Hawaii Wedding Planner
Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kauai, Oahu, Kona, and All of Hawaii
Service area
Carolee Higashino
OWNER
AWARD WINNER (11X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
For over 30 years, A White Orchid Wedding known as WOW, has specialized in unique island weddings and receptions from simple to lavish. Island settings such as exquisite resorts, pristine white sand beaches, private estates and charming chapels await your arrival. Recognized for our attention to detail along with exquisite custom wedding and event designs, A White Orchid Wedding ensures the most memorable and spectacular events tailored to your desires. Over the years, WOW has curated the ‘best of the best’ and our professional team of Maui wedding planners will assist in your every need. WOW offers the finest venues on all of the Hawaiian Islands, including Oahu, Maui, Big Island, Lanai, and Kauai. We are dedicated to find the perfect venue to complement your Hawaii wedding, vow-renewal, birthday, special celebration or corporate event. A White Orchid Wedding offers both custom event curation and Hawaii wedding packages with all-inclusive services available.
Clients of WOW have full access to our in-house team of professionals comprised of the most talented, dedicated, creative and passionate event and design specialists in the industry. With the collaboration between your personal event coordinator and our design team, you will receive expert professional support and advice coupled with unmatched vision and creativity. Above all, we welcome you with open arms and the true essence of the aloha spirit in all that we do.
Asian-owned, Pacific Islander-owned and Woman-owned Business
Prices & packages
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Details
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Packages
Destination Wedding Planning
Planning
A la Carte Wedding Planning
Budgeting
Day-Of Coordination
Destination Wedding Planning
Full Service Wedding Planning
Honeymoon Planning
RSVP Tracking
Wedding Design
Wedding Website
Wedding Activities
Getting Engaged
Engagement Party
Honeymoon
Rehearsals & Parties
After Party
Bachelor Party
Bachelorette Party
Bridal Luncheon
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner
Welcome Party
Wedding
After Party
Ceremony
Cocktail Hour
Day After Brunch
Reception
Rehearsal
Rehearsal Dinner
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
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- Carolee HigashinoOwnerOwner of A White Orchid Wedding, Inc., Carolee had a vision with a passion to be an inspiration in the industry. With her launch of WOW, Paradise Weddings Hawaii, and Wailea Weddings, she is known as the most recognized planner and owner of her wedding firm in the State of Hawaii. She has been awarded for initiating the "Destination Wedding Industry" in Hawaii. Launching her business in 1990, she was one of the first women to establish wedding planning in Hawaii as this was a new visitor concept. Bringing in thousands of guests and assisting locals alike, WOW flourished into what it is today.
- Jacqueline IshikawaEvent CoordinatorJackie is our office “ray of sunshine,” never without a smile and filled with the true essence of aloha. A native of the islands and inspired by a love for travel, Jackie graduated from the International Air Academy then happily returned to the Valley Isle to pursue a career in the travel industry. With a desire to expand her own horizons she fell in love with love. Jacqueline saw a niche in the wedding industry and with her visitor background she opted to jump in! With her keen sense of business coupled with impeccable organizational skills, Jackie has since gone on to become one of the leading wedding planners in the state of Hawaii. Now celebrating more than fifteen years as a WOW premiere event planner she is also our WOW’s Sales Manager. You can count on Jackie to go the extra mile to ensure that each and every one of her events is flawless. A consummate professional, she makes planning a fun experience and strives to make her client’s feel ‘in the moment’ on this most remarkable day.
- Kendall OretaEvent CoordinatorFrom a tropical island in the middle of the sea, to the sparkling city of lights, this island girl has experienced everything from tiki torches to sophisticated big city glitz and glamor. A native Hawaiian, Kendall blends her warm aloha spirit and infectious smile with a professional background in the hospitality industry. Her creativity, attention to detail, and stylish design work have helped Kendall blossom into one of WOW’s most sought after award winning event coordinators in the State of Hawaii. You will know when you are in her hands that you will be treated with golden glove service and a genuine touch. Kendall’s work has been featured in many international and national publications and social media channels and she has appeared on many local television productions across the State of Hawaii. She is passionate about her art and her clientele while also a momma of two adorable toddlers. It is with great pride that we have Kendall aboard the WOW team and we are excited for you to meet her.
- Tiera HolmesEvent CoordinatorAllow us to introduce our WOW gal Tiera Jenson. Tiera is a native of Oahu and a graduate of the prestigious Punahou School and attended the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. From her early years she grew up dancing hula and Tahitian capturing the hearts of many! Now she is joining hearts with our ‘ohana as a premiere event specialist. Tiera exhibits a passion for the arts which is reflected into her sense of design. Her ability to balance and manage strategically enable her to be effective when orchestrating even the most elaborate of affairs. As a self proclaimed ‘foodie’ she has an extensive catering background which is extremely beneficial to event planning. Tiera’s warm demeanor and infectious laugh coupled with her exquisite attention to detail will certainly make your wedding and event planning a fun and smashing success! With a passion for adventure and knowledge she has traveled extensively in pursuit of cultural enlightenment, religion and spirituality and is especially fond of the Philippines and Indonesia. In her spare time you might find her on the basketball court or on her yoga mat. WOW is thrilled to offer you our lovely and talented event professional Tiera to create moments you will forever treasure.
- Laurie A'iEvent CoordinatorAn Oahu native, Laurie shares her true essence of aloha from the minute you connect. Her warm demeanor coupled with her confidence and expertise in the industry are a welcoming experience to our WOW clientele. In her younger years, Laurie's family chose to move to the ‘outer island’ of Maui where she has flourished in the travel, hospitality and tourism industry for the last decade. Her resume includes a remarkable career including employment at some of the finest resorts including The Four Seasons Maui and the Grand Wailea Resort and Spa. Laurie expanded her career to work with celebrity chef Bev Gannon learning the ‘ins and outs’ of catering with her Celebrations Catering Team. (A WOW favorite!) Furthering her career and her love for travel she also added Hawaiian Airlines to her list of accomplishments. Known for her impeccable attention to detail and what she self proclaims her ‘insane organizational skills’ clients know they can sit back, relax and enjoy their planning process knowing they are in the best of hands. Her passion for the creative process is also quite evident and her artistic eye shines in every celebration created by her and our team. We are so honored to share her expertise and talent with you as our WOW premiere planner. As a momma to two beautiful keiki Laurie opts for the surf and sand on her off days. The ocean is her natural home and if the surf is up, so is she!
