If you have your heart set on a Maui destination wedding, but you still want to get married in a church, I’m here to tell you that you can have both! I recently had the opportunity to photograph Rachelle and Kenneth’s wedding ceremony at the stunning Maria Lanakila Catholic Church in Lahaina. This is one of my favorite churches for weddings on Maui! The church was built in 1928, and it’s part of a National Historic Landmark District.

Because Hawai’i is a rabies-free island state, it is a long and expensive process to bring pets to Maui. So, imagine my surprise when this sweet couple told me that they were bringing a special guest to their elopement.

I know that I say this with pretty much every single wedding/elopement— But Morgan and Brent’s elopement has to be one of my absolute favorites from the past year! This sweet couple lives in Canada (and luckily, there is no issue with non-US citizens getting married in Hawai’i. Read this for more info on the legal requirements to marry in Hawai’i.) Morgan has a special connection to Maui with having visited frequently as a child, and the couple also wanted to get married in a place where it would be fun to return and visit every year. That is definitely an advantage to choosing Maui as your destination elopement location— it’s such a special place to return to and celebrate your anniversary.

The Fairmont Kea Lani is one of the luxurious resorts located on Maui’s South Shore overlooking the beautiful, blue Pacific Ocean. In addition to providing plush accommodations for visitors, this resort serves as a stunning venue for weddings. When Jessica and Ernest became engaged earlier this year, they decided on the Fairmont Kea Lani as their Maui wedding venue.