![true bride emma and brandon dancing on black sand beach in hawaii - D3823 by Essense of Australia](https://cdn.truesociety.com/uploads/2024/07/B59C55BF-0DBF-47C6-9BE5-A6D83F51A2FB.jpeg)
Love, pearls and a Hawaiian sunrise. This destination wedding has us swooning. Emma met her soulmate Brandon at a birthday party, where it was love at first sight.
Our True Bride took the leap and proposed to Brandon during a firework show, setting the stage for their unforgettable wedding journey.
Their dream destination wedding took place on the enchanting black sand beach of Punalu’u, Hawaii, which added a touch of natural beauty and mystique to their special day.
Emma stunned in Essense of Australia Style D3823, a fit-and-flare crepe dress that she found at True Society by The White Dress in Beaverton. The gown’s intricate pearl details shimmered against the backdrop of the Hawaiian sunrise.
Surrounded by their loved ones, the couple tied the knot in a Hawaiian ceremony and sealed their vows by jumping in the ocean.
Dive into this beautiful beach wedding and explore all the magical details!
EMMA, TELL US ABOUT YOUR PARTNER. HOW DID YOU MEET?
Brandon is my soulmate, the one I waited and prepared a long time for. We met at a birthday party, where we had mutual friends. It was truly love at first sight. The ironic part is that neither of us believed in it then. We could not deny the pull between us!
A couple of years late, six months before our wedding date, I proposed to him during fireworks at a huge airshow. It was a special event for me throughout my childhood and I was proud to introduce him to it.
I managed to completely surprise him. A proposal was the last thing he was expecting! I chose a beautiful ring with rose gold accents and real meteorite pieces and had it engraved with the words “Love as old as stars.” We settled on a date shortly after and both of our minds instantly went to Hawaii for the location.
We planned our entire wedding together, so he had seen me in my wedding dress during the initial bridal appointment and the fittings. His reaction helped cement my decision to choose my wedding gown. He still talks about how I looked in my Essense of Australia Style D3823 wedding dress that day!
![true bride emma and brandon posing together on hawaiian beach - D3823 by Essense of Australia](https://cdn.truesociety.com/uploads/2024/07/D44836FB-0478-459F-9985-10E4336884AD.jpeg)
TELL US ABOUT YOUR DRESS SHOPPING EXPERIENCE AT TRUE SOCIETY. WHAT DID YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WORKING WITH OUR TRUE CREW?
After searching for hundreds of wedding dresses online and in stores, a Facebook ad came across my feed showcasing the gorgeous Essense of Australia D3823 with its sweet pearl touches. The fabric, the style and the pearl accents fit my Hawaiian beach wedding vision. I knew that was my wedding dress!
I called several stores looking for the dress and eventually found one in my size at True Society by The White Dress in Beaverton. My fitting with the True Crew was perfect! I was thrilled with the experience, as I had less than four months until the wedding. Just a few weeks later, my dress was ready for pickup. Everyone in the store was helpful and fun to work with.
DESCRIBE YOUR BRIDAL STYLE.
Originally, I wanted a silky slip dress with minimal accents and a tiny train, but it wasn’t the best shape for my body type. So, when my eyes caught Essense of Australia Style D3823 with all those pearls, my mind was made up. Pearls are my favorite detail! Classy pearl-accented dresses were quite difficult to find when I started looking for dresses online. I also loved the unique ruching across the back.
Everyone who saw me in my dress absolutely loved it. It was as if it was made for me and my body! I was sad I only got to wear it once. I’d wear it a thousand times over if I could!
Brandon and I jumped into the ocean at the end of our ceremony, and I was amazed at how well the dress withstood the water. It dried quickly and wasn’t too heavy being wet. All the pearls stayed in place and looked great!
![emma standing on hawaii beach wearing D3823 by Essense of Australia](https://cdn.truesociety.com/uploads/2024/07/Emma-D3823-1.jpg)
![true bride emma holding her bouquet or orchids - D3823 by Essense of Australia](https://cdn.truesociety.com/uploads/2024/07/IMG_1526.jpeg)
IN YOUR OWN WORDS, TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR WEDDING.
Hawaii is an incredibly special place for both of us, so we couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else. The beach is our happy place no matter where we go in the world. I’d been to the famous black sand beach on the big island before, and thought it was a magical place for a wedding. I just kept imagining my ivory pearl dress and Brandon’s linen clothes against the palm trees, blue ocean and the black sand littered with rose petals.
The Punalu’u beach is famous for its green sea turtles, and they popped up occasionally to check things out during the ceremony. We symbolically chose a sunrise ceremony for the beginning of our life together. The sun and the sky performed perfectly for us that morning.
All seven of my siblings were able to make it out to celebrate with us. My maternal grandparents also attended our wedding as our official witnesses. My grandmother was born in Hawaii, making our big day a full-circle moment!
An incredible officiant performed a traditional Hawaiian ceremony. He blew a conch shell to the four corners of the earth to open our ceremony and wove beautiful Hawaiian blessings and legendary stories into it. We exchanged leis and our rings were blessed with ocean water. The night before our wedding, we wrote our vows together on the edge of the Kīlauea volcano and read them to each other during the ceremony.
After we were pronounced husband and wife, we took off diving into the ocean to seal our love. It was an incredible and powerful experience.
Once we emerged and the photographer captured our solo pictures, our guests lined up on the edge and jumped in the water with us. A very special moment for everyone! That evening, we all gathered at an ocean-side restaurant for a special wedding meal. Our wedding was our version of a perfect day. It couldn’t have been better!
![true bride emma and brandon kneeling together in the ocean - D3823 by Essense of Australia](https://cdn.truesociety.com/uploads/2024/07/A293CFEB-6A7C-4718-9F50-85B188CBD1C5.jpeg)
Cheers to Emma and Brandon!
Venue: Punalu’u black sand beach, Hawaii
Photographer: Jamie Cadiente
Florist: Uhiuhi Flower House
Officiant: Kahu Tom
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