It was Decemeber 16th, 2011.
On the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii
in the Hau'ula Mauka Chapel
at 3.40pm,
Samala Kesi Million Afalava and Shonteri Jade Johanson
said; I DO.
said; I DO.
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Let me just start by informing everyone on the previous months leading up to that big day.
I can't remember the exact date of when we got engaged but I know it was 3 months before our wedding day.
ORGANIZING WEDDING'S ARE SO HECTICALLY CRAZY!!!!!!
There is just so many things in organizing a wedding that can really tear you apart.
PATIENCE! Oh my goodness, did we both need that or what?
I've always watched wedding programs and thought that some brides can just be so overboard but it's so real. The stress and everything that you feel, it really wears you out.
In the end though, it is all worth it.... And right after, THE GREATEST RELIEF!!!
It's just you and the hubby.. Honeymoooooooooon!
I didn't really know what dress I wanted, I searched and searched for ideas but I just couldn't find the "right one". So my mother-in-law and grandma-in-law took me shopping to David's Bridal. One of my good friends Erica Barron came with me too. It was such an overwhelming feeling walking in there. It was the day that pretty much every girl dreams of - finding herself a wedding gown. I went to the sale rack cause I'm not rich lol.. The very first one I looked at I thought it was really nice and elegant but I didn't think it'd suit my body figure. I looked around for more and only found one other one I liked (and in my budget). So I tried them.. the very first dress I tried was 'Perfect'. It said size 10 and I was like ''ummm....... that's not gonna fit!", but it did...
It's just you and the hubby.. Honeymoooooooooon!
I didn't really know what dress I wanted, I searched and searched for ideas but I just couldn't find the "right one". So my mother-in-law and grandma-in-law took me shopping to David's Bridal. One of my good friends Erica Barron came with me too. It was such an overwhelming feeling walking in there. It was the day that pretty much every girl dreams of - finding herself a wedding gown. I went to the sale rack cause I'm not rich lol.. The very first one I looked at I thought it was really nice and elegant but I didn't think it'd suit my body figure. I looked around for more and only found one other one I liked (and in my budget). So I tried them.. the very first dress I tried was 'Perfect'. It said size 10 and I was like ''ummm....... that's not gonna fit!", but it did...
I really should've taken more responsibility for our wedding. I really just didn't want to stress about it all and I thought I had it all under control but really, I didn't. I stressed my poor mother-in-law out and aswell as my husband. It wasn't until 3 days before the wedding when we got a planner in to help us and that was the best move ever made! She made the wedding look beautiful and successful. Food and groomsmen attire was all taken care of by my Father-in-law. The Bridesmaids dresses were only $3 from a small shop in Waikiki. Samala's family is big and they had a lot of hook ups so I wedding really wasn't that expensive.
We had so much help from his family and we are so appreciative of them. We really couldn't have done it without them..
Just going a little bit backwards in time.. Samala and I decided to get married prior to being officially engaged - we had to get the 'OK' from my Dad in Australia. I really wanted my family to be there on our big day but unfortunately it does cost a whole lot of money just for one person alone, PLUS accomodation etc. So, we decided (including my Dad) a wedding in Australia when we come home. But that's a whole other blog post.
WEDDING DAY... We were so silly because we didn't do what you'd traditionally do on wedding days. We were together pretty much that whole day til about 2 hours until the wedding. We had so much to do in forms of decorating, picking people up, getting ready, etc. I was so stressed that when it came time to getting ready I just couldn't even think or do anything right. My bridesmaids were a big big help! Getting ready in our room at Turtle Bay (I'm so glad they have room service!). Because I had to pack all my bags at BYUH and leave them at Samala's house, I forgot a lot of the things that I NEEDED.
Our wedding was meant to start at 3.30pm SHARP.. but, it was like 2.25pm and we were still in our room getting ready. Then going to the chapel in Hau'ula, the valet's took their sweet time getting the van and boy that was STRESSING ME OUT!!! Ko'olina pretty much sped the whole way there and guess what? We got every red light. I held onto the handle in the van and just screeeeeammmmmed!! Samala decides to call me and say that we don't have the cord for the music. so we had to make a quick stop to his house to get the cord to play our wedding song. We pulled up to the chapel and the Bipshop and my Father-in-Law were waiting at the front doors for us.. We give the cord to the best-man and IT'S THE WRONG ONE!
