A Classic Destination Wedding At Four Seasons Resort in Maui, Hawaii

Heather Hartzel was attending her best friend’s birthday dinner when another guest brought an unexpected plus one–Richard Schwalm. “I’ll never forget the night I met him,” says Heather. “I knew then and there, that there was just something special about him and I never wanted to let him go.”

Three years later over Thanksgiving weekend, Richie popped the question in front of their families at his lake house in Bass Lake, California. “The proposal was so special to our entire family, because it was the last trip my mom took before she passed away,” Heather shares.

Sadly, her mom was diagnosed with cancer, which altered the course of a typical wedding planning process. “At this point, Richie and I were so happy to spend the rest of our lives together, but wedding planning was soon put on hold to care for my mom. We first exchanged vows at an intimate ceremony at my mom’s bedside in the hospital before she passed. I’m forever grateful that she was able to see us get married.”

For their larger wedding with family and friends, the couple’s original plan was to host the celebration in Paso Robles, California. The Four Seasons in Maui, however, turned out to be the ideal location and venue instead. Maui has always been a special place for Heather and Richie, as they first fell in love there while Riche was on location working on a movie in 2010. “In speaking with the Four Seasons and our coordinator, Carolyn Conway, we knew we were making the right decision,” says Heather.

Family and friends flew out from California, joining the bride and groom for their destination wedding week. Surrounded by loved ones, the bride and groom were married a second time by the same minister, who is also a family friend. “The day of our wedding was beautiful–full of love, laughter, and fun,” says the bride. “The whole event came together better than I could have ever imagined.”