Allie and Chardei met through a dating app but knew there was something special between them the moment they finally met in person. After a Christmas proposal the two got to work planning an early March wedding before Allie would be away for her career in the Navy.
Though the brides had to plan their wedding in just a few months, they booked their dream wedding venue, Koolau Ballrooms in Kaneohe, HI. Say the brides, “The venue was under the beautiful Koolau mountains.” Allie and Chardei were really happy with their Officiant, Val, whom they say listened to everything they were looking for in a wedding ceremony.
Both brides were escorted down the aisle by their dads. Chardei’s bridal party walked first, followed by Chardei and her dad, Allie’s bridal party, then Allie and her dad. Says Allie, “I always knew I wanted to walk down the aisle second, it’s just how I imagined my wedding. Chardei was very easy going and let me have my way.” The brides also did a Lei ceremony to honor their parents for raising them and supporting them throughout their lives.
The brides walked down the aisle to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow & Oh What a Wonderful World” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. Says Allie, “I knew from the first moment I knew I was marrying Chardei that I wanted to walk down the aisle to that song.”
After dinner the brides had a first dance to “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer. Says Allie, “We picked this song a long time ago because Chardei always played it in the car when we were first together.”
The brides also had a money dance which is a tradition in Hawaii where wedding guests come and put money down the brides’ dresses, who have to take it out with our mouths. Says Chardei, “I was grossed out thinking about having money in my mouth but it was a lot of fun.”
Chardei’s Favorite Moment: Before the ceremony, after we got all done up, we wanted to see each other and get photos of it. So we went outside, away from the crowd, and got to see each other for the first time. She looked great. Her dress was beautiful, as were her hair and makeup, and she just looked gorgeous. It was nice to have that moment together before the craziness of the wedding and reception.
Allie’s Favorite Moment: Everything went so smooth planning the wedding until the day before the wedding. From the day before the wedding until we walked down the aisle was stressful. My favorite moment was our first look. They made me go around the corner so she could go out to the balcony. I walked up behind her and she already looked beautiful but that was nothing compared to when she turned around. She was stunning. That was the only part of our wedding that I cried at. It was finally a calm in the storm where we could just take a moment for us.
Asked if there’s anything they would change Chardei admits she wishes it hadn’t been so stressful having family come stay before and after the wedding. Says Allie, “I absolutely loved our wedding. Everything turned out so beautifully. The one thing I would change is I would have taken a honeymoon after the wedding. It was nice having family here but it ended up being more stress than fun after the wedding and we barely got any time together.
In the end, say the brides, “Our love really shined through on our wedding day and despite the stress, everything turned out so amazing.”
Chardei’s finishing touches.
Allie gets a little help from loved ones.
Then it’s time for the brides’ first look.
A look of love as the excitement mounts.
The brides and their wedding parties sported rainbow Converse.
And colorful bouquets completed the rainbow aesthetic. Say the brides, “We both knew we wanted a rainbow theme but we wanted to make sure it wasn’t like a kids birthday party.”
Cheered on by their girls, Allie and Chardei share a pre-ceremony kiss.
This view speaks for itself.
And the way the sun shines through could take anyone’s breath away.
Allie is escorted down the aisle first.
Chardei and her father follow close behind.
The brides join hands as the ceremony begins.
They include a traditional lei ceremony in the proceedings.
With a kiss they are officially wife & wife!
The brides takes the dance floor for the first time.
Then they take a turn with their fathers.
A late night kiss to end their wonderful evening.