I simply can’t picture anything sweeter than running off to the tropical beaches of Hawaii to tie the knot with your love. Just the two of you and the sounds of the palm trees swaying in the breeze, waves hitting the shore, and birds chirping in the bushes—I’m pulling my camera out at just the thought of it. Hollis and Connor wanted a small, intimate elopement in a natural setting, and that’s exactly what they got with their laid-back beach elopement at the Ritz-Carlton Maui. This day is a beautiful example of just how magical an elopement can be even when kept fairly simple. . . you don’t need fancy decorations or intricate details in order for your elopement to be unforgettable.
Hollis & Connor’s Carefree Maui Beach Elopement
An intimate celebration at the Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
There are two types of couples who come to Hawaii to get married: one who dreams of a massive celebration on the lawn of a luxury oceanfront resort, and one who would prefer to walk hand-in-hand along the beach in private, with nobody else in sight. Hollis and Connor fell into the latter category, envisioning a private celebration out in nature; somewhere they could enjoy the beauty of the island and have quiet time to themselves. This can be difficult to find on the touristy beaches of Maui, but we chose a gorgeous spot that ended up being utterly perfect! More on that a little later, for now let’s start at the beginning of the day 🙂
Sweet moments getting ready together
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua is a favorite venue of mine on the island, but Hollis and Connor didn’t really use it as a venue in the traditional sense—only a place where they could get ready for the day. Instead of getting ready in separate rooms, these two lovebirds decided to get ready together, which is something I love for elopements. This day is about you and your partner, after all, so why wouldn’t you want to spend as much of the day together as possible? It was the sweetest thing watching Connor help Hollis fasten her jewelry, and seeing Hollis straighten out his collar; the giant smiles on their faces truly said it all.
While they may have kept their beach elopement simple, that doesn’t mean they skimped out on the details. Hollis put together the sweetest little curation of details with bottles of their perfume, her sparkling gold necklace and chunky pearl bracelet + earring set, and an olive green velvet ring box, all together with a thoughtful note of congratulations left by their housekeeper at the Ritz. I was super impressed by Hollis’s beauty skills as she DIY’ed her hair, makeup, and florals—which consisted of the most gorgeous tropical blooms native, including a massive king protea and delicate pincushion protea. The vibrant palette of oranges, pinks, and greens made for the dreamiest island vibe!
Private oceanside vows at D.T. Fleming Beach
Once Hollis was all set in her ruffled, off-the-shoulder dress and Connor in his cream-colored suit, we ran off to D.T. Fleming Beach next door for a private vow exchange by the water. This was the loveliest spot for the two to make things official, offering not only stunning views of the ocean and the picturesque stretch of sand, but also plenty of lush, tropical greenery coming to life beneath the evening sun. There’s no need to make your ceremony too complicated when you’ve got such a picturesque backdrop, so Hollis and Connor kept theirs short, sweet, and casual.
Dreamy sunset views & ocean blues
I was thrilled to get this beautiful of a sunset because when Hollis and Connor inquired with me, they mentioned they really connected to the warm, natural feel of my editing style—and I knew this dreamy, sun-soaked spot by the water was going to deliver exactly that. We wandered around the beach for our last bit of time together, stopping for individual portraits of the breathtaking bride and dapper groom, even finding a little grassy spot to cozy up for some laid-back shots. Don’t these two just look like they came straight out of a rom-com? The way they were so incredibly natural and relaxed in front of the camera, cuddling up and sharing sweet smiles, kisses, and hugs. . . talk about a photographer’s dream come true. I barely had to put in any work!
Ritz-Carlton Maui Elopement Photographer
Can you picture you and your love tying the knot just like Hollis and Connor did, with towering palm trees and bright blue ocean waves in the backdrop? If so, you’ve found your photographer to document the whole thing—whether your perfect celebration is private like Hollis and Connor’s, or brimming with love from your closest friends and family members in attendance. Wherever you find yourselves on the shores of Maui, I’ll be there to capture each and every moment of magic, so that it never fades away. Book your day with me here!
Planning your own Maui elopement or intimate wedding? Don’t miss out on my full Maui Elopement Guide, where I dive into the best locations, planning tips, and plenty more.
And if you’re not quite at the full-on wedding planning stage yet, be sure to read through this guide for help planning your Maui engagement session first.
