From Hawaii to Bali: One Couple Hosted Two Intimate, Tropical Destination Weddings That Prioritized Their Shared Experiences Every Turn

Yahoo

17-07-2025

"I'll admit, the exact day we met is a bit of a blur," Domynique Garrett says of the day she and James Johnson III first crossed paths in 2012. What she does remember is that they were introduced by mutual friends during a lively house party at Hampton University. They remained close throughout college, but their connection deepened a few years later when they both found themselves living in Washington, D.C. Over flag football games, dinners at favorite local restaurants, and countless adventures around the city, their friendship ultimately turned romantic, and they became a couple over sushi on November 18, 2018. Then, on Domynique's 30th birthday five years later, James surprised her with a proposal in Bali surrounded by flowers as Bruno Mars' 'Marry Me' played in the background.
On November 18, 2024—six years to the day since they became an item— Domynique and James exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony at the Four Seasons Resort Lanai in Lanai City, Hawaii, with 30 of their closest family members and friends. 'James was born in Hawaii, and though he only lived there for a few years, the islands always held a special place in his heart,' Domynique says. 'The natural beauty, rich culture, and laid-back spirit of Hawaii resonated deeply with him, and we wanted to bring that feeling into our celebration.'
The couple worked with two planners—one, a dedicated planning pro from their venue; the other, Deanna from DeAnna Plans—to bring their vision of timeless elegance to life. 'Hawaii served as a source of inspiration—its lush landscapes, tranquil gardens, and vibrant colors captured exactly what we wanted our wedding day to reflect: a harmonious blend of beauty, serenity, and personal significance,' the bride says.
But one celebration wasn't enough for this happy couple: Six months later, on May 25, 2025, Domynique and James hosted a larger reception attended by 60 loved ones at the W Bali, a location they chose as a nod to their engagement. "Both venues represented different parts of our love story—Lanai was the romantic, intimate escape, while Bali was the exciting, celebratory moment," the bride notes. "Together, they gave us the best of both worlds!"
Bre Jane Photography was on hand at both celebrations to capture every stunning moment. Read on to see the photos of each tropical wedding here.
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The day before their wedding, Domynique and James hosted a combined rehearsal dinner and welcome party at Nobu at the Four Seasons Resort Lanai. James wore a Hugo Boss outfit while Domynique wore a Bronx and Banco mini dress with a structured skirt, mesh lining, and floral detailing throughout. She accessorized with a flower embellished purse and an elbow length veil embellished with ribbons with her married name and wedding date!
The couple and their guests enjoyed the chef's selection of sushi, short ribs, shrimp tempura and more. 'The speeches were incredibly touching and filled with love,' Domynique says. 'There were moments of laughter, a few happy tears, and an overwhelming feeling of gratitude.'
Dominyque wanted a ceremony gown that felt both timeless and modern, so she chose a tulle ball gown from Galia Lahav with a sweetheart corset bodice, floral embellishments along the straps, a box pleated skirt, and a sweeping monarch train. She accessorized with a necklace and earrings from Tiffany & Co. and another set of earrings from David Yurman.
'For shoes, I went with the ultimate bridal staple—Jimmy Choo—because you can never go wrong with a classic brand,' she says. 'My veil was adorned with delicate crystals and pearls, adding the perfect hint of sparkle.'
The bride asked for a makeup look that accentuated her eyes, which she says is the feature that James loves most about her, and wore her hair in Hollywood waves with a pearl headband. Dominyque's bridal bouquet featured a waterfall arrangement of cascading white calla lilies and phalaenopsis orchids. The bouquet was finished with a satin ribbon and a small memorial frame honoring the couple's beloved dog, Luna.
Domynique had a first look with her bridesmaids, who all wore blue dresses of their choosing, which the bride says was one of the more emotional parts of the day. 'They were all surprised, excited, and some even cried, but we all couldn't stop smiling from ear to ear, sharing in the joy of the moment and the excitement of what was to come—the moment we had all been waiting for,' Domynique says.
