Yentl & Alan’s Good Luck Elopement at Makena Cove in Hawaii

Yentl & Alan are certainly the poster children for eloping in Hawaii – seriously; they look like the cover shot of a wedding magazine. The two met through mutual friends at a Korean restaurant which is a meet-cute for sure. Their traditional wedding in Toronto with family and friends was all set for June 2021. Yentl & Alan realized the big nuptials would have to be postponed, but why cancel love?  They decided to elope in Hawaii during a vacation – something just for the two of them. What followed was an intimate and romantic ceremony at Makena Cove filled with love and laughter. We can’t get enough of these two all dolled up in their wedding style and leis.  Read on to find out how they got engaged and why they chose Simply Eloped as their elopement planner. And good luck with the traditional wedding whenever that may happen!

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

Yentl: We met at a dinner with mutual friends, specifically at a Korean barbecue restaurant. I thought he was a cute and interesting individual. It was during our second year of university, and we have been together ever since! 

Alan: My first impression was, ‘this cute girl really likes zucchini.’ 

How did you propose or accept the proposal?

Alan: We grew up in Toronto and have lived in California for the past 5-7 years. We went back home to Toronto to visit friends and family for the Christmas holidays, and I popped the question then!

Yentl: Yes – finally! [Our 10th year of dating was coming up, and we had picked out the ring together… so I was just waiting for him to ask finally!

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

Yentl: After getting engaged in Dec’19, we were planning a traditional wedding in Toronto for Jun’21. Due to COVID and the border restrictions, we decided to postpone and chose to do something special on our original date. What was intended to just be a vacation in Hawaii during our original date resulted in getting legally married and having a private elopement moment between the two of us!

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

Yentl: Hawaii… can I say more? But our specific venue, Makena Cove, wasn’t just a beach with palm trees and ocean, but there was a beautiful formation of black lava rock that make it very unique.. really emphasizing the turquoise waters! It also wasn’t crowded. Although there were a few other individuals there (they were super congratulatory), Makena Cove still felt very cozy and intimate. 

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

Yentl: A beautiful ‘hole in the wall’! The entrance is small, along a stone wall. You can easily miss it when driving by. Once you go through the small opening, you get surprised by a beautiful intimate beach with blue waters, palm trees/greenery, waves crashing into the volcanic rock. 

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

Yentl: We spent the morning relaxing by the beach and doing some snorkeling. We then went back to the hotel to get ready and pick up the lei’s at the lobby (we ordered through Simply Eloped). When we saw each other dressed and dolled-up, the excitement started to sink in! We began to get a bit nervous as we were driving to the beach. But as soon as we met our vendors, they made us feel very comfortable and at ease. 

How was your experience with Simply Eloped?

Yentl: Seamless! Since we will have a larger wedding with family and friends, later on, we wanted something as low-stress as possible. From the initial inquiry to the day of, Simply Eloped made it feel easy. 

How did you choose to celebrate your elopement?

Yentl: We got sushi take-out nearby and happily enjoyed it in our hotel – didn’t have to worry about making dinner reservations in Maui. It was also our last night in Hawaii too! 

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

Yentl: Do it! Even though we will have the larger traditional wedding with our family and friends, I’m very happy we got to enjoy a private moment between the two of us in such a beautiful location. It was truly about us during the day, and we are thankful we will get to experience two different types of celebrations.

Officiation by: Kuya Alamodin
Photography by: Kawai Manzano
Hair & Makeup by: Stephanie Rae & Emily Van Scoy
Flowers by: Katherine Mangicaro
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Makena Cove, 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.