How did you meet?

We technically met in high school, but we didn’t know each other too well then. A couple years before we got married we were re-introduced to each other at Christmas party for his job that I went to with a friend.

When did you become engaged, and how?

We got engaged on February 18, 2023. I always told him I wanted our engagement to be a private thing with just us, even if it was at home or in bed. My favorite engagement movie scenes were from the movies Stepmom and The Time Travelers Wife and how they were in bed and it was just the two of them. So that morning, he did that! He woke up early to grab the ring, and when I woke up we started talking about life, and he popped the question!

#WeddingGoals

I always knew I wanted my wedding to be at The Bennett Barn! For the most part I grew up in the neighborhood where the barn was and it’s something I’ve always wanted since I was a kid. We’ve had neighborhood Christmas and Fourth of July parties there and it’s truly the most beautiful property. When it came down to asking the owners, Rod and Patty Bennett, to have our wedding there, I stayed up late and poured my heart and soul into a letter. I knew and expected it to be beautiful because the barn alone is stunning, but with the added greenery and disco balls it completely blew my mind. Making the day  even more special, my mom is friends with the people who live in my childhood home, and I was able to get ready in the house I grew up in.

How did planning go?

Planning was great for the most part! We were really close to our coordinator and photographer leading up to the wedding, and had a couple gatherings at our house where we talked wedding over dinner and wine. We loved that so much!

One of the most challenging parts was dealing with late RSVPs, and people asking/assuming that people who were not identified on the invites were invited.

Biggest Challenge

I definitely think our guest list was the most challenging, particularly drawing boundaries with our parents on who we were going to invite and not.

How would you describe the ceremony?

It was so lush and green and the weather was perfect! No joke, it snowed the next day. You would’ve never guessed with the weather we had on our wedding day.

Special Moment

I didn’t do a bouquet toss; instead I did a speech for my mom and gave her my bouquet.

Did you have any special cultural features to your wedding or factors that celebrated the heritage of you or your family?

My dad, who was born and raised in Hawaii, wore a lei that was made by our florist and looked so beautiful.

Any funny or unexpected wedding moments that happened throughout the day?

While I was hiding inside of the barn before the ceremony started, I could hear our bridal party on the other side of the barn door. Right when the music started, I heard one of my bridesmaids go, “Oh no, oh my God!” And another saying, “It’s fine! Just go!” I had no idea what happened, and as it turned out, one of my bridesmaid’s dress ripped in the back—but she totally handled it like a champ, barely anyone noticed, and it became a funny thing to laugh about after.

Any Special Dances?

Anniversary Dance: “Keeper of the Stars” by Tracy Byrd — Since we got married on my mom and stepdad’s anniversary, we played their wedding song.

Special Songs:

First Dance:  “Cowboy in LA” by LANY

Father/Daughter Dance:  “Maunaleo” by Kealiʻi Reichel

Stepfather/Daughter dance:  “Star Wars (Epic Main Theme)”

What was the best part of your day?

We both think it was reading our vows to each other in private while doing a first touch.

Favorite Detail

Aaron LOVES The Lord of the Rings and wanted to incorporate it somewhere, so he picked out quotes he loved from the movies and we added them to our table signs. Also, part of our dress code was requesting guests to wear our wedding colors (brown, copper, champagne, black) to really have the green in our florals stand out and for cohesive photos. It turned out so great!

#VendorRaves

Sweet Lilacs, Wildflower Events, Brooke Battle Photography, and Wildhouse Weddings! Our florist and coordinator did such an incredible job of making my dream board come true. Our photographer and videographer worked so well together, and we had a blast with them!

Looking back, what do you think your guests will remember most about your wedding?

Definitely the disco balls! People talk about it all the time and how beautiful they looked with the greenery and the structure of the barn.

Advice from the bride:

Do what you want! This is your day, so don’t let anyone else’s opinions change your mind. I had people trying to talk me out of things like the disco balls and the dress code, but I don’t regret any of that.

What would you have done differently if you had the chance?

I would have spent more time with the DJ prior to the wedding to make sure there weren’t any issues with the music—there were a few hiccups.