There’s something magical about ditching tradition and doing your wedding your way. Cheryl and Lincoln totally understood the assignment. Their elopement was equal parts romantic and relaxed, and honestly? It was a total dream from start to finish. Let me take you through their unforgettable day, filled with sunshine, sea turtles, waterfalls, and yes—grilled cheese sandwiches. Needless to say, this Maui waterfall elopement didn’t fall short!
Lei Making & Beach Vibes
We kicked things off at the beach, where Cheryl and Lincoln hand-crafted their own leis. There’s something so grounding and intentional about starting your wedding day with a little hands-on creation. Plus, the orchids just added to the vibe (and made for some dreamy detail shots).
For lunch, we kept it light and local with some delicious bites from Choice Health Bar in Paia. If you know, you know—tropical smoothies, acai bowls, and fresh wraps were just the fuel we needed for the day ahead. Right as we were wrapping up our little beach picnic, we got a surprise visitor: a TURTLE. Yep, a whole honu just wandered into our portrait session like it had RSVP’d months ago. Safe to say, that turtle stole the show for a solid five minutes. Definitely not your average photobomb.
Waterfall Wanderings at Twin Falls
After soaking up some beach time, we headed to the lush greenery of Twin Falls in Haiku. Fun fact: Twin Falls is the only waterfall on Maui where you can legally take photos without getting special permission from the landowners. Major win. You just have to make a donation to the farm stand, which is 100% worth it.
We lucked out with the crowds—it was pretty quiet, which meant we had the space (and the light!) mostly to ourselves. The light filtering through the trees was chef’s kiss, and the falls were flowing just enough to give us that moody, romantic jungle vibe without drenching anyone.
Something to know about a Maui waterfall elopement at Twin Falls is that the falls are never private. There are always people around, but if you luck out like we did, there won’t be that many people around!
After snapping some portraits, Cheryl and Lincoln went to the river to open a very special gift from their loved ones: a book full of handwritten letters. Their friends and family had poured their hearts—and a few solid dad jokes—into messages for them to read on their wedding day. It was the perfect way to include everyone, even though no one else was physically there. Cue all the happy tears and laughter.
Saying “I do” on Haleakala
From the jungle, we made our way up to the surreal beauty of Haleakalā National Park. If you’ve never been, imagine being on Mars…but if Mars had epic sunsets and cool mountain breezes. That’s Haleakalā.
Cheryl and Lincoln decided to skip the officiant and just be in the moment with each other. They exchanged vows on their own, surrounded by the vastness of the crater and the stillness that only a place like Haleakalā can offer. No pressure, no timeline, just two people promising forever in the most “them” way possible.
As someone who’s photographed a lot of weddings, this was a first for me—and honestly, I was so here for it. Without the structure of a formal ceremony, we had the freedom to just be and let the day unfold naturally. And let me tell you, the vibes were immaculate.
Grilled Cheese & Golden Hour
Now, here comes one of my favorite parts of the day: the grilled cheese. Right after the vows, a local family nearby was grilling up sandwiches to celebrate someone’s birthday. When they heard Cheryl and Lincoln had just gotten married, they offered up a fresh, melty grilled cheese to the happy couple. Talk about a Maui-style wedding feast! I told them it’s officially tradition now—they have to celebrate every anniversary with a grilled cheese.
It was one of those spontaneous, joy-filled moments that you just can’t plan for. And those are always the best.
Quiet Moments & Fiery Skies
As the sun started to dip below the clouds, we made it to the very edge of the crater. The world got quiet. Like, really quiet. No cars, no chatter—just wind, light, and those big post-vow smiles.
We stood there for a few minutes without saying much. Just soaking it in. The colors turned from soft golds to deep blues and purples, and even though it was getting chilly fast (pro tip: always bring a jacket to Haleakalā), no one was complaining. That view? 100% worth every goosebump.
We wrapped up with some of the most stunning golden hour photos I’ve ever shot. The light at the top of Haleakalā hits different. It’s cinematic. Otherworldly. And when you pair it with two people as fun and chill as Cheryl and Lincoln? Magic.
Final Thoughts about this Maui waterfall elopement ending on Haleakala
This elopement was the perfect blend of spontaneity, nature, and heartfelt moments. From making leis and bonding with sea turtles, to heartfelt letters and grilled cheese generosity, every piece of the day was beautifully them.
So here’s to Cheryl and Lincoln—two humans who showed us all that weddings don’t have to be big to be epic. Sometimes, all you need is a lei, a waterfall, your person, and maybe a volcano or two.
Would you ever elope somewhere wild like this?
Thank you to the following folks
Thank you Cheryl and Lincoln for making this an absolute breeze.
Thank you to Maui Makeup Artistry for the incredible job you did on Cheryl’s hair and makeup! It stayed all day!
Thank you to the owners of Twin Falls for allowing us to photograph there. We appreciate you!
And thank you to everyone up at Haleakala National Park. You guys must be sick of hearing from me – but I’ll never tire of photographing elopements on the Mountain!
If you loved this elopement, check these out!
Jennifer and Tyler’s full day elopement ending on Haleakala
How to elope on Haleakala
See more things that I tagged “Haleakala” on my blog!
