Some days, I easily feel blessed. Others, I am just trying to manage the stress. A wedding planner’s life is not just smiles and roses – even on Maui!

We had a large Maui beach wedding scheduled. Any outdoor wedding with a number of guests holds many possibilities for things to go wrong. So, our staff had prepared all the details as carefully as possible.

Still, things went wrong. The weather was misbehaving: Strong gusts of wind scattered the flower circle and blew the toasting flutes and table into the sand. Dark clouds gathered on the horizon, blocking the Maui sun and threatened no sunset and early darkness. Members of the wedding party were missing. Finally, ten minutes after the wedding was supposed to start, all the guests and wedding party were located and in place.

The photographer, videographer and musicians were poised for the processional. There was one BIG problem – no bride!! We were told by the limo driver via cellphone that she did not want to come out of the limousine, although her father and bridal party were standing outside, waiting for her. Neither did she wish to speak with anyone. The stress of the moment was, apparently, overwhelming. Family members went to check. The minister and various guests began to look anxious and everyone began to ask what’s wrong. No news came and more and more people wandered away, though urged to stay. I tried to appear calm and confident, but, inside, I was wondering if we were even going to have a wedding. As I tried to reassemble the guests, my walkie-talkie squawked the welcome words, “The bride is coming!” Everyone slipped back into place. The sweet flowergirl and beautiful bridesmaids began the processional. Finally, the bride appeared at the top of the hill. All of a sudden, the winds stopped and the clouds parted. Golden shimmering light cast its beams on the young bride dressed in white satin and rhinestones that were set ablaze by the sun’s rays.

Everyone stood to gaze upon this beautiful apparition. The smiling, radiant bride was led to her beaming groom. The wedding proceeded flawlessly, and the light held out, beautifully.

I performed my sacred hula to the Hawaiian Wedding Song, played by my handsome sons, as the Maui sky turned pink and green and orange. The wedding toast, in front of the awesome Maui sunset looked like the happy ending of a fairytale. Everyone was radiant with happiness. I felt very lucky and amazingly blessed.

Darkness disappears
When the Light of Peace and Love
Overcomes our fears