Welcome!

Hello!

Welcome to our wedding blog. We hope you enjoy the pictures from our honeymoon and wedding. To view more wedding pictures you can click "older posts" when you get to the bottom of this page. If you would like any of the pictures you can email me: rachley418@yahoo.com with the pictures and sizes you want along with your address.

Kalalau Valley

Flora & Fauna of Kauai

How many chickens do you see? :-)

As you can see, not only does the island of Kauai have a diverse array of beautiful flowers, but lots of chickens too! I was so surprised at how many chickens there were, and they were everywhere! They were in parking lots, in town, in neighborhoods, in parks... Some people want to get rid of them, but they have become a bit of a symbol of the island :-)

Beach Time and Sunsets

This last pictures was taken on Oahu at the famous Sunset beach. It is really calm and mild during the summer months, but come winter this beach gets it's famous waves. Sunset beach is known for "the pipe" :-)

Random Pictures

Here are some random pictures from around the island. As you can see, we LOVED our convertible! This last picture is of the Hanalei School, in the town of Hanalei of course. It is a small surfing town on the north end of the island. What a perfect location for a school! The surroundings are just so inspiring :-)

While we were on Oahu we really wanted to see Pearl Harbor. David's grandpa was there when it was bombed so Dave has always wanted to see the place, and I have always wanted to go as well. We couldn't find how to get there from the airport so we decided to drive around the island and go back to Pearl Harbor that afternoon before we headed back to the airport. We found ourselves stuck in rush-hour traffic, trying to make sense of the Pearl Harbor signs that seemed to be leading us no where. We finally made it just in time to find out that we were 10 minutes too late!!! I was sooooooo disappointed! Pearl Harbor was the main reason we wanted to spend the day on Oahu. At least we have a good reason to go back now.

Our Wedding Vows

Wedding Service
Maui, Hawaii
Minister: Reverend Pia Aluli
GREETING ~ Oli Aloha

Onaona I ka hala, me ka lehua E hale lehua, no ia na ka noe
O kau no ia, e anoi nei E halia nei, hoi o ka hiki mai
A hiki mai no olua, a hiki pu no me ke aloha, Aloha e! Aloha e! Aloha e!

The Oli Aloha is a chant, which offers a word of greeting. It says, in part, this is the sight for which I have longed. Now that you are here, love has come. Aloha and welcome.


We gather today in the spirit of love, the spirit we know intimately in these islands as the spirit of Aloha. It is the same spirit that brought you David and Rachael together. We celebrate this new and exciting moment in your life’s journey, and embrace now this moment and wonders of creation surrounding us.
There is so much beauty to behold here in Hawaii. Trade winds, fragrant flowers, singing of the birds, sunsets. But I would like to take a moment to focus on the ocean. This ocean has been here a long time flowing with a sense of awe and life giving power. The ocean does so because it is alive and constantly changing. The ocean brings life and cleanses all it touches with its ebb and flow. So I invite you to be like the ocean. Be open to changes, be excited about new challenges and share these moments with each other.

Lei Exchange
Here in Hawai'i we exchange flower leis, signifying our open hearts and love for one another. The beautiful lei, with all of it's hand picked flowers, are twined and carefully bonded together with love. A reflection of your love and aloha for each other. As you exchange these leis, you will now begin to weave your own lei of life. And now, with loving aloha, please present your leis to one another.

Declaration of Intent
Do you here in the presence of God and these witnesses, declare your commitment to each other and choose each other as the one with whom you wish to spend the rest of your life? Do you give yourself to each other and accept the gift of self, which each other gives to you? Do you also pledge to endure all of the difficulties of life even as you look forward to sharing the joys to be experienced together?
(Groom and Bride respond: I do)

Exchange of Vows
I, promise you my love without any limits,
To accept the things you believe in
And to always try to understand you;
To trust in your love for me and pray it will grow stronger every day;
To plan with you and dream with you;
To laugh with you in joy, to grieve with you in sorrow,
To grow with you in love,
To do my best to show you how much I love you with all my heart,
For as long as we both shall live. Amen

Ring Exchange

I give you this ring, as a symbol of my love, knowing that love is precious and fragile, yet strong. Let this be a reminder, of all that I have pledged to you here today.

Closing Marriage Creed
Rachael and David, you are finally united in matrimony. Go forth on your journey. May you trust each other, trust life and not be afraid. May you be given the gift of memory of this moment, day, and place for the rest of your lives. We say in these islands, the spirit of aloha, love is reflected in all the beauty surrounding us, but I say to you and that the beauty and spirit of aloha is reflected intimately in the joy and happiness in your faces.

Declaration of Marriage
And now in oneness with the Spirit of Love, of Aloha, of God, and in accordance with human law, it is my great honor and pleasure to pronounce you David, and you Rachael, husband and wife
Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you
Mr. and Mrs. David and Rachael Brinker
You may seal your vows with a kiss.