A Golden Evening at Waialua Valley Farms: Rachelle & Logan's Micro Wedding (+ What Micro Wedding Coverage Actually Looks Like!)
If you've been dreaming about a micro wedding on Oahu's North Shore, buckle up, because Rachelle & Logan's day at Waialua Valley Farms might just convince you to book your venue tour tomorrow.
I got to spend a couple of hours with these two on April 30, 2026, capturing their ceremony, family photos, and a couples session before they headed off to celebrate at their reception in Makaha. It was the kind of evening that reminds me why I love this job so much — and I want to walk you through the whole process, from that very first conversation all the way through the wedding day itself, so you have a real sense of both Rachelle and Logan's beautiful day and what booking micro wedding coverage with me actually looks like.
Taking Action
Booking Your Wedding
How the process works
STEP 01
The Initial Consult Call
Before anything is booked, we start with an initial consult call, just the two of us getting to know each other. I want to hear about your vision for the day, and you get a feel for how I work and whether we click. No pressure, no obligation, just a genuine conversation to make sure we're the right fit before you commit to anything.
STEP 02
Securing Your Date
Once you're ready to move forward, securing your date is simple: a signed contract and retainer lock me in as your photographer, and from there, the date is officially yours. For Rachelle, that happened about six months before her wedding day, which is such a sweet spot for planning.
STEP 03
Two Pre Wedding Calls
After booking, we schedule two more calls: a booking call right after you reserve your date, and a check-in call 1-2 weeks before the wedding to sort out any last-minute changes. These calls are how I get to know a couple before their wedding day, so I'm not pulling you aside to ask questions on the one day you should be fully present and celebrating. It's also when we nail down the big things, like your family photo list, whether you want table photos (a big one to decide here in Hawaii), and how much coverage you want and what you want it to include.
STEP 04
Your Special Day!
Then comes the day itself, when I arrive to capture it all, already knowing your vision inside and out. Which brings me to Rachelle and Logan's package. They booked my 2-hour coverage, which is a smaller offering I put together specifically for couples who want their main event beautifully documented without a full-day photography package. It's a great fit for a ceremony and couples session, and can stretch to include a small family photo list if it's kept short. I wouldn't recommend it for much beyond that, since anything larger (a first look, getting ready, a longer reception) really needs more time built in to do it justice.
The Location:
Waialua Valley Farms
I hadn't shot at Waialua Valley Farms before this wedding, so I made sure to arrive about an hour early to scout everything out. And wow. As soon as you park and walk down toward the main building, you're greeted with this grand, sweeping view of mountains and cliffs. I even spotted some animals roaming around in the distance, which was just the cherry on top.
The property itself has two large lawn spaces connected by a gorgeous home, with a huge terrace that creates this natural outdoor covered space in between(great for a reception if you're looking to have one at the same space as your ceremony). If you're comparing North Shore wedding venues, this is one to seriously consider.
Their Day: How It All Unfolded
Since I had some extra time on site before the ceremony, I started a little early and got some solo shots of Logan getting ready, so we wouldn't have to worry about carving out time for that later. We even had a few extra minutes to grab some sweet photos of him with his parents, which ended up being such a lovely little addition to their gallery.
Then it was time for the ceremony. I have to gush for a second about their wedding day details, because the florals were everything, and their ceremony banner was so elegant and cute I'm already thinking about it for my own wedding someday. When Rachelle started down the aisle, she was absolutely gorgeous, and Logan's reaction to seeing her was the sweetest thing to witness through my lens. Their vows were so meaningful, full of the kind of history that only comes from truly knowing someone.
Rachelle and Logan actually met back in middle school, and one story they shared has stuck with me ever since: Logan used to follow Rachelle's school bus just to make sure she got home safe. Your love story doesn't have to look like a movie scene to be a great one, but that one absolutely got me.
After they walked back down the aisle and signed their marriage papers, making it all official, we wrapped up the evening with family portraits and a couples session before they headed off to celebrate the rest of the night at their reception in Makaha.
Final Thoughts
Thank you to Rachelle and Logan for trusting me to capture such an important chapter in your lives -- wishing you both all the best!
Rachelle and Logan's day at Waialua Valley Farms was such a beautiful reminder of how much can happen in just a couple of hours, when the location is stunning, the couple is easygoing, and everyone's on the same page going in. Their day was so much fun to capture and it was so easy to get into that romantic feel with such a meaningful and special story to celebrate together. I can't wait to share more about other love stories I capture and all the little details that make it special and unique to each couple.
A few extra tips if you're considering a similar setup:
TIP 1
Book your initial consult call early, even if you're still comparing photographers. It costs you nothing and helps you get a feel for who you want capturing your day.
TIP 2
Decide on your family photo list and table photo preferences early so your photographer can plan an efficient timeline around them.
TIP 3
Scout your ceremony location's lighting at the time of day you'll actually be getting married, since morning light behaves very differently than afternoon light.
TIP 4
If your reception is at a separate venue, build in enough transition time between locations so no one feels rushed.
Let's Connect
If a location like this speaks to you, or you're curious about planning your own wedding day, I'd love to help you figure out what would be the best way to capture your special day. Let's get to chatting!
