destination wedding photographerWhen Joe & Katie asked me to photograph their wedding in Hawaii, I almost didn’t believe them. They are two of my closest friends in Austin, and after hearing the plans that they made for the wedding, I knew it was going to be epic. Together, they have seen more of the world than any couple I know. Katie is one of smartest and funniest people I have ever met, and Joe is a total a bad-ass behind the camera. If you haven’t seen his work yet, be prepared to spend a couple of hours in front of the computer drooling on your keyboard: Joe Simon Wedding Films & The Delivery Men.

They chose to keep the guest list small, which was nice, inviting only their closest friends and family. We spent the week together surrounded by some of the coolest people on the planet, exploring the island and looking for new adventures. We went shark diving, sunrise hiking, paddle boarding, and drank lots and lots of champagne on the beach.

When the wedding day finally arrived, all of the girls loaded up on a yacht and sailed to a sandbar out in the middle of Kāne‘ohe Bay for the ceremony. Later that night for the reception everyone changed and met back at their beach house in Kailua. It was the perfect wedding that only a couple like Joe & Katie could have dreamed up, and without a doubt, it was a week that I will never forget.

waiki beach guy in snorkel mask swimming with sharks in hawaii swimming with sharks in hawaii swimming with sharks in hawaii north shore in hawaii north shore in hawaii waikiki beach waikiki beach waikiki beach waikiki beachkailua hike in hawaiismall island off oahucliff jumping in oahuhawaii wedding photographeroahu wedding portraitskailua wedding portraitssunset wedding photos hawaii sail boat in oahu dingy and a sailboat sailboat wedding dingy boat kailua sail boat photojournalism bride getting ready for wedding on a sailboat Kāne‘ohe Bay funny girl in pink tutu dog in sailer costume Kāne‘ohe Bay snorkle tours katie stevens oahu wedding destination wedding photojournalism snorkel boat tours Kāne‘ohe Bay bride prep on yacht Kāne‘ohe Bay wedding geoff duncan and rachel rodman Melissa Cox Kāne‘ohe Bay wedding sandbar wedding oahu joe simon wedding on a yacht in hawaii sandbar wedding ceremony sandbar wedding in hawaii sandbar wedding hawaii oahu wedding photojournalism sandbar wedding Kāne‘ohe Bay katie stevens wedding joe simon wedding destination wedding hawaii champagne bottles at wedding Kāne‘ohe Bay sandbar wedding destination wedding Kāne‘ohe Bay joe simon and katie stevens wedding wedding ceremony on sandbar in hawaii wedding sandbar oahu cutest flower girl on the planet wedding in water on sandbar oahu yacht wedding bride and groom ocean portraits wedding portraits in the ocean bride and groom jumping in the ocean kailua wedding portraits paddle boarding kailua wedding joe simon wedding portraits kailua beach wedding portraits katie stevens bridal portraits bride on kailua beach in oahu joe simon beach wedding joe simon's destination wedding ourdoor reception kailua beach house kailua beach house wedding reception black and white first dance