Trash the Dress

Flying into Kauai, you get a sense of anticipation; like the ocean before a big swell arrives. You know you are in for something truly special. Every time I come here, I am amazed at how my senses tingle and I am convinced that this is one of the most beautiful places in all the earth. Kauai is magic – pure and simple.

I am here from the Big Island of Hawaii for three days to chronicle wedding events for Raeshell and Kenji, a young couple who had the joy of watching each other grow up long before they knew they were in love, though Shell actually had a crush on Kenji at an early age. Now, with the commitment just hours ahead of them, their exuberance is contagious, their excitement like trying to hold in infectious laughter.

We arrive at the Plantation Gardens in Poipu for the rehearsal dinner with the sweet light of the setting sun just disappearing behind the mountain. The garden is exploding with orchids of every color and size; they actually seem to be thumbing their noses at the waning light. “Lets go for a stroll in the garden,” I offer. When Shell and Kenji immediately lose themselves in each other while floating down the walking path, and I carefully nestle my way within the orchids to await their approach, I knew we were going to have a magical time together.

This is why I love shooting wedding events. I love the details, the emotions, the spontaneous highlights of the day where a page is turned in life. Where the realization that you have found someone to grow old with, to share intimately the depths of who you are and accept the other unconditionally is acted upon. There are few events in life that set a new paradigm of hope and expectation as this.

The rehearsal was filled with humor, the rehearsal dinner, with levity and laughter. The Ceremony at the oceanfront estate inspired perfect weather, a crystal clear afternoon at the perfect venue; an expansive yet intimate lawn nestled in coconut palms along an azure sea. Raeshell, giddy with impatience to read hand written vows to her Kenji, is emotion in motion, snatching glimpses of the arriving guests thru the bedroom’s window slats. The groom seems completely lost in his gaze watching her approach, as though there are no guests, no venue, no air. The vows, an amazing sunset… the reception, a culmination of heartfelt congratulations and celebrations, candlelight and moonlit, personal liliquoi tarts, and a hula danced for the groom by his own hula girl. But, by far, the best is yet to come. As a fun-loving photographer, the climax of the event comes the day after the wedding via a “trash the dress” session.

Trash the dress. This is a provocative after-the-wedding photographic adventure resulting in the ‘time of your lives’ and some great images for your wedding album and beyond. If you have no plan to wear that fabulous dress again or don’t mind the risk of mussing it up, don’t miss this opportunity to get romantic on a whole new level. There is no spectating on this shoot, and no reserve, but a sense of abandonment that give legs to your whimsical expectations and lets your inhibitions out to play. You are in for an incredible time.

Raeshell actually has a reception to attend back on the mainland and didn’t want to get her dress wet or particularly dirty, so she brought a white summer dress to change into that she would feel comfortable with in the surf. We find our way to her favorite beach located at the island’s westernmost point, Polihale, down the long, bumpity, unpaved Old Mana road (four wheel drive or cushy shock absorbers recommended), and arrive at an expansive white sandy beach with continuous rolling surf and the Na Pali dipping their toes into the sea. And the beach is completely empty! Feel my exuberance. My instructions are simple, “Go have fun, hold nothing back.”

The results, well, you be the judge. What a great way to start the new chapter in your book; a crescendo in your wedding experience punctuating the newness of life, letting go of whatever held you back, starting anew on a journey that together will take you further up and further in to the adventures of your lives.