Beach Glass Weddings team with helicopter — About Us

The Ohana (Team) of Beach Glass Weddings has created dream weddings in Hawaii’s most beautiful locations for over 10 years.

“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.”

— Rumi

Beach Glass Weddings specializes in exquisitely designed ceremony experiences for its global clientele in Hawaii’s most beautiful locations.

In 2003, our love for Hawaii, its people, and culture inspired us to start a wedding studio dedicated to creating custom, destination wedding packages. We haven’t stopped since then. In these past years, we have collaborated with thousands of clients to create the wedding, commitment, or vow renewal ceremonies of their dreams.

Beach Glass Weddings is based in beautiful Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. We are available to travel to all of the Hawaiian Islands to help you plan and create the stress-free wedding of your dreams.

Check Your Wedding Date Availability ⤑

Meet Our Team ⤑

“ Nothing is more precious than being in the present moment. Fully alive, fully aware.”

— Thich Nhat Hanh

Our Team

The quote above by Thich Nhat Hanh reveals exactly what we believe in. We prepare every little detail for your wedding during our planning phase. We only work with vendors that share our values - respect the resources of the island, compensate everybody fairly, honor their commitments, and deliver excellent service every time. By maintaining these standards and having everything prepared for your wedding with the utmost care, we can be completely in the moment and present on your wedding day. Our officiants, especially, bring you and your guests into the moment and help you to be completely present so you can fully experience your wedding ceremony.

Angy CheslerOwner / Photographer & Cinematographer

I grew up in Germany and always dreamed about how it would be to live on an island. For many years I worked at a TV station in Hamburg, traveling all over the world filming; I had found my dream job after I studied photography. But the voice in my head, saying it would be nice to live on an island, never really stopped. In 2001, I followed my heart and moved to Hawaii. I feel so lucky that I get to do what I love most - photographing people and creating videos. During my career in television, I always planned out every single detail of a film production. When I started planning weddings, I immediately experienced it as a natural fit for me. To this day I approach each and every ceremony with the same level of exacting detail.

Jonathan TadrossPhotographer/Cinematographer

Kevin Burke Cinematographer — Kevin BurkeCinematographer/DP

Officiants

Meet Elizabeth

I am an artist and facilitator honoring Life’s Transitions. Whether your Wedding is elaborate, or intimate with just a few…invoking the beauty of environment, culture and shared love heightens connection and enlivens your vows for a lifetime. Welcoming in the surrounding elements, Elizabeths’ graceful spirit brings presence to place of heart in ceremonial ways. Simple yet profound values of Aloha, Nature, and Spiritual generosity connect your time together in support of the beautiful journey you are making in your commitments to each other.

Blessed to live on the Big Island for more than 33 years, officiating more than 350 ceremonies since licensed in 1998, extending aloha and being in service is a way of life.

Elizabeth has sculpted a beautiful ceremony which brings in the presence of place, and ritual offerings to perhaps include a lei exchange, ho’okupu offering bundle, ocean water ring blessing or choice of others. Per your request, she is happy to send you a sample ceremony with possible vow choices, schedule a phone or skype call, or collaborate with your ideas to personalize and create a ceremony reflective of your hearts, spirits, dreams, wishes, and considerations. Or, simply go with the ceremony as sculpted. With a span of multi-cultural, spiritual, and studied practices, it would be an honor to support your journey of growing expanding Love and Commitment, with so much to honor and celebrate.

WATCH: Ceremony Video of Elizabeth Theriault

Mission Statement: "Let Love Lead!"

Michaela Larson — Michaela Lehuanani LarsonOfficiant

Meet Michaela

Michaela Lehuanani Larson, is a true Kama’aina, a child of this land. She grew up in the traditions of old and new Hawaii. When you first meet Michaela you know right away that she’s authentic, she speaks from the heart, with genuine aloha that resinates, and felt by everyone she meets. Filled with local knowledge and wisdom you’ll find yourself asking her questions about ancient Hawaiian history and traditions as her eyes start to sparkle when telling stories shared to her by her ancestors, teachers and guides. An established Hawaiian studies teacher, historian, cultural speaker and guide, Michaela is undoughtably most known for her hula, she is by far one of the most graceful hula dancers you’ll ever see. Michaela always says “when you give out love, love comes back in return”, while spontaneously using her hula hands to gesture the motions of love. What a beautiful moment.