- Naomi TakakuraAssistant Event Coordinator & Social Media ManagerBorn and raised on the island of Maui, Naomi discovered her passion for the wedding industry during her high school years as a member of our WOW Ohana. After graduating from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, Naomi returned to Maui where she collaborates closely with our coordinators and design team to curate unique and detailed events for our guests! Her ability to handle multiple responsibilities shines through as she works hand in hand with the team on site at events, behind the scenes, and online within our social media platforms. Her focus, passion, and attention to detail make her an invaluable asset to our team while crafting unforgettable memories for our clients.
- Ethel LevalOffice ManagerOur “local girl” was born and raised on the island of Maui. You will often hear her voice during the course of your wedding planning as she is the White Orchid Office Manager and Accountant. With a degree in Hotel Operations and Accounting, she is the business side of White Orchid. Her extensive background in the food and beverage industry enable her to provide invaluable expertise in the area of event management, finance, and the orchestration of weddings. Ethel is literally the ‘backbone’ of WOW, efficiently managing our accounts for more than 25 years to keep business running smoothly and assure our clientele that every need has been handled. Not only that…she is a proud grandma of two gorgeous littles!
Reviews
4.9
out of 5.0145 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
A White Orchid Wedding, particularly through coordinators like Kendall, Tiera, and Nani, received rave reviews from couples for their exceptional service and attention to detail. The coordinators were praised for their professionalism, high level of organization, and ability to bring couples' visions to life. They were commended for managing vendors, timelines, and overall planning efficiency, resulting in beautiful, stress-free weddings filled with unforgettable moments. The coordinators' dedication, personal touches, and impeccable execution were emphasized, making A White Orchid Wedding highly recommended for dream destination weddings in Hawaii.Review photos
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Kristen F
5.0
4/17/2024
WOW, indeed! We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Kendall at A White Orchid Wedding. From our very first conversation, we could tell that she truly cared about our upcoming event(s) and we felt confident that she would make our wedding day everything we’d ever dreamed of and more.
My husband and I also work in Special Events and we had specific ideas and very high expectations for our big day. Kendall not only listened attentively and remembered each detail to ensure they were executed flawlessly, but she also went above and beyond to provide invaluable suggestions and tips along the way. We worked with INCREDIBLE vendors at her suggestion and trusted her completely to make the best decision that would bring our vision to life.
Kendall’s professionalism and organization were apparent from the start, always one step ahead, anticipating our needs and making sure no detail was overlooked. We were beyond impressed with the way Kendall treated our wedding with the same care she would her own… creating absolute perfection for my husband and I. From coordinating with vendors to managing timelines and being by our side, she handled every aspect of the planning process with grace and professionalism. Kendall's calm and reassuring personality was a godsend throughout the entire planning process, keeping us grounded and stress-free, even during the most hectic moments, and her positive energy was infectious.
Our wedding was everything we ever dreamed of and more, in large part due to Kendall and A White Orchid Wedding. Our day was filled with love, laughter, beauty and unforgettable memories - and we have Kendall to thank for making it all possible. If you are in need of a Hawaii wedding coordinator that you can TRUST, we wholeheartedly recommend WOW for your special day! Mahalo nui loa, Kendall, for creating an experience that we’ll never forget, we couldn’t have done it without you!!
Meagan B
5.0
1/20/2024
We cannot thank Kendall and her team at A White Orchid Wedding, Inc. enough for making our dream Maui destination wedding a reality. They are THE best. We had an indoor/outdoor, 43-person wedding in December at Sugar Beach Events and are still beaming from such a magical day. From the very first call, Kendall’s warm, knowledgeable vibe eased my anxieties. I’m a perfectionist with extremely high expectations and was nervous trusting someone else with all the little details for such a hugely important event. Man am I glad I did. Having Kendall manage vendor communications, timelines, payment deadlines, contracts, etc. was a gamechanger. I knew Kendall was in my corner every step of the way, and I was confident she knew exactly what our vision was. We had Laurie and Naomi as day-of coordinators, and they too have incredible attention to detail and are gems to work with. In fact, not only were all the vendors that WOW recommended outstanding, but they were so kind and added to the day’s joy. All around, the levels of service and quality at our wedding were impeccable. We know the wedding only looked so stunning and went so smoothly because of the abundant planning and dedication from our friends at WOW.
Any questions?
Erika L
5.0
12/10/2023
Tiera made our wedding day a dream come true! We couldn’t have asked for a better wedding planner!
Tiera always went above and beyond for us.
She is very thoughtful and detail oriented. She listened very closely to our wants and needs and always had alternatives ready for us to make planning easy for us. She was able to elevate our vision of our wedding and made it even better than what we imagined.
Amongst her talent to bring our vision to life, she really made our wedding day stress free. She made sure that all of the small details were planned thoroughly so that our day went by smoothly and let us enjoy our wedding day! You could tell that she had exceptional relationships with all of our vendors with the way everyone worked well together.
We couldn’t have asked for a better wedding planner than Tiera. I loved the relationship that we built with her planning our wedding over the last year and a half. Anyone would be so incredibly lucky to have her plan their wedding day!
Patrick T
5.0
11/30/2023
My fiancée and I were looking into doing a wedding in Hawaii. We reached out to White Orchid wedding and Jacqueline was super helpful on the phone and over email. She answered all of our questions and sent over some really great proposals. Ultimately, due to constraints on our end and with our guests, we weren't able to have our wedding in Hawaii, but I would not hesitate to recommend White Orchid to anyone who is currently considering that as an option.
Jackie C
5.0
9/27/2023
We had the absolute privilege of working with Jacqueline to plan our wedding in Paradise Cove on Oahu. We live in Australia and we planned our wedding at very short notice. Jacqueline was OUTSTANDING at every point in the process. She met with us a number of times over Zoom to plan our approach and ensured we had many options to choose from. The resulting wedding was absolutely beyond belief. The whole day felt like a dream. We both got to be so relaxed (as did our families and friends!) because Jacqueline was across every single little detail. Every recommendation Jacqueline made about the flowers, the venue, the photographers, etc. was absolutely spot on. It could have been stressful booking venues and vendors we had never seen or met but Jacqueline's expertise meant that we never had any worries.
