There are wedding coordinators, and then there are people who seem genuinely built for the work. Illi Daurewa, Wedding & Events Coordinator at Mana Island Resort & Spa in Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands, is the latter. Calm under pressure, creative in the details, and deeply invested in every couple’s story; we asked her what it really means to get married on a private island in paradise.
Venue Snapshot
Venue: Mana Island Resort & Spa
Location: Mamanuca Islands, Fiji
Website: manafiji.com
In five words: Romantic. Tropical. Exclusive. Scenic. Serene.
The Venue
What are the main reasons couples choose Mana Island for their destination wedding?
The setting does a great deal of the work. Pristine white-sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise water, spectacular sunsets – and the fact that it’s a private island means the atmosphere is intimate and serene in a way that’s hard to replicate elsewhere. Beyond the beauty, couples love the simplicity of having ceremony, reception, accommodation and honeymoon all in one place. Everything is here; there’s nowhere else to be.
Where’s your favourite spot at the resort for a stunning wedding photo?
The sunset beach and the chapel. Both offer something different – the beach is open, golden and dramatic at the right hour; the chapel is timeless and beautifully framed. Most couples end up wanting both.
What’s the most Instagrammable spot at the resort?
The sunset beachfront overlooking the lagoon. When the light is right and the water is that particular shade of turquoise, it looks almost too beautiful to be real. The kind of image that requires very little caption.
What’s the best room for the wedding night and why?
The Premium Beach Bure. Private, ocean-facing, with white sand and swaying palms right outside the door. As the sun sets, the sky turns gold and pink and the whole scene becomes genuinely extraordinary. It’s the kind of space that slows you down in the best possible way – perfect for the morning after, when you want nothing more than coffee and that view.
What’s the one thing couples get at Mana that they won’t find anywhere else?
The heartfelt hospitality of the Fijian people. It’s something visitors always remark on, and something that genuinely can’t be manufactured. The warmth here is real.
What are some of the chef’s specialities for a wedding menu?
The resort’s fusion cuisine draws on Italian, French, Pacific and Japanese influences – creative dishes and fresh seafood that work beautifully across dinners, cocktail functions and the celebrations that surround the wedding day itself.
What’s the most glamorous experience a couple can enjoy at the resort?
A private beachfront dinner followed by a couples’ spa retreat. After the wedding day, having somewhere completely quiet and beautiful to simply be together – that’s the real luxury of a private island.
The Planner’s Insights
What’s the biggest misconception couples have about planning a destination wedding in Fiji?
That it’s complicated and stressful to organise from overseas. In practice it’s often simpler than a large traditional wedding at home – experienced on-site coordinators, tailored packages and trusted local vendors mean most of the logistics are already handled. There’s also a common assumption that destination weddings are always more expensive; many couples are surprised to find that a beachfront ceremony, reception, accommodation and honeymoon in one location – often with a more intimate guest list – can be very manageable.
What do wedding couples almost always forget?
To actually slow down and take it in. A private island has its own rhythm – the light changes through the day, the lagoon looks different at dawn than it does at dusk, and the pace of island life is something most guests have never experienced before. The couples who remember their wedding most vividly are the ones who let themselves be present for it, rather than rushing from moment to moment. Build in a slow morning. Watch the sun come up over the water. That’s the part you’ll carry home.
What’s your best piece of advice for a couple planning their destination wedding?
Plan early, decide what truly matters to you, and then trust your on-site team to handle the rest. A destination wedding works best when couples arrive having let go of the need to control every detail. That’s what the team is there for.
What’s the most memorable thing a couple has ever said to you after their wedding day?
“It felt like we weren’t just getting married – we were stepping into our own little world. Every detail, every moment, felt like it was made just for us. We didn’t just have a wedding; we had a memory we’ll carry forever.”
About Illi
What drew Illi to this work is the particular combination it demands: creativity, precision and human connection, all at once. “Seeing the joy and emotion on a couple’s face when everything comes together – that’s the part that never gets old.” Turning someone’s dream into something real and tangible, in one of the most beautiful places on earth; it’s a difficult job to argue with.
For wedding enquiries at Mana Island Resort & Spa, contact Illi at wedding@manafiji.com