Location: Mauna Lani Bay Resort and Bungalows - A+++, I got married August 4 at the Mauna Lani Bay Resort on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island. We had 20 people travel with us, all staying at the Mauna Lani Bay. I promise you, this was the most beautiful place on earth! I couldn't have been more pleased with the resort choice, especially since it was done blindly over the internet based on other people's recommendations from various online reviews.
While on the Big Island we visited a few other resorts including the Hilton Waikoloa which was a circus with kids running around everywhere with plenty of entertainment for the young ones and even adults but lacking much of the true Hawaiin beauty like a Disney World meets Las Vegas, the Marriott Waikoloa which a couple of our guests stayed at for 2 nights prior to our arrival and was nice and had an amazing luau but just didn't have as much Wow Factor as Mauna Lani, and the Fairmont Orchid which was very elegant but more formal than the Hawaiin hospitality found only at the Mauna Lani. There were plenty of complimentary treats including a welcome lei for all guests, daily newspapers, free parking, free snorkeling gear for the amazing bays (2 to be exact) found on the resort property, and other group activities.
Wedding Planner: Pinkie Crowe - A, coordinates weddings only at Mauna Lani
Caterer: Mauna Lani food services - A+, huge portions and best wedding food I ever tasted. We received compliments by each guest during the reception.
Cake: Mauna Lani - C, beautiful but not tasty. The only part of the entire wedding that was somewhat disappointing. The resort saved the top of the cake for us to take with us but due to heat it spoiled on the trip home and we weren't the least bit upset as it definitely wouldn't have been any better in 1 year. The hotel does have the option to upgrade the cake which I didn't even check into but would totally recommend for anyone else getting married there.
Photographer: David O Baldwin - A+++, AMAZING Photos but more than that had the best personality cracking jokes throughout the entire evening and making myself and all the other guests feel beautiful and like the most important, fun wedding he ever shot.
Florist: Ainahua Florals - A+, surpassed my expectations. Kelsi was able to put everything together I imagined after one phone conversation without specifications of flower types. She was able to take my fondness for florals used in a wedding sponsored by The Knot held earlier this year at the Mauna Lani and make it just as beautiful at my much lower budget. Every detail was perfect.
Officiant: Tom Fernandez - A, beautiful ceremony. He is even sending a copy of the vows via email for our keepsake.
Luau: Marriott Waikoloa as mentioned above - A+, much better than expected and a great value as we took all our guests rather than having a rehearsal dinner. We initially planned on going to "the best luau on the Big Island" at Kona Village but after the tsunami caused the close of the Kona Village the Marriott was the next most recommended. The reveal of the pig was very cool. The food was fantastic and I am picky. The open bar was a huge plus. All the entertainers were wonderful but the flame thrower at the end really took the show.
Circle Island Tour: Robert's Hawaii - B-, very informative, saw things we never would've seen otherwise, great visit to Volcano National Park including the lava flume which I felt was the best part, and numerous other stops. We took all our guests as a thank you for coming to Hawaii for our wedding and we all enjoyed the first 8 hours but after that we were exhausted and ready to get home as it was about 11 hours total with the last portion spent dropping off tourists at the other resorts.
Hawaii Forest and Trail hike: A+, best part of the trip after the wedding. Amazing adventure with great tour guide, Taj. Even enjoyed a swim in a waterfall at the end of the hike before getting back on the ATV.
Needless to say, we loved our choice in destination wedding at the Mauna Lani Bay Resort on the Big Island and would do it all over again. In fact we are already planning our trip back for our 1st Anniversary next August.