A Dream Wedding Maui | Stress-Free Wedding Planning, Destination Weddings, Personalizing Your Wedding

Are timeless wedding styles making a comeback? I think so—and Savannah and Danny’s stunning celebration at Sugar Beach is proof!

In this episode of Dream Wedding Maui, I’m sharing all the beautiful details from one of our most elegant events to date. From a luxurious white and green floral palette to twinkle-lit chiffon ceiling draping, custom sweetheart table setups, and a heart-shaped Aloha marquee sign—this wedding was the perfect blend of sophistication, romance, and island charm.

If you’ve been dreaming of a classic wedding design that still feels warm and personal, this one’s for you.

Why classic white and green weddings are trending again

How we brought Savannah & Danny’s vision to life at Sugar Beach

Floral highlights (hello, white phalaenopsis orchids!)

How to dress up the Sugar Beach space with lighting and thoughtful design

The power of one inspo photo in creating a jaw-dropping event

Why Sugar Beach is a top pick for formal or elegant Maui weddings

The magic of surprise fire knife dancers (always a hit!)

→ Browse more real weddings at @adreamweddingmaui

Whether you’re drawn to timeless elegance or bold tropical vibes, I’d love to help you bring your unique vision to life. Subscribe for more weekly inspiration—and don’t forget to trust the classics. 😉

Not all vendors are created equal—and when it comes to planning a seamless Maui destination wedding, who you hire really matters.

In this episode of Dream Wedding Maui, I’m sharing why our preferred vendor list is a total game changer for our clients. From florals to photography, DJs to dinner service, I break down how I personally vet each vendor we recommend—and why that list is actually quite small (for good reason!).

I also share real stories of what can go wrong when couples go off-list—and what makes our vendor team such a dream to work with. If you're planning a wedding on Maui or anywhere, this is a must-listen before you start booking your vendors.

What a preferred vendor list actually is (and isn’t!)

How I personally select and vet each vendor

The difference between a smooth planning process and… well, chaos

True stories that will make you want to trust the list

Why assembling the right team is about more than just individual talent

→ Learn more at @adreamweddingmaui

Subscribe for weekly tips on planning an effortless destination wedding in paradise, and leave a review if you’re loving the show! Mahalo for listening and trusting us with your big day.

If you're planning a Maui destination wedding, you’ve probably wondered: Do I have to feed my wedding vendors? In this episode, Maui wedding planner Ashley Ulery shares her honest (and spicy!) take on vendor meals—what's expected, what’s reasonable, and what not to do.

You’ll learn:

What a vendor meal is and when it’s required

The 4-hour rule every couple should know

Why vendors should not eat when guests eat

Whether it's ever okay for vendors to go through the buffet line

The small gesture that vendors never forget

Whether you’re a Maui bride, a groom, or just getting started with your wedding planning checklist, this episode will help you feel confident handling vendor meals the right way—with clarity, care, and a whole lot of aloha.

Mentioned in this episode:

Rule of thumb: Feed any vendor working 4+ hours

Vendor meals don’t need to be fancy—just thoughtful and timely

Why guest experience comes first

How planners coordinate meal timing with caterers

Why the phrase “Have you eaten?” means so much on a wedding day

Connect with Ashley:

Subscribe for more episodes on:

🎧 Episode Summary:

Whether you’re a bride, groom, or guest-of-honor who just wants to feel calm and prepared, this is your behind-the-scenes look at how the day typically flows — plus a few tips to help time slow down just a bit.

You’ll learn:

Mentioned in this episode:

Hair & makeup day-of prep

Flat lay photo tips

Vow timing (spoiler: don’t wait until the day-of!)

How your wedding planner runs the timeline so you don’t have to

Let’s Connect:

💌 Don’t forget:

After a whirlwind summer of family vacations and beautiful Maui weddings, I'm back—and full of fresh perspective. In this episode, I’m sharing surprising takeaways from our recent travels (yes, even Disneyland taught me something about weddings!).

From the importance of a well-planned timeline to the emotional impact of how events begin and end, these reflections will help you think differently about your own wedding day. I also open up about how overwhelming travel can feel—and how that gave me new empathy for couples in the thick of planning.

Whether you’re planning a grand celebration or an intimate elopement, this episode is packed with thoughtful insights to help you stay calm, intentional, and focused on what really matters.

What You’ll Learn:

Why the beginning and end of your event are the most memorable

How Disney inspired me to rethink how we wrap up weddings

The parallels between vacation overwhelm and wedding planning stress

Why planning ahead creates more freedom (yes, I use Aisle Planner for vacations too)

The value of taking intentional breaks during the planning process

Links & Resources:

Book a free consultation: adreamwedding.net

Follow on Instagram: @adreamweddingmaui

Let’s Connect:

In this heartfelt episode of A Dream Wedding Maui, I sit down with Kayla and Armando—an amazing couple who celebrated their dream wedding on Maui with a ceremony at Sacred Hearts Mission Church and an unforgettable reception at Olowalu Plantation House.

Together, we reflect on the design-forward planning process, a week full of activities for their guests (including a catamaran sail, golf course welcome drinks, and a sunrise bike ride down Haleakalā!), and even a flower mishap that turned into a beautiful win thanks to communication and trust.

We talk about:

How they chose Maui and what made them fall in love with Olowalu

Planning a destination wedding with full-service support

Creating an elegant design that felt timeless and Hawaiian

Why it's worth planning multiple events during your wedding week

How vendor synergy and a solid planner made all the difference

The unexpected moment when bouquets needed a redo—and how we fixed it fast!

