Jordan and Patrick hosted a multi-day wedding at Kona Village Resort on the Big Island, and let me tell you: it was a tropical luxury dream come true. Forever grateful that these two found me through one of my favorite Big Island wedding planners of all time – Bliss In Bloom – and trusted me to come along for their wildly beautiful island ride!
Jordan & Patrick’s Multi-Day Wedding at Kona Village Resort
The magic of a multi-day experience
Multi-day weddings are a dream come true for couples like Jordan and Patrick, who envision a full-fledged weekend EXPERIENCE for everyone involved – not just a single day. Who ever decided that the party of your lifetime should last for less than 24 hours, anyway?! 😉
Because Jordan and Patrick hosted their entire weekend on the Kona Village Resort property, they were able to fullyyy sink into the moment together, and with all of their loved ones – especially the ones who traveled from far away to get to the island. Staying in one place means minimal stress for everyone involved (vendors, guests, and the two of you included!); plus, if you’re booking a luxury property like Kona Village, you will absolutely want to take advantage of everything it has to offer.
Whether you organize three consecutive days of festivities like Jordan and Patrick did or you simply stay two nights instead of one, ANY extra time you can squeeze in to bask in all the wedding feels, will be worth it 1000x over. Your guests will thank you when they don’t have to rush to check out of their gorgeous hotel room the morning after your dance party that went late into the night, orrrr when they get the chance to enjoy all the venue offerings to bookend their experience: some R&R at the spa, delish on-site dining opportunities, pool time… you get the vision.
Day One: The Welcome Party
I could spend this entire post convincing you to stretch your wedding across multiple days, but I can probably let the photos do the talking from here on out! Day one of Jordan and Patrick’s multi-day Kona Village Resort wedding was about as tropical-luxe as you can get: they wanted a beautiful, colorful start to the weekend with all of their family and friends – and I’d say their welcome party was a smashing success in that regard.
Each group of guests was welcomed by a woven straw tote with their name on it (literally, on the most adorable little palm & coconut name tags), full of local island treats and goodies to enjoy throughout the weekend. The party was bright and bold as can be, with lots of local influence and Hawaiian flair – from the island flavors in their specialty cocktails (still drooling over that liliko’i margarita myself) to the gorgeous sushi platters and buffet stations.
Jordan and Patrick spent the evening with their loved ones on the front lawn of the resort, enjoying endless hors d’oeuvres, posing in front of an adorable aloha marquee letter sign, and the most perfect sunset we could’ve asked for. Guest fashion was on POINT, as well; everyone understood the assignment with their vibrant colors and floral patterns galore!
A note on lei etiquette:
You’ll notice that Jordan and Patrick’s welcome party included beautiful elements of Hawaii’s lei culture! Typical etiquette is that you wear it as long as possible, aka you try not to take it off until you leave the event. It’s a really special thing to be gifted a lei; so to see one go unworn, tossed on chairs, or ending up in the trash is a travesty! A better option, if you’re a guest and would like to take your lei off at some point, is to take it back to your hotel room and either hang it on a hook, or place it gently in the fridge. Some leis are even great to be dried out if you’d like to preserve yours!
As far as flower choice goes, orchids are by far the best option if you’re looking for budget-friendly welcome leis – especially if your guests aren’t from Hawaii or don’t understand lei culture. Prefer something a little fancier? Opt for different types of plumeria leis instead!
Hawaiian lei culture traditionally involves different types of flowers for men and women, though you are MORE than welcome to simply pick whatever feels right for the two of you. Or hand the same type of flower to everyone! If you do want two distinct leis, ti leaf leis are great for male guests, and maile leis for grooms – though they can be harder to find. Pikake leis or tuber rose leis are really special (albeit expensive) for the bride and her ladies, with such a delicious smell and luxurious feel!
WELCOME PARTY VENDORS:
Event Design and Production – Bliss in Bloom | @blissinbloom
Venue – Kona Village Rosewood | @konavillagerosewood
Florist – Flower Me Pretty | @flowermeprettyhawaii
Lighting – Kona Event Rentals | @konaeventrentals
Photographer – Chelsea Abril | @chelseaabrilphoto
Hair + Makeup – Indigo Grace Artistry | @indigograceartistry
Bar Signs – Island Celebrations | @islandcelebrationshawaii
ALOHA Marquee Letters – John Allen Signs | @johnallensigns
Transportation – Global Rider
Day Two: The Rehearsal Dinner
One thing I loved and Jordan and Patrick’s multi-day wedding was that the vision for each event was completely unique! After their delightfully colorful and abundant welcome party, the rehearsal dinner was a bit more lowkey, though equally as beautiful. With only their closest family and friends invited, this private rehearsal was simple and laid-back from start to finish, and really allowed everyone to take a deep breath before the big day arrived.
The bride- and groom-to-be took the opportunity to do a few extra toasts – SUCH a smart way to spread them out and not have a bajillion toasts at the wedding itself – and enjoyed yummy sliders, sipped on custom cocktails, and shared laughs & stories over a flavorful meal. If the welcome party and this rehearsal dinner were any indication, then the wedding day was about to blow our minds… spoiler alert: it DID.
