes by fast.”

Lei-Adorned I Dos

Then came the photos and their lei-adorned ceremony, officiated by Jaden’s dad, followed by a gorgeous cocktail hour and reception. And every detail was covered in the most beautiful coastal florals that have us ready to book a flight to Maui ourselves.

“We wanted to read our vows out loud because it felt more personal and real that way. Saying them in front of our family and friends made the moment feel so meaningful, like everyone got to witness that promise with us. It was emotional, a little nerve-wracking, but so genuine and special to actually speak the words to each other.”

Florals were one of Jenna’s top priorities, along with having a stress-free day, and Details by Laura Lee made all the difference in both aspects.

“My number one priority was that I didn’t want anyone to be stressed, and that’s where Laura Lee came in. She planned everything, set everything up, did all the florals, made my vision come to life, and I completely trusted her with everything because I’ve seen her work before and worked with her. That was the best thing I did for my wedding; my parents didn’t have to do anything. My aunts didn’t have to come early and set up or do anything like that. I think everyone should have at least a day-of coordinator.”

“Then florals, because I feel like florals make or break a wedding, and I wanted flowers galore, and Laura Lee obviously did the most when it came to the flowers, and I loved everything about it. She did everything I wanted and more.”

Make Your Wedding Week All Yours

Jenna and Jaden also included more sentimental details throughout that made their wedding feel like “them.” From the leis for every guest to the oyster shells with each guest’s name hand-painted on it as their place card, everything tied in perfectly with the coastal, Hawaiian vibe. They even had hand-embroidered napkins at each place setting and adorable tiki glasses that the groom insisted on.

“Jaden’s only request was that our cocktails be served in the tiki glasses.”

Their dance party was another big favorite from the wedding weekend for Jenna and her guests.

“The energy was amazing. Everyone was on the dance floor, and when the saxophone player came out, it just took things to another level. It felt like pure joy, everyone laughing, dancing, and celebrating together. It was the perfect way to end the night and such a fun memory we’ll never forget.”

According to Jenna, she had absolutely zero regrets about her wedding, and it’s not hard to see why. When it came down to it, Jenna and Jaden centered their love story as the priority for the celebration.

“My biggest piece of advice would be to do whatever feels right for you as a couple. At the end of the day, the only opinions that really matter are yours and your partner’s. Don’t stress about pleasing everyone else. Focus on what makes you both happy and what will make your day feel special to you.”

And inevitably, what follows is a Maui destination wedding as stunning as this one, whether it’s on an island coast or right in the heart of Utah; the common theme, of course, being Utah wedding vendors like Jenna and Jaden’s. “We honestly couldn’t have done it without any of them!”