Features
Hawai'i Bride Groom Magazine
Fall/Winter 2008
Julie & Billy
Olawalu Plantation
02.16.08
photographer: Tad Craig
Coordinator: A White Orchid Wedding
It was a warm summer evening in San Francisco. Julie headed out to a local bar called the Lion's Den with a couple of her girlfriends to have a few cocktails and unwind. She had grown tired of the dating scene and had no intention of meeting anyone that night, but when Billy approached her, she couldn't resist his charming sense of humor.
Billy bought Julie a drink and they talked for a while. He was captivated by her irresistible smile and even more impressed by her intellect. They each felt the butterflies and a tingle of interest that first night and before parting that evening, Julie gave Billy her phone number.
The following morning Billy sent a text-message to Julie. Past experience had told him to take things slowly and not come on too strong; he didn’t want to mess this one up. Julie also received an email from one of Billy’s friends, inviting her to Billy’s birthday party the following Tuesday.
Julie convinced one of her girlfriends to go with her to the party. That night, Julie knew Billy was someone special and Billy asked her out for a drink.
Going out for drinks didn’t seem like a major decision to Julie at the time and she had fully intended on keeping things casual. But Billy was already head-over-heals for her. Drinks turned into dinner and dinner turned into an amazing conversation that flowed with ease. That first date changed their lives.
When Billy dropped Julie off at home, Julie immediately called her girlfriend and gushed about how sweet, funny, smart and charming Billy was. She was hooked.
They continued dating for another three months, trying to keep things casual and not rush into a serious relationship. Their shared sense of humor and deep conversations created an intimate bond that they each began to cherish.
Soon they were exclusive, going hiking and taking weekend trips to San Diego. Julie recalled how seamlessly everything flowed and loved the way they always had fun together.
Eight months later, Julie moved into Billy’s one bedroom San Francisco apartment.
Billy had the proposal planned out to a T. Their first stop was a tiny Mexican restaurant – the same restaurant he had taken her on their first date. After dinner and margaritas, Billy took Julie to the Inn Above the Tides, a romantic bed and breakfast. He led her up the back stairway to a private suite. When he opened the front door, the suite was glowing with candlelight and sweet smell of flowers filled the air. Julie realized what was happening and her eyes welled with tears of joy.
Billy got down on one knee and asked Julie to be his wife. As the tears flowed down Julie’s face, Billy slid the princess-cut diamond ring with tapered baguettes onto Julie’s tiny shaking hands.
They spent that night in their romantic suite drinking champagne, cuddling and talking about their wedding day.
One of the main things the couple wanted to avoid was the stress that can come with planning a wedding. Their first step was enlisting the services of Barbara Gerraty, a wedding planner for White Orchid Weddings. The two woman met at the elementary school Julie taught at, being that Barbara’s two young children were students there. This connection made Julie and Billy very comfortable about turning over the job of planning their big day to Barbara.
The things they wanted most on their wedding day were a beach setting, since they both loved the beach, and a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Initially, the couple talked about taking their vows in Mexico, but they couldn’t resist the allure of the Hawaiian Islands. Julie was concerned that a Maui wedding would be too costly, as she knew they were on a tight budget. But Barbara’s experience with planning weddings on Maui and the fact that Billy had been there before and loved the island so much, made their decision to get married there much easier.
Once the destination was set, the rest of the planning was a piece-of-cake. Julie and Billy allowed Barbara to take the reigns, expressing their wants and needs, and after nine months of stress-free preparation, Billy, Julie and 65 of their closest friends and family were headed to Maui.
The excited couple arrived in Maui three days prior to their wedding day. The rest of their party arrived the following day and joined them for a welcome dinner in Lahaina. They hung out on the restaurant patio, dined on tasty Pacific cuisine and basked in the evening glow of the Pacific Ocean.
Julie and Billy arrived early at the Olowalu Plantation House on Maui’s west side to prepare for their big event. The charming Hawaiian style plantation house located on two acres of secluded beach front property provided the perfect backdrop for the couple’s island wedding.
Julie tucked herself away in the specially designed bride’s dressing room to prepare for the ceremony. She slipped on her Angel Sanchez silk organza and lace strapless gown and flip-flops and was ready to walk down the aisle. (You try and walk on grass in heels!)
A Maui musician played, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwa’ole as Julie floated down the aisle to Billy. She beamed in the Maui sunset glow as Billy stood mesmerized by her irresistible smile – the same smile he had fallen in love with two and a half years prior.
Once the “I Do’s” and rings were exchanged, everyone headed to the reception tent adorned with an extravagant array of orange tulips and green orchids, to enjoy a delicious array of sushi at the sushi bar. The newlywed couple and their guests then dined on a decadent sit-down menu of filet of beef tenderloin, sautéed macadamia crusted in mahi-mahi and broiled lobster tail. After dinner, the luscious white cake with whipping cream custard and Logsdon lilikoi created by a local cake company, was cut.
The party continued through the night as guests kicked off their shoes and danced to entertainment by a local Maui entertainer.
At the end of the evening, the new Mr. and Mrs. Bremer went back to their hotel room filled with unforgettable memories of their perfect day, the love they felt for one another and the love they received from their family and friends.