Michael and Erin Girdler • Greenville, Indiana • Hawaiian Wedding Planners

June 24th, 2011

Aloha Cpt. Howie and Staff,

We wanted to take the opportunity to thank Cpt. Howie and his amazing staff for the outstanding wedding service they provided us. Mahalo! Their attention to detail and friendly service throughout the planning process allowed us to focus on enjoying our special day without worry.

Organizing a wedding in Hawaii, over 4,000 miles away, can be a daunting task- but not with the Above Heaven’s Gate staff of Hawaiian wedding planners! Chrissy and Sara from the office were extremely knowledgeable and helpful in coordinating the plans and were responsive to all our phone calls and emails. Aside from talking through the details of the ceremony, hair, makeup, flowers, and pictures, they also helped us in getting our Hawaii marriage license after regular business hours! We were truly impressed by the professionalism and skill of the hair and makeup artist, Wade, and the photographer, Fernando.   Cpt. Howie was warm, caring, and went above and beyond to personalize our vows and ceremony to fit us. We received the pictures and audio file of our wedding within 2 short weeks.  They are a wonderful reminder of that beautiful Hawaiian wedding in paradise.

We adamantly recommend choosing Above Heaven’s Gate as the best of the best for Oahu weddings. We have already recommended them to our engaged friends, as we would definitely choose them again in a heartbeat! We are so thankful to God, to our wonderful families, and to Cpt. Howie and the Above Heaven’s Gate staff for making this Hawaii wedding day possible and for making it so special!

God Bless,

Michael and Erin Girdler
Married: May 31st 2011

Becky and Phil Hill • Leicestershire, England • Beach Weddings on Oahu

June 23rd, 2011

Aloha to all at Above Heavens Gate,

Where do we start? Mahalo! Please accept this as a thank you for what you have all done. From our first contact with Chrissy a year ago, to the actual day, you guys made it so easy to communicate and make arrangements – even if we were on the other side of the world! From flowers, make-up, transportation and even the last minute problem of a forgotten veil (Chrissy, thank you for something borrowed), everything worked out perfectly!

When we decided to further our bond to each other and get married, we wanted something ‘different’ and unique that meant something special to us. You were the first company we came across on the internet and we knew that we did not need to look any further. The beliefs and perspective that Capt Howie spoke of matched ours.

On the wedding day itself, the morning started off with a rainstorm; so much rain that we were starting to get a little worried the day would not be what we had dreamt of. People we met kept saying that it is a Hawaiian blessing from the Gods. Upon our arrival at Pukalani Falls Garden, the rain stopped. Suddenly, there was a feeling that we were being looked after and everything would all be ok.

The hobbit house has to be seen, to be believed. Our warm welcome was even extended by the parrots!

To Wade our makeup artist, you work wonders. To have never met someone before and know exactly what look they are hoping to achieve is a real gift. I felt so at ease with you.

To our photographer Fernando, you made us feel so relaxed from the start. It was a pleasure to have you as our photographer. We had set out to just have beach photos, but how could we say no to Pukalani Falls as an additional setting? We kind of just went with the flow and it turned out beautifully.

Chrissy, on finding out that it was your last day before going to graduate school, we thought it was only right for you to attend your last wedding and be our witness, thank you.

Jodie and Sara you made us feel so welcome. It was so nice to spend some time with you after the ceremony and have a laugh too.

Thank you to the hot tub, for letting Phil get close up and personal with it. When Phil fell in, it was truly hysterical.

Capt Howie and Deva, thank you for opening your home and Hobbit House to two strangers. It is such a wonderful setting. The longer we were under its roof, the more relaxed we felt and part of the family we belonged.

Capt Howie, words do not really come close to how we feel, and how you made us feel. You treated us like individuals and tailored the ceremony to us. Your words were kind and genuine and the ceremony was absolutely beautiful.

We cannot thank all of you enough for helping to make our special day, our beach wedding on Oahu, absolutely perfect.

