Earlier this week we shared the welcome party, and here is the rehearsal dinner for this gorgeous Big Island wedding weekend of celebrations! Designed by Beth Helmstetter and photographed by Steve Steinhardt, it’s another stunner! From the bride herself…
“We wanted Friday night’s rehearsal to be a perfect marriage of rustic Hawai`i, Texas (Kurt’s home state) and Louisiana (my home state), all of which have a unique beach culture and cuisine. Our wedding gifts to each other were custom made cowboy boots from a famous boot maker in Texas. The detailed, colorful inlays of our boots told our Hawaii love story, and we thought the rehearsal dinner was the perfect night to introduce them to the Hawaii sand. As guests arrived to the beachfront location for “Kurt & Tara’s Big Island BBQ”, they kicked off their shoes (and boots!) and located their table assignments on the display of pale pink shells featuring aqua calligraphy of each guest’s names in Hawaiian. Each of the tables were named after one of the Hawaiian islands and were adorned with quilted white tablecloths, pale pink napkins, rattan charges and romantic coral, pink and cream hued floral arrangements displayed in antique aqua mason jars. The inspiration carried through to the menu as well. Guests enjoyed a meal of Hawaiian HuliHuli Chicken, Texas-style Barbecue Brisket with Rudy’s BBQ Sauce and Louisiana jambalaya with Tabasco sauce while enjoying margaritas, hurricanes and mai tais. A delightful display of miniature desserts were brought to each table to as a finishing touch.
Then, everyone pilled onto the blankets and pillows strewn along the sand to enjoy an amazing luau show. I will never forget the guys from our bridal party dancing on stage with Kurt. Kurt and I did our best to do the “wedding dance” surrounded by the Luau cast or the epic fire finale. The night concluded with speeches from our friends and family that made us laugh, cry and smile and ensured that this was a night we’d never forget!”