Tucked away along Maui’s northwestern coast, Oneloa Beach — also known as “Ironwoods” due to the ironwood trees that grow along its shoreline — offers an extraordinary backdrop for couples seeking a raw, unfiltered connection with nature on their wedding day. Known for its dramatic cliffs, long stretch of white sand beach, and sweeping ocean views, this spot can feel like your own corner of the world — perfect for a soulful elopement or intimate wedding that embraces the spirit of the island.

It might be an unpopular opinion, but I’m just going to say it: One hour is not enough time to tell the story of your wedding day. Period.

I understand that one hour of wedding photography is in high demand for Maui destination weddings, and all of the other Maui photographers are offering it. And I understand why clients desire it— let’s face it, high quality photography is expensive, and many clients planning a destination elopement or intimate wedding want to save money. I get it. But photography services is not where you want to save money when it comes to your wedding day. The photos are the legacy of your wedding day. And if you want to tell the story of your special day, one hour is not enough time. Even for elopements!

Shelby and Tanner’s Maui elopement might go down as one of my top favorites of 2019! Not only are they an absolutely lovely couple (as pretty much all of my clients are), but they opted for some unique touches that made their elopement really fun to photograph.

The elopement started off with a first look on the stunning cliffs surrounding Oneloa (Ironwoods) Beach. There are many options when it comes to first looks, but this location was ideal due to the breathtaking scenery and how private this area was during this time of day.