Much Mahalo,

Phil and Becky Hill
Married – June 3rd 2011

Josh and Jeanette Ham • Glendale, Arizona • All Inclusive Weddings in Hawaii

June 20th, 2011

Dear Captain Howie and everyone,

Sorry it has taken so long for us to write you back. We have been really busy trying to get back into the “Arizona” groove, after being in paradise. We just wanted to thank you so much for everything you have done!  It really meant the world to us.

Our wedding was on April 18th, 2011 and we couldn’t have asked for a better day.  The pictures are just breathtaking. People keep saying that it looks like we were standing in front of a screen because of the beautiful colors in the sky and how turquoise the water is. We, Arizonians, don’t see much clear blue water like that! We’ve received so many compliments and a magazine wants to use some of our photos in their wedding section.

My sister and I looked amazing! On a special day like that, it was just perfect! Our makeup was done to perfection and our hair was out of this world! The words you said to us that day touched our hearts in a way I can’t explain. For the few hours we were there, we really were Above Heaven’s Gate.  Thank you so much for everything you did and continue to do. Everyone there will be in our memories and hearts, always and forever!

We highly recommend Captain Howie and Above Heaven’s Gate to anyone looking for the best in all inclusive weddings in Hawaii . You won’t be disappointed!

Mahalo,

Josh and Jeanette Ham
Married April 18th 2011

Angela and Rob Listy • St. Helens, Oregan • Hawaii Catamaran Beach Wedding

June 15th, 2011

Dear Above Heaven’s Gate,

On May 27th 2011, at 10am or so, Rob and I met with Capt. Howie at Kokokahi Harbor to board his amazing sailing vessel for our Hawaii Catamaran Beach Wedding. Capt. Howie is so wonderful, kind, and patient. On that day, we were running late.  I was frazzled and Rob was really upset that we might not make it on time for our scheduled departure. Consequently we called Captain Howie on his cell phone and he told us to relax and everything would be fine. When we finally arrived, his countenance was soft and comforting. He took us on a sail with such skill, it seemed like he owned the waters. We both felt safe and had the time of our lives.

Once we reached our destination, the pristine Secret Island, Captain Howie’s photographer, Fernando, took over. He was so much fun to work with and our photographs were unbelievable! The scenery was beyond description.

Our ceremony was amazing! The one thing that really stands out to me are the words Capt. Howie used in our ceremony. It is as though he heard any reservations we might have had in our hearts and spoke them out. He told my now husband “to never abandon ship.” This is important because my late husband committed suicide when the waters got too rough! I am so glad I had this experience and would not change it for anything! Thank you, Captain Howie!

Angela Horne & Rob Listy
Married May 27th 2011

Stephen and Lauren NeSmith • Jacksonville, Florida • Hawaiian Destination Weddings

June 13th, 2011

Aloha Captain Howie and the Gang!

Stephen and I just want to take a moment to say Mahalo (Thank You) !  Words cannot express how amazing our wedding in Hawaii was. Our special day was May 6th, 2011. We were supposed to have a Hawaii sunset wedding, however, the weather was not cooperating. To our surprise, the day turned out better than expected. It was perfect! We thank you all for everything you did to make our day special. Every one of you is amazing.  You were all so kind and down to earth and, because of that, I was able to fully enjoy my wedding day! We are so glad that we choose a Hawaiian destination wedding.  There was no stress or frustration – nothing but lots of love and fun in the sun! We feel truly blessed that you were all apart of our wedding day.

I must say that I was a sexy bride that day! I should have been in magazines – LOL.  Your brilliant makeup artist Wade truly brought me to life! Fernando was an amazing photographer who was able to take the essence of our love and capture it in a photo for everyone to see! From Pukalani Falls and the Hobbit House to Angel’s Bay, Fernando was able to capture the most beautiful moments. Captain Howie, thank you for inviting us into your life and into your home. The Hobbit House speaks for its self; it is truly a magical place!

