When Ben Higajo and Crystal Toba began planning for their wedding, Crystal instantly thought of Hawaii, the birthplace of both her grandfather and her father. The young couple wanted an elegant and private beach setting for their celebration, a day that their guests would always remember. Tucked away on Oahu’s southwest shore, Lanikuhonua immediately captivated them with its breathtaking scenery and panoramic ocean views. Crystal recalls, “The vision of my dream wedding day was realized the moment that I stepped foot on the grass at Lanikuhonua.” Upon securing the site, Crystal and Ben contacted Valerie Seagrave of Honolulu Wedding Consultants to help them plan the details of their event.

In the days preceding the wedding, Crystal and Ben relaxed with 65 of their closest friends, enjoying their precious time together in the tropics, gathering together for an intimate rehearsal brunch and beach barbeque. The wedding day arrived on a glorious afternoon, and guests gathered beneath the swaying palm trees on the lawn. The bride happened to sneak a peek at the wedding setup before her grand entrance and was stunned by the exquisite scene. “At first glance, the one word that came to mind was ‘breathtaking’,” she says. The incredible natural beauty of Hawaii inspired the “beach-chic” theme of the day captured in fresh hues of crisp blue and chocolate brown. A hint of pale pink added a playful touch of glamour to the casual setting.

Crystal was a stunning bride in a Pronovias gown with her groom dressed in typical island fashion in a sharp tan suit and maile lei. The bridesmaids held bouquets punctuated with hot pink hydrangea and light pink and white peonies against their chocolate brown silk and chiffon dresses. Su-v Florals cleverly tied white paper cones to the dark chiavari chairs that lined the aisle, each containing a single pink peony. “I remember feeling so nervous to walk down the aisle,” recalls the bride. “My father was trying to calm me down by telling funny jokes, but all I could imagine was seeing Ben for the first time,” Crystal says. “I couldn’t have been happier when I reached him.” As the sun was setting in the distance, Crystal and Ben pledged their love with the smooth sound of guitar strings and the ocean waves tumbling faintly in the background.

A whimsical seascape theme prevailed beneath a white tent aglow with paper lanterns and clusters of colorful papier-mâché. A candy buffet displayed glass jars full of chocolates and sweets for guests to indulge. Crystal lent her impeccable attention to detail and creativity to the décor from the blue and brown invitations and place cards she designed to the hazelnut-flavored candy shells aligned on the reception table. Even the signature party spirit, Blue Hawaiian, added a clever taste to the delightful island experience. “The entire set up from the candy bar to the white tent and centerpieces looked amazing,” she says.

The bride honored each bridesmaid with a lovely keepsake, a personalized handmade book to hold cherished memories. “I wanted to give them something sentimental to express my friendship and love,” Crystal says. In a more practical gesture, Ben gifted each groomsman with a sterling silver money clip engraved with their initials. Guests dined al fresco while family members told heartfelt tales of the couple’s courtship. The bride’s father received the biggest laughter and applause in the room when he gave his side of their love story. “When it was time for me to dance with my father, he threw his shoes off to the side to “kick start” the dance party!” she recalls.

Crystal reminisces about the evening filled with extraordinary love and beauty, “Every moment—the music, the gentle breeze, and the tears streaming down Ben’s face—was surreal,” Crystal says. “I got everything that I had hoped for and more!” Fanciful sparklers lit a pathway for the newlyweds as they left hand in hand, the perfect send-off to a truly magical day.

Photos by Cassandra Dieterle Photography