Our wedding day was unforgettable and amazing. We will cherish these memories forever and ever. We really have Jacqueline to thank for bringing it all together as she did. Her presence on the day was such a delight, too. We can't thank her enough! One of the absolute highlights of the day was that Jacqueline personally drove our huge flower arrangement back to our hotel, so we returned to our room filled with the memories of the day. She's just beyond amazing and the personal touches were incredible.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Stevie M
5.0
7/07/2023
From the very beginning Jacqueline and her team were excellent!!! She communicated clearly and helped us every step of the way! This was a big decision for us to have our destination wedding in Maui and she made it spectacular! She worked with our budget and our vision and it turned out like a dream come true!!! We highly recommend White Orchid Wedding!! Thank you!!!
Robert H
5.0
5/13/2023
We had the great pleasure of working with Tiera Holmes with A White Orchid Wedding for our Feb 2023 wedding at the Olowalu Plantation House on Maui. With living in Florida, we relied heavily on the expertise and recommendations from Tiera to make our dream wedding come true. When we first saw the venue and set-up the day before the wedding, my wife and I were both in tears at how much more beautiful the setting was in person. It's normal for there to be stress while planning a wedding from afar. However, Tiera handled the process so gracefully and assured us on all the details. She was just amazing!! All of our guests said that it was hands down the best wedding they've ever attended.
We highly recommend working with A White Orchid Wedding for planning your destination wedding in Maui. We couldn't have had the magical wedding without her knowledge and creative insight. Mahalo a nui, Tiera!
Bryan R
5.0
4/25/2023
Christine and I had the pleasure of working with Kendall Oreta from White Orchid Wedding, an amazing wedding planner who truly went above and beyond to make our wedding day unforgettable. From the very beginning, Kendall listened carefully to our ideas and preferences, and used her expertise to bring everything to life. She even provided suggestions for things that we had no idea would even be needed, but ended up making a huge difference on our wedding day.
Throughout the planning process, Kendall was always available to answer questions, offer suggestions, and provide guidance. She took care of every little detail, ensuring that everything ran smoothly and seamlessly on the day of the wedding. There were even a few last minute changes that came in, but Kendall and her team pulled it off without any additional stress on our end.
Her attention to detail and her caring, thoughtful approach made all the difference. She was a true partner in the planning process, and her hard work and dedication paid off in the most beautiful wedding Christine and I could have ever imagined.
We would highly recommend Kendall + the White Orchid Wedding team to anyone who wants a stress-free, unforgettable wedding experience. We are so sad that the planning process is over, and we will no longer be working with Kendall. She was so much more than what we could have wanted in a planner. Kendall did an amazing job bringing our vision to life, and looked out for us as a friend. She is simply the best!
Elizabeth W
5.0
11/29/2022
My mom, Carolee is the owner of White Orchid Wedding and my sister Kendall is one of the coordinators. I recently got married on Maui in October 2022 and now have a new level of respect for what they do and everything that goes into planning a wedding. I knew they were both amazing before but quickly found out what that really meant. Kendall is extremely efficient and helped me nail down all of the decisions that needed to be made in a quick and painless process. Carolee is the most creative person you will ever meet! She has a timeless style that is perfect for even the pickiest of brides (ie: me).
Growing up around weddings I felt like I knew a lot... but I quickly realized I would have probably missed about 50 things if I were to plan the event myself. Kendall and Carolee were extremely patient even when I changed my design board for the 5th time. I couldn't recommend them highly enough! I may be biased... but I think they are truly the best in the industry.
Hannah C
5.0
7/16/2022
Working with Nani with White Orchid wedding was such a dream!!! From the the first day that I reached out, she has been so kind, professional, fun, and all around AMAZING! Like so many other couples, COVID threw quite the wrench in our wedding plans and Nani was there by our side throughout the whole process of cancelling, postponing, rescheduling, etc. I never once felt stressed or uncomfortable in our wedding planning process! Nani made all of our wishes come true in the ways more beautiful than we could have imagined! Our day was perfect in every way and we are so grateful to WOW for taking care of all the details! I can’t recommend them enough!
Tephany P
5.0
6/05/2022
This review of specifically for Kendall Oreta. From our first interaction with Kendall she was extremely professional, attentive, kind and was amazing at providing us with updates with our planned venue. Although we ended up not choosing to go with White Orchid Weddings for our big day our experience with them was top notch. Of all the vendors and planners we reached out to during our wedding planning process Kendall was our absolute favorite! Thank you so much for treating us so well and for being so great at what you do!
Julianne K
5.0
3/08/2022
Working with Kendall Oreta and WOW was a total dream. We cannot recommend them enough. Planning a destination wedding while navigating the pandemic was no small feat, and there is no way we could have pulled it off with out Kendall's incredible expertise. Kendall's professionalism, top-notch organizational skills, and just generally wonderful personality made the entire wedding process a complete joy. With careful research and incredible thoughtfulness, Kendall dove head first into helping us incorporate Persian elements, including an elaborate sofreh aghd table, into our ceremony. Kendall also worked with us to find a planning style that worked for me and my husband's busy work schedules. She's a communication genius and kept us on task and on schedule (we definitely didn't make it easy!). Kendall was also fantastic at helping us determine what really mattered to us-- she was so receptive to concerns and uncertainties and really helped us create a wedding that was ultimately personal and meaningful (and super fun and beautiful!). It's abundantly clear that Kendall really cares about creating a personal, thoughtful experience and it really shines through in everything she does. Our wedding was everything we wanted and more, all thanks to Kendall and the team at WOW; Kendall is truly the best.
Alicia R
5.0
1/31/2022
We cannot thank White Orchid Wedding enough for helping us with our wedding day! We were so lucky to have Nani as our planner, and it is because of her that our dream day was better than we could have ever imagined. We had a week-full of wedding events including a Welcome Beach Party, Rehearsal & dinner, New Years Eve, and, of course, our big day! Nani brought our vision to life for each event and made sure that every detail was thought of and taken care of. She took the time to get to know us and really understood the vibe we wanted. We also enjoyed all of our planning calls with Nani and will miss talking with her all the time! I work as an executive assistant so I'm thinking about details and planning all day, everyday. So planning a destination wedding felt a bit overwhelming at first, but thanks to Nani, I never had to worry about any detail being missed. Thank you, Nani and WoW for giving us the gift of a stress-free wedding planning experience! Our wedding week was so much fun, and our family and friends had THE BEST time! We hope we can work with WoW again for a milestone anniversary party!
