New APDW Maui bride here!

[nrstewart81]

Hey everyone!!

 

So we finally set the date and chose our venue!! Getting Maui-ed on 14 Apr 12 at Makena Cove.  I went with APDW, their amazing photography on the website had me hooked!!

 

We are getting married in the am and then having our wedding reception at the Old Lahaina Luau.  I have seen on here a couple of APDW brides had their photographers come back and shoot the Luau as well, just wondering if they could give me a ballpark cost.  We currently only have the "Precious Moments" pkg but I have been thinking about upgrading anyways.

 

Did other brides go with the florists and hairdressers through APDW or did you use outside vendors.  I keep hearing rave things about Dellables for flowers and Dan and Jessica for hair and make-up.  We are having a very small group attend our wedding (8 pers) and so the only flowers I am looking at getting is the Good Luck Lei's for the Bride and Groom and my bouquet.  If you went with their vendors how satisfied were you?

 

279 days to go

 

 

[schmizer]

Congratulations!  

 

We will be getting married on April 12th at the Royal Lahaina with our reception at the Feast at Lele:)

 

I booked Dan and Jessica based on reviews.  Our flowers will be through our coordinator.

 

Sorry I can't be more of a help at this time since I am still in the planning process myself...

[nrstewart81]

@ Schmizer Congrats to you as well!! 

[Deetskc]

I am getting married at the Olowalu Plantation House on July 30, 2012 and when I saw your question about florists I HAD to reply!  I originally was looking at Dellables but I found a treasure!  Ku O' Lani Floral Design has been AMAZING so far!  Darren is so knowledgeable and creative with our flowers and I love everything about our plans! He has been incredible about replying to my (many) emails back and forth and his prices are AWESOME!  Dellables and some of the other more advertised florists have much higher costs for the bridesmaids bouquets and centerpieces and I think the reason is because they had shops in Kihei = higher overhead.  I would definitely recommend Darren at Ku O' Lani to any Maui bride who needs someone who is creative, affordable, and a great communicator.

[BostonianBride]

I'm also using APDW   We are getting married July 29th 2012.  I got sucked into their reviews and fell in love.   We are actually have a pretty big wedding of about 40-50 ppl.  I'm not sure if your allowed to use outside vendors??  I actually just emailed my WC today to see.  The website mentions that they like to coordinate all the vendors themselves.  Then again I did read a review with someone who used her own vendors...so??? I noticed some of their prices were higher such as the Lei's were $160 for 2.  I'm pretty sure they use Della's for their florist. 

Has anyone heard anything about Makena Beach Gulf Resort?  We are thinking of having our ceremony and possible reception there.

 

[Deetskc]

We looked into Makena Golf and Beach Resort as well but were turned off by their astronomical site fees ($2600 just to use Makena Point for the ceremony).  And when my Aunt when by there she said it wasn't all that great.  The gazebo they picture wasn't even there anymore and in it's place was this white lattice archway on top of the old gazebo foundation.  Not sure if they plan on rebuilding it but I definitely wouldn't pay that much for the site.  Their beach front sites along the public beach were nice but again, not sure if you get a good value.

 

If we hadn't gone with Olowalu, I also considered Gannon's since the site fees and menu options were really affordable and I've heard they do a great job on the food and set up.  Also, the Five Palms Restaurant is a great open air restaurant with amazing ocean views.  We had a friend get married on the island earlier this year and they had their reception at Five Palms and said the food and service was wonderful.  Hope that helps!

[BostonianBride]

Humm...that doesn't sound good.  That's what I really loved about the Makena Point.  I'll have to check on that with my coordinator to see if they're rebuilding.  How about Olowalu...did you find that the prices for catering and setting up everything to be really pricy compared to doing it at a restaurant?  I also am looking into Gannon's but not sure about entertainment   They seem to have strict rules with that unless your out on the lawn area.

[nrstewart81]

Congrats to you BostonianBride

 

I have finally got all my wedding details sorted out.  Jayanne is our WC and she has been great!!  My FI and I are both military and will be on deployment to Afganistan till 6 weeks before the wedding so its great knowing that its all taken care of for me and all we have to do is show up!  Who are you using for your photographer?  We had wanted Gordan but since we are getting married on a Sat he req a 6hr min booking so we decided to go with Ian instead. 

 

I wish you luck with your site search.....I can't offer any advice though as I was drawn to the public beaches and once I say pictures of the Cove I was sold.

[BostonianBride]

Congrats Nrstewart81

 

That's crazy you guys are heading out to Afghanistan right before!  I'm sure you'll be counting down the days to head off to Maui.

 

So we also are using Jayanne and yes she is GREAT!  I'm actually staying in Utah this summer for my fiance's work so I have the summer off.  I've been doing crazy planning but it's still really nice to have someone who is familiar with the island.  I have noticed...I'm not sure if you've read all these forums but they do set the prices of the vendors up a little more instead of charging a 20% coordinator fee.  But I've been calling about prices and seeing what Jayanne can do.  I just started with her so I'm still waiting to hear back.  I'm also using Ian for my photographer!  He looks great and really has an eye for artistic shots.  I initially really wanted Gordan as well but he is away in July...luckily I really am glad we're going with Ian though.  I've heard he really has fun taking shots if you want to get a little crazy or do trash the dress .

We still are figuring out our venue but I did call the Makena resort and found out they are doing renovations and will be done by the end of the year.  I guess that spot that Deetskc mentioned...Makena Point used to have a gazebo for a movie they shot years ago and now they are tearing it down.

I think we may end up going to Gannon's for our ceremony but still deciding?

 

Good luck with your deployment...and I'd love to see pictures of your wedding!  Are you doing a reception?

 

 

[nrstewart81]

Our wedding is going to be small and simple....we are only having our parents attend plus we each have one friend standing up for us.  So the only vendors I have needed outside of photography is just hair and make - up and flowers.  I had wanted to go with Dan and Jessica for hair and make up but from what I have been able to find out they are quite pricey and from the reviews on APDW most people seem satisfied with the stylists that they have.  I would love to do a trash the dress....gotta convince the FI though lol

 

For our "reception" we are going to the Old Lahaina Luau.  Once we are back home we plan to have a pig roast bbq for friends and family.