Planning a Wedding in Hawai'i: Step 2

Aloha and welcome back to my blog!  In a previous post, I wrote about the first step in planning a wedding in Hawai'i, which was to determine approximate budget, guest count, wedding date, and wedding planner.  Ready for the next step?

Ocean Crystal Chapel at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.  Photo by Mike Pham Photography.

Once you have taken care of step one, the next step is to choose your wedding venue.  Some questions to consider when contemplating wedding venues:

• Is it important to get married in a place of worship, such as a church or temple, or are you preferring to be in an outdoor location or other, non-religious, indoor spot?

• Would you like your ceremony and reception to take place in the same location, such as at a hotel, resort, or private estate?

• Would you like your reception to be indoors or outdoors?

 

Erin and Matt's Evening Cocktail Reception at the Honolulu Design Center.  Photo by Derek Wong Photography.

Ceremony and reception in the same location - Having a ceremony and reception in the same spot comes with many advantages.  For guests, there is no need to navigate getting from the ceremony and reception.  From a cost perspective, you maximize your spend on photography and videography, as these vendors usually have packages which include a number of consecutive hours, so staying in one location means that time is not wasted getting from the ceremony to the reception.

Photo by L'amour Photography.

Outdoor receptions - Often times, outdoor reception venues offer a great deal of flexibility, since you are not limited to the confines of four walls.  You can get creative with the floor plan and really personalize the space.  That said, bear in mind that most outdoor venues insist that the reception end around 10:00pm due to noise ordinances.  (If celebrating past 10:00pm is a priority, you can "have your cake and eat it, too" by planning an after party.)  Something else to note:  if the space is a blank slate, where everything must be brought in, such as tables, chairs, catering, etc., it often times becomes more costly to host a wedding at these locations than at a hotel.

Places of worship - Many times, churches will have fixed times at which wedding ceremonies can take place, and often times, these are mid-day, leaving a gap of time between the ceremony and reception.  If planning a destination wedding in Hawai'i, consider what your guests will do during that "break."  If the space of time is rather short, and if providing transportation for guests, you can have your transportation company take your guests on a brief, scenic tour between the ceremony and reception to fill the time.  If the gap of time is lengthy, then consider whether to offer transportation to the ceremony, then back to their accommodations, and then from their accommodations to the reception.

Sacred Heart Church.  Photo by Kris Labang Photography.

There is much to think about when choosing your wedding venue, and working with a wedding planner can certainly lend more insight tailored to your unique needs.  Hopefully, exploring the options is part of the fun and anticipation in imagining what is to come!

View of Waikiki's "Gold Coast."  Photo by Dave Miyamoto & Co. Photography.

Happy planning!

Mona

neu events

(formerly known as "Weddings by Grace and Mona")

Tips and Advice: back up boutonniere

Photo by Dave Miyamoto & Company

For some reason, boutonnieres, particularly those on grooms, never seem to make it through a whole wedding day. One more than one occasion, I've had to "rig" a boutonniere to fix it, or to "MacGyver" a new one in a pinch. After several hardy hugs and chummy chest bumps, the delicate petals that once formed a full blossom somehow wind up anywhere but on the boutonniere. The end result: a beautifully wrapped stem, and a partial flower, if you're lucky.

If planning for a wedding, the pre-emptive measure is an easy one: order a second boutonniere. The floral designer can create a replica of the first boutonniere, or can design an entirely different look, while still incorporating the flower(s) of the wedding. When the first one starts to appear a bit shabby, simply swap the worn one for the fresh new one. Always keep your best lapel forward!

Engagement photos: Dayna and Billy

Photos by Dave Miyamoto

While some couples question the need for an engagement photo session prior to their wedding, I always suggest it as a way for the bride and groom to become comfortable with their wedding photographer and also as an opportunity to experience a session with the hair and make-up artist hired for the wedding. It serves not only as a way to capture images of the couple during their period of being engaged, but also as a dry run with these two key vendors.

Dayna and Billy, who just tied the knot yesterday, opted for the engagement session with their photographer, Dave Miyamoto, of Dave Miyamoto and Company. To tie in with their Asian-inspired wedding theme, they chose the stunning backdrop of Byodo-In Temple for their photo shoot, and Alison Hayashi of kiss&makeup prepped Dayna by styling Dayna's hair and making her up for the pictures.

