Hāna-Maui Resort Wedding | C & M

As a Maui wedding musician and live wedding painter, I get to experience weddings from a few different perspectives, but this Hāna-Maui Resort wedding was especially meaningful because I got to do both. C and M originally found me while I was playing live music at the Wailea Beach Resort during their stay on Maui. When they asked if I played weddings, I happily replied, “Of course!” They were torn between having me there as their musician or their live wedding painter, so they decided to get the best of both worlds. I played music for their intimate wedding day, then created a large commissioned painting of the celebration from photographs afterward.

It was such a beautiful way to experience their wedding, and then relive it again in my studio.

Getting Ready & Setting the Scene at Hāna-Maui Resort

C and M traveled from California to celebrate their marriage at Hāna-Maui Resort, surrounded by their loving adult children. Their wedding was an intimate blending of two families, and the small guest count made the entire day feel incredibly personal.

Hāna is one of the most beautiful places on Maui. It feels like a true paradise of old Hawaiʻi, with rugged coastline, tropical rainforest, and the mana, or energy, of the local community. Although it is off the beaten path, the remoteness of Hāna only makes the atmosphere feel even more intimate.

C and M chose the resort for exactly that reason. It is a place they hope to return to again and again, and it is a location I had always dreamed of painting. Little did I know I would get the chance to do so through their wedding!

An Intimate Wedding Ceremony on the Hāna Bluffs

The ceremony took place atop the rugged bluffs below the resort, with turquoise waves crashing against the coastline below. The setting was absolutely breathtaking.

The ceremony itself was small, but beautifully arranged. Tropical flowers sat atop wooden pillars to create the couple’s altar, while lei adorned chairs sat their families and personal white umbrellas shaded the guests.

One of the most meaningful parts of the ceremony was a lei exchange between C and M and their children. This is a beautiful Hawaiian tradition for blending families, and each child received a lei as part of the ceremony.

Between their vow exchange, I played a meaningful, requested song for the couple, creating the soundtrack for this incredibly special moment. And after the couple said I do, I sang their recessional that sent them into celebration. It was hard to hold back my own tears as the families all embraced and shared their joy for the happy moment.

An Intimate Dinner Under the Stars

After the ceremony, the celebration continued with an intimate farm table dinner on the resort’s infinity terrace. The table was beautifully adorned with flowers and candles, and the whole family gathered together for an exceptional meal.

With just eight people at the table, it was intimate yet buzzing with energy and love.

I continued playing live music throughout dinner, creating a romantic but upbeat ambiance. When it came time for the first dance, I played C and M’s requested song, and they even enticed their children onto the dance floor with them.

It was one of those moments that reminded me that a wedding doesn’t have to be large to feel like a huge celebration.

Being the sole source of entertainment for the day meant I had a bit of pressure to set the vibe and ambiance, but seeing the smiles, laughter, and joy on everyone’s faces told me that my presence was appreciated and created the celebratory atmosphere they deserved.

It reminded me just how much impact a wedding entertainer, whether musician or live wedding painter, can have on a celebration, even when the guest list is small.

From Wedding Musician to Wedding Painter

Although I wasn’t the live wedding painter for C and M’s wedding day, I knew my responsibilities weren’t quite finished once the celebration ended.

Back in my art studio, I got to take my memories of this beautiful day and really encapsulate the feeling of it onto canvas using their chosen photographs.

In a way, it felt like I got to relive the wedding all over again.

C and M wanted their painting to be a collage of different elements from their day rather than a single scene. At the center, I painted their portraits, surrounded by their children and different moments from the celebration. I incorporated the rugged Hāna coastline, crashing waves, rocks, the beautiful sunset, and the plantation-style villas along the hillside.

And there was one especially fun detail: I painted myself into the ceremony scene!

This was actually the first time in my live wedding painting career that I got to paint myself into a wedding scene. Since I had been such a personal part of their wedding day as their musician, the couple wanted to represent the role I played in their story. I was flattered!

The finished painting was a 36 x 48 inch oil painting, making it my largest commission yet. I loved being able to stitch together all of these different memories into one larger picture of how their wedding day felt.

A Hāna-Maui Resort Wedding Preserved on Canvas

C and M absolutely loved the finished painting, and creating it gave me a new appreciation for the unique relationship between music and art at a wedding.

As a musician, I get to help create the atmosphere of a wedding in real time. I can feel the energy shift as guests arrive, hear the laughter during dinner, and watch a couple and their family hit the dance floor.

As a live wedding painter, I get to capture that feeling visually and turn it into something tangible that can live with a couple long after their wedding day.

For C and M, we found a way to combine both experiences. I was able to be part of their wedding day as their musician, then take those memories into my studio and create an artwork that reflected the feeling I experienced firsthand.

That is one of my favorite things about being both a wedding musician and a live wedding painter. I’m not just creating something beautiful from a photograph. I’m drawing from the atmosphere, the little moments, and the feeling of being there.

And for a Hāna-Maui Resort wedding, there is certainly no shortage of inspiration. 

C & M’s Testimonial for Their Wedding Painting of their Hana-Maui Resort Wedding

I love hearing about my clients experience working with me, and I am so grateful for these kind words from C & M:

“Jules sang at our wedding in May and then painted a beautiful mural of various scenes from our wedding ceremony in East Maui. She has amazing artistic talent, her communication is on point and easy and her prices were reasonable. I highly recommend considering Jules for your wedding or event.”

Looking for a Live Wedding Painter for your Hana-Maui Resort wedding?

If you’re planning a Maui wedding and want to incorporate a one-of-a-kind piece of art into your celebration, I would love to create something magical with you! Whether you’re looking for live wedding painting on the day itself or a custom painting created afterward from your favorite wedding memories, I love creating artwork that brings you right back to how your wedding day felt.

You can learn more about my live wedding painting experience and services on my Services page , or if you’re ready to chat about your wedding, fill out my Contact Form. I can’t wait to hear all about your celebration!

C & M’s Hāna-Maui Resort Wedding Vendors

Venue: Hāna-Maui Resort

Planner: @thelocalgirlcollective

Decor: Hana-Maui Weddings

Musician: Jules Trowbridge

Florals: Hala Tropical Flowers

Officiant: Hana Wedding Co