THE WEDDING: Getting Ready

THE GIRLS

Me and my ladies got ready at the hotel where me and Trav, my maid of honor and her husband, and my cousin were all staying at. It was a 2 bedroom, 3 bathroom suite with a shared living room, and an ocean view. It was perfect. I woke up to Starbucks (although we’re not quite sure who in the world doesn’t know how to spell ‘bride), the rest of my bride tribe came over, and we all hung out while we were getting ready. We had one lady do our hair and makeup, so there was a lot of just chillin and hanging around. I ordered a large charcuterie board in anticipation of a rehearsal brunch we tentatively planned to host at a rental house. Plans changed, and we went out for brunch at Mala Ocean Tavern instead; but still ended up getting the cheese board and we grazed on it all morning while we got ready.

Funny story. Keep in mind that when I left the hotel to the venue, I had to take all of my luggage with me because Trav and I would leave straight from our wedding to our Honeymoon hotel. Bella and I were the last ones to leave the hotel room and head over to the venue. Once Bella and I got to the parking structure, with all of my luggage in tow, we both realized we had no idea where the Jeep was. Trav had been the last person to use our rental car, without me or Bella being with him, and he had parked it in the 7 level hotel parking structure. And please mind the fact that a Jeep is by far the most rented car on Maui – so the parking structure was FULL of them! We obviously found it, but it must’ve been funny watching us run up and down the stairs with our hair and make up all done up!

G I F T S

BIDESMAIDS GIFTS | We both gave our bridal party gifts to say thanks for coming all the way out to Hawaii and standing next to us on our wedding day. As part of their wedding attire, I gave my girls earrings (similar styles: 1, 2, 3), and Hawaiian bangles (a bracelet for the flower girl). Morning of the wedding, I gifted them shorts and a tank top to get ready in (because none of my girls – including me – are the wear cute robes kind of girls), face and under eye masks, and beach towels because ya know – Hawaii.

We also gave our bridal party gifts as a way to ask them to be in our bridal party too, you can see those here.

PARENTS GIFTS | For my mom and grandma, I gifted them each a pearl bracelet to match the one I wore. For Trav’s dad and my grandpa, we gifted them both ties to complete their wedding outfits. As far as our thank yous to our family, wedding planner, bridal party, photographer, and Trav’s cousin for being our officiant we found these elegant thank you notes on Etsy.

THE GUYS

Trav’s best man picked him up from our hotel the night before, so he spent the night with his groomsmen at their rental condo. The day of, Travis woke up early-ish to finish his vows while his groomsmen were hanging out playing board games. Once Trav finished his vows, they all went out for a quick bite to eat. Meanwhile, Trav had my aunt and uncle running around an hour before the ceremony looking for a place to print his vows out on paper. I’m pretty sure he was handed his vows right before he walked down the aisle. Nothing about Trav finishing his vows last minute surprised me though.

G I F T S

GROOMSMEN GIFTS | The guys got their gifts during the rehearsal brunch. Trav gifted them sunglassess that had their names or nicknames engraved on the sides, along with a dusty blue tie and a pair of Floral Stance socks to wear during the wedding. The glasses came with a wooden case that we customized to say either Groom or Groomsman and the date of the wedding. He included a note to say thank you, on these thank you cards (How I met your mother, anyone??).

Trav and I also decided we wanted to exchange small gifts the day of. We both wrote each other a note too. I’m so glad we did this, it’s something I will cherish forever! Trav gave me a card with a kitten on the front (v. on brand for me) with a picture of a Julian Edelman Patriots football jersey he bought me (it was the last one in my collection I’ve been wanting for awhile). I gifted him his favorite style RayBan sunglasses and had them customized to have the date of our wedding on the inside of the arm, and concert tickets to see AJR in LA the day after we got back home.

For more wedding related posts, head over here.