Elopement at wailea beach resort on maui, hawaii

Maui wedding photographer · Maui, Hawaii

Maui
Two venues. Two completely different days.

Location
South Shore, Maui
Venues
South Maui Gardens, Wailea
Best light
Sunset at sea level
Travel
Included in select packages

Maui wedding photography · Hawaii

Hidden greenhouse or open Pacific.

Maui wedding photographer Wade Snider travels to the island for destination weddings and elopements across the island’s South Shore. Two venues, two completely different experiences. South Maui Gardens in Kihei is a tropical greenhouse hidden behind a bustling flea market that feels like nothing else in Hawaii. Wailea Beach Resort sits above the Pacific with the kind of golden hour that only exists at sea level.

Whether you are planning a big destination celebration with a packed dance floor or an intimate elopement on the beach, Maui delivers backdrops that are hard to replicate anywhere else.

South Maui Gardens · The details

South Maui Gardens.

Wedding at south maui gardens in kihei, maui

Tropical nursery · Kihei

Maui

Kihei, South Maui

A six-acre tropical oasis with a working plant nursery and a greenhouse ceremony space in the middle of Kihei.

Location
Kihei, South Maui.
Style
Six-acre tropical oasis. Plant nursery, lush gardens, and a greenhouse ceremony space that looks like nothing else on the island.
Ceremony
Garden ceremony space nestled within a working plant nursery. Surrounded by tropical greenery on all sides with soft, filtered natural light all day.
Reception
Indoor and outdoor flow across the six-acre property. Room for a full band, a big guest list, and a dance floor that does not quit.
Best light
The nursery canopy diffuses light beautifully all day. No harsh midday sun. Portraits work at any hour here.
Favorite spot
Deep in the nursery. The greenery wraps around everything and the light goes soft in a way you cannot replicate anywhere else.

South Maui Gardens · My take

The hidden oasis of Kihei.

South Maui Gardens calls itself the hidden oasis of Kihei and that is exactly right. The six-acre property sits in the middle of town but feels completely removed from it. At its heart is a working plant nursery that doubles as one of the most photogenic wedding ceremony spaces a Maui wedding photographer could ask for. Tropical plants on every side, canopy light that flatters every skin tone, and a setting that looks genuinely wild even though you are five minutes from the beach.

Grayson and Francis brought hundreds of friends and family here for a week-long destination wedding celebration. The ceremony was short and exactly what it needed to be. What followed was one of the most packed dance floors I have stood next to. The kind of reception where nobody wants to be the first to leave and eventually nobody is. South Maui Gardens does that to people.

Wailea Beach Resort · Wailea, South Maui

Wailea Beach Resort.

Luxury beachfront resort. Open air, ocean views, and some of the best light in South Maui. Ceremonies happen on the oceanfront lawn and beach settings with the Pacific as the backdrop. Open sky, horizon views, no walls. Receptions run in ballrooms and open-air terrace spaces with direct beach access. It works for intimate elopements and large receptions alike.

Wailea Beach Resort is the other side of Maui weddings. Where South Maui Gardens is hidden and lush, Wailea is wide open. The Pacific stretches out in front of you, the ceremony lawn sits above the beach, and the light at sea level does something it never does in the mountains. It goes slow. Golden hour at Wailea lasts longer than anywhere I have photographed and the color it throws across the water is something you plan your whole timeline around as a Maui wedding photographer.

Best light: the last 45 minutes before sunset on the beach is the best light I have ever worked in. Favorite spot: the beach at sunset. Every single time.

Teagan and Mike kept it simple at Wailea Beach Resort. No big guest list, no elaborate timeline. Just the two of them, the right light, and enough time to actually be present on their wedding day. That is the elopement model done right and the photos from that afternoon are some of my favorites from any Maui wedding I have shot.

Maui wedding photographer · My take

How I shoot the island.

Maui weddings move at their own pace and that is a good thing. The light is different here than anywhere else I shoot. Softer in the morning, warmer in the afternoon, and at golden hour on the south shore it turns a color I have not seen anywhere else. My approach does not change on the island. Show up early, stay out of the way, and make photos that look like the day actually felt.

If you are planning a destination wedding or elopement in Maui, travel is included in select packages. Reach out with your date and venue and we will figure out the rest. I have shot at both ends of the island and I am always looking for a reason to go back.

Wedding ceremony at south maui gardens in kihei
Francis and grayson at their maui destination wedding
Teagan and mike elopement at wailea beach resort

Maui wedding planning tips

Things nobody tells you.

01

Pick the vibe first.

South Maui Gardens is lush and hidden. Wailea is open ocean. They are very different days.

02

Plan around the last 45 minutes.

Sunset at sea level on the south shore is the best light of the day.

03

Use the nursery for any hour.

The canopy light at South Maui Gardens works at midday too.

04

Go big or keep it small.

South Maui Gardens handles hundreds. Wailea works for an elopement or a large reception.

05

Ask about travel.

Travel is included in select packages. Send your date and venue.

06

Book early.

Destination dates fill up. Reach out as soon as you have yours.

Maui wedding FAQ

Questions couples actually ask.

What type of wedding is South Maui Gardens best for?

South Maui Gardens works best for couples who want something different. It is not a beach wedding and it is not a hotel ballroom. It is a six-acre tropical nursery in the middle of Kihei that feels like a hidden world. If you want lush greenery, soft diffused light, and a venue that surprises your guests, this is it.

How many guests can South Maui Gardens accommodate?

The six-acre property has space for large celebrations. Grayson and Francis brought hundreds of guests for a full week-long destination wedding here. It handles a big guest list without feeling crowded because the space is spread across the grounds.

What is the light like at South Maui Gardens?

The plant nursery canopy diffuses the light beautifully. There is no harsh midday sun cutting through the ceremony space. Portraits work at any hour here which gives us a lot of flexibility with your timeline.

Is Wailea Beach Resort good for elopements as well as large weddings?

Yes. Teagan and Mike had an intimate elopement here with no guest list and it was one of the best days I have photographed. The resort has enough space and setting to work for any size. The beach does not care how many guests you brought.

When is the best time of day to photograph at Wailea Beach Resort?

Build your timeline around the last 45 minutes before sunset. Golden hour at sea level on the south shore of Maui is unlike anything in the mountains. The light goes warm, the water catches it, and everything just works. Plan portraits for that window and the rest of the day takes care of itself.

What ceremony spaces does Wailea Beach Resort offer?

The resort has oceanfront lawn settings and direct beach access for ceremonies. You have the Pacific as your backdrop with open sky and horizon views in every direction. Reception spaces include indoor ballrooms and open-air terraces depending on your guest count and style.

Planning a Maui wedding or elopement?

Let's talk.

I have photographed Maui weddings at South Maui Gardens in Kihei and Wailea Beach Resort on the south shore. I know the light, the timing, and how to make the most of the island.

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