A Cozy, Tropical Destination Wedding at Puakea Ranch in Hawaii for Two Puppeteers
Alice and Peter, both puppeteers, first met in the early 90s through mutual friends and later ended up working together on The Muppets and Sesame Street. (Peter currently voices Ernie on the classic children’s show.) They soon became lifelong friends, and their families and kids even became close. It wasn’t until 25 years later that the two entertained the idea of dating since Alice was divorced and Peter had lost his wife Marlene to breast cancer the year prior. As for how their friendship blossomed, the couple says, “We had been spending hours on the phone every day talking about, among other things, how lonely we both were…Alice then said, ‘We can get a bottle of tequila, and if it gets ‘weird,’ we can drink the tequila and swear never to speak of this again.'" They took their relationship, eventually fell in love and never opened that bottle of tequila.
Right before the two began shooting The Muppets Mayhem show, they hosted a barbecue at their home with a group of close friends. Peter addressed everyone before dinner was served and said, “A number of years ago, my life crashed and burned, and this woman totally saved my life. She’s been my best buddy for 30 years, and we’ve just fallen madly in love with each other.” He then surprised everyone by getting down on one knee and proposing to Alice.
Just a few years before these two got engaged, Peter and Alice vacationed at Puakea Ranch in Hawaii, a unique and isolated spot with beautiful views and a laidback, tropical vibe. Alice adds, “Peter clearly remembers thinking that if they were ever to get married, it would be magical to have a small, family wedding at Puakea, with everyone able to stay in the cottages on the property and have the ranch to themselves for the week. That little inkling grew into the reality that became our wedding.” Their intimate wedding weekend drew inspiration from the surrounding culture and landscape, making it an informal, cozy affair for their close family and friends.
To fit the low-key vibe, the couple considered flip-flops for the occasion but opted for casual chic. Peter wore a custom seersucker suit from Indochino and Alice wore a tea-length dress from Japanese designer Tadashi Shoji. They incorporated flowers that were tropical and native to the island, such as orchids, protea, ginger and lush greenery in Alice's hair accessories.
To jumpstart the ceremony, Peter’s brother-in-law surprised the couple by blowing a conch shell. Also, Hawaiian music was performed by a local guitarist, John Keawe, who Peter and Alice first heard on their intial trip to Puakea Ranch. Guests could create their own leis at a DIY station so they could wear them during the outdoor ceremony. (Prosecco was even served as their loved ones crafted these floral arrangements.) Their wedding planner, Alison Conforti at Sunshower Weddings & Events, also worked to honor the Hawaiian culture in this secular wedding. The couple said, “[A] local artist/officiant, Elizabeth Theriault…included a Ho'okupu Ritual, an offering bundle for the Spirit for the marriage. Our rings were dipped in [and] blessed with Hawaiian seawater as we presented them to each other.” The ceremony ended with a “brief, friendly rain” that the newlyweds took as a blessing from absent friends and loved ones.
During the cocktail hour, Alice and Peter were surprised by a special guest. “A goat visited during cocktail hour, walking right through the cornhole tournament that was in full swing,” the couple says. Custom cocktails were served, some of them named after classic puppet shows and characters like “The Dark Crystal” for Alice and “The Rubber Ducky” for Peter, Ernie’s favorite bathtime accessory.
What followed was a lovely and small reception at a rustic farm table for their 20 guests beneath rattan lanterns and string lights. They enjoyed an island-inspired three-course meal, along with wine pairings and a spontaneous puppet show performed by Peter to mark as the grand finale of the evening. As for that unopened bottle of tequila from years ago? Well, the newlyweds brought it to the reception. The handblown glass bottle of Porfidio Extra Anejo was shared with their loved ones in celebration of it “never getting weird.”
The two puppeteers put their love at the forefront during this day, with great food and family bonding following in a very close second. And for any couple planning their own wedding, whether it’s a destination or a more intimate affair, Alice and Peter offer some advice: “Decide what's important to you and put your budget and effort behind making that happen. We also prioritized our own enjoyment of the party by delegating almost everything to experienced professionals. We just wanted to show up and enjoy ourselves without worrying about dozens of last-minute details.”