Adessa + Keki Soaia’s Same Sex Samoan Utah Wedding at Noah’s Event Center - South Jordan, Utah

September 2, 2016

About three to five years ago there was a surge in our friends getting married left and right. It just so happen to be at the beginning of our wedding planning career. While we knew we would always be our mutual friends bridesmaids we did not know however that one day we would be doing double duty and acting as bridesmaids AND wedding coordinator! That’s right yours truly planned, coordinated, and even set up our friend Keki’s wedding back in 2016. Not to mention, she lived in Utah while we were in California!

Pictured here, both members of the Rock n’ Willow team rushing down the aisle to gather friends and family for the portrait session during cocktail hour

Getting ready

Adessa and Keki kept up with certain wedding traditions including not seeing each other before the big day. They got ready separately and saw each other again moments before saying “I do”.

The couple contributed many DIY elements to their decor. The only fresh flowers were Adessa’s bouquet and Keki’s boutonnière. The bridesmaids and bridesmen were adorned with paper flowers.

Ceremony

Keki’s nephews and best men serenaded the ceremony space with a live performance, our friend Wendy officiated the ceremony, and the coupled sealed their vows with a sand unity ceremony and a kiss of course!

Couples Portraits

During the couples portrait session Adessa changed her shoes into matching ones with Keki and a fun rainbow print sock as a nod to their celebration being a same sex wedding.

Wedding Party

With a large wedding party filled with friends from childhood and high school and family members anything could happen during the friends and family portrait session! These are the pictures that made it and were PG-13 :)

Reception details

Adessa and Keki had so much family and friends pour themselves into their wedding. We even gifted them our centerpieces from our wedding two years prior! The couple spray painted them to match their colors and touched them up with some gems.

We were also kind enough to gift our besties with a popcorn station. Since we drove to Utah we filled up our car with all the yummy necessities. (Minus that beer captured here at the end of the table! How did that get there?)

Sadly, both of Keki’s parents passed away before her wedding so we encouraged her to have a memorial for them displayed at the wedding. Adessa surprised her bride with a priceless gift.

Reception fun

The Soaia’s rejoiced in their wedding celebration with a grand entrance and first dance. The formal wedding reception was soon turned into a circle around Adessa as she performed the Samoan traditional Taualuga.

cake, cake, cake!

Another nod to Keki’s Samoan culture was shown off in their cake. A gorgeous tribal print was painted across the bright turquoise cake with fresh local flowers.

The End.

Although planing a wedding from another state can prove its challenges and being a part of a wedding while also working the wedding can be a bit rough, we absolutely adore our friends and did not mind at all. We are so pleased to announce that since their wedding three years ago Adessa and Keki have welcomed the birth of their son Lian and have purchased their dream home. We are so proud of them and would do it all again in a heartbeat!!

Venue: Noah’s Event Center // Coordination: Rock n’ Willow Events // Photography: Meghan Hess Photography