Wedding | Ami & Dan | Warwick Fiji

Ami & Dan first crossed paths at an end-of-financial-year party, only to discover that they had been working in the same building, on the same floor, for years without noticing each other. Their love story took a surprising turn on his 40th birthday, where he proposed in front of all their friends and family. Ami was so focused on organizing the event that she hadn’t seen it coming, making the moment all the more joyful and memorable.

Their vision of a dream wedding began to take shape after attending a friend’s wedding in Fiji two years earlier. The relaxed, celebratory atmosphere of a destination wedding—everyone in holiday mode, happy and carefree—left a lasting impression. So, when they began planning their own wedding, the decision to host it in Fiji felt like the perfect choice, especially given its proximity to home and their love for the island setting.

We catch up with Bride Ami on planning her wedding in Fiji:

 

Advance Planning

We wanted to make things as easy as possible for our friends and family while capturing the true spirit of Fiji. We ultimately chose the Warwick Fiji because it had that authentic tropical feel, stunning ocean views, and beachfront access. It was large enough to accommodate everyone comfortably, but not so massive that it felt overwhelming, and it offered an affordable option for our guests.

I initially did tons of research online and through Bula Bride, and after watching resort reviews on YouTube, we were torn about where to go. That’s when we decided to do a scouting trip, visiting six different resorts. Ironically, the Warwick was actually at the bottom of our list based on my research, and we almost canceled the site visit because we were so tired. But we’re so glad we didn’t because it turned out to be exactly what we were looking for.

The Warwick won us over with its prime Coral Coast location, the Fijian-inspired touches, and the lush tropical gardens. It’s a decently sized resort, but not a “mega” resort, so we knew we’d actually get to see our guests and spend time with them outside of the wedding events. All the venues we visited had lovely indoor and outdoor options, but we felt the Warwick offered the best backup plan in case of rain, giving us peace of mind for our group size.

Getting Ready

After reading so many positive reviews, I booked Totoka Hair & Beauty without even bothering to get quotes from anyone else. Their prices were reasonable, they were quick to respond to emails, and they were incredibly flexible when my numbers and service requests changed leading up to the wedding. With two locations and the ability to travel to various venues, they were the perfect choice. On the day, the stylists were amazing—they managed to get through our group of seven efficiently, and I couldn’t recommend them more highly.

I found my dress at LUV Bridal, which has a huge selection and is open on Sundays—a big plus for my schedule. For my bridesmaids, I wanted them to feel comfortable and have fun, so I simply asked them to wear something pink they loved. The soft pinks looked stunning against all the white and greenery in our setting.

My husband chose a tailored suit from InStitchu—a green linen-blend jacket paired with a white shirt and chino pants. We wanted him to be comfortable, on theme, and able to wear the outfit again. Since he has a big group of friends, we kept things relaxed for the groomsmen too, suggesting a smart-casual dress code with long pants, button-up shirts, and jackets optional. This way, everyone looked great and felt at ease.

 

The Ceremony

It was a beautiful sunny day (with a bit of wind), so we held the ceremony on the Nadi Lawn overlooking the ocean—the main “dry” ceremony location at the Warwick, and it was perfect. Our wedding package included all the ceremony furniture and florals; we simply shared some inspiration photos for the arch and arrangements.

The theme was tropical green and white, with Monstera and palm leaves paired with white flowers. I also had a Fijian Warrior escort me down the aisle, which was a wonderful surprise for our guests.

The resort used Bavesi Flowers as the florist, and I worked directly with Sam from Bavesi to arrange additional florals, like bridesmaid hairpieces, a flower girl crown, petals, and floral runners for the reception. Although I didn’t know exactly what to expect, they matched my inspiration photos beautifully, and I couldn’t have been happier with the result.

We wanted the ceremony to feel intimate, so our bridesmaids and groomsmen sat with the guests. Three Fijian warriors escorted us down the aisle—one blowing a conch shell to announce our arrival, followed by our flower girl, and a warrior at the front and back.

We wrote our own vows, and I surprised my husband by sharing vows with his daughter first, before my vows to him. Including her felt right, and there wasn’t a dry eye among us.

Photography

We chose New Light Photography for the beautiful, polished look of her photos and decided to include videography so we can relive the day for years to come. While I didn’t have a specific style in mind, I wanted a blend of documentary shots to capture moments like our vows and speeches, along with some highlight-style content to showcase the entire day. I also made a list of must-have photos with friends and family.

Despite best efforts, the day flew by, and while there are many lovely photos, I realized afterward that my husband ended up with more photos with his friends and family. Unfortunately, we ran out of time for some of the family and bridesmaid shots I wanted. If I could go back, I’d adjust the schedule and encourage my family to be more vocal about getting photos. With so much happening, it’s easy to overlook those special moments.

Choosing a videographer as part of the photography package was also a great decision, saving us money compared to booking two separate vendors.

The Reception

We held our adults-only reception on the Navau Lawn, the perfect outdoor spot to accommodate our group with a canopy of fairy lights and long tables, just as I had always envisioned. The setup was absolutely stunning!

The Warwick provided tables, chairs, and linens, and we coordinated on colors and arrangement. DJ Works supplied the magical fairy light canopy and the light-up dance floor, while Bavesi Flowers created gorgeous greenery and floral runners. We brought over table numbers, name cards, and LED flicker candles (to avoid wind issues). I shared a few visual aids for place settings, and the Warwick team took care of the rest. We also repurposed the ceremony florals to style the reception, keeping a cohesive look with Monstera and palm leaves, white flowers, coconuts, and candles on white linen tables.

For food, we chose the Roast Buffet with roast pork, lamb, chicken, a whole fish, and plenty of sides, including traditional Fijian Kokoda. Though I was initially hesitant about a buffet for a wedding, it was the only outdoor option—and it was a hit! Everyone raved about the food, and there was enough for the vendors to enjoy as well, without any extra charges.

Our wedding package included a single-tier cake, but we added an extra tier to serve right after the ceremony. It was a perfect snack to hold guests over until dinner and ensured the cake didn’t go to waste, as dessert was also part of the buffet.

Entertainment

We booked DJ Works mostly due to the quote cost. We found them very responsive and the pricing for the additions like dance floor and canopy lights was affordable.

After dancing the night away, we kicked on at the Warwick’s Hibiscus Lounge which stays open until 1am. It was a good opportunity to keep the party going whilst talking to anyone that we didn’t get to speak to at the wedding itself.

Time in Fiji

We spent two weeks in Fiji overall! A week at Warwick Fiji and then a week at Likuliku for our Honeymoon.

Our Wedding was on a Friday, so we flew in the Sunday prior so we could have some downtime and not have to rush any pre-wedding preparation. Then we departed for the islands on the Sunday after the wedding.

Overall Highlights

Our overall highlight was having all of our closest family and friends on holiday with us to celebrate our special day. I couldn’t think of a better way to get married.

Be firm in what you want and what is important to you, but don’t try to control everything or sweat on the small stuff. The day is about marrying the person you love and you will be so delighted with the end result, that the little things don’t even matter in the end,

Fiji is a magical place to get married, for both you and your guests. If you are on the fence about getting married in Fiji, then this is your sign to do it!

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Who Did They Use
IN THE KNOW

Who Did They Use?

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Fiji Wedding Photographers

New Light Photography

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Hair & Make Up

Totoka Hair & Beauty

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DJs, Music & Entertainment

DJ Works Fiji

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Honeymoons

Likuliku Lagoon Resort

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