We love surprises, and when the surprise is as epic as a surprise wedding, well… we’re here for it!!! Maile + Nick planned their boho + tropical inspired wedding day for over a year, all while keeping it a total secret from friends and family! With the help of Dairing Events, they pulled off the ultimate shocker and tied the knot in front of their teary loved ones at Hotel Palms. Hawaiian- inspired florals, a wow-worthy Rue de Seine wedding dress, and bottomless Sangrias rounded out the details of the day. Have you ever thought of planning a surprise wedding? Well M is here to share all the info + advice. She shares this about their inspiration and style:
Our families grew up in Hawaii and Saudi Arabia, so to honor both, we included flowers from the islands and bohemian décor from the Middle East. We had one too many glasses of Sangria on our first date, so the Sangria Truck and her heavy pour were an absolute must-have item on our list. We love parties that allow you the freedom to mingle and eat SNACKS, so instead of seating arrangements and a formal dinner, we opted for a grilled cheese bar, gourmet donuts, and live music. Above all else, we cherish our privacy, so we kept the guest list intimate and only shared this moment with our ride or dies.
Flora + Fauna captured some gorgeous images! Ready to take a look? Let’s go!
Boho + Tropical Inspiration
M’s Rue De Seine ‘Vita’ dress from Kelly’s Closet is a downright showstopper!! We love the sheer botanical lace and flowy skirt. Paired with her flower crown, it’s the perfect boho babe dress! Find some similar inspiration below:
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The First Look
First Look moments always get us. You can just feel the emotion and excitement between these two! Plus, their sense of style takes the cake! N looks beyond handsome in this rust colored ASOS suit.
Pre-Wedding Photoshoot
Can you believe M + N kept their plans a secret for over a year? And THIS is the result?? We’re in awe!
We’re all for some puppy love on wedding day! Do you think N + M’s sweet doggo was in on the surprise wedding secret?
Shocking the Guests
Her: Walking down the aisle. I was so nervous I threw my dad the bouquet before I even saw Nick! We met in the middle and were surrounded by our favorite people in the world. It was surreal.
Him: Our vows. We wrote our own and Ciera’s brother officiated us. Since few people knew we were getting married that day, we could barely hear each other over all the crying. That was special to us because we knew they felt our love as well as the love we had for all of them.
Smiles were beaming and tears were flowing as M + N shared their vows in front of their most intimate selection of loved ones.
Processional: We only wanted one song to remain “our song” for the rest of our lives. We walked down the aisle to Van Morrison’s Into the Mystic and right after we said “I Do”—the song continued to play right into our first dance. We let the band handle the rest!
Recessional:
First Dance:
Let’s get a close up of that rad bridal bouquet! The Wild Thistle perfectly captured the tropical vibes and laid-back beachy style of the day with blooms like anthurium, pampas grass, palms, protea and roses.
Outdoor Reception
Loving this eclectic mix of rentals from Luxe Party Rentals + Farmhaus + Co.
You can’t have a surprise wedding without a rad reception to follow! M + N kept things small and intimate. If you’re wanting a similar vibe, be sure to check out How to Plan an Intimate Wedding: 13 Tips for Success.
M + N shared many, many sangrias on their first date, so it’s only appropriate that they revisited that special day with The Sangria Truck & Bar Cart for their guests! This whole setup is beyond adorable!
1.) Hire a planner if you can. There are many moving parts to any wedding, but especially a surprise wedding and we couldn’t have done it without our planner’s eye for detail and her creativity. She turned an outdoor shower into a photobooth for goodness’ sakes! 2.) Let your vendors know about the surprise. They will keep your secret and you’ll be relieved to have someone to share your excitement with! 3.) Have a cover story and commit to it. We told everyone we were getting married in our family’s backyard in Hawaii. This is something we said we would do for years anyway, so no one questioned it.
Complete perfection! Maile + Nick, we are totally inspired by your surprise wedding day and think so many other couples will be too. The GWS team is wishing you both a lifetime of beautiful adventures ahead!
photography: Flora + Fauna // venue name: Hotel Palms, Atlantic Beach, Florida, USA // event design: Dairing Events // planning: Dairing Events // florals: The Wild Thistle // wedding dress: Rue De Seine ‘Vita’ // wedding dress boutique: Kelly’s Closet // hairpiece: The Wild Thistle // groom attire: ASOS // videography: Flora + Fauna // catering: Mai Oui Catering // furniture rentals: Luxe Party Rentals // specialty rentals: Farmhaus + Co. // cocktails: The Sangria Truck & Bar Cart