The Ceremony

Always with aloha in her heart and big Hawaiian smile, today Michaela can be seen performing weddings and vow renewals on the Big Island. Michaela starts your ceremony with the sound of the conch shell, a grand announcement which calls out “something amazing is about to happen”. Then the chant begins, the Hawaiian chant of love, filling the air with the spirit of aloha. Very rarely seen, you hear the soft sound of the Hawaiian flute, used to clear the air. Couples gently and lovingly place their rings in a koa bowl filled with Hawaiian salt and a sacred ti leaf to cleanse and purify them for a new journey. You will find yourselves completely in the moment, spellbound as you look into each others eyes and exchange mana with the ha (energy, breath of life). Then with all the love in your hearts you tenderly exchange leis, as two become one, one in love. Michaela weaves Hawaiian elements which somehow finds its way to the traditional declaration (the I Do’s), the Vows (promises) and the proclamation (announcement of the married couple). Michaela has a gentle way of making everyone feel included, keeping them engaged and completely present, listening to your every word and the way you express your love for one another. Whether its just you two or the entire family, your ceremony will be one that is fondly remembered and cherished.

The Experience

Following the Ceremony, couples and guests can be heard saying, “I truly experienced genuine Aloha, the spirit of Aloha”, “That was the best wedding ceremony ever, I want a wedding like that”, “I was fascinated, I couldn’t wait to see what was next.” You will be happy you decided to have Michaela perform your ceremony. Michaela is so genuine , truly an authentic Hawaiian Officiant!

Michaela says, “True Hawaiian ceremonies are very sacred but never boring.”

WATCH: Ceremony Video of Michaela Lehuanani Larson

Anna and Danny AkakaOfficiant (Authentic Hawaiian Ceremony)

Meet Danny

Daniel "Kaniela" Kahikina Akaka is the Junior Director of Cultural Affairs, Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows.

Daniel “Kaniela” Kahikina Akaka, Jr. was born & raised in Nu‘uanu and Pauoa Valleys. He attended the Kamehameha Schools for 13 years. His educational career continued at the University of Hawai‘i where he received a Bachelors degree in the Hawaiian Studies Program. Each month on the Saturdays closest to the Full Moon, Akaka hosts an evening talk story program called “Twilight at Kalāhuipua`a” as a way to perpetuate the art of folk story telling in Hawai`i which includes stories, music and often times, hula.

Danny comes from a family of seven, which include his parents., U.S. Senator (ret.) Daniel and Millie Akaka. He and his wife, formerly Anna Lui-Kwan (KS Class ‘72), have chosen Kona to be their home. They have 5 children, one daughter and four sons.

In keeping with the Hawaiian culture, he has had the opportunity to be a crewmember of the Hokule‘a for three of its voyages. His first voyage with the canoe was in 1995 along the Pacific Northwest with his wife, Anna, in attendance. His second voyage was in 1999 in which he participated on the second leg of the voyage to Rapa Nui. His 3rd voyage was the completion of the voyage, Kū Holo Lā Komohana, which ended its journey in Yokohama, Japan. His position on the canoe was as the Protocol Officer. In his work today, Danny Akaka is involved in perpetuating the culture, the essence, and the Spirit of Hawai‘i. Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame-Board member.

Mission Statement: “Perpetuate the wisdom and the core values of the kūpuna through storytelling, music and hula as well as to continue to share aloha with all.”

WATCH: Ceremony Video of Danny Akaka

Meet Ma'ata

Ma’ata (pronounced Ma-AH-tah) is known as a connector - someone who enjoys bringing people together. A true Polynesian child of the islands, she was raised on the North Shore of O’ahu and in the Tongan Islands. Being the eldest sister in a family of 14 children, Ma’ata intuitively knows how to use her warmth and sense of ease to help people feel comfortable, at home, and an integral part of any celebration. Having lived on the Big Island for over 25 years, Ma’ata is well acquainted with the people, the land, and the rich culture that resides here. Being a great listener and storyteller, she has exactly what it takes to help you create the ceremony of your dreams and the memories to last a lifetime.

My successes are defined through my relationships.

WATCH: Ceremony Video of Ma'ata Tukuafu

Meet Richard

Richard is the quintessential host for informal, heartfelt events such as a beach wedding. His comfortable, casual style creates a warm and open environment, allowing for spontaneous expressions of love and gratitude. Building on a strong Christian background, he now approaches spirituality with an open-minded perspective. While not a formal member of any religion today, he respects and finds wisdom in all spiritual paths. Richard greatly values the Hawaiian culture and the lessons that can be gleaned from an ancient people who left us a legacy of ALOHA. In line with this, he believes that being present is the single most important aspect of a wedding ceremony, and so does his best to bring both the wedding couple as well as their guests into the magic of this special moment. Richard has been a resident of Waimea (Kamuela) on the Big Island since 2013 and has two sons and a granddaughter living in his hometown of San Jose, California. He is also a private music instructor teaching guitar, voice, piano, percussion and ukulele. You will find him as a regular stage performer and host at many venues here on the Big Island.

WATCH Highlight: Ceremony Video of Richard Adoradio

WATCH Feature Film: Ceremony Video of Richard Adoradio

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