I remember whispering into Gretchen's father's ear after her wedding, laughing to him, "Why in the world did they ever want a sunrise wedding?"

Her father shrugged at me and said, "You know, I'm not a morning person, my wife isn't, and I know these two are not."

So why did they get married in the morning? I'm guessing, it's the pictures. They saw one of my other couples pictures, Ed and Allison's, saw how cool sunrise pictures could be at Lanikai, and well...had to so the same. And I know there are some of you brides out there that are not thinking about a sunrise wedding at Lanikai!

Now, I have to be honest with all you out there. I am not a morning person. I'm a night owl. I stay up late, work late, and when that sun peaks it's head out over the mountain, that's usually my cue to hit the hay. This works out well for me as most of my couples call in the morning anyway since Hawaii is anywhere from two to six hours behind the rest of the United States. If they don't call in the morning, well, they usually call when I wake up, which is right about the time they get off work. Hey, so what can I say, being a night owl works well for planning weddings. I'm in the nirvana of timezones right?

"We met my first semester at UHH in January, 2005 (he had been there since fall 2002). Our friend Tim lived in my dorm building, and since no one else was on campus (x-mas break), we hung out my first week in Hilo. He told me that he had a friend that i would really like- i think- because of my quirky personality.

I remember the night i met Doug, I thought "he's pretty good looking, but he's so tall!!" Doug couldn't remember my name for anything- so he called me "the girl who's name starts with G". He intrigued me with conversation, and i love to talk- but i was weary of a broken heart. I declared that i was definitely a commitment kind of girl and i certainly wanted to get married. I kept telling him all my idiosyncrasies, just see if he could really handle ME. I threw everything out there on the table and to my surprise, it did not scare him away- in fact i think it made him more interested. Although it took some convincing on his part, i did end up giving him a shot...

He knew he liked me, and he was always the "guy friend" to his girl-friends, so i was the one he was determined to not let be "just friends"

School started Monday, by Wednesday- he came knocking at my door, Bottle of Bacardi Coco in one hand and a shot glass in the other, "Is the girl who's name starts with G- here??" That day I switched into his Marine science class...

Then came Friday night (January 14) we ended up talking until 6 am. We proceeded to get back up at 9 am to go to Kona, to spend all Saturday at the beach. Doug tricked me into coming over to watch a movie that night- Tricked me i say because i thought his friends would be there- it was just me and him. We ended up hanging out the rest of the holiday weekend (except when i would go back to campus to change and shower).

We were pretty much inseparable from that point on... That was exactly 5 years ago... So it seemed to be fitting to get married on the day it all really started..."

-Gretchen

Doug, that was a pretty smooth move you pulled on Gretchen there. Coming over for a movie date, then convincing her to stay. Sly...yet...very very good. You have to admit women, that it does take men some type of trickery, even convincing to get you to consider us men as "potentials." If we don't, well, we can slip into that "friend-zone" pretty quick.

My last thoughts on this couple. Fun, good looking, perfect for each other. I swear, Doug and Gretchen look like they belong on TV. I could see Doug in a head and shoulders commercial. Gretchen, I can see leading an all girl punk band.... But lets be blunt here, these two are way too much fun to be hanging around Hollywood people (those guys fake being cool)

Good luck to you both, and I wish you my extreme very best. And Gretchen, as soon as I hear from our coffee farm's future endeavors, I will definitely call you. I will not forget about what I mentioned to you.



Steve Young
The Hawaii Wedding Report
http://www.dreamweddingshawaii.com