Anna B
5.0
6/28/2021
I couldn't recommend WOW enough! We wanted an intimate, beautiful, low stress wedding, and that's exactly what we got! It was especially nice with having to move our date out a year because of COVID - we didn't have to do anything. The day of ran seamlessly, thanks to Kendall :) She was wonderful!! I didn't stress at all. All of the vendors we chose through WOW were fantastic. It was the perfect day!
Erika J
5.0
6/27/2021
I’m finally siting down to write my thoughts on our wedding from May, and all I can think about is how absolutely perfect it was. Every single moment was exactly how I could have imagined, so intimate, romantic, and stress free! There aren’t words to be able to thank Kendall for all that she did to make our wedding day perfect, especially in such difficult times! I am so bad about procrastinating and was so concerned that I was gong to wait too long to make decisions, but Kendall was always there to tell me that my timing was okay and everything would be perfect! She wasn’t wrong! Her energy and ability to see my vision was truly unlike anything I could have imagined, there really wasn’t a better person for us. If you are planning a wedding in Hawaii, Kendall is the best. She is such a kind soul and calming energy, exactly the personality you want on such a special day.
Kate S
5.0
6/08/2021
I worked with wedding coordinator, Kendall Oreta, of A White Orchid Wedding in Maui, HI for my Maui destination wedding. She and A White Orchid Wedding were actually recommended to us initially as a top planner from a 5 star resort here. I interviewed several of their recommendations and Kendall was the only one that blew me away. Where to even begin… I was one of the lucky COVID brides who started planning my dream wedding in 2019 with Kendall, to be delayed twice, with a final wedding date of May 2021. I have several friends who were also COVID brides and I can tell you from firsthand knowledge, none were as lucky or were in the same hands that we were; not even close. And that is all because of Kendall. I have never worked with someone before who is so genuinely kind and positive, works as hard, is as dedicated to making your dreams come true, and who I respect more. Truly. Not once during the multiple reschedules, shifting venues and vendors, and the chaos of planning this wedding over a two year period did she ever become fazed or waiver in our planning process. And as a result I put a LOT of trust in her… I delegated pretty much every last detail to her because we moved to two different states during those two years and I had a lot on my plate and not for a second did I second guess that decision. She is an absolute professional and hands down one of the most patient and most attentive to detail people I have ever met. I always talk to people who lament over how stressful the wedding planning process is and honestly, I just could never relate to them. Not even in the smallest of ways. That is 100% because of Kendall. When we finally walked into our welcome reception and wedding ceremony space/reception space after two years of anticipation… I wept with tears of joy and gratitude. It was not just everything I had dreamed of, it was more. I could never have executed in the way she did or dreamt up even a fraction of the beauty she created. It was like looking into a high end luxury wedding magazine. Every single guest, including ourselves, is still talking about it being the best wedding they have ever been to, bar none. And it wasn’t just our wedding. It was an entire week of wedding events that Kendall put together for us flawlessly. We got to know Kendall very well during the planning process and I can’t imagine having worked with anyone else. And that’s just the kind of person Kendall is. She is empathetic when you need her to be, she is laser focused when you need her to be, she is literally EVERYTHING you need her to be in the planning process. If you are lucky enough to work with this woman and A White Orchid Wedding, absolutely jump at the opportunity and breathe a deep sigh of relief. You will not regret it!
Natalie K
5.0
6/05/2021
Kendall Oreta at WOW made my husband and mine's wedding a dream come true! Kendall was very knowledgeable about all that Maui has to offer for wedding venues, catering, photographers, videographers, etc and took us to many different sites that fit what we were looking for. She always provided us with top of line offerings that fit our style as a couple and what we wanted for our wedding. Kendall always went above and beyond for us, and it put us at ease knowing that we were in the hands of someone who truly cared. She brought all of our visions to life for our wedding and we could not be any happier with how everything turned out!
Laura B
5.0
2/02/2021
Kendall was amazing to work with for our small last minute elopement. Her communications were A plus. We were going to just use a public beach for our ceremony but so glad we changed our mind. The venue was breathtaking but also super intimate and having the space really made us feel relaxed as the waves crashed behind us.
Destinee R
5.0
8/30/2020
Unfortunately due to the Covid-19 Pandemic we had to cancel our Maui Wedding that was supposed to take place back in June of 2020, so this review is speaking on our wedding planning experience. We had a great time planning everything and the company was wonderful to work with, very professional and organized and was very understanding with everything that was going on.
Chelsea N
5.0
7/23/2020
They truly went above & beyond all my expectations! From the very start and all the planning, to the wedding day, my planner Kendall made me feel so comfortable and confident every step of the way. And everything turned out SO perfect! We planned everything all the way from Florida, so I couldn’t have done it without her! This is definitely the best planning service Maui has to offer! <3
Katie D
5.0
1/08/2020
Our (215+ person) Maui wedding was absolutely perfect, thanks to Kendall and the WOW team. First of all, Kendall is a real gem. She became a fast and genuine friend to my husband and me, right from the start. Not to mention, she really just "got us" and our vision. I'd give her abstract design + wedding ideas that she was able to turn into a reality even more beautiful than i could have imagined. Our wedding was unique to us, absolutely stunning design, and everything went off without a hitch. Also, she's curated all top wedding vendors on Maui and takes all the pain away in sifting through a million different portfolios and vendor options. All of the vendors I picked through Kendall went above and beyond. She did all of the planning, was sooooo patient with me, knowledgeable, creative, and very flexible. I could go on and on about how easy Kendall made everything and how talented she is. I wholeheartedly recommend Kendall, and WOW to design your dream wedding. Thank you, Kendall!
