Seanna and Eriq’s Family-Inspired Wedding at Gather on Maui
Seanna and Eriq’s wedding at Gather on Maui brought together family traditions, an outdoor ceremony overlooking South Maui, and a lively restaurant reception. After the wedding, we met again for a separate portrait session along the Wailea coastline.
That session was especially meaningful because Seanna’s parents were also married in Wailea. We recreated one of their wedding photographs with Seanna and Eriq, connecting the two weddings while still creating something personal to them.
As their Maui wedding photographer, I spent ten hours documenting everything from the quieter preparations that morning through the packed dance floor that night.
Family Heirlooms and Meaningful Wedding Details
Seanna and Eriq began their wedding day at The Palms at Wailea, where they got ready in separate condos with their closest friends and family.
The atmosphere on each side was completely different. Seanna and her bridesmaids listened to music from the ’90s while enjoying champagne, fruit, and pastries. Eriq and his groomsmen kept things relaxed with poke and cold beer.
Several of Seanna’s details carried personal meaning. Her single-strand pearl necklace was a family heirloom, her blue sapphire and pearl ring served as her “something blue,” and she later wore a veil borrowed from her cousin.
Because there was nowhere to place the traditional sixpence inside her wedding shoes, they worked the tradition into the morning by playing “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer. It was a fun way to make the tradition their own.
Seanna also asked me to photograph Eriq’s cologne alongside her pearl necklace. Small requests like this are important because they help the final gallery feel connected to the couple rather than looking like a generic collection of wedding details.
An Emotional First Look in Wailea
Once Seanna was dressed, she shared a first look with her father. His reaction was immediate, and I will admit that I had to fight back a few tears myself. She then met Eriq outside for their first look on a quiet staircase surrounded by tropical plants. They had time to see each other, exchange a few words, and settle into the day before we moved into portraits with their families and wedding party.
The bright afternoon sun and wind were two of the main conditions I had to work around. Gather and the surrounding Wailea area are very open, so the light and wind can change quickly. I used the nearby architecture and greenery when we needed some shelter, then brought everyone into the open areas when the conditions worked in our favor.
Seanna and Eriq’s Wedding Knoll Ceremony
Seanna and Eriq held their ceremony on the Wedding Knoll at Gather on Maui. The Wedding Knoll overlooks South Maui and gives guests an open view of the ocean and surrounding landscape. It is a beautiful ceremony setting, but its exposed location also makes the direction of the afternoon sun and wind important when planning the ceremony and photography timeline.
Seanna walked down the lawn wearing her cousin’s veil while live ʻukulele music accompanied the processional. One of Eriq’s closest friends officiated the ceremony, making their vows feel even more personal. After exchanging rings and vows, Seanna and Eriq finished the ceremony with their first kiss, followed by a twirl and dip as they walked back down the aisle.
Wedding Portraits Around Gather on Maui
One of the advantages of having a wedding at Gather on Maui is the variety of portrait locations available without having to leave the property. After the ceremony, we used the open lawn, tropical landscaping, palm trees, and surrounding golf course for portraits. This gave Seanna and Eriq a mix of photographs that showed the larger Maui setting along with closer and more candid moments between them. Because these locations were nearby, we could create that variety without taking them away from their guests for an unnecessarily long portrait session.
Continuing Family Traditions at the Reception
The celebration continued inside the restaurant at Gather on Maui. The reception included tropical floral arrangements, light table settings, and several personal touches connected to Seanna and Eriq’s families. They shared their first dance and took time to thank everyone who had traveled to celebrate with them. Seanna also presented her bouquet to her sister and maid of honor instead of having a traditional bouquet toss. Her cousins later led a banzai toast before the evening moved into dancing. This was one of those receptions where the dance floor stayed busy. After a full day of emotional family moments and traditions, it was fun to finish the main celebration with everyone completely letting loose.
A Post-Wedding Portrait Session in Wailea
After their wedding, I met Seanna and Eriq again for a separate portrait session along the Wailea coastline.
Having a post-wedding session gave us more time to explore the beach without taking them away from their guests or trying to fit everything into an already busy wedding-day timeline. We photographed them walking along the shoreline and spending time together as the evening light changed.
During the session, we also recreated a photograph from Seanna’s parents’ wedding. The original image held a lot of meaning for her, and revisiting that moment gave the session a personal connection to her family’s history.
It was a meaningful way to finish my time with Seanna and Eriq while giving them a completely different set of Maui wedding portraits from the photographs we created at Gather.
Thank You Seanna and Eriq,
Thank you both for trusting me to photograph your wedding. The months we spent communicating before the wedding helped me understand the people, traditions, and moments that mattered most to you. Your family and friends were a joy to be around, and they absolutely killed it on the dance floor. Ten hours is a significant amount of wedding coverage, but it gave us enough time to tell the complete story, from getting ready in Wailea through the final part of the reception. There are so many moments from this day that remain some of my favorite memories as a Maui wedding photographer. Thank you again for allowing me to be part of it.
Photography: Aaron Najera Photography
Coordination: Exclusive Island Weddings
Venue: Gather On Maui
DJ & Entertainment: Next Level Entertainment
HMU: Jo Ann Iha
