**carrieoz_76**

TashaK24

Hi!  I'm having a destination wedding in Maui too and was wondering if you had any advice?  Specifically about planning so far away!  And what did you think of your photog?  We're trying to find someone that isn't TOO pricey.

TIA!
Tasha

carrieoz_76

Hi there!

We didn't really have any issues planning from far away.  I hired a wedding coordinator, which may not be necessary but was a huge stress reliever for me.  No matter the question, I had someone on the island who had an answer, which was great.  I would recommend hiring one (mine was Lori Lawrence at Tropical Maui Weddings, and I'd hire them again in a heartbeat).

Also, our guests seemed to really appreciate that we had something happening the day before the wedding (welcome dinner) and the day after (sunset sail).  We didn't want to overcommit them, but they seemed to appreciate the planning that went into everything - and that it meant they didn't have to do as much themselves.

As for photographers, our was Joanna Tano, and she's great.  She's been a breeze to work with, and we love her photos.  Kim Aihara was her assistant for our wedding, and I know Kim also works independently, so you might look into her.

Good luck planning!  Once you get your core group on board and your venue picked, it definitely gets easier from there.  

TashaK24

Hi Carrie, thanks for the advice!  I wasn't sure about the coordinator, but I think it might be worth it. Do you mind sharing how much your photographer was?  The pictures on her website are beautiful but I couldn't find prices!

Tasha