McKenzie K
5.0
1/08/2020
My husband and I were able to have the wedding of our dreams thanks to our dear friend Kendall. She truly brought our vision to life. Kendall’s professional experience was shown from the start of our planning to our big day. She was so organized and helped with finding our beautiful wedding ceremony venue. She made sure all the little details were perfect and helped make sure the day ran smoothly. She always made time to meet up with us to go over all the details and gave the best suggestions and answers to all of our questions. We had the wedding of our dreams and it truly was the most magical day! She made sure everything was perfect and it most definitely was! We can’t thank Kendall enough for making our wedding day dreams come true!
Tiffany Y
5.0
12/06/2019
I was able to have the wedding of my dreams thanks to Kendall Oreta. She was able to bring to life all the little details I had envisioned my wedding day to be. She was super patient with answering my million questions and would schedule phone meetings every few months to touch base and make sure we were on track with choosing all the vendors, colours and other little details. I also don't know what I would've done if she wasn't there on the day of the wedding to help everything go smoothly for us. I can not thank Kendall enough. I can honestly say having Kendall's help actually made the wedding planning process pretty stress free. I highly recommend White Orchid Wedding if you plan on getting married in Maui.
Larissa T
5.0
11/08/2019
I was a bride from NJ and my now husband and I decided to start off our marriage in Maui, Hawaii! We heard from WOW through family and landed our faith and trust in our wedding coordinator, Kendall Oreta. With about two years of planning our wedding, she has made our day better than what we could have ever imaged it to be. Better than Pinterest! HA! From the smallest details of the utensils to the largest details of our flowers. About 1-2 months prior to flying out to Hawaii, the anxiety of getting things done, packing, and the wedding (in general) skyrocketed for me because I wanted everything to be 'perfect'. I was comfortable enough to share my feelings with her, and she reassured me that everything was going to be 'okay,' and it was more than okay. On the day of the wedding, we were speechless in every aspect and we have Kendall to thank for that.. for spilling out our dream into a reality.
If there is any bride/groom wanting to have their wedding Maui, I highly recommend asking for Kendall Oreta from WOW; however, if you are not able to snatch her, the WOW team is as wonderful and great as she is... and I am confident in what I saw about them. They will bring the aloha to you.
Mahalo, Kendall and to the WOW team. If ever any of you plan to visit NYC (crazy NYC!!), let us know. Our arms are always open.
Evelyn R
5.0
10/25/2019
We worked with Tiera at White Orchid Wedding planning our destination wedding in Lahaina Maui. We are so pleased with how everything went and impressed with the experience Tiera was able to provide. We were nervous about planning a wedding over the phone and email from Alaska but quickly it turned to excitement as we knew we were in great hands. Tiera was on top of everything, had amazing recommendations, and kept in touch with us through the whole process. You can tell she’s passionate about what she does and strongly cares about providing you with a great experience for your special day. Tiera is a very kind, sweet, and personable individual that provided us with a beautiful wedding. Thanks Tiera!
Teresa G
5.0
10/18/2019
I would recommend a WOW wedding to anyone. Bernie & Steven were our wedding planners. Ours was a destination wedding & it was no muss no fuss. They made everything so easy & answered any questions we had through the process. We had a couple of small special requests & they were very accommodating. It was a beautiful dream wedding & having WOW coordinate for us was worth every single penny. Best day ever!!!!!
Thank you to Bernie & Steven & the entire WOW staff! 💙
Vicky C
5.0
8/25/2019
White Orchid Wedding was exactly what the acronym stands for "WOW"! I was planning our 25th anniversary for 18months and started working with Nalani St. Germain. I was nervous working with someone over the phone and email since the venue was at Old Lahaina in Maui and we live in Nevada. From the moment I talked to Nalani she gave me all the detail information and explain how things would move along. I would get updates with all the details and I had different options to select from in order to make our day our way. I was involved in all the planning from selecting flowers, cake, photographer, musician, etc. I sent pictures of the ideas I had and Nalani made it happen. All the detail of our 25th anniversary celebration exceeded my expectations. I also requested additional information for excursions, places to stay and things to do in Maui. Nalani provided me with great options. Thank you to Nalani assistant Jackie that was there for me on our special day. Jackie also gave me peace of mind the days leading to our anniversary day. There were 2 hurricanes back to back I was concern with the rain and fear of how close the hurricane would be. Jackie called me and put my mind at ease assuring me all was looking good for our day and if rain there was a back up plan. So grateful for the WOW team making me feel at ease and making our day extra special.
Karen C
5.0
7/30/2019
It was very nervous about planning a wedding in Maui, when I was all the way in Maryland. After many hours of research, I decided to contact WOW. I was connected with Nalani, and she immediately answered all my questions, and I became comfortable with the process.
Nalani was always available to take my calls or respond to my texts and emails in a reasonable time frame.
Our wedding day was magical! Perfect venue, and everything went off without a hitch. The car showed up on time, the photographer showed up on time and ready to capture our perfect day. The onsite planner, Jackie was very pleasant and competent. She was easy to talk with, and she genuinely cared about us and our guests.
Nalani helped me pick out the flowers, and we received lots of compliments on them. My bouquet lasted through our entire honeymoon, and was still very fresh when we reluctantly had to part with it on the way to the airport.
The musician was on point, and so was the officiant. WOW certainly has a list of competent partners to choose from. I am 1,000 percent happy with their services! I would hands down recommend WOW for your wedding or any special event. You will experience 5 star service all around, and more important, the staff genuinely care about your satisfaction.
Karen
Ellen M
5.0
3/15/2019
From the start to the finish - I had a wonderful experience working with Jacqueline Ishikawa at WOW. I started planning 10 months before and Jacky kept me on track and had wonderful advice for planning my destination wedding. It turned out perfectly - I loved ALL my vendors - the food was SUPERB (thanks for the recommendations!) and would do it all over again with Jacky and WOW if I could! It was such a beautiful day - ALL of my guests said my wedding was the BEST wedding they had ever been too!
Ashlee H
5.0
1/31/2019
Kendall at White Orchid Wedding is AMAZING and I cannot imagine planning our destination wedding without her! From the moment we first spoke on the phone I just knew that Kendall was the wedding planner for us. I can say that working with Kendall was one thing I did not have to stress over at all. She was an awesome planner and very responsive in emailing, texting and phone calls during the whole planning process. I highly recommend her to any future brides who are looking for an absolutely incredible wedding planner. Thank you so much!!
