Adam and Katya
Adam and Katya’s day was a celebration of the two of them together. With family skyping in from all over the world, this beautiful Kukahiko Estate Wedding in Maui did not disappoint.
I loved the extra time and care Adam and Katya put into their vows. Little details like their vows like bringing in Katya’s heritage in. Even the hanging photos – everything was planned beautifully with the help of Makena Weddings.
The New Blogging Approach
I’m trying something new around here. Instead of me telling you all about the wedding, below these images Katya has answered some questions on behalf of her and Adam. Together, we hope this can help you plan your future beautiful Kukahiko Estate wedding!
Thanks to our awesome vendors!
Coordination: Makena Weddings | Venue: Kukahiko Estate | Videography: No Ka Oi Media | Wedding Cake: Sugar Beach | Catering: Cafe O Lei | Rentals: Island Events Rentals | Minister: Peter Dagupion
1. What were your thoughts about the wedding – did you think about it growing up, did you plan it together? How did it feel to make your choices and marry one another?
We started thinking about the wedding straight after Adam proposed to me on the boat in the sea in Barcelona. That’s when the idea of the beach wedding appeared. Adam was the one who suggested Hawaii: it has an ocean, it’s warm but not too hot and it’s very romantic. I am not a typical bridezilla so I didn’t have any special requirements other than the basics. Like a beautiful dress, a nice flower arch, and an exceptional photographer to have photos to remember. We got them.
2. Why did you choose the Kukahiko Estate?
We were planning our wedding being in different countries. Adam is a very thorough guy and he did extensive research. Especially on the Hawaiian islands and even which part of Maui to have the wedding. He checked the possibility of the rain, an average temperature, the number of tourists, read a lot of reviews, etc. before we chose Maui.
I remember choosing the venue Kukahiko in Ukraine. It was so nice to look through all the photos and videos, dreaming about how our own wedding would look. We chose Kukahiko because they had a great ocean view, but the place itself wasn’t empty. There were some trees on the venue so we imagined it would be nice if our guests could hide from the sun under the shade. Also, the shore near Kukahiko looked so naturally wild. It was all lava rock shore that looked great in the photos. I preferred a rocky shore to the sand one. I was afraid the sand could be blown by the wind onto our decorations and on my dress. We didn’t want that.
3. What was your favorite part of the day?
Our choice to get married was all thought through so we were didn’t feel any worries or doubts. But somehow I got nervous on the wedding day because I realized the scale of the event in my life. The anticipation was so huge I actually didn’t feel well the whole day. So for me, the best part of the day was when I saw Adam waiting for me at the altar. After I saw him I become calm, happy and confident. I wanted to see his face when he sees me in the wedding dress and it was priceless.
For Adam, the best part of the wedding was when I was pronouncing my vows. We made our own vows and it was so nice to hear all the best words from your spouse again.
4. What were your favorite details and why?
We had a small intimate wedding so the details made it special. I really liked my dress and so did Adam. I got a lot of compliments from him but on that day the most. After looking through the pictures I realized I love Adam’s bright red socks – they rock! They fit perfectly with the whole color concept.
We are fond of the cartoon character Pusheen the Cat. So we ordered special cookie pop Pucheens and they looked awesome!
I’m also happy we managed to integrate a small wedding ritual from my native country — Ukraine. We had our traditional wedding towel (rushnyk) laid in front of us so we could step on it together. It symbolized our first step in our life together. In Ukraine, they say that whoever steps on the towel first will be the head of the family. So Adam made sure we stepped on it the same time. It was nice to bring a piece of home to the wedding because my parents, unfortunately, couldn’t be there.
5. Why did you choose me as your photographer?
As you understand the photographer was a very important person for me at the wedding so we were choosing carefully. We were looking for someone who captures emotions more than a static picture. We were looking for someone who was making not just a beautiful picture but a genuine one. Who wasn’t afraid of close shots, imperfect smiling faces, and strong color combinations. Who would catch the moments the way they were, not the way they looked better. We liked your approach to photography. We also liked that you were not afraid of different solutions. And we don’t regret our choice at all!
6. Do you have any wedding advice for couples getting married in the future?
When you create your budget, expect to spend twice as much as you plan. I guarantee it. Just accept it.
There will be always people who will recommend something or will be unhappy with something. Remember that you are making the wedding for you two. Not for anyone else. The wedding is the only day when you can put your own wishes above others.
For the bride, choose the dress according to the weather and your activity at the wedding. I knew it was going to be hot so I chose a very open light dress and I was very grateful to myself on a hot wedding day. I knew I wanted to dance a lot at my own wedding so I decided not to get a dress with a trail even though it looked so nice. And I was very grateful to myself again.
Planning your own beautiful Kukahiko Estate wedding? Let’s talk!