The ceremony was something we will never forget.  The words Captain Howie spoke will be with us forever. And, the vows that we took that day will be kept, honored and protected in our hearts forever! We promise that we will Never Jump Ship!

To any brides and grooms who are like us, and want to celebrate “your” love on your wedding day instead of doing what everyone else wants, we highly recommend Captain Howie and Above Heavens Gate. They will take your dream to a whole new level while God joins your heart and your soul.

Mahalo again from the bottom of our hearts for giving us a Hawaiian Wedding Day that will never be forgotten! We will see you again for our tenth anniversary!

Stephen and Lauren NeSmith
Married May 6th, 2011

Neil & Norma Nelson • Chandler, Arizona • Wedding Hawaiian

June 11th, 2011

Aloha to all,

Let me first begin by saying, Mahalo for the services provided!  A personal note to Wade & Chrissy:

Wade, you are an amazing makeup artist. When I first made arrangements for hair & makeup, I was skeptical to say the least. I looked at the photos online and only saw pictures of women I could not identify with because none were African American. That being said, I was uncertain about the skills/experience you may have had on my particular race as far as hair texture & makeup are concerned. I feared I would look like a clown but I was nowhere close. Your creativity allowed you to work your magic. You took into consideration my conservative values and the fact that I’ve never worn makeup before and created a work of art that even left my husband speechless with joy.

Hours after our Hawaiian wedding, my makeup was still flawless enough to attend a luau that evening. I was so taken aback by the face in the mirror that I was reluctant to wash my face at the end of the evening, but hygiene demanded it.  A special thank you to Wade. And, I testify to all those women of ANY race who are as skeptical as I was: relax, sit back in his chair, and let the man work. He knows his craft. He is talented!

Chrissy, thank you for your patience. All of the arrangements we made a year prior to the wedding were exactly as I had ordered. I am so happy that I was able to return to the mainland with my flowers because they turned out just as I’d envisioned. You took the time to ease the nerves of an anxious bride and made sure every detail I wanted was addressed.

To Capt. Howie and the rest of the team, Mahalo! A beautiful ceremony, beautiful grounds, beautiful location and a beautiful day.

Mahalo,

Neil & Norma Nelson
Married June 3rd 2011

Cristy and Alan Jernigan • Malibu, California • Wedding Planners in Hawaii

June 7th, 2011

Dear Capt. Howie,

Thanks again for the wonderful ceremony and service. Here our testimonial:

“Wow” what a spectacular and memorable event! We would like everyone to know that Above Heavens Gate really delivers on the promise to make your wedding in Hawaii a special one. We were very impressed with the service we received and how Capt. Howie, his wife Deva, and the rest of the staff made us feel welcome and relaxed at this blessed occasion. We had looked at other wedding planners in Hawaii and found that Above Heavens Gate provided us with the simple, elegant, and charming wedding we were looking for. It was truly a great experience and one we will cherish for a lifetime.

Thanks,
Cristy & Alan
Married, June 14th 2011

Leroy and Maria Roes • Rapid City, South Dekota • Renewal of Wedding Vows in Hawaii

June 5th, 2011

Dear Capt. Howie, Rev. Rich, and Staff,

We just wanted to send a short note to thank you for the excellent service we received, May 10th 2011, when we celebrated our 30th anniversary with a Renewal of Wedding Vows in Hawaii. Reverend Rich made our day truly special as he officiated the wedding of our dreams — albeit 30 years later!

Our photographer, Fernando, made us feel very special as he took such lovely pictures.  He was so kind and made us feel extremely comfortable.  Also, thank you for the prompt service in delivering our much awaited digital files with an added bonus audio recording of our ceremony at the end.  What a pleasant surprise!  We closed our eyes and listened to the recording and were swiftly transported back to that day! The slide show was so much fun to watch! All of our relatives enjoyed it as well — how special!

