Coconut Coast Weddings & Photography Dream Hawaiian Weddings and Award-Winning Photography

I sometimes laugh with people about having a bad day here on Kauai. There response is, ” sorry not listening. Besides how can you have a bad day while living on Kauai, one of the most beautiful places on earth”. I then say, “yes I guess your right”. I mean what can really go wrong? What, your get stuck in the traffic on the way to the beach, or get stuck in line buying a coconut water? Ha ha. No one will listen to me if I complain. Sure theres traffic once in a while or a huge 100 year storm blows through, but I always tell my wife and kids in the morning, ” hey its a brand new day with new chances, new beginnings. We of course are human and subject to all sorts of emotion and misundersdtanding and anger and saying the wrong thing etc etc. But every morning when that beautiful sun rises, and you look out across the exquisite blue, your heart says, ” things arent that bad after all”. I then say to my heart,” Yes your right”

To prove my point, as I drove to a wedding the other day, I did get in a little traffic and I did drive down a dusty back road and I did stop for a coconut water, “picked myself” but the couple photos I’m posting with this article will show that  all is well on Kauai.

So my point I guess is ” Come to Kauai where there are no bad days”

Aloha

Kent

I awoke this morning with an early visitor. Right oustside my window was a beautiful but early call from a Malaysian song bird called a Murial Batu. I did my best to figure this out hours later but it was wonderful.

The weather has gone from 45 inches of cold rain with a hail storm besides, to a very nice 78 degress and light winds; back to wonderful Kauai. Love is in the air again as seen by this lovely couple taking a plunch into marriage, and they really mean business.

Until we meet again

Aloha

Kent

I think the Beatles didn’t realize how prophetic they were when they sang these lyrics, “All we need is love.”

The photo attached came from a recent wedding with some 200 images on the beach at sunset, but this one shot is the one that seemed to stand out to me. This is the image of success for me. It’s my inner mechanism that says “success.” A stolen moment… reflective of softness, quiet, loving and tender. When all of life comes screaming at you with bills and buildings and time spent away from love, this is a moment in memorial for all couples. Before the kids come and all that entails. Before the buying of furniture and a house, before promotions and late nights at work. Before all the struggles that life and faith bring, here is that moment. Let us all go back to it and let it sink again into our heart of hearts. You and your spouse are one! United in the holy bonds…

Don’t let the roaring train of life take you away from this  moment. Until we meet again, aloha!!

A Moment in Time

Despite my one bad review which yelp continues to hold, I submit yet another favorible one. Actually heres 2 more.

I contacted Kent six months before our wedding.  I was very impressed with every aspect of what he did for us.  He always got back to me within 24 hours either by phone or e-mail.  He sent pictures to me of various locations to hold the ceremony & had suggestions on which beach to hold the ceremony depending on the time of year.  He sent me several ideas on bouquets.   When we arrived on the island,  he contacted me to let me know times we could meet with the state licensing representative. He gave me detailed directions on how to get there from our hotel.  (He had sent me the link before we left home so I had everything filled out before we were there.  ( who wants to waste their time inside, in HI?). He even called after the appointment to make sure it all went smoothly.  He called the morning of the ceremony to firm up where we would meet.  He was  very punctual & professional. It was easy to navigate the web-site for our pictures.  He has continued to assist with questions I have had post ceremony. Kent is a charasmatic, patient, detail oriented professional.  I would highly recommend him.

Lisa & Joel

I highly recommend Coconut Coast Weddings & Photography and have done so on several occasions since our wedding in October.

To do a destination wedding it does take some faith that everything will work out or else you can drive yourself insane from worry.  If you are reading this because you are thinking about using Kent, then by all means put your fears aside and just enjoy – because you are in good hands!

The day was just perfect and the pictures (book) are even better.  Friends and family can’t believe how little we paid for what we got.  Basically we paid for the entire thing for the same price a hotel wanted just for the space to do the ceremony for 90 minutes.

We ordered the Waterfall and Romantic Dinner package – and it was just 5 stars the whole way!   We decided early on not to worry and that it would all work out just fine.  Leading up to the wedding after we signed the contract, we were not in touch much – and we figured that this is the positive of what we get with having a destination wedding, ie  we don’t have to worry about all the planning; someone else is doing that for us.   On the day of the wedding, I spoke with the professionals who were involved (hair/makeup, musician, officiate, chefs, etc) and they all echoed that they love working with Kent and he is a professional through and through.  They ALL did such a fantastic job!  Kent is very talented and its clear to me that he only works with people just as talented as he is.

I could not be happier with the day (cake, ceremony, music, hair/makeup, dinner, flowers, champagne and glasses, etc.), the outcome (photos) and DO recommend Kent and Coconut Coast Weddings HIGHLY!

