“We had our wedding in August 2025 at the Fairmont Orchid with 130 guests, and it truly exceeded our expectations. We got married in the Coconut Grove, which was absolutely stunning, and hosted our welcome party in the courtyard. Both spaces created such a fun and seamless experience for our entire wedding weekend.
We chose the Okika Wedding Package, which included many core elements for the ceremony and reception. Since we were also bringing in custom elements and outside vendors, it did make things a bit more complex, and in hindsight we may not have needed the highest-tier package. That said, it still provided a strong foundation for the overall wedding.
Our Fairmont planner did change a few months before the wedding, but it ended up working out well. Aria was with us on our wedding day and was calm, helpful, and kept everything running smoothly. As a Bay Area couple, we did notice a bit of “Hawaii time” with communication early on, but we were told to expect that and responses became much quicker as the wedding approached.
The food really stood out. During our tasting, we were surprised by both the presentation and taste. It felt elevated and not like typical wedding food. We chose plated meals, which were actually a little more affordable than a buffet. The Fairmont was also flexible and allowed us to make changes. We opted out of a plated dessert since we already had a three-tier cake, and instead added a Hawaiian ice bar for a small upcharge, which guests loved.
We also did the prepaid bar package, which was 100% worth it. It made the night feel stress-free since we weren’t worried about a running tab and guests could fully enjoy themselves.
Shipping items ahead was another huge plus. We sent personalized napkins, menus, and light-up leis to the hotel the month before, and they stored everything and delivered it to our room when we arrived. This made things so much easier since we were flying in.
We brought in some outside vendors for personalization, including rentals, a day-of planner (Dayna at Naupaka Events, highly recommend), DJ Tiger and his wife who made the party so fun, Flower Me Pretty for gorgeous florals, BTS Dalhan for content creation, and Hawaii Sound and Vision who handled lighting, coordinated a fire dancing show, and arranged a live guitarist, Vaughn Valentino, for our ceremony. Our officiant, Kuha Tom, made the ceremony feel truly Hawaiian and magical. Photos by Apricity Wedding Photography.
Multiple guests have told us it was the most fun wedding they’ve ever been to. Dancing under the palm trees by the water was unreal. It was warm since it was summer time, but by the end of the night many of us jumped into the ocean fully dressed, which was a highlight.
One of the best parts is that we can go back and visit anytime, which makes it even more special to us!”
