November 10, 2007
Since he was a teenager, Blake Eckelbarger knew he wanted to be married in a warm and exotic location (growing up in northern Indiana can have that effect.) Other details were fuzzy. Through a series of seemingly random events that began when he started dating Amanda Ostrom in the early fall of 2004, the location became obvious. Amanda's parents, sensing early on that the relationship was a serious one, mentioned Hawaii as an ideal spot for wedding... if and when the two married. Then, in October of 2006, after airline rescheduling tanked the couple's planned vacation to the Dominican Republic, Blake was faced with finding another location...fast. A flight to Hawaii fit the pair's busy schedules. It was warm and exotic. They didn't need passports and, much to Blake's surprise, it was affordable. Two months before Blake proposed on Christmas eve of 2006, he and Amanda quietly and independently explored the island as a potential cite for a possible wedding. All roads, as it turned out, led to Honolulu.
Reasoning most guests would have to travel anyway, Blake and Amanda decided to make their wedding a vacation for everyone. The only requirement was to show up for the late afternoon beach wedding at Ala Moana Bach Park. On November 10, 2007, under sunny skies, 25 relatives and close friends did just that.
The bride was resplendent in traditional white. The groom wore a linen suit...with flip flops. It was laid back and casual-like Blake and Amanda-which is not to say it didn't require planning.
In keeping with his mantra, "don't sweat the small stuff" Blake left most of the details to Wayne and Penny Johnson, wedding coordinators Amanda's mom found on the Internet. Even in this there was an element of kismet. The planners may have lived in Hawaii for 30 years but strong Midwestern roots probably helped them "get" Blake and Amanda's vision. They also arranged to get 25 people (considered a sizeable group for a beach wedding) to the "church" on time. And, oh yeah, Wayne, a professional photographer took wedding pictures, again in keeping with the couple's desire for casual, rather than formal, shots.
If the celebration had ended in that beautiful setting with their closest friends and family, it would've been a dream come true-almost. After two weeks in Hawaii, the couple returned to South Bend for a local reception. 150 guests were treated not only to the requisite slide show of pictures of the couple before they became a couple but they were also able to relive the pair's exotic wedding.
It was, as the two put it, "The best of both worlds."
Magic Island, Waikiki Beach Oahu, Hawaii
Hawaii Reception Location and Catering:
Westin Moana Surfrider
Indiana Reception Location and Catering:
The Landing South Bend, IN
Wedding Designer & Coordinator:
Wayne & Penny Johnson Hawaii Weddings
Hotel:
Banyan Veranda Waikiki, Hawaii
Photographer:
Wayne Johnson Hawaii Weddings
Wedding Gown:
David's Bridal
Bridesmaids Gowns:
David's Bridal
Flowers:
Penny Johnson Hawaii Weddings
Wedding Cake:
Adams Cake Shop Elkhart, IN
Band/DJ:
The Music Place DJ Entertainment Goshen, IN
Rehearsal Dinner:
The Shorebird Waikiki, Hawaii
Honeymoon:
Princeville/Hanalei Bay Kauai, Hawaii