We wanted to get married in Kauai and not only have great memories but also have someone handle all the details for us.  In September of 2011 we choose Coconut Coast Weddings because they were recommended in 2 reputable travel guides.  It can be a little scary contracting with someone so far away, so this put our minds at ease.  Our wedding was mid-January 2012, and Kent, the owner, managed every detail perfectly and the photographs are amazing!  We had a few phone calls and exchanged a few emails in the months prior to the wedding to work out specifics, and I just gave him my preferences on things like flowers and cake, Kent suggested the setting for the wedding and photography, and we trusted his judgment to handle it from there since this is what he does for a living.  One of the things we appreciated so much was that we did not have to worry about anything and were able to relax and enjoy our engagement right up to the moment we were married.  The pastor Kent selected for us was wonderful and made our ceremony even more special – we couldn’t have been happier.  For me (Lisa), this was HUGE since we were not going to be married by our home pastor.  After the ceremony, we were so at ease and had a wonderful time enjoying the moments while Kent captured the memories for us.  One of the things about Kent’s photography that stood out to us from the beginning was his gift to capture not only the special moments shared but the beautiful landscape as well.  We were thrilled when we saw our photographs and we have received more compliments than we can count.

Kent and Harold, thank you both so much for making our special day wonderful, we are so blessed!

Mahalo!!!!!

Ken and Lisa

Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not meaning “scram or beat it” I  simply mean, “take a right turn up ahead and see where it goes”!

Here are a  few, simple things about Kauai. The beaches are free and public. This means no one has a monopoly on the beaches here. Sure there are resorts that hug up alongside some beaches, but if you look close enough you will find a little path or trail  that sometimes leads you to a totally secluded beach with nothing on it but you and a huge sea turtle.

Exploring here really pays off. I will leave you with a few amazing photos .Sorry I can’t tell you where they are until you get here, though. : ) Photos by Kent Chastain

Aloha everyone. Allow me to  add some comfort to those who have thought of getting married on Kauai , and instead of something complex and elaborate, really want something quite simple, elegant, and romantic. So even though Kauai is 2,390 miles from California, 3,800 miles from Japan: 4,900 from China and 5,200 miles from the Philippines, it’s only about 30 seconds away by phone, incredible!

In a world where so many are communicating via the internet, it is always good to just have a conversation by phone . The other day a bride said, ” I just knew after talking to you, Kent, that you were the one I wanted to trust with my wedding”.  The internet, as personal as it tries to be, is in my opinion not that personal.

As part of adding relief to your planning, I wanted to share a little bit about the people that have devoted themselves to the wedding industry here; they are amazing. They are tracking with you on a few, simple, but important levels. Take for example the Hair and Makeup Artists.I had a great conversation with a bride the other day about her hair at the wedding.  The Hair Stylist  put her hair up  with a nice Cybidium Orchid perfectly positioned. I said ” It’s perfect”… from a photographers perspective it keeps her hair from covering her face because of the trade winds, creating better portraits and better snuggling shots with the groom.

From flower ideas , to the time and location, to even plan “B” in case of rain, we will know what you need when you call.

With my love for surfing comes a great familiarity of the many different beaches. For example, Lumahai is a wonderful beach as a wedding site during summer months, but can be very dangerous in the winter because of the huge waves. Also, there are certain beaches that have a more quiet shoreline because the waves are breaking on the outside reef, while some have waves crashing right on the shoreline.

Another factor to consider is the photography. As a photographer myself, I have seen light in many different situations. For the last 25 years I have photographed people from sunrise to sunset , and have learned in any given time of day to come out with something beautiful.

If you are considering music, I have something to add there as well. I appreciate good music, since I play a little myself, and hence I can find those individuals of high caliber in the music field.

We have thought in great detail about so many concerns already. I am waiting to talk to you, so just give a call and let’s connect.

Until we meet again,

Aloha!

Kent

Aloha everyone across the globe.” Its a new year” and despite the wars and rumors of war, love is still alive and people are still coming to Kauai to be married.

In today’s global market with technology soaring and the world  becoming more complex, there still remains one simple truth, ” It’s all about love”. You can have a smart phone that can do anything, but still a simple wedding on the beaches of Kauai can outdo any of that. A beautiful warm hued sunset wedding or even a crisp full color deep blue afternoon wedding, both are equally treasured. It has been such a privilege to be a part of these simple but romantic occasions here on Kaua,i and I look forward to this coming year to be the best ever. I know I can’t please everyone all the time but I will try my best to make this occasion the most memorable occasion of your life or your money back. Its January 31st 2012, and I encourage you to give me a call or email me to start making plans to come over. Here are a few reminder photos of how beautiful it is here. Blessings until we meet again. Kent

As I walked this morning along the bike path meandering along the beach in Kapaa,I  felt the warm breeze hit my face, and thought, ” what a nice  free gift of Kauai”. Or driving down the highway to Hanalei to see the sun rays boldly streaming through the clouds in a Charilton Heston fashion ; this another free gift. Or going  to  a wedding up by Tunnels( can’t tell you where until you come) to see no one on the beach but emerald  water and tiny seabird footprints and

with the oh so familiar ocean breeze in my face; the joys of Kauai.

One thing you will discover here  is the constant giving of the Island back to you in forms of beautiful moments. For example the three I mentioned previously. What becomes a part of Island living is, ” what will it show us today?” I think everyone on the Island, visitors and locals alike are amazed at the Island in this way. Taking a walk alond the coastline is beautiful enough but when a whale decides to bless you with a spout or even a giant leap into the air. Or taking a dinner sunset cruz and to be doubly blessed with a pod of dolphins coming by  just to say hello. Believe me the stories go on. Let me just say that coming to Kauai is money well spent; lots of freebies coming your way. I’ll leave some photos to prove my point. Until next time, aloha!!

Kent