Tyra and Rich's Maui Wedding - Wedding Day

All images courtesy of Bill Stockwell, Photos on Maui

It's been almost a year since we packed our bags and headed off to Maui for Tyra and Rich's wedding. Tyra, a Firefighter, and groom Rich, a Lifeguard Sergeant in San Diego, were selected by Producer Mark Burnett's (TV's "Survivor", "The Apprentice" and other top rated programs) "Wedding Day" production team as a deserving couple to be gifted with the wedding of their dreams. We got the call from one of Maui's top wedding coordinators, Carolee Higashino, owner of A White Orchid Wedding to be part of her "Dream Team" of vendors selected for their wedding. Other "Dream Team" members included Bill Stockwell of Photos On Maui, Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Olowalu Plantation House, Pacific Design Group, Asa Florals, Cafe O'Lei Catering, and a number of others. cakelava and Wildflower Linen came from outside of Maui. Celebrity wedding planners Diann Valentine and Alan Dunn hosted the show. Knowing the wedding was being filmed for a Mark Burnett Production in conjunction with Dreamworks, and that we had an opportunity to contribute to such a deserving couple's wedding, we cleared our schedule as much as we could and about 2 weeks later we found ourselves on Maui with their wedding cake. We had events the weekend before so could not be available to meet everyone and do any filming until the day before the wedding. We arrived on a Wednesday to Wailea, Maui, and stayed at the same hotel as Tyra and Rich, the guests and the production team. The wedding took place on Thursday evening and Friday we left to come back to Oahu. We had weddings that weekend and Rick needed to start on their cakes. That was quite a week!

Tyra and Rich's "Wedding Day" episode aired on TNT last month. Unfortunately, "Wedding Day" wasn't renewed for a second season as far as we know, and the show is no longer on the TNT website. It's unfortunate that the show didn't last because it was full of heart and really made couple's wedding dreams come true. For anyone who missed the episode when it aired and would like to see Tyra and Rich's wedding, Bill Stockwell of Photos On Maui who was the couple's photographer, and his wife Judy, were gracious enough to share their exclusive images with our readers. We can't thank them enough for sending us the images and allowing us to re-live that very special day. Bill also posted images from the wedding on a special blog he created. His images show what happened throughout the week they were filming the couple,
and what you didn't see on TV.

Tyra and Rich's wedding cake was significant to us, for many reasons. Rick designed the lovely cake with the hibiscus pattern, which quickly became one of our signature styles, specifically for Tyra and Rich. We were not allowed to show the cake until after the show had aired so it's not on our website yet. Rick has used a similar design in our "Sunset Bamboo" cake and others currently on our site. Their wedding cake complemented the amazing tropical decor beautifully!

Big congratulations to our couple, Tyra and Rich, who are about to celebrate their 1-year anniversary. A big Mahalo to Carolee Higashino of White Orchid Wedding, Jamie Clark of the Pacific Design Group, and the entire team at Burnett Productions. It was an experience we will never forget!

Enjoy the pics, and please leave your comments below for the vendors that made their wedding possible. Carolee and her team moved mountains in just a couple of weeks!


The show put their friends and family to work. Here is the gate they built for Tyra and Rich


the gorgeous bride and her father




the ceremony and reception took place on the grounds of the Olowalu Plantation near Lahaina, Maui




guests were greeted with green orchid leis


one of the many surfboards at the entrance to the home


Jamie of the Pacific Design Group and Wildflowers linen designed the stunning decor. Amazing!



floral design by Asa Flowers and cuisine by Cafe O'Lei Catering


love the lounge!


is that the most gorgeous view ever!


the view near where the cake table was



Tyra and Rich's sweetheart table


one of the many entertainers of the evening




Grammy nominated Hawaiian singer Raiatea Helm sang the "Hawaiian Wedding Song", for the couple's first dance



custom painted surfboard made for the couple



the cake!! it was a beautiful tropical green color with ivory hibiscus and hawaiian leaf pattern




Have a great Labor Day weekend!