We wish there was more we could do or say, but we can only promise to most definitely recommend Above Heaven’s Gate to any one who wants to come to Hawaii to get married or renew their vows!  You guys are definitely a CLASS act.  Once again, Mahalo from the bottom of our hearts!

Best Regards and Hugs from Rapid City, South Dakota,

Leroy and Maria Roes
Renewed wedding vows – May 10th, 2011

Kristina and Mike Williams • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • Elope to Hawaii

May 20th, 2011

Aloha Captain Howie and the gang,

After Mike proposed, we were so excited to start planning our big day!  Little did we know how stressful it would be to accommodate everyone else’s vision of what our wedding in Hawaii should be.  When we sat down to talk about what we really wanted, we both agreed that we wanted a special day, just for us, which would never be forgotten.  After hearing of these “out-of-control/stress-weddings”, where the couple hardly remembers their big day due to the hectic madness, we decided that was not for us. Instead, we would elope to Hawaii.

At first, we thought our choice would narrow down the search for a perfect location; however, there are tons of sites for Hawaii Weddings.  After days of looking and making calls, we stumbled upon Captain Howie’s website.  The rest is history.  We made a phone call and had all of our questions answered by Captain Howie himself.  We booked that very same day!

The next few months were so easy!  Any questions I had were always answered promptly and reassuringly.  We always felt like a priority.  The day before our Hawaii wedding we met Captain Howie and the whole gang.  Everyone was fantastic!  We were ready for the big day.

When our wedding day came, I was so relaxed having Wade do my hair and make up.  He made me look fantastic and feel beautiful!  I had zero stress, just butterflies and excitement.  When I slipped on my dress, I knew this was my day and our Hawaiian wedding was not going be a hectic experience about everyone else.  This was about “us”!

We walked to Angels Bay with our photographer, Fernando, and had so much fun the rest of the morning doing our photos.  It was the most beautiful morning I could have ever imagined to marry my best friend.  When Captain Howie married us, I knew that this was by far the easiest and most perfect wedding.  It really exceeded our expectations.  Captain Howie’s ceremony touched us both.  We will never forget the special moment that we promised our lives, hearts, and souls to one another.  I can’t imagine a better person than Captain Howie to have sealed our sacred bond.

Thanks to EVERYONE at Above Heaven’s Gate for giving us a beach wedding in Hawaii that we will always remember and cherish.  The pictures are so beautiful and amazing!  We are very pleased with all of them.  We would highly recommend you to anyone who wants their wedding to be the one they’ve always dreamed of.  Do not be afraid to tell your family and friends that you want to do something for just the two of you.  We shared such a special experience, that I know we would not have had if we had went with a big hoopla-circus wedding instead.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,
Kristina and Mike Williams
Married – April 26th, 2011

Mathew and Brandi Mumm • Victor, Iowa • Wedding Hawaiian

May 17th, 2011

Aloha Angels at Above Heaven’s Gate,

We would like to take a little time to express our appreciation to Captain Howie and all of his gang for our fantastic Hawaiian wedding experience on May 11th, 2011 at the beautiful Angels Bay Beach.  It was exactly what we were looking for and was extremely easy to arrange. Everyone there was very professional and helpful in every way. Our photographer, Fernando, captured exceptional photos at Pukalani Falls Gardens and on the beautiful white sandy beach. Brandi’s hair and makeup looked amazing too!

Captain Howie’s ceremony was very meaningful. It included just the three of us, standing on the beach with soothing ocean waves crashing in the background. Our whole trip went exactly as planned. Everyone was so nice! We couldn’t have asked for a more enchanting island in paradise to get married on, and have our honeymoon there as well.

When we arrived back in Iowa from our trip, it was 61 degrees. It felt very cold to our nicely tanned skin – LOL.  We miss it so much already and can’t wait to go back someday. You guys have such a great place to call home.  Mahalo and God bless everyone on the island of great views and wonderful things to do.  We will stop in and say hi next time we are in the neighborhood.

Mahalo,
Mathew & Brandi Mumm
Married – May 11, 2011