Most of my work centers around couples who want an intimate celebration for their wedding or elopement. And it’s usually in the Alaskan wilderness, which I love. My heart will always belong to Alaska, and I’m honored to photograph elopements and intimate weddings in the Alaskan wilderness.
However, when my parents let me know they were having their 30th wedding anniversary in Hawaii and wanted me to photograph their vow renewal, I was thrilled! We had an amazing time exploring the island, and my parents were so excited to renew their vows.
Ron & Sherilee: From Colorado To Alaska
My parents aren’t originally from Alaska. In fact, they met in Colorado and immediately hit it off. Fast forward to 1996, when my parents decided to put down roots in Alaska to raise me and, eventually, my two younger brothers, Hunter and Rilee.
Even though they’ve been in Alaska for most of my life, my parents love Hawaii and will honestly probably retire there someday. My mom spent a fair amount of her childhood there, too, so it also felt like a little bit of a homecoming for her.
Being able to celebrate their vow renewal with them was incredibly special, and I’m so glad me and my brothers were able to attend. And we got in some family time, too!
Ron and Sherilee made sure we had time to be together as a family unit a few days before the ceremony. We went on family hikes around Hawaii, finding hidden waterfalls and tropical wonders. It was really special exploring the Big Island with them and my brothers.
A Private Hawaiian Vow Renewal
Ron and Sherilee decided they wanted to have their vow renewal at sunrise. We rented an Airbnb and had an officiant come out to be there for the renewal. The ceremony was touching, and it was such a peaceful moment in time.
Afterward, we did some exploring of the surrounding area and found a really cool lava bridge! We took several photos with the bridge, which turned out so great with the natural foliage wall right there too.
All in all, it was a sweet, intimate ceremony that was just perfect for my mom and dad. Ron and Sherilee wanted their Hawaiian vow renewal to be laid back and fun. Once they’d picked out their outfits and ordered some flowers, everyone just went with it.
Final Thoughts
I really admire my parents, and I think they’ve grown both so much as a couple and as individuals over the years. Seeing them celebrate this major milestone was incredibly special. And it reminded me how important it is to honor all the little things that make up the big moments.
Exploring the Big Island for my parent’s Hawaiian vow renewal was a lot of fun, and I’d love to go back someday. If you’re thinking about doing a Hawaiian elopement or intimate wedding, let me know! Or if you’re interested in an Alaskan elopement, I’d love to hear all about it.
