If you were to ask me how many weddings I've done in the past, I probably couldn't tell you. I lost track. I married couples who had rushed to the alter after knowing of each other for just two weeks! Then, on the extreme opposite, I've met couples like John and Faye. Couples who did things pretty much backwards. John and Faye started dating in middle school, had two kids, bought a house, then got married. I'm not one to judge which way, rushing or waiting to go to the alter, is better than the other. All I know is... it is pretty much the norm nowadays to live together first, then to eventually get married. This is in fact, the norm even for Christian people, even though the church preaches 100% against it!

John and Faye came to me sometime in March of this year to book my wedding services. Their original plans called for them to get married in front of the beach at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. I protested their choice, and told them...FIND ANOTHER! The beach in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village was crowded, ugly, and at times...smelly. John, being a surfer, entertained the idea of getting married on a famous North Shore beach, but then reneged on that idea when he took into account the travel time. So, the Hilton Hawaiian Village it was.....for now.

I have no problem when my clients don't take my advice. They pay my bills, so wherever they want me, I'll go and do my best. I had one elderly couple who just wanted to get married in their apartment...no problem. Pay me, I'll do anything you want, even dance. So John and Faye arrived in Hawaii, check into their hotel at the Hilton Hawaiian, took a peek at the beach, and called me to tell me, "We can't have the wedding there. It's too crowded, it's not private, it's not nice!"

And they would love for me to help them choose another location. Ah, the wedding guy was right, again!

The following day, I met with John and Faye and showed them Magic Island, then Ko'olina. John immediately fell in love with Ko'olina, as with Faye, and they decide to get married there...My original recommendation.

John and Faye shook their head, smiling, knowing they should have listened to my advice and apologize for not doing so. I tell them, no hard feelings, and that I can't help it that I'm always right, even in politics.

The wedding ceremony went great. John and Faye included their children in the ceremony, and Clyde Aikau, legendary surfer and brother to Eddie Aikau (Eddie would go!), showed up to congratulate the couple on their wedding... and to sing! Clyde was John's surprise, setup by Faye. John is a huge surfing fan and Clyde is basically a surfing god...so this was huge, even for me!

The happy couple also ordered a wedding cake. Lets just say, John and Faye were not nice to each other, but Faye really wasn't nice...haha.

On a photography note: if there is water nearby, chances are, I'm probably going to make you stand in it for a shot. Getting great shots in water, makes pictures ten times better. It makes me look like a great photographer, although all I'm doing is making a couple standing in water. If I had my choice, I'd make couples stand in a bucket of water or spilled milk all the time...hahaha.

So what's the moral of the story of John and Faye's wedding story? Just one. Never doubt "The Wedding Guy!" That's me! I come with plethora of information at your disposal. Don't let it ever a good mind go to waste!

If you want to view their wedding video, check out the blog below, or follow this link


Steve Young
The Official Wedding Guy of Hawaii
http://www.dreamweddingshawaii.com