Maui, Big Island Featured in ‘Wedding Day’

Southern California residents Tyra Moe and Richard Hidalgo received the destination wedding of their dreams on the Magic Isle of Maui last September and TNT’s new reality show “Wedding Day,” a Mark Burnett/Dreamworks Production, captured the couple’s romantic journey.

The one-hour Hawaii episode airs August 8 at 9:00 a.m. EDT/8:00 a.m. CDT on TNT (check local listings) featuring a lavish wedding on Maui and special visit to Kauai.

“Hawaii is a beautiful setting for destination weddings, so it was a privilege to reward Tyra and Richard for the service they provide their communities with a dream wedding on Maui,” said John Monahan, president and CEO of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB). “To be surrounded by family and friends in this tropical island locale, while enjoying the scenery, warm weather, and activities together, created memories they will never forget.”

Wedding Day gives deserving couples across the nation the nuptials of their dreams. Tyra and Richard were selected because of their roles in serving the people of Imperial Beach, Calif. Tyra is a firefighter and Richard is a lifeguard.

Their lifestyles are chaotic and demanding and, as such, the couple had conceded their dream wedding plans to a backyard barbecue to tie the knot. However, Wedding Day and HVCB, the state’s tourism marketing agency for North America, which was instrumental in bringing the show to the islands, had other plans.

The surprise began in San Diego when Wedding Day hosts Alan Dunn and Diann Valentine gathered with Tyra and Richard’s family and friends to tell the couple they were heading to Hawaii for a week beyond their wildest expectations.

Once the excitement set in, the couple and their 50 guests were whisked away to the airport and boarded a Hawaiian Airlines flight to Maui. Tyra and Richard were pampered in First Class enjoying Hawaiian’s award-winning tapas-style menu and in-flight hospitality.

After arriving on Maui, the wedding party checked into the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort and Spa, where Tyra and Richard settled into their luxurious suite with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. The couple then met the “Dream Team” who were creating and coordinating the once-in-a-lifetime event, led by Carolee Higashino, owner and president of A White Orchid Wedding. Using her industry resources, Higashino assembled a team of wedding specialists that included Asa Flowers, Café O’Lei Catering, Envisions Entertainment, and Jamie Clark of Pacific Design Group.

In the days leading up to the wedding, Tyra and Richard enjoyed Maui’s charms, exploring the Maui Ocean Center, Alii Kula Lavender Farm, paddle boarding, and a helicopter ride. They also made a day trip to Kauai to reunite with friends and for some ziplining with Outfitters Kauai.

Meanwhile, their family and friends were busy taking an active part in creating the wedding. Construction of the show’s “signature gate” for the bride’s entrance was built by the couple’s fathers and groomsmen in the wedding party. The bridesmaids strung together fresh flower lei and created other enhancements for the big day.

All of the hard work culminated with an unforgettable wedding ceremony and reception in West Maui. Tyra and Richard exchanged their vows in a beautiful garden overlooking the ocean within a private estate, featuring songs by the Kamehameha Schools Children’s Chorus.

The reception took place nearby at the Olowalu Plantation House, which the Dream Team transformed into an exotic and spectacular setting rich in red, orange, and green tones, Hawaii inspired décor, and tropical florals. Guests enjoyed a traditional luau show by Tihati Productions with award-winning Hawaii songstress Raiatea Helm singing for the first dance.

For information about TNT’s “Wedding Day,” visit TNT.tv/series/weddingday.