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The bride also had a first look with her dad. 'When I decided on who I wanted to do a first look with, it was a no-brainer. I knew I wanted my girls by my side, who have seen me through different stages of my life, and my dad, who I've always dreamed of sharing such a meaningful moment with,' she says. 'It was a moment I will cherish forever.'
James wore a custom white linen suit from Streetsmart Tailoring, which featured touches of baby blue woven throughout, and accessorized with his late grandfather's watch. 'He had passed away just a few months before the big day, and wearing his watch felt like a way to carry a piece of him with me,' the groom explains. 'As I slipped it on, it felt like a quiet tribute to him, grounding me in the moment and connecting me to the past.'
The ceremony took place on the property's golf course, where panoramic ocean views served as the backdrop to the couple's vow exchange. 'To preserve the beauty of the scenery, we chose two grounded floral arches, ensuring the ocean remained unobstructed while symbolizing our union and the merging of our lives,' Domynique explains. White ground arrangements framed the seating and rose petals were delicately scattered down the aisle.
In honor of their Hawaiian destination, the couple surprised each guest with a custom lei draped around their ceremony chair. They also made sure to account for loved ones who couldn't be there on the big day. 'One of the most special touches was creating a memorial with empty chairs on both of our sides to honor our grandparents who had passed,' the bride shares.
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The couple further personalized their ceremony with a few thoughtful elements: First, the groom's best friend officiated the ceremony. Second, Domynique and James hired a ukulele player to perform traditional Hawaiian music as guests were seated. The bride eventually made her entrance to 'Do 4 Love' by SNoh Aalegra played through the audio system and walked down the aisle with both of her parents. 'There was a time when my parents didn't get along, but over the years, they built a friendship centered around my happiness,' the bride notes. 'Seeing them come together to support me on such a special day meant everything.'
The couple exchanged vows they wrote themselves, and their words were a mix of inside jokes, reflections on their journey, and promises for their future. 'Standing there, exchanging words crafted straight from the heart, was one of the most unforgettable moments of the day,' Domynique says.
At the end of the ceremony, the the couple jumped the broom, an African-American tradition symbolizing commitment. 'For us, it was not just a celebration of our love but also an honoring of our ancestors and the generations that came before us,' Dominique explains. 'As we jumped the broom, surrounded by family and friends, we felt a deep sense of connection—not just to each other, but to the history and traditions that had shaped our paths.'
The ukulele player performed 'Lovely Day' by Bill Withers for their celebratory recessional.
Officially husband and wife, Domynique and James joined their 30 guests for an intimate reception dinner, where over 400 candles transformed the venue into a romantic escape. 'We wanted the décor to reflect that sense of closeness,' the bride says.
Tables were dressed in elegant white linens and decorated with tossed rose petals. At their seats, guests found custom menus, hand-written thank you notes from the couple, and acrylic name plates that Domynique designed. 'It was important to me that our guests felt special, and these personal touches truly made the experience one-of-a-kind,' she says.
Domynique envisioned wearing a glamorous Hollywood style gown during the reception, so she sought out a party-ready look, also from Galia Lahav, to wear for dinner. 'When I found this dress, I knew it was the perfect choice,' she says. The long-sleeve mermaid gown was inspired by Marilyn Monroe, and it featured a deep V-plunging neckline, low back, and hundreds of hand-placed crystal embellishments.
Both the bride and groom wore custom leis from a local Hawaiian artisan during dinner, another nod to their destination.
After Domynique and James shared their first dance to 'Spend My Life With You' by Eric Benét, the bride and her father shared a dance to 'I'll Be Around' by The Spinners.
Guests dined on a multi-course meal that included entrée options like roasted rack of lamb, miso-maple-glazed Hawaiian sea bass, and braised chicken. For dessert, attendees were invited up to a create-your-own sundae bar as a nod to the couple's shared love of ice cream and slices of wedding cake. 'The cake was a three-tier vanilla buttercream wedding cake adorned with delicate fondant blue flowers,' the bride explains.
The next day, Domynique and James hosted a farewell brunch at the resort. James wore a white collared shirt and blue shorts from Hugo Boss while Domynique wore an ivory mini dress from Babyboo Fashion paired with a small quilted Christian Dior tote and "Bride" veil.