Vendors Mentioned:

Venue: Olowalu Plantation House

Ceremony Location: Sacred Hearts Mission Church

Catering: Café O’Lei Catering

Music: Marvin Tevaga Music

Photography: Dmitri and Sandra Photography

Videography: No Ka Oi Media

Coconut Bar: The Catered Coconut

Planning Tip: Always communicate with your planner if something isn’t right. We’d much rather know and fix it than miss the chance to make things right. Case in point: Kayla’s bridesmaid bouquets weren’t what she expected—but one phone call later, we turned the day around.

 Favorite Moments:

The catamaran snorkel sail

Something blue welcome drinks at Ka‘anapali Golf Course

A surprise welcome speech that brought guests to tears

Their dreamy white orchid lei wall and satin-ribboned place cards

Connect with us at adreamwedding.net

Mahalo for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with any couple dreaming of a Maui wedding.

While you're sipping champagne and enjoying hair and makeup with your wedding party, your planning team is already hard at work making the magic happen. In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on exactly what goes on behind the scenes on your Maui wedding day.

From early-morning vendor confirmations to sunset photo coordination and post-reception pack-up, we’re walking you through the full day—from our perspective! Get a feel for the calm, confident energy we bring to each wedding, how we keep things running on time, and why working with trusted vendors makes all the difference.

Whether you’re a few weeks out or just getting started, this episode will help you envision a stress-free day where your only job is to soak in the joy and say “I do.”

What’s happening behind the scenes while you’re getting ready

How we confirm and communicate with vendors (and what we do if they don’t respond!)

Tips for seamless ceremony and reception setup

The details we triple-check—so you don’t have to

How we manage timelines, surprises, and last-minute requests with aloha

Visit us: adreamwedding.net

Follow on Instagram: @adreamweddingmaui

Let’s talk about wedding rehearsals! In this episode, we’re taking you behind the scenes of how we run rehearsals for our Maui destination weddings. Whether you’re feeling nervous, overwhelmed, or just curious about what actually happens, we’re here to walk you through it all.

We’ll share who should attend, how we set the ceremony lineup, why we rehearse in reverse (yes, really!), and how we ease those last-minute jitters the day before you say “I do.” From timing the music to giving pep talks to the wedding party, our goal is to make sure everything runs smoothly—and that you feel totally confident and calm heading into your big day.

If you’re planning a wedding in Maui, this episode will help you show up to rehearsal ready, relaxed, and excited.

Why we usually schedule rehearsals for 9 AM the day before the wedding

Who should be there—and who doesn’t need to worry about attending

What to expect if you're bringing your own officiant

How we plan your processional and ceremony layout

Why we rehearse in reverse and how it helps everything click

Our go-to reminders for pockets, sunglasses, bouquets, and more

Why we leave the music timing to the pros—and skip the Bluetooth speaker

How to use Canva to visualize your wedding party lineup

How we help families decide where to sit for the best view

What happens if someone forgets their cue (spoiler: we’re there to guide them!)

Planning your dream Maui wedding? We’d love to support you.

Not sure who to tip—or how much—when it comes to your wedding team? You’re not alone! In this episode, I’m breaking down suggested gratuities so you can show your appreciation without overextending your budget. We’ll talk about who to tip, how much is appropriate, how to prepare ahead of time, and some real talk about things like tip jars at the bar and those post-wedding “the check is in the mail” moments.

Whether you decide to tip or not, this episode will help you feel confident, organized, and full of aloha.

Who typically receives a gratuity on wedding day (and how much is standard)

Why gratuities are never expected when working with trusted pros

The best way to prepare and organize your tip envelopes (cash is king!)

What to do if you’re on a tight budget—but still want to show appreciation

The do’s and don’ts of bar tip jars (yes, we talk about it!)

Why saying “we’ll send something later” can unintentionally sting 

How thank-you notes, kind words, and great reviews are also meaningful ways to say thanks

Book a free consultation

Follow on Instagram @adreamweddingmaui

Want help planning your Maui wedding? Let’s chat! Use the link above to view my calendar.

This is Episode 21—such a milestone! I’m so grateful to each of you for tuning in every week. I created this podcast to give you practical, thoughtful advice to make planning your Maui destination wedding as seamless (and joyful) as possible. Here’s to many more episodes to come. 💕

Ever wonder what a wedding planner carries to make sure your big day goes off without a hitch? In this episode of A Dream Wedding Maui, I'm pulling back the curtain and sharing exactly what’s inside our wedding day toolkit. From fashion fixes to weather emergencies and tech must-haves, we are prepared for anything and everything — so you don’t have to worry about a thing!

Tune in to hear the full breakdown of what we pack for every wedding day and why having the right tools on hand can make all the difference.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

The must-have items in our emergency kit and repair tools

Beauty and fashion essentials we always carry

Tech tools and weather prep you might not think of

Little-known wedding day hacks (hint: baby powder and museum wax!)

Why being over-prepared = peace of mind for you and your guests

Mentioned in this Episode:

Liquid IV hydration packs

Clear umbrellas (our secret good-luck charm against rain!)

Fashion tape, fishing line, museum wax — and more toolkit essentials

Want more help planning your Maui wedding?

Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode, and if you found today’s tips helpful, please leave a review and share it with a friend who's planning their dream wedding too!

Mahalo for listening — see you next Wednesday!