Julia P
5.0
1/03/2019
As a venue and caterer, we had the pleasure of working with Nani and Carolee for a New Years Eve wedding on the big island that was unforgettable! They were so clear, responsive and professional. Planning a wedding with them (from the vendor's side) was easy and the wedding was gorgeous.
We can't wait to work with them again and mahalo for being such awesome partners.
Sara S
5.0
12/16/2018
Absolutely a dream. Everything was easy and Im so glad I was able to enjoy my engagement and not have to worry about a thing.
Vendor response 12/17/2018
Mahalo for the kind words and congratulations. We are so happy to have been a part of you...
r special day. ALOHA!
Tatiana A
5.0
12/01/2018
I had an incredibly amazing experience with Kendall at WOW. She is so sweet and easy to work with. She listened to my ideas and planned a BEAUTIFUL wedding in a month! We wanted an intimate, simple yet elegant ceremony. Kendall surpassed our expectations while still helping us stay within our budget. She was on site for the day of the wedding, which was a huge relief. Everything turned out great! DEFINITELY recommend!
Kristy L
5.0
11/22/2018
We were so blessed & lucky that Kendall of White Orchid Weddings took the reigns for our gorgeous wedding in Upcountry, Maui! We are SO HAPPY with how everything went!
Kendall is a beautiful souled person who truly became more than a coordinator. We consider her a good friend. Her professionalism, calm, reassuring demeanor... set the tone for our whole wedding. The months leading up were much less stressful due to her encouragement, organization skill set & great, prompt communication. The days leading up to our August 2018 wedding were worrisome due to impending hurricanes... but Kendall kept calm, communicated with us & all vendors.. and made amazing last minute changes to assure we would still have the outdoor wedding of our dreams! Complete with sun & double rainbows! Now THAT'S talent ;) We have said time & time again how we couldn't imagine our wedding day without Kendall! As the bride, I was able to relax & enjoy the momenr of being a bride... knowing Kendall & her team were taking care of everything. I loved my choices in vendors & was so glad that Kendall had worked with 90% of them before. It made the whole experience feel like we were being taken care of by one big family who truly cared about your wedding day experience. So sooooo happy! We highly recommend Kendall of WOW! She will wow you!
Hailey M
5.0
10/29/2018
We had the absolute best experience with WOW! Everything from start to finish was smooth and enjoyable. We loved planning our wedding! Our wedding day was better than anything we could ever dream of. Nani was incredible to work with. Enthusiastically recommend!
Julie K
5.0
10/23/2018
White Orchid Wedding made it easy for me to plan an intimate and beautiful ceremony. There are no words to accurately describe what an amazing event planner Kendall is. From my initial email inquiry, Kendall has been organized and professional throughout the entire process. She immediately understood my vision and seamlessly coordinated the day with expertise. When I asked for leis for my guests to wear, even on short notice Kendall delivered with gorgeous adornments that made the day even that more special. When the roads flooded the day before my wedding, I was stranded on the other side of the island with no way to get my dress from the cleaners. I called Kendall with my dilemma and without a moment of hesitation she offered to pick up my dress!! She truly goes above and beyond and her customer service far surpasses any other! My family and I are forever thankful to Kendall and White Orchid Wedding.
KATIA H
5.0
10/12/2018
Kendall and her team were the best! We had them for "day of coordination" services and they went above and beyond. My husband and I even forgot some key details and their amazing team was able to pull everything off. Best night ever! Thank you so so much :D
Megan D
5.0
10/07/2018
Kendall had a perfect understanding of what we wanted even through mostly email communication and me not being very descriptive. She was amazing and allowed us and our families to enjoy the day with no worries. We had some odd requests like zip lining between the ceremony and reception and she went above and beyond to make it work. I would absolutely recommend to anyone who wants their wedding to be beautiful and stress free!
Seng S
5.0
9/09/2018
If anyone is looking for a destination wedding, we highly recommend WOW. We had our wedding at the Old Lahaina Luau on Maui. The ceremony was beautiful, right in front of the ocean. It was worth of adding in the petal of flowers to the aisle. The wedding cake was perfect and gorgeous. Our Officiant Tino Rosete was very easy going and funny. We are glad to have Stew Pinsky (Hula girl photographer) as our photographer; all the pictures turn out beautiful. And our Hawaiin musician was excellent. We are very appreciative to Bernie and Steven for making our special day go smoothly and no stress. We thank you Bernie and Steven for all your help. It was everything we could ask for. Mahalo, Seng and Nicolas
Kelly C
5.0
8/14/2018
Jackie was amazing! We could not have done it without her. Jackie has a natural talent of making me feel at ease, she answered all our questions and communicated clearly with us. She knows people, knows her vendors and the venues, and brings it all together. It was without a doubt, something we could not, or would not wanted to do without her. Because of Jackie, we were able to focus on the two of us and our special day, with no worries. I feel she's like family! Thank you, Jackie!
Laura B
5.0
8/06/2018
Could not be happier! My siblings and I planned a surprise vow renewal ceremony for our parents and had our previous provider cancel last minute... I was so impressed (and thankful) of how quickly Kendall and the team made something magical happen. She was great to deal with, friendly and very reasonable in terms of pricing and flexibility. My parents were so touched by the ceremony and it was so special to them, which they said will have a lasting effect in their lives. Thank you so much Kendall & team! xx
Amy M
5.0
8/02/2018
Nani was amazing to work with and managed to pull together a dream wedding for us! She had a great understanding of the vibe we wanted even when I struggled to articulate some of my ideas. I wish we could do it all over again tomorrow! Thanks again!!! Amy & Cody
Pua P
5.0
7/24/2018
We loved working with Kendall and WOW! Kendall was amazing. My husband and I decided to go with Day-of coordination so I did a lot of the planning and we meet with Kendall every so often to update her on any vendors we had booked, changes we made and to get suggestions. She always made time to meet with us and sometimes with short notice. I felt confident that we could leave our special day and all the little details in her hands and not need to worry about anything. She also met with our DJ to go over details with him to make sure everything ran smoothly, which they did. The day-of Kendall put their best coordinators on it and we were so happy with everything. Kendall and the team at White Orchid Wedding were so genuine, so professional and we could not have gotten through our wedding day without them!
