A Tropical Bohemian Wedding in Hawaii

Ziyann and Jaeden met in college in late fall 2020 while both studied health and medicine, with Ziyann also pursuing a degree in business. They quickly fell in love, bonding over their shared interests in health and fitness, watching horror movies, sports, and, most importantly, their Faith. After just a short time together, they became inseparable, spending nearly every moment together. During 2020 a chaotic period filled with uncertainty, they found something certain: their love for each other. They started dating in early 2021, and less than two years later, got engaged in Ko Olina, Hawaii, the same location where they celebrated their wedding reception.

In a serene chapel nestled in the heart of Wahiawa on the island of Oahu, the couple exchanged vows. Ziyann graced the aisle in a bespoke couture creation from the visionary Danielle Drake at Danielle Parish Drake Bridal, a member of the Black Bride Bridal Suite. Each stitch is special since 10% of its proceeds goes towards uplifting the lives of orphans in Zimbabwe, a testament to the couple’s boundless compassion.

Bride: Ziyann Dukes, 27, Entrepreneur

Groom: Jaeden Calton, 27, Entrepreneur

Photography By: Christine Sadoy & Kim Ebert

Place of Residence: Phoenix, Arizona

Wedding Date: April 15, 2024

Wedding Location: Paradise Cove, Ko Olina, Hawaii

Wedding Theme/Motif/Inspiration: Wedding Theme/Motif/Inspiration: The wedding beautifully celebrated the bride’s Filipino and Hawaiian heritage with meaningful cultural touches. Filipino traditions were incorporated through barongs for the groom and groomsmen, abaniko fans, peacock chairs, and Filipino desserts. Hawaiian culture was highlighted with a tropical theme, maile ti leaf leis, Hawaiian-inspired cuisine, and nostalgic elements from the bride’s childhood, creating an atmosphere that honored her Kanaka heritage and Asian roots for a truly memorable celebration.

Honeymoon Destination: Kauai, Hawaii

Briefly tell us about your wedding experience and how the both of you felt on your big day.

Everything about our wedding was so meaningful and so beautiful. From the church in Wahiawa, Hawaii which Ziyann’s great-great-grandfather founded after arriving from the Philippines, to the praise and worship dance honoring both of our late grandfathers, each moment was special. It meant so much to spend our special day with our loved ones in Hawai’i (where the bride is from). We are forever grateful to be surrounded by our favorite people on our wedding day and so grateful they showed up for us and showered us with love. We were overwhelmed with all the love and the joy. So many special moments. We will forever cherish this day for the rest of our lives.

Wedding song, and the significance of the song:

“You Complete Me” by Nesian Nine—a beautiful Hawaiian reggae song that holds special meaning for us, as we listened to it often when we first started dating. Having Nesian Nine perform live at our wedding and for our first dance was truly a dream come true.

Another meaningful song for us was “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole. This song the bride walked down the aisle to holds a special place in our hearts, and the bride’s sister beautifully tied it into her heartfelt speech. She said, “In life, you’ll go through trials and storms, but there are good and beautiful things ahead, you two are that rainbow at the end of the storm,” capturing the essence of our journey together.

What are you most looking forward to as a married couple?

We’re most looking forward to moving to Hawaii here soon to be close to the bride’s family, starting a family, building a legacy to pass down to our future children, helping in the community of Hawaii, growing old together, and creating new memories as husband and wife.