I love this photo of Dayna; Dave caught another of her unforgettable smiles perfectly!

Not only did Dayna and Billy celebrate their marriage yesterday, but they also celebrated 16 years to the day as a couple. When looking at the following photo, I can imagine these two as high school sweethearts, sweet and in love.

What impressed me most about the photos from Dayna and Billy's engagement shoot, is the diversity of scenery and backgrounds that Dave artfully captured in the photos. Of course, the temple and surrounding water photographs beautifully, but I also admire the way Dave shot the tropical foliage and "woodland" feel with the paperbark trees.

Before signing off, I must share with you one more photo. In addition to getting beautiful portraits, my favorite is when engagement photos portray the personality of a couple. Anyone who knows Billy can attest to his love for speed and his car. Here he is, down on one knee, praying for the answer to be "yes!"

Fortunately, Dayna gets the ring in the end, and they drive off happily into the future...Dayna, Billy, and his car. Congratulations, you two (er, you three)!

Wedding Style Tip #6: Notice Your Napkins

Photos by Dave Miyamoto & Company

One element that can make a simple and thoughtful statement in the overall look of your wedding decor is the napkins on your table tops. Get creative with the napkin fold; ask the hotel, caterer, linen provider, or wedding planner/designer if they would be able to get creative with the napkin fold. With the napkins shown above, we incorporated the bride's gold, braided cord and folded the napkins around the menu cards for a perfect fit, cuffing one edge of the napkin to reveal the other side of the napkin, which was a more tangerine shade.

Photo by Chrissy Lambert Photography

One of my favorite ways to add a "wow" factor to the napkins is by placing a fresh blossom on each napkin. In the photo below, a force-bloomed, fresh rose on each napkin looks fantastic; the size of the rose is significant enough to balance with the size of the charger. Any smaller blossom would have appeared dwarfed by the large scale of the napkin, folded as a wide vertical band over the charger.

Photo by Eclat Photograhy

On a side note, we have finally arrived at 2011 and I look forward to sharing more thoughts, ideas, tips, and featured weddings with you this year. Happy New Year, and may 2011 bring you and your loved ones much happiness, prosperity, and love!

Tips and Advice: remember to eat before your wedding

Photo by Dave Miyamoto and Company

Caught up in the excitement of the wedding day, so many brides forget to eat prior to their wedding. However, the last thing anyone needs is a hungry, possibly grumpy, and worse yet, a fainting bride. In anticipation of the big day, plan ahead by preparing snacks to eat throughout the day.

Photo by Eclat Photo

If getting ready at a hotel, room service might be a great option. However, not all hotels offer round-the-clock room service, and if the wedding takes place in the morning, it may be necessary to find alternate options. Granola bars, crackers, anything without a messy sauce, etc. are easy to eat without much danger of spilling on the gown, and individually wrapped items are great for taking on a limo ride. And don't forget to encourage the groom to eat prior to the wedding, too!

Providing Your Guests with a Unique Experience for Your Destination Wedding in Hawaii

Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach

Photo by Dave Miyamoto & Company Photography

Whenever catching up with friends, the topic of conversation at some point, always turns to weddings, as everyone knows how much my career as a wedding planner is so much a part of my life and passion. Yesterday's lunch with an old friend was no different. He shared with me his experience attending a destination wedding in Cancun, Mexico, and how he wished the whole affair had involved more "culture," especially since the location, which he had never visited before, promised something unique and out-of-the-ordinary.

That conversation inspired today's blog topic; providing your guests with a uniquely "Hawaiian" experience for your destination wedding here.

A Hawaiian Kahu or Officiant During a Ceremony, Bearing Lei for Family Members of the Couple

Photo by Dave Miyamoto & Company Photography

What is it that makes Hawaii different from any other destination in the world? On a cultural level, it is the hula; the Hawaiian language found in song (although seldom spoken today); musical styling from the ukulele and slack key guitar; surfing (which originated here); Hawaiian prints in fabric and quilt patterns; the Hawaiian and local cuisine; the tradition of giving lei to love ones, the historic landmarks worth visiting; and of course, the aloha spirit and overall cheery disposition that most folks have around here. All of this and more can be incorporated into the wedding itself as well as into activities with guests both prior to and following the wedding.

