Rekzar and Jennifer began planning their Olowalu Plantation House wedding in early 2019. By the end of that year, I had photographed their Maui engagement session, and everything was moving toward the larger family celebration they originally envisioned. Then 2020 changed the plan.
Instead of abandoning the day entirely, they worked with Kristin from Ophilove to create an intimate micro wedding at the same oceanfront venue they had chosen from the beginning. The guest list became smaller, but the people, relationships, and reason for gathering remained at the center of everything.
Plans That Changed in 2020
Like many couples planning a wedding during that year, Rekzar and Jennifer had to make difficult decisions about who could safely attend. Their original vision of a large celebration surrounded by extended family became a much smaller gathering with the people closest to them.
Olowalu Plantation House felt completely different with fewer guests spread across the property. The quieter atmosphere gave Rekzar and Jennifer more room to be present with one another and spend meaningful time with everyone who could attend.
Although the wedding was not what they originally planned, it never felt incomplete. It became a more intimate version of the same commitment they had been working toward all along.
Getting Ready Inside the Plantation House
Jennifer prepared for the ceremony inside Olowalu Plantation House. The furnished rooms, windows, and historic details gave us a quiet setting for photographing her dress, jewelry, and final preparations before she stepped outside. One of the advantages of getting ready directly at the venue is that the day can move naturally. Instead of building travel into the schedule, we could document the preparations inside the house and then step directly onto the lawn when everyone was ready. The smaller gathering also made these moments feel especially personal. There was less activity moving through the house, leaving space for the people with Jennifer to help her prepare and take in what the day had become.
An Intimate Oceanfront Ceremony
Rekzar and Jennifer held their ceremony on the lawn beneath the palms, with the ocean visible just beyond them. Olowalu Plantation House can accommodate much larger weddings, but the property also works beautifully for an intimate ceremony. The open lawn and surrounding landscape gave the gathering room to breathe, while the smaller guest count kept everyone close to the couple.
Their ceremony was simple and personal. After months of uncertainty and changing plans, watching them finally stand together and exchange their vows carried additional weight. It was a reminder that the heart of the wedding had remained intact even when nearly everything surrounding it had changed.
Portraits Along the Olowalu Coastline
After the ceremony, we explored the grounds for portraits while the evening light softened across the property. We photographed Rekzar and Jennifer beneath the palms, along the lawn, and near the rocky shoreline. With fewer guests and a more flexible timeline, we could move through the property without feeling rushed. The coastline gave us wide photographs that showed the landscape, while the quieter spaces around the venue allowed for closer moments between them. Their portraits became one of my favorite parts of the day. After navigating so much uncertainty, they finally had time to slow down, stand together, and enjoy the fact that they were married.
An Intimate Evening Celebration
As daylight faded, their celebration continued beneath the string lights with their closest family and friends. A smaller reception creates a different kind of energy from a packed dance floor, but it can be just as meaningful. Rekzar and Jennifer were able to spend time with every person who attended while still sharing the traditions that make a wedding reception feel complete.
Their Olowalu wedding ultimately became more intimate than the event they first imagined, but it remained full of the relationships and moments that mattered most. I was grateful to document both their engagement and the wedding day they worked so hard to preserve. Thank you, Rekzar and Jennifer, for trusting me to photograph this chapter of your story.
Vendors
Wedding Coordinator: Opihilove - Kristin Agbayani
Second Photographer: Ikeda Photography - Joslynn Ikeda
Music + Entertainment: Jason Arcilla Music - Jason Arcilla
Makeup: Ry-n Shimabuku - Ry-n
Videography: Gali Productions - Joshua Galinato
Florals: Floral Designs Maui - Emily
Cake: Maui Wedding Cakes - Casey
Rentals: Rio Event Design
