Wedding | Lisa & Jon | Hilton Fiji
Lisa & Jon met through mutual friends 18 years ago. In a slightly unusual way to go about it, Jon proposed around 9 years ago while they were in the middle of an argument!
Together, they have been visiting Fiji for around 15 years and always knew it was where they both wanted to get married. The beautiful people and relaxed vibe as well as being close enough to home for wedding guests were big draw cards.
We catch up with Bride Lisa on planning her Fiji Wedding:
We chose Denarau for its convenience, being close to the airport for guests with limited time, and its proximity to Bula Water Park and the port for day trips to Malamala.
Planning our wedding involved extensive research on Fiji bride Facebook groups and seeking advice from friends. I found Bula Bride particularly helpful for styling ideas and seeing photos of different resorts.
Our wedding planner, Ben (Peni) from Hilton, was incredible. After struggling with slow responses from two previous coordinators, Ben was a breath of fresh air. He immediately reassured me with a video call, answered all my questions, and was incredibly accommodating and patient. He truly made the whole process much easier!
Getting ready
Totoka Hair and Make up did our hair and make up on the day. I chose them due to the great reviews. The girls were lovely.
My dress was from Brides in Love in Sydney. I just kept trying dresses on until I found “the one”. The bridesmaids dresses were from Billy J. Groom and groomsmen attire was from Connor.
My florist friend from Lily Pad Floral Design in Australia made silk bouquets so that we could take them with us.
The Ceremony
We originally planned to have an outdoor ceremony on the beachfront lawn, but due to the weather, it was relocated to a restaurant at the Hilton. Although the space was a bit tight, it was still beautiful. Ben and the team did a fantastic job making it all work.
Fiji Weddings styled our wedding with champagne, sage, and dusty pink—soft pastel shades. We primarily used white, bamboo, and greenery to complement the bridesmaids’ dresses and bouquets.
Photography
We chose Nadi Bay Photography – Lawrence specifically. We chose him as I loved his style and he received great reviews. Lawrence did a fantastic job of getting genuine smiles from everyone which was my biggest concern as we are not overly photogenic people!
We were hoping for light airy photos with beautiful lighting – casual and fun however the rain did make this very difficult on the day. The rained prevented most of the beach photos however he managed to get some great nighttime shots with a dark and moody sky which turned out pretty spectacular!
The Reception
We had to switch to the wet weather plan for the reception. Our initial plan was to have an outdoor reception on the beachside grass, but due to the rain, we were moved into the resort restaurant. Despite not being our first choice, the restaurant was still lovely. All of our vendors—Ben (Hilton wedding coordinator), Will (DJ), and Lawrence (photographer)—did their absolute best to make everything work despite the rain, going above and beyond!
The Fijian firedancers were a hit at the reception, captivating everyone. They even got some of our guests to join in, providing great entertainment and laughs for the rest of us.
For food and beverages, we opted for the International buffet, and everyone commented on how fantastic the food was! Hilton provided the cake, a two-tier delight with one chocolate and one vanilla layer. I added a floral cake topper to match our bouquets.
DJ Will from Universal Tunes provided the music. He was amazing—funny, entertaining, and incredibly accommodating with the last-minute change to an indoor venue.
At the end of the reception, some guests continued the celebration in our resort pool!
Other experiences
We went to Malamala Beach Club, as well as Big Bula Waterpark. We have been to both previously and really enjoyed them and wanted to share them with our family and friends.
Overall Highlights
Having a week-long holiday with our closest family and friends!
Tips for future Brides
- Relax and trust the professionals! They know what they are doing!
- Enjoy every second of the day – it goes so fast!
While I would make a few changes if I had my time again, I would definitely still marry in Fiji! It was a great experience!
Who Did They Use
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Wedding Venues
Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa
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Fiji Wedding Photographers
Nadi Bay Photography
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Event Rentals & Decor
Fiji Weddings
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Hair & Make Up
Totoka Hair & Beauty
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Day Trips, Tours & Transport
Malamala Beach Club
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