Charlie + Samantha's Kona Village Wedding | A Rosewood Resort
Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort | Big Island, Hawaii | April 18, 2026
Charlie and Samantha's wedding at Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort was one of those wedding weekends that had a little bit of everything: a beautiful setting, a great group of people, plenty of time together, and a story that went much deeper than the wedding day itself.
After more than six years together, Charlie and Samantha brought their families and closest friends to the Big Island to celebrate their marriage.
Watch Charlie + Samantha's Kona Village Wedding Film
This is one of my favorite films I've made at Kona Village, and one of the reasons is that so much of what makes their story meaningful is already there in the audio.
Charlie and Samantha met in Los Angeles after Charlie reached out and started working to get to know her. Samantha didn't make it particularly easy for him at first, but eventually they went on their first date.
It didn't take long for them to realize there was something different about their relationship.
Just two days after that first date, they spent an 11-hour day together watching the 49ers win the NFC Championship and started making a bucket list for their future. Two weeks later, they flew to San Francisco for the Super Bowl.
As Samantha described it, being together felt easy, natural and right. Things moved quickly, but nothing felt rushed.
Six Years of Building a Life Together
Not long after they started dating, Samantha's mom, Jane, passed away unexpectedly.
It was an incredibly difficult time, especially so early in their relationship, but Charlie was there for Samantha through the heartbreak. Over the next six years, they continued building a life together in Los Angeles, sharing everything from Lakers games and Rams games to concerts, trips, restaurants and all the ordinary moments that eventually become the foundation of a life together.
Samantha is also the only daughter in a family with four brothers, so family naturally played a huge role in the wedding.
On the wedding day, Samantha had a first look with her dad before seeing each of her four brothers. Those moments were some of my favorite parts of the day to film.
Her mom wasn't physically there to see her get married, but she was very much part of the day. That became especially clear later that night when Charlie and Samantha dedicated a song to Jane before opening the dance floor.
It's a small part of the wedding that says a lot about the people Charlie and Samantha have become and the family they are building together.
A Kona Village Wedding Weekend
The wedding itself was part of a larger weekend at Kona Village. Friends and family gathered for a welcome party, a rehearsal dinner, and plenty of time together before the ceremony.
On the wedding day, everything came together at North Crescent and Hale Ho'okipa. The ceremony took place at North Crescent, followed by cocktails, family photos and sunset portraits before everyone headed to the reception.
Kona Village is such a fun place to film because the landscape naturally becomes part of the story. The black lava rock, ocean, palms and open-air spaces give the day a very distinct sense of place without needing to manufacture anything.
And because the property offers so many different environments, the look of the film can change throughout the day while still feeling connected to the location.
Sunset at Kona Village
After the ceremony and cocktail hour, Charlie and Samantha stepped away for sunset portraits while their guests made their way toward the reception.
This is one of my favorite parts of filming a wedding at Kona Village. The afternoon light, ocean and lava rock create an incredible backdrop, but the best moments are usually the ones in between the planned portraits: walking together, laughing, taking a breath, or simply enjoying a few minutes alone on a very full wedding day.
That balance is a big part of how I approach wedding films. I want the finished film to feel like the couple actually experienced the day, rather than feeling like the day was built around the camera.
Working With a Great Wedding Team
One of the other things that made Charlie and Samantha's wedding especially enjoyable was the team behind it.
I've always loved working with Aly Dove, who photographed the day, and it was great getting to work alongside Kate and the team at Sunshower Weddings & Events again. Having a planner and photographer who are both experienced, collaborative and focused on the couple makes a huge difference on a wedding day.
The rest of the team brought everything together beautifully, from the florals by Daisy Dukes Flower Farm to the music from Island Kings Band and Kristen Nicole.
Charlie + Samantha's Kona Village Wedding Vendors
Venue: Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort
Planning: Sunshower Weddings & Events
Photography: Aly Dove Photography
Videography: No Ka Oi Films
Florals: Daisy Dukes Flower Farm
Rentals: Kona Event Rentals
Hair + Makeup: Indigo Grace Makeup Artistry
Band: Island Kings Band
Ceremony Music: Kristen Nicole Music
Content Creation: The BTS Dulhan
Ceremony Sound / AV: Kai Diamond
Transportation: High End Hawaii
Planning a Kona Village Wedding?
If you're planning a wedding at Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, or somewhere else on the Big Island, I'd love to hear what you're planning.
I've been filming weddings throughout Hawaii for more than a decade, and Kona Village is one of those places where the setting, the people and the story all come together beautifully.
My approach is intentionally unobtrusive. I'm looking for the real moments, the meaningful audio, the relationships between people and everything that happens in between the bigger events of the day.