Cindy L
5.0
6/21/2018
We were blown away by Bernie and Steven’s excellent service. Right from the beginning, they were responsive and helpful, unlike many other wedding vendors I reached out to. We did everything by distance via phone and email, and they made it so easy! Throughout the process they kept us engaged and offered to help us with anything and everything we needed. They were detail-oriented and did not miss anything from our wedding requests/designs. They did all the coordination with the venues and it was super helpful. We would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone who wants a stress-free approach to a Hawaii wedding!
knottie2f3432192be4a78f
5.0
5/30/2018
Kendall at A White Orchid Wedding was so helpful from answering questions to making suggestions! She was polite, prompt and professional!! (not to mention she has a great personality, I love talking with her on the phone) She did a great job of balancing what we were looking for with our budget. Everything was perfect from the wedding officiant, to the location, the food, the photographer and the cake!!! I can't thank White Orchid Wedding and Kendall enough for making our wedding so special and a day I will never forget!
Julia T
5.0
5/07/2018
Kendall was an amazing planner! She was so easy to work with and very organized! We were on the same page throughout the entire process in terms of negotiating with vendors and creating a beautiful wedding! I really don't know what I would have done without Kendall and her team.
C K
5.0
5/03/2018
Kendall and WOW were both amazing to work with. Kendall was an absolute pleasure making every step of the way as easy as could be! I had never met Kendall in person and only worked with her through phone calls and emails, but she was more than wonderful and after working with her I wouldn't have had anyone else help plan our dream wedding. Kendall is very kind, helpful, and most of all very patient taking every single little thing, change, and/or detail into consideration. I would highly recommend Kendall and WOW to any bride/groom.
knottie44957e7892eee946
5.0
5/03/2018
Kendall at White Orchid Wedding was fantastic and helped make our wedding day on Maui perfect! We planned the majority of the wedding via email, due to a 4 hour time difference- Kendall was very responsive and made the process painless! She respected the fact we wanted a very small and intimate ceremony at the White Orchid Beach House and never pressured us to add more services, etc! Her suggestions for vendors were great and we were very pleased with the musician, the videographer, the florist, the photographer and the officiant! The original stylist scheduled for hair and make up had to cancel, but Kendall found a great replacement and kept me in the loop! The White Orchid Beach House was the perfect location for us and I highly recommend using Kendall at White Orchid Weddings!
Nikki Y
5.0
5/03/2018
I would highly recommend A White Orchid Wedding to any engaged couple. Kendall was amazing to work with; she was easy to get in contact for any of the questions or concerns I had (and I had a lot!) , she listened well to and respected the ideas/visions/budget I had, and she was laid back and reassuring, which calmed my nerves that everything would run as we had planned. Overall, Kendall is a fantastic coordinator to work with and made the planning and execution of my dream wedding come to life without a hitch. On the day of, everything ran so incredibly smoothly (hair and make up, photography, videography, and transportation all arrived on schedule) and looked better than I had envisioned, that even now, I have a difficult time verbalizing how perfect (and when I say “perfect”, I really do mean it. I honestly believe that there is nothing I would’ve have done differently) of a day our wedding was. And I cannot forget to mention WOW’s staff that helped to make my dream wedding happen. Steven, Jackie, and the rest of the event staff set up/cleaned up, bussed tables and refilled drinks, made sure my husband and I were fed, and did such a wonderful job so that our friends and family could enjoy our day without needing to worry about a thing. I cannot thank Kendall and WOW enough for making our day one we will never forget.
Dian Z
5.0
3/25/2018
My dream came true thanks to my wonderful planners at WOW... My then Fiancee and I didn't think of a wedding until very late, like, less than 3 months before our actual wedding day. But with the help of Bernie and Steven from WOW, things came together so nicely that we sometimes didn't realize we were in the middle of it. We ended up having a small group flying in and some don't even speak English, but my planners and the crew at the White Orchid Beach House did everything they could to accommodate our guests.
It is an unforgettable moment of our lives--thank you, WOW, for making it happen!
Ana N
5.0
2/25/2018
Bernie and Steven did a fantastic job guiding us through an emotional and intricate process. No detail was overlooked and they made our decision-making process easy, by providing us with a wide range of excellent options for everything we needed. Bernie and Steven are very well organized; knowing we were in good hands made it a lot easier to relax with family and friends before the big day. And the wedding itself was fantastic; they went above and beyond on several special requests. Would use again (but hopefully won't have to). Chris & Ana
Mike S
5.0
2/17/2018
We absolutely recommend White Orchid Wedding. The beach house location was beautiful and perfect for our small party. Bernie and Steven are wonderful organizers! Our photographer and musician were great. Thank you so much!
Nina E
4.0
1/18/2018
Bernie and Steven from WOW are nothing short of AMAZING!
I thought planning a wedding from afar would be really difficult. I'm a bit type A and do a lot of even planning myself (see: control freak).But Bernie and Steven made it feel like a breeze! They were respectful of my budget and always worked with me to come up with innovative ways to utilize my budget. When I needed reassuring, they were there and made me feel confident in the decisions I was making. When I finally got to meet them in person, they were exactly like I imagined - warm and funny as heck :)
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for everything you did to make our day beyond special!
Nina & Andrew
Ryan H
5.0
1/17/2018
Kendall and WOW weddings were a pleasure to work with. They had relationships with top vendors to put together the perfect calibration for our perfect day. Coming from Kansas to get married in Maui, we needed local help to find the perfect vendors, venue and food. We found all that and more with WOW. They were easy to work with and made our process seamless for an out of town event with more than 60 guests. We would highly recommend Kendall and WOW for weddings or any special events in Hawaii. They sure gave us piece of mind in relaxing while they made our day perfect.
Althea F
5.0
1/13/2018
I contacted WOW over a year ago and started planning my destination wedding at Paradise Cove. I was not sure what to expect but remained optimistic since Nalani, Nani, was amazing! Nani was able to book all of our appointments and the wedding rehearsal the few days we had before the big day. Our wedding day was stress-free and more beautiful than we ever expected. I would forever recommend WOW and Nani. I would say the best wedding I've been to ;) but really it was! :)
Stacy N
5.0
12/26/2017
From day 1, I knew I picked the right planners for our wedding. Bernie and Steven have been my backbone throughout this whole process. They made everything a breeze and left me stress free on my wedding day. We’ve had a lot of up and downs during those two years of planning but they’ve always been so sweet and understanding and have always worked with what I’ve thrown at them. We loved taking to them, they made us feel like family. Our wedding was more than I could’ve ever imagined. They were able to make my Pinterest inspired wedding come true but better! I’m usually very hands on but since this was a destination wedding in Maui, I left everything under their judgement and was not disappointed. Now I want them to plan every party for me! Love you guys!!
