Mark Your Calendars: Wedding Cafe workshops start in January

Brides, grooms, and anyone interested in weddings, get ready for The Wedding Cafe's next installment of educational and fun workshops designed to connect engaged couples with vendors for their big day. Here is the list of upcoming workshops, held in the conference room above of The Wedding Cafe, located in the Ward Warehouse in Honolulu, Hawai'i. To sign up for a workshop, complete the online form.

January 27, 2010
"The Beautiful Bride: Hair & makeup, fashion, and beauty"

February 3, 2010
"The Perfect Wedding Reception: Stylish ideas for every season"

February 10, 2010
"Bridal Trunk Show" at The Bridal Boutique

February 17, 2010
"Budget, Planning, and Timeline

February 24, 2010
"Floral, Tabletop and Decor Showcase"

March 3, 2010
"Picture Perfect Photography Showcase"

March 10, 2010
"Invitations, Favors, and Special Touches"

March 17, 2010
"Videography Showcase"

March 24, 2010
"Wedding Music and Entertainment"

March 31, 2010
"DIY: Do it yourself projects"

April 7, 2010
"Cake and Wine Sampling and Catering Trends" at The Bayer Estate

April 14, 2010
"Groom's Workshop"
April 21, 2010
"Timeline Workshop"

Wedding Style Tip #2: customizing your bouquet

Walk down the aisle with a distinctive and original bouquet by asking your gown designer or bridal salon
for snippets of fabric from your wedding dress to incorporate into the bouquet handle. A subtle detail such as this makes all the difference between a generic bouquet and one created specifically for you.

Here, Fong Tagawa of Floral Inspirations deftly "lifted" the lace detail from the remnants saved from Jen's gown hem and positioned them artfully onto the handle of her bouquet.

Photo by Eugene Kam.

Wedding Style Tip #1: Shop Creatively for Your Wedding

Michelle and Colin share a love for dining, so naturally, a food-themed wedding made absolute sense for this pair. Over the holiday season last year, Michelle spotted these fantastic wreaths at Pier 1 made of faux olive branches, complete with clusters of olives. We suggested a quick check with Wendy (Spinning W.E.B. Florist), Michelle's wedding floral designer, who immediately gave the "thumbs up" on the wreaths which could be disassembled and fashioned into what became the beautiful touches on the wedding arch months later.

You never know when or where you might come across the perfect accent for your wedding. Keep your eyes open and think creatively; it is the those unexpected finds that add the subtle touches to really personalize your wedding.

Photos by David Murphey

Candy Buffet Birthday

Happy Birthday to Aubrey and Eric of Na Mea Maikai, Sweet Treats Buffets, who just celebrated a phenomenal first year in business! Their wonderful candy buffets have graced the landscapes of several wedding receptions where the buffets not only serve as elegant, show-stopping presentations, but also as conversation pieces, and an interactive way to involve guests.

Many couples consider designing their own buffet, but in reality, most brides and grooms find themselves busy with work and other aspects of wedding planning, making it a challenge to shop for the goodies, containers, packaging, and scoops. The logistical nightmare of transporting the items, setting them up, breaking them down, and then determining what to do with all the containers thereafter eventually lead most to toss out the idea of making their own. Enter Aubrey and Eric to save the day with their full service buffets, completely customizable, with a wide array of fine glass receptacles and beautifully adorned display pieces. Tip: make sure to request the homemade merengues - simply heavenly!

Photos by Kris Labang Photography