REHEARSAL DINNER VENDORS:
Event Design and Production – Bliss in Bloom | @blissinbloom
Venue – Kona Village Rosewood | @konavillagerosewood
Florist – Flower Me Pretty | @flowermeprettyhawaii
Lighting – Kona Event Rentals | @konaeventrentals
Photographer – Chelsea Abril | @chelseaabrilphoto
Hair + Makeup – Indigo Grace Artistry | @indigograceartistry
Linen and Glassware Rentals – Hawaii Island Events | @hawaiiislandevents
Musician and Sound – Brandon Nakano
Transportation – Global Rider
Day Three: The Wedding!
Whereas their welcome party and rehearsal dinner was a celebration of rich, vivid tropical colors, Jordan and Patrick’s day lent itself to a more classic, timeless feel: simple white florals, minimalist shapes & textures, and overall a more understated luxury. But that doesn’t mean we didn’t have an absolute blasttttt from the first event on the timeline, alllll the way through till the last late-night snack was devoured; no, this was FUN luxury at its finest. My kinda island vibe!
Something I noticed about this day was just how well-crafted Jordan and Patrick’s timeline was (shoutout to the master, Bliss in Bloom!): it was lengthy, but laid out so perfectly and gave the couple a lot of room to breathe, and take chill time when they needed it. Their first look allowed us to get a majority of the portraits out of the way before the ceremony, and I loooved that they took a little bit of private time once the ceremony was over. I haven’t had many couples do this, and it was a lovely change of pace to see them take a beat, have a snack & drink, and sign their marriage license. Plus, it’s hot AF in the summer on the Big Island – so the AC inside the rooms was a godsend!
As if Jordan’s bridal attire wasn’t gorgeous enough, she brought out a second look for the reception and dancing! Favorite moments included the group shot, the tear-jerking toasts, the celebratory Hora dance, and the mouthwatering late-night snacks. They even had a live band playing throughout the evening, as well as a cutie photobus from Aloha Splitty for fun guest candids! I cannot stress ENOUGH how phenomenal the planners were for pulling this entire weekend off – cheers to the most fabulous and joy-filled celebration for Mr. & Mrs. Brown!
WEDDING DAY VENDORS:
Event Design and Production – Bliss in Bloom | @blissinbloom
Venue – Kona Village Rosewood | @konavillagerosewood
Florist – Flower Me Pretty | @flowermeprettyhawaii
Linen and Glassware Rentals – Hawaii Island Events | @hawaiiislandevents
Chairs and Lighting – Kona Event Rentals | @konaeventrentals
Photographer – Chelsea Abril | @chelseaabrilphoto
Videographer – Kahena Cinema | @kahenacinema
Hair + Makeup – Indigo Grace Artistry | @indigograceartistry
Stationery – Lively House and Home | @livelyhouseandhome
Escort Card Display Wall – Island Celebrations | @islandcelebrationshawaii
Ceremony and Reception Sound, DJ, Dancefloor – DJ Hybrid Vigor | @_hybridvigor
Photobus – Aloha Splitty | @alohasplitty
Ceremony Musician – Magic Strings
Transportation – Global Rider
About Kona Village Resort, a Luxury Big Island Wedding Venue
I have a bit of a personal history with the Kona Village, which made it all the more special to photograph Jordan and Patrick’s celebration on the property! My dad worked here for 37 years before it was wiped out by the tsunami in 2011, and as someone born and raised in Kailua-Kona, it became a really special place to me. I feel so fortunate that he got to be part of the original dream and vision for the Kona Village, and that my couples today get to embrace the new life it’s been given! If you know the Kona Village of the past, it’s definitely not quite the same as it used to be, but what a gift to see it exist in its new magic.
Anywho, history lesson over – let’s chat about why Kona Village Resort is SUCH a fabulous venue for couples dreaming of a luxe multi-day wedding on the Big Island. I’m not sure I even need to point out how spectacularly stunning it is, given that you’ve just scrolled through a heap of images that showcase the venue in all its glory!
What I WILL highlight is the many luxury, high-end amenities this resort comes with for you and your guests to enjoy: a spa, gym, multiple pools, four on-site restaurants and bars, and a ton of wellness experiences & activities to partake in. The resort has five different wedding venues, the largest of which can fit up to 300 guests (Kīpuka Nanea, where Jordan and Patrick had their ceremony)!
Potentially my favorite part of this venue is that the rooms are all hales (the Hawaiian word for “house”), spread across this big, beautiful, sprawling property. Some of the hales face the fish ponds and the mountains, and some face the lava fields – which is a really cool, rustic option that only the Big Island really has! If you prefer to spend the night on the oceanfront, there are even some super cool treehouse stays, as well as larger suites with two bedrooms. One even has its own private mini beach, and many come with private lānaʻis as well. No matter which of the MANY venues and hales you choose from for your Kona Village Resort wedding, you will have an absolutely lavish island experience, and so will your guests!
Kona Village Resort Wedding Photographer
Kona Village calling your name like it did Jordan and Patrick’s? Sameee. Clearly I will take ANY opportunity to get back to this venue that holds such a special place in my heart, and will hopefully hold one in yours soon, too. Get in touch via the form below if you’re lookin’ for a Big Island wedding photographer who will bring all the joyful, fun-loving, and local vibes to your Kona Village celebration!
Still not set on your venue yet? Pop over to my Big Island Wedding Venue Guide to look through a few more options!