Joel T
5.0
11/20/2017
Absolutely could not have asked for anything better for our special day. Nalani was hands down and absolutely terrific wedding planner and provided everything we had asked for and then some. Always responsive, always provided great feedback, knowledge, and insight to us as we had never traveled to Hawaii before and she always steered us in the right direction. She went above and beyond for us to meet all our requests to make sure everything was just how we dreamed to the finest details. Could not have asked for anything better! If you would like a terrific, stress free, and beautiful wedding, be sure to hook up wh WOW and their team and you will surely not be disappointed!
Laura K
5.0
11/06/2017
I’ve known for years that I wanted to elope. Specifically, that I wanted to elope in Hawaii. Lucky for me, my now husband was on board.
We’d never been to Hawaii before and neither of us were keen on contacting ministers and florists from so far away. I read a few wedding blogs about getting married in Hawaii and White Orchid Weddings popped up a few times as the wedding planners to call. So we did. And it was one of the best decisions we ever made.
Patty Flax from White Orchid Weddings made wedding planning easy and fun. Friends and family could not believe how little stress we had about the wedding and it was all because of White Orchid Weddings. Patty took care of everything. All we needed to do was show up on time and say “I do”. Well that and go to Honolulu to get our marriage license.
We were so relaxed on our wedding day. Hair and makeup from Face Art Beauty arrived at our hotel (Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu) a few hours before the wedding. Just before sunset, we met Susan, our onsite wedding coordinator from White Orchid Weddings, photographer Dave Miyomoto, officiant Christopher Cain and videographer Matt from Skyhill Media at Kawela Bay for the ceremony.
We are so pleased with how everything turned out. Our wedding day was perfect and exactly how we pictured it would be. My wedding bouquet looked exactly like the picture I’d sent Patty a few weeks earlier. And the location she suggested was perfect. We seriously could not have asked for a better spot to get married. Nor could we have asked for a better onsite wedding coordinator, hair and makeup stylist, officiant, photographer or videographer. Seriously, they were all so lovely and we loved sharing our day with them. Dave’s photos were stunning and the video Matt put together still makes us cry. Thank you White Orchid Weddings!
If you are planning a wedding in Hawaii, do not hesitate to contact White Orchid Weddings. You won’t regret it!
Ada S
5.0
10/21/2017
We could not have asked for a more perfect wedding and we owe it all to Kendall at White Orchid Wedding. Throughout the whole process, from our first call to brainstorm what we wanted our wedding to be all the way to the day of the wedding 10 months later, Kendall was sincere, trusting and perceptive. She really was a pleasure to work with! WOW also made vendor selection and payment super easy even when we were miles away. On the day of the wedding, we didn't have to worry about a single thing and we were able to enjoy every single moment with the guests. And the White Orchid Beach House was just amazing -- the sunset was unbelievable. We are so happy we chose WOW and wouldn't have it any other way. Thank you Kendall!!
Katherine P
5.0
10/09/2017
WOW indeed! We just wanted to say a massive thanks to Kendall and the team at White Orchid Weddings for ensuring our special day was absolute perfection! XXX
As an Executive Assistant I am used to being super organised and having full control of everything in my own life as well as other people’s lives – however living in Australia and having a destination wedding meant that this was not always possible and I couldn’t have wished for a better person than Kendall to have my back with all the finer details.
We visited the island a year before the wedding to view various venues and meet with different wedding planners. Out of the four that we met with, Kendall was the only one to not only come out to our hotel to meet with us but also bring cake samples on the day and try to arrange a catering sample in the time we were there. We could see from the get go that she was on the ball and super enthusiastic as she proceeded to be ‘interviewed’ by us as to bad weather back up plans and her previous experience etc. There was really no competition in our minds and we felt full confidence in her from day 1.
The actual wedding day itself was total perfection and everything I’d dreamed it would be and the WOW team worked perfectly alongside Kahu Kamuela, Dellables Florals, Sugar Beach Catering, Aloha Maui Bars, Kaena Elaban, the ladies from Meili Autumn Beauty and Tad Craig Photography to ensure a seamless service from start to end. I didn’t have a thing to worry about or even think about on the day other than relaxing and enjoying it all. The White Orchid Beach House is an absolutely stunning location and we fell in love with it as soon as we saw it, even though it was a rainy and cloudy day when we visited – it certainly did not make it any less idyllic.
In my research before the wedding, I’d read that a lot of couples don’t get to enjoy much food on the actual wedding day as they are so busy. We were having photos taken during ‘cocktail hour’ when the passed appetisers went around. We are both massive foodies and had deliberated for a long time over which appetisers to select so were totally thrilled that the team had saved two of each appetiser for us and presented them to us on a platter once we were all seated and I’m so glad they did, they were amazing!!
After the wedding we were more than a little surprised to discover that Kendall herself had actually had some massive personal milestones of her own during the whole wedding planning period with her marriage to her own Prince Charming as well as giving birth just 3 weeks before our wedding. I was totally gobsmacked when she shared this news with us as not once did she ever drop the ball or fail to return an email or answer a question – I felt like she was with us at every single step of the way regardless of what clearly must have been a super busy time in her personal life.
Kendall, we cannot thank you enough for being our wedding planner and making our dreams come true – you are such a lovely, kind, beautiful soul and it was a pure pleasure to work with you and your team. We miss Maui so much already and will definitely be back to the island as soon as we can.
Mahalo and Aloha xxx
Dr & Mrs Per
Maurice L
5.0
10/07/2017
The wife and I decided to have our destination wedding in Maui because it's where we got engaged! We're so glad we got to work with WOW specifically with Bernie and Steven. As our wedding coordinators, they were able to make our wedding day very special and to what we envisioned. Bernie and Steven were very friendly, knowledgable, and super helpful! We're so glad we made the right decision to partner with WOW. Thank you and we love you guys!