Britne & Mark’s Beach Vows in Hawaii

Britne and Mark were a couple by sophomore year, but the actual proposal was on their tenth anniversary! They both had the feeling they would like to elope but went ahead and planned a traditional wedding. Covid intervened, and they were thrilled to realize they could wed anywhere they wished. They chose the Big Island in Hawaii when they read a Simply Eloped description of Kiholo. They just knew that anywhere that needed a four-wheel to arrive was the perfect place for them! Britne & Mark exchanged the vows they wrote together, surrounded by black rock and white sand. Lots of tears and laugher later, they were newlyweds. They celebrated in the waves and sunshine with family. Read on to find out how Simply Eloped ‘simpled’ up their elopement plans and gave them a wedding day to remember!

How did you meet? What was your first impression of one another?

Britne: We met each other during our Sophomore year of high school. I actually first noticed Mark while I was walking in the hall during Freshman year. I remember being so excited to finally have a class with him. We started talking from there!

Mark: For me, Britne seemed shy but also very forward about what she wanted. I knew she was interested in me, which pushed us past that awkward beginning stage.

How did you propose or accept the proposal?

Britne: Mark proposed to me on our tenth anniversary. I was a nursing student and was getting ready for my clinical, but Mark insisted we do our gifts first. Somehow he set up his phone to record the whole thing without me noticing. There were a few gifts for me to open, and he let me pick which one I wanted first. After recording a good 10 minutes of me smelling the candles that he gifted me, I opened the ring box and was in shock! It took me by complete surprise, and we were sitting on the floor together. After looking at the ring, I looked at him, and he asked me to marry him.

Where did you choose to elope, and why did you choose that destination?

Britne & Mark:  We chose to elope on Big Island. We chose Hawaii because we talked about having our honeymoon there before knowing we’d be eloping. We decided on Big Island because we wanted less of a tourist area and more nature!

What attracted you to the venue you chose for your elopement? What were your favorite moments about eloping there? 

Britne & Mark: We loved that the description of the venue on the site stated that we’d need a four-wheeled vehicle to access the beach. We knew we’d be in a beautiful and scenic spot. The black sand was amazing, as was the privacy.

How would you describe your elopement venue to someone who has never been there? 

Britne & Mark: Our elopement venue was peaceful, natural, and intimate. It felt like it was just us, and that really allowed us to soak in the moment. 

What did you do before the wedding? How did you get ready? How did you feel in the moments leading up to your elopement? 

Britne & Mark: We relaxed until the wedding. We actually wrote our vows while sitting together outside on our resort balcony. The hair and makeup artist came to my stepmother’s room, and Mark joined us. It was raining at the time, so we were nervous it would be raining for the ceremony. We were both so nervous but so excited to finally reach this milestone together.

How was your experience with Simply Eloped? 

Britne & Mark: The experience couldn’t have been smoother. Our photographer couldn’t make it, but a new one was on board before we had time to even stress about it. We enjoyed the team so much and were very pleased with the communication. Someone was always there if we had questions along the way.

How did you choose to celebrate your elopement? 

Britne & Mark: We had an intimate ceremony on the beach with parents present. After the ceremony, we all went out for dinner.

What words of encouragement do you have for those considering eloping?

Britne & Mark: If it’s even a consideration, that should be your sign to do it! We had a whole wedding planned locally after talking about eloping. Covid was the push we needed to go with our gut feeling and just elope! It felt more like ‘us’ from the beginning and was an incredible adventure we will remember forever!

Officiation by: Betty Kemper
Photography by: Bea Becker
Hair & Makeup by: Emily Van Scoy
Flowers by: Nicco Designs
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Kiholo, Hawaii

Written by Janessa White

Janessa White is the co-founder of Simply Eloped and has helped thousands of couples plan elopements. As an expert in the field, she has been featured on Martha Stewart, Brides.com, Vox, and HuffPost. Janessa thinks elopements are the ultimate way to tie the knot.