'My favorite memory from the farewell brunch was seeing everyone the next day, still buzzing with excitement and reminiscing about the night before,' Domynique says. 'Hearing our loved ones gush over the ceremony location and how dreamy the dinner was made my heart so full."
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Six months later, the couple invited 60 guests to join them in Bali, Indonesia, for their reception. They hosted their May 25, 2025, celebration at the W Bali, where Domynique and her got ready that morning.
'I wanted a soft glam look,' Domynique says of her reception makeup. 'Whenever I get my makeup done, I usually go for full glam, but for this special day, I didn't want to look back at my pictures and think, 'Wow, I had a lot of makeup on.'' As a nod to the day she and James officially became husband and wife, Domynique accessorized with the pearl headband she wore at her wedding in Hawaii.
Domynique wore a beaded mini dress with embellished lace sleeves, a waist cutout detail, and lapel collar. She held a bouquet that mimicked her previous wedding bouquet, with cascading blue and white cala lilies and palm leaves.
James wore an ivory suit with a black bow tie, black shoes, and a white floral boutonnière.
Since Domynique and James had been legally married in Hawaii, they chose to host just a party in Bali. While it still required careful planning, the bride explains that organizing the details of their second event was a very different experience for her. "This planning process felt very different from our first. Having already planned our wedding ceremony in Lanai, the pressure to make everything 'perfect' wasn't as heavy this time around. First, because we were already married, and second, because I had gained a new perspective: things won't always go exactly as planned, and that's okay," she notes. "One of the biggest lessons I've learned from planning not just a wedding, but any event is that something is bound to go off script. That's just reality."
The reception took place on the venue's lawn surrounded by tropical foliage and palm trees. The couple customized a dance floor with a monogram of their first initials as the focal point of the space. Chandeliers were hung from arched stands covered in greenery and various pendant lights were strewn about the space, helping to enhance the ambience with a warm glow.
The tables were dressed in floor-length white linens and paired with gold chiavari chairs and decorated with minimalist all-white rose centerpieces. White taper candles, placed in gold holders, dotted the length of the tables. Place settings included gold-rimmed chargers with beaded detailing, white plates, gold flatware, and glassware and were decorated with black ribbons with each guest's name in calligraphy.
Instead of a traditional photo booth, the couple created a custom magazine cover that guests could pose for photos inside. It was embellished with several arrangements of white and cream florals, both inside and out.
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At the end of the night, the couple cut into their wedding cake, which was decorated with abstract blue petals to mimic their first wedding cake. As they kissed, fireworks erupted behind them in a special show to close the evening.
The next day, guests joined the bride and groom on a chartered yacht for a day of sightseeing. The group saw Kelingking Beach, the turquoise waters of Crystal Bay, SD Point, which the bride says is known for its vibrant marine life and pristine views, and Nusa Lembongan. The perfect day concluded with a stunning sunset over the water.
Having now planned two destination weddings of her own, Domynique is well-equipped to offer advice to future brides and grooms. 'Prioritize what feels authentic to you, advocate for what's important to you as a couple, and don't be afraid to set boundaries,' she says. 'The most memorable weddings aren't the ones that check every box—they're the ones that truly reflect the couple's love and journey.'Credits
Wedding Photographer Bre Jane Photography
HAWAII
Ceremony and Reception Venue, Catering, and Cake Four Seasons Lanai
Wedding Planning Deanna Plans
Bride's Hair The Hair Doc
Bride's Hairstyling and Makeup Maui Makeup Artistry
Flowers Ivy Cruz Flower Design, Anny Heid Flowers
Invitations CraftsmanPaperCO on Etsy
Paper Products Carlys Creative Co., EngraveCelebration, Inketch
Reception Music Wilson Wilmix
Digital Guest Book Kululu
Transportation and Accommodations Four Seasons Lanai
BALI
Reception Venue W Bali
Bride's Hair and Makeup Ranny Bronzer
Flowers, Paper Goods, and Rentals Jicoo Bali
Reception Music DJ Wilson
Videographer Dreams Studio Bali
Content Creator Treasure the BrideUp Next: 11 Ways to Honor Milestone Anniversaries That Aren't Vow Renewals
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