Seared Blackend Ahi (yellow fin tuna) with Wasabi Aioli, Soy Sake Glaze, and Micro-Greens Served as the Appetizer Course at our August 9, 2010 Wedding Reception at the Beach House Restaurant
Photo by Dave Miyamoto & Company Photography

For our destination wedding couples, we have helped to arrange everything from private surfing lessons; rehearsal dinners at off-the-beaten-path eateries featuring an array of local dishes; private, guided site-seeing tours in trolleys for the visiting guests (sometimes, in multiple languages); private hula lessons for the bride to perform for her groom during the reception; a build-your-own-cocktail station with hollowed-out pineapple cups and an assortment of fresh island juices; custom designed and tailored aloha print attire for the bridal party; parties for the friends in a private karaoke room; and so much more. The possibilities are endless when it comes to treating your guests to a one-of-a-kind destination wedding experience in Hawaii. I encourage you to get creative when planning your wedding here; I assure you, your guests will thank you for it!

Custom Tailored Aloha Print Attire for Guests

Photo by Dave Miyamoto & Company Photography


Catholic Priest Wearing a Fragrant Maile Lei. (A thoughtful and appreciated gesture in Hawaii is to present a lei to the wedding officiant; a tradition which your guests might find very special.)
Photo by Chrissy Lambert

Bride by Stained Glass Window. (Note the pineapple in the bottom corner of the stained glass. The stained glass murals at Our Lady of Peace, known as the oldest Catholic cathedral in continuous use in the United States, depict the development of Catholicism in Hawaii.)
Photo by Chrissy Lambert

Painted Hibiscus Mural Serves as an Original "Vintage Hawaii" Backdrop. Location: Island of Molokai
Photo by Kai Photo

Take Advantage of Group Coupons when Planning Your Wedding in Hawaii

Photo by Dave Miyamoto

Table set for an intimate wedding reception at BeachHouse, a participant in PLAYHawaii's group offer

The power of the buyer proves itself in Hawaii with the group purchasing phenomenon made popular by such sites as PLAYHawaii, Groupon, Tippr, LivingSocial, SmartDeals, etc.. The daily deals out there might be well worth considering when planning a wedding. The restaurant options in particular, where you can purchase a voucher for half price (and sometimes better), would be a great option to consider when planning a rehearsal dinner, post-wedding brunch, a meal with the bridal party, etc.. Also worth special attention are deals on Hawaii-specific activities, great when entertaining out-of-town guests, and spa treatments, which just about every bride (and bridesmaid, mom-of-the-bride/groom, and groom!) would love to take advantage of as the big day approaches.

Be sure to sign up with these sites to receive emails for local deals in Hawaii on a daily basis.

Photos by Dave Miyamoto
Strawberries and cream cake with fresh berries created by Satura Cakes, one of the merchants requested a deal of on PLAYHawaii.

cakelava's Food Network Challenge to Air in April

As many already know, Hawai'i's very own cakelava participated in a Food Network challenge; no one but the show's producers and the challenge participants know the outcome, so to find out, tune in to the Food Network for the much anticipated airing of "Food Network Challenge: Sponge Bob Birthday Cakes." Here are the dates:

Apr 04, 2010: 8:00 PM ET/PT

Apr 05, 2010: 3:00 AM ET/PT

Apr 07, 2010: 7:00 PM ET/PT

The Food Network, on several occasions in the past couple years, invited cakelava to take part in their show and this one in particular was a great one for cakelava to be able to participate in for their very first time, as Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants show is one of the most popular shows on TV. Challengers invited to compete in Food Network challenges represent some of the very best in the industry and invitation is definitely an honor.

We're all so proud of cakelava and are looking forward to rooting for them on April 4th when the show airs and the results made public for the very first time!

In the meantime, enjoy some photos of cakelava cakes for clients of Weddings by Grace and Mona, a small sampling of cakelava's beautiful cakes for weddings during their five years in business in Hawai'i...


Images from (L-R) by name of couple for whom the cake was created: Andrea and Pete, Annabella and David (photo by Chrissy Lambert), Candice and Timothy (photo by Chrissy Lambert), Candice and Timothy (photo by Chrissy Lambert), Carisse and Todd (photo by Chrissy Lambert), Carly and Matthew (photo by Dave Miyamoto and Co.), Heather and Randall (photo by Christiaan Phleger), Janelle and Alex (photo by Stephen Ludwig), Janelle and Alex (photo by Stephen Ludwig), Kindy and Will (photo by Dylan Dawson)