Aloha,

Timory McDonald

Owner and House Photographer of Aloha Ever After

Gallery of Entire Weddings

Enjoy the variation of weddings at different locations

(note that most links go directly to the “favorites” but at the top of each page there are additional page options such as “all”)

Remarkable Rainbow Wedding at Shiprwrecks, Poipu-Reina and Jesse:

http://web.me.com/timoryk/Reina_Jesse/Favs.html

Vow Renewal in front of the Nawailili Marriott – Jessica and Jay:

http://web.me.com/timoryk/Jessica_Jay/All_Photos.html

Engagement Photos at Lydgate Beach, Wailua – Bethany and Craig:

http://web.me.com/timoryk/Bethany_Craig_4_18_12/All.html

Hanalei Bay Wedding-Amy and Jacob

http://web.me.com/timoryk/Amy_Jacob/All_Photos.html

Anini Beach Wedding – Kay and David

http://web.me.com/timoryk/Dave_Kay/Favs.html

Lydgate Beach Wedding – Christina and Tony 

http://web.me.com/timoryk/Christina_Tony/Favorite_24.html

Smith’s Wedding/Fern Grotto

http://web.me.com/timoryk/Smiths/Smiths_photos.html

Hyatt Wedding (Rehearsal photos the day before, getting ready the day of, ceremony and reception)-Katie and Corey

http://web.me.com/timoryk/Katie___Corey/Rehearsal_%22Favs%22.html

Examples of Hand Painted Photos:

http://web.me.com/timoryk/Hand_Colored_Over_Black_White/Hand_Colored_Photos_Examples.html

Jessica and Jay

http://web.me.com/timoryk/Jessica_Jay/All_Photos.html

Bethany and Craig

http://web.me.com/timoryk/Bethany_Craig_4_18_12/All.html

Tanya and Bob

http://web.me.com/timoryk/Tanya_Bob/All.html

Firstly, you need to understand the basic nature of men and women. Women grow by filling themselves up with love. They are symbolized by an empty vessel, like a cup, which aims to fill itself to the brim with Life, love and the abundance of the world. Women find meaning by going deeper into loving and caring, and being in a sexual relationship with a man (and possibly also having kids) is often the primary way they develop their love. From a spiritual perspective, you could say that women get to know God through love.

"Tough Guys" can still get married …

Men, on the other hand, are a different breed altogether. They thrive on cutting through constraints, limits and barriers, crashing through to freedom on the other side. Men find meaning in conquering their fears, rising to the challenge and bringing out the best in themselves, proving to the whole world their strength, endurance and trustworthiness. Hence a man’s primary purpose on earth is not his relationship; he may love his woman (and kids) dearly, but he still has his mission, the fulfilling of which drives him to be the best he can and always somehow leads to liberty in the end. From a spiritual perspective, you could say that men get to know God through freedom.

So there is an asymmetry to love: women consider their relationship with their man as part (or all) of their purpose for being here, while men consider their mission as their purpose for being here. Rather than resisting this truth and trying to change it, women and men would do better to accept their polarities and realize that this is what creates the wonderful sexual energy between them.

With this in mind men can get over their commitment phobia by first accepting it as a natural aversion to constraint. Secondly they can understand that it is completely possible to love a woman dearly and still have a mission which drives them to be who they are. Men must take responsibility for knowing themselves and knowing their mission, and staying dedicated to it while being in a relationship. After all, this steadfastness and strength of character is what a woman really wants in a man. No woman can deeply respect and trust a man who would frivolously drop his mission. If he acts like that with his mission, why wouldn’t he also act like that with her?

Men need to find freedom within apparent constraint, and by their calmness, steadiness and strength, show that all limitation is an illusion. What better way to do this than by being with one woman?

The secret is that men can find freedom within a relationship …

Once a man has conquered his fear of being with one woman permanently, he must reassure her that he loves her deeply and is committed to working through the tough times with her. This builds tremendous trust and allows the man sufficient space to fulfill his mission while being in a relationship.

We at Aloha Ever After say it is completely up to you how much (or how little) your family is involved in the wedding planning process. Now here is the real question: how much do you think they should be involved? When you think of planning your wedding with your mother, mother-in-law, father etc. … how do you feel? Does your stomach get tense or do you smile? Does your mind start immediately with worries or do you feel like a load is being taken off your shoulders? The answer lies in your response to such questions as these.

There are many families who are not involved at all with our Kauai weddings. Sometimes they are not even present for the wedding; other times part of the family is able to make it out to help the couple celebrate. (Lucky for them it’s such a gorgeous event … after all, how much more beautiful can you get for a location than a Kauai beach wedding?) Sometimes the family is only the lucky recipient of some beautiful Hawaii wedding photography because they had to stay at home for one reason or another. As you can see, there is a huge variance of involvement by families.

If you have a good relationship with someone in your family it can be a great benefit to planning your Kauai wedding, or a wedding anywhere for that matter. Since you will not be at home it can be useful to have someone be your helper. In our opinion enjoying your wedding and enjoying planning your wedding are of the utmost importance. One of the most important ways to help create this ease is to delegate (delegate, delegate, and then delegate a little more!)

