Four Seasons Resort Lanai Wedding | Alice & Johnny

An Intimate Four Seasons Resort Lanai Wedding at the 12th Hole

There is something incredibly special about returning to a place you once photographed and seeing it become the backdrop for a completely different love story.

A year and a half after my first wedding here, I found myself back at the beautiful 12th Hole at Four Seasons Resort Lanai, photographing Alice and Johnny’s intimate destination wedding overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

With the cliffs, endless blue water, Hawaiian sunshine, and warm island breeze surrounding them, it was one of those wedding days that felt both incredibly peaceful and deeply emotional.

But more than the beautiful setting, what stayed with me most was Alice and Johnny themselves.

Alice & Johnny’s Love Story

Alice and Johnny started dating on August 8, 2019.

Exactly seven years later, on August 8, 2026, they stood together in Lanai and became husband and wife on their anniversary.

Seven years together meant so much more than simply counting the years.

They have grown alongside each other, traveled the world together, worked out together, discovered amazing food together, and shared so many different seasons of life side by side.

Watching them throughout the weekend, you could feel how comfortable they were with one another. There was never a need for anything overly complicated. The little glances, the way they naturally reached for each other, and the way Johnny looked at Alice said everything.

It really felt like they were each other’s whole world.

During the ceremony, their vows moved nearly everyone to tears. Those are always some of my favorite moments to photograph—the expressions that happen when people forget about the cameras and simply allow themselves to feel everything.

An Intimate Destination Wedding in Lanai

One of my favorite things about intimate destination weddings is how personal the entire experience can feel.

Instead of seeing the wedding as just one ceremony and reception, everyone gets to spend a few days together—traveling, having dinner, exploring the island, relaxing, and celebrating.

For Alice and Johnny, their wedding weekend included time on the water before the wedding day and a beautiful outdoor celebration at Four Seasons Resort Lanai.

There is a different rhythm to weddings like this.

You have more time to actually talk with the people you invited. Your guests become part of the whole experience rather than simply arriving for a few hours on the wedding day.

And from a photography perspective, that gives us so many more meaningful moments to document.

Getting Married at the 12th Hole at Four Seasons Resort Lanai

The 12th Hole at Four Seasons Resort Lanai is one of the most unforgettable ceremony locations I have photographed in Hawaii.

The ceremony lawn sits above the ocean, surrounded by dramatic cliffs, palm trees, tropical greenery, and expansive views of the Pacific.

It is especially beautiful for couples who want their ceremony design to feel elegant but still connected to the landscape.

You really do not need to add too much here.

When the natural scenery is already this spectacular, thoughtful florals and a clean ceremony setup allow the location itself to become part of the design.

For photographers, one of the biggest advantages of a location like this is the variety of compositions we can create. We can photograph the ceremony more closely and emotionally, but we can also step back and create wider photographs that show just how incredible the surroundings are.

Those wide environmental portraits often become some of my favorite photographs from a destination wedding because years later, they immediately bring you back to the feeling of being there.

Planning Photography for a Four Seasons Lanai Wedding

If you are planning a wedding in Lanai, one thing I always recommend is building the photography timeline around the light rather than trying to take every portrait at the same time.

Hawaiian sunlight can be very strong earlier in the afternoon. During that part of the day, shaded areas around the resort can be wonderful for getting-ready photos, first looks, wedding-party portraits, and some family photos.

Closer to sunset, the light becomes much softer and allows us to photograph in more open locations.

That is when I usually love taking the couple somewhere with a larger view of the ocean or landscape.

Whenever possible, I like to divide couple portraits into two shorter sessions instead of one long portrait block.

For example:

A short portrait session before the ceremony Another 20–30 minutes around sunset

This gives the couple more variety while also keeping them from disappearing from their guests for too long.

It also means the gallery can include both the brighter tropical feeling of daytime Lanai and the softer, more romantic atmosphere around sunset.

Leave Time to Enjoy Your Wedding

One thing I especially love about intimate weddings is that the timeline does not have to feel rushed.

Beautiful photographs are important, of course, but I never want photography to become the reason a couple misses their own celebration.

For destination weddings, I always recommend leaving a little breathing room in the schedule.

Five extra minutes here and there can make a huge difference.

It gives us time to wait for guests to move out of the background, adjust to changing light, walk to another portrait location, or simply let a real moment unfold without immediately rushing into the next item on the timeline.

Some of my favorite photographs from Alice and Johnny’s wedding happened in those in-between moments.

Consider the Wind When Planning a Lanai Wedding

Lanai is beautiful partly because of the ocean breeze, but wind is something worth thinking about when planning an outdoor Hawaiian wedding.

For brides wearing a veil, a longer veil can look absolutely beautiful in photographs when the wind catches it—but it is also helpful to make sure it is secured well.

For hair, an updo or hairstyle that still looks beautiful with a little movement can sometimes be easier than something that needs to stay perfectly in place.

It is also worth discussing the ceremony direction and layout with your planner and photography team beforehand. The position of the sun, wind direction, guest seating, and wedding party placement can all affect both the guest experience and the photographs.

These small decisions may not seem important during the planning stage, but they can make a surprisingly big difference on the wedding day.

Make Time for Reception Details

Alice and Johnny’s reception took place surrounded by tropical greenery, warm evening light, beautiful florals, and the relaxed atmosphere that makes Lanai feel so special.

For couples investing in beautiful floral design, rentals, stationery, and reception styling, I always recommend leaving at least a short window for your photographer to photograph the finished space before guests enter.

Once everyone sits down, jackets appear on chairs, glasses move around the tables, candles are lit, and the celebration begins.

That atmosphere is beautiful too—but it is different.

Having even 15–20 minutes to photograph the untouched reception gives you a complete record of all the work that went into creating the day.

Why I Love Photographing Weddings in Lanai

Every Hawaiian island has a completely different personality.

What I love about Lanai is how quiet and intimate it feels.

There is a sense of being removed from everything else for a few days, which makes it especially beautiful for couples who want their wedding to feel less like a large production and more like a meaningful experience shared with the people closest to them.

Coming back to the Four Seasons Resort Lanai for the second time made me appreciate it even more.

The ocean was familiar. The landscape was familiar.

But the emotions, the people, and the story were completely different.

That is one of the things I love most about wedding photography.

Even when I return to the same location, no two weddings ever feel the same.

Congratulations, Alice & Johnny

Alice and Johnny, thank you for trusting us to travel to Lanai and document such an important weekend in your lives.

Seven years brought you to this day, and it was incredibly special to watch you begin the next chapter surrounded by so much love.

The way you look at each other says everything.

Congratulations again. 🤍

Wedding Vendor Team

Venue: Four Seasons Resort Lanai Coordinator: Emily Campbell Photography: Vivi Lin Photography Videography: Benji Feng Films Floral Design & Styling: DB Hemingway Hair & Makeup: Jessica Hi Wedding Dress: Ines Di Santo Rentals: Hemingway Fine Art Studio

Planning a Four Seasons Resort Lanai Wedding?

If you are planning an intimate wedding or destination wedding at Four Seasons Resort Lanai, I would love to help you create a photography timeline that takes advantage of the island’s beautiful scenery and changing light while still giving you plenty of time to actually enjoy your wedding.

As a destination wedding photographer who has photographed multiple celebrations at Four Seasons Lanai, I especially love creating imagery that feels romantic and editorial while still preserving the candid, emotional moments that make the weekend yours.

Looking for a Four Seasons Lanai wedding photographer or Hawaii destination wedding photographer? Get in touch to tell me about your plans.