I DID NOT want to walk down the isle with the OG wedding music but I just HAD too. I was shaking, I was nervous, I was scared - everything! But as soon as my best friend Josie walked me down the isle, I saw him - my soon to be Husband. All those feelings went out the door and I was sooooooo happy! Then when it came time to say "I DO" my knees were shaking and I just couldn't stand still lol.. (Probably looked like I had to wee hahah).
After the ceremony concluded - the bridal party went to Kakela's beach to take photos. It was beautiful (It had been raining that whole week - except that day! Sunshine!). We didn't have much time so we did what we could and headed back for our reception.
Manaia and Soli - Tauluga
FOOOOOOOOD!!!
Melody & AJ - Our Ring Bearer and Flower girl
Signing our lives away.. lol
The boys - Samala, Soli, Irwin & Martin
The Afalava/Miller Family doing their Flash Mob.
The Bridal party - (Top) Rhonda, Soli, Erica
(Bottom) Irwin, Ko'olina, Martin
The first time ever doing a Samoan Tauluga
The Cook Island Dancers (Representing my culture)
Our First Dance.
Grams & Samala's cousins doing a Hula.
The Cake :)
That was awesome! We loved every bit of it.. The family & friends that were there, the music, the entertainment, the food - it was all GREAT. Awesome memories indeed from that day! I just wished my family could have been there.
We got to our Honeymoon suite and instead of getting down and dirty we just sat there reading everyone's cards and collected the gifts/money. We absolutely LOVED it.
We are now Husband & Wife :)
We had so much help from his family and we are so appreciative of them. We really couldn't have done it without them..
Just going a little bit backwards in time.. Samala and I decided to get married prior to being officially engaged - we had to get the 'OK' from my Dad in Australia. I really wanted my family to be there on our big day but unfortunately it does cost a whole lot of money just for one person alone, PLUS accomodation etc. So, we decided (including my Dad) a wedding in Australia when we come home. But that's a whole other blog post.
WEDDING DAY... We were so silly because we didn't do what you'd traditionally do on wedding days. We were together pretty much that whole day til about 2 hours until the wedding. We had so much to do in forms of decorating, picking people up, getting ready, etc. I was so stressed that when it came time to getting ready I just couldn't even think or do anything right. My bridesmaids were a big big help! Getting ready in our room at Turtle Bay (I'm so glad they have room service!). Because I had to pack all my bags at BYUH and leave them at Samala's house, I forgot a lot of the things that I NEEDED.
Our wedding was meant to start at 3.30pm SHARP.. but, it was like 2.25pm and we were still in our room getting ready. Then going to the chapel in Hau'ula, the valet's took their sweet time getting the van and boy that was STRESSING ME OUT!!! Ko'olina pretty much sped the whole way there and guess what? We got every red light. I held onto the handle in the van and just screeeeeammmmmed!! Samala decides to call me and say that we don't have the cord for the music. so we had to make a quick stop to his house to get the cord to play our wedding song. We pulled up to the chapel and the Bipshop and my Father-in-Law were waiting at the front doors for us.. We give the cord to the best-man and IT'S THE WRONG ONE!
I DID NOT want to walk down the isle with the OG wedding music but I just HAD too. I was shaking, I was nervous, I was scared - everything! But as soon as my best friend Josie walked me down the isle, I saw him - my soon to be Husband. All those feelings went out the door and I was sooooooo happy! Then when it came time to say "I DO" my knees were shaking and I just couldn't stand still lol.. (Probably looked like I had to wee hahah).
After the ceremony concluded - the bridal party went to Kakela's beach to take photos. It was beautiful (It had been raining that whole week - except that day! Sunshine!). We didn't have much time so we did what we could and headed back for our reception.
(Bottom) Irwin, Ko'olina, Martin
That was awesome! We loved every bit of it.. The family & friends that were there, the music, the entertainment, the food - it was all GREAT. Awesome memories indeed from that day! I just wished my family could have been there.
We got to our Honeymoon suite and instead of getting down and dirty we just sat there reading everyone's cards and collected the gifts/money. We absolutely LOVED it.
We are now Husband & Wife :)