A Happy Mother of the Bride with Beautiful Bride

You will find that most people are so happy that you are getting married, happy that you’re in love, happy to be included, happy that you’re getting married on a beautiful tropical island etc., that they would love to help out. So … send them to pick up your dress at the cleaners. Ask them (or us) to research the closest dry cleaners to your hotel. Give them the list of important tasks to be done the 48 hours before your wedding. Here is a brief list of things that should be delegated to someone other than the bride and groom:

- Cleaning of anything (gowns, shoes, vacation rental, etc.)
- Buying gifts for guests, family etc.
- Putting someone in charge of which photos you want taken after the ceremony. Have them stand next to the photographer and call out the names of the family groupings you’d like to have a picture of before the photographer is ready for them.
- Any computer research. Stick someone else on the computer and go take a walk with your fiancée.
- Finding anything you are looking for on the island (e.g. restaurants, activities, directions). Why not send someone else to the concierge desk or to an activity booth? They’ll have fun and sort out what you need to know and what you don’t.
- Checking last minute details. Give someone a list of numbers, names and instructions. Then relax and let go. Your day will be perfect whether or not it is micro managed by you. Go get a massage.

Remember, this is supposed to be one of the best days of your life. If you’re a stress case and practically fainting from lack of eating and fatigue … will you look back on the day and feel it was everything it could have been? Look after yourself by delegating, and use the stomach test to help decide how much your family should be part of, or apart from, your Hawaii wedding.

1. You need a beach permit from the state of Hawaii (DLNR). Without this permit the State has the power to shut down any beach wedding on Kauai that did not pay for and obtain a permit (with proof of insurance) before the wedding.

2. All Kauai/Hawaii beaches are public beaches and therefore anyone can use any beach at any time. This is good news for you, but this also means that there is no way of guaranteeing a private Kauai/Hawaii beach wedding. Having lived here since 1999 I can however offer expert advice as to which beaches are usually deserted and what times are the best times to have your Kauai beach wedding. There is at least one beach that I use where there have never been other people near us on the beach, nor even many people walking past. I would be happy to share the name of this beautiful Kauai beach site with you. There are other beaches where lots of people take walks (with and without dogs) and use the beach for swimming, surfing, cliff diving and sun bathing. This does not need to be an inconvenience – it can really offer an authentic Kauai beach wedding flavor, and after all, that’s what people do on an exotic tropical island!

Classic Kauai Beach Wedding Pose

3. It’s always windy. Brides, if you don’t want your hair to blow everywhere during the photography shoot and ceremony, get it put up/back and out of the way! It will look better back than being windblown.

4. High heel shoes are awkward in the sand – don’t bother with them if they aren’t totally necessary.

5. The hair/makeup always takes longer than expected. Plan 30-45 minutes minimum extra into whatever the hair/makeup person says she/he needs!

6. Your photographer does not know the names and relations of everyone in your family. Plan out what family shots you want ahead of time. Give a list of who you want in what group pictures to a trusted family member/friend and instruct that person to stand next to the photographer during the “after-ceremony” pictures. Have this person call out the names of the next group at least one picture before the photographer needs them. This way you will get all the shots you want plus extra pictures. It takes a lot of time to get people together and organized. If the photographer is not required to play group leader she/he will have more time to take more quality photos.

7. Having a Kauai beach wedding will be one of the most memorable events of your life. Having captured moments to treasure and share forever by utilizing our professional Kauai photography community is one of the most crucial steps in planning your big day, so don’t forget to set up your photographer early to assure getting the date you want!

If you liked this blog and are interested in booking a Kauai wedding, please visit AlohaEverAfter.com and we’ll be happy to help you.

The Garden Island, Exotic and Gorgeous

Kauai is the hidden jewel of the Hawaiian Island chain. It’s called the garden island because of its vast lush tropical diversity. Kauai is the getaway from the chaotic main island of Oahu, where people from the Hawaiian city of Honolulu and beyond go to get away from the rat race.

Kauai is a perfect blend of things to do in an exotic and gorgeous place, yet getting away from the things that distract us from who we really are and who we really want to be.

Kauai is the perfect choice for a destination wedding because you have a never ending choice of exotic places to choose from for the perfect wedding site. Beautiful long beaches, hidden jungle locations, private pieces of land overlooking the ocean, waterfalls, canyons adorned with rainbows, mountains, forest, jungle, cliffs, valleys, sand dunes…the choices go on and on.

Kauai’s Picturesque Settings

Kauai is the perfect place to get amazing wedding or honeymoon pictures taken.

How could you go wrong with one of the most beautiful settings in the world around you? All you need to do is decide what kind of scenery and backdrop you want behind your amazing wedding photography.

A Magical Paradise

Most importantly Kauai is magical. It really is.

Kauai has an uncanny way of manifesting that which you want and focus on faster than almost anywhere else on the planet. You will be amazed at how many times on your trip you are blown away by the synchronicity of how you were just talking about something…and just an hour or two later you find it (or a book about it, etc.) at some shop down the road.

Weddings/honeymoons happen anywhere everyday, but on Kauai dreams really do come true. Sounds corny? Come check it out and see for yourself!