Vows by the Sea | Lush Kauai Elopement
When Michelle first reached out from California, she shared her dream of eloping on Kauai — drawn to the island’s wild terrain, from green mountain jungles to serene ocean sunsets. She and her fiancé, Tuan, had visited before and felt a deep connection to the landscape.
Michelle and Tuan both came to the U.S. from Vietnam as kids, and they honored their roots in the most elegant way. For their intimate ceremony on Hanalei Bay, they wore traditional Vietnamese wedding attire — bold red and gold embroidered áo dài that stood out beautifully against the overcast green mountains and soft sands of the bay. The ceremony was led by the always warm and heartfelt Frieda Gayle, and the lush florals were provided by North Shore Buds and Bloom, adding a gentle Kauai flair to the vibrant traditional palette.
After exchanging vows by the sea, Michelle and Tuan changed into classic Western wedding attire and we made our way to Tunnels Beach. It was one of those sessions where everything aligned: the wind, the light, the laughter, and a couple so present in their love that the camera simply followed their rhythm.
