A humble word of advice, on behalf of brides and grooms...

At recent weddings, I have found many of our couples thrown for a loop by unexpected guests attending their wedding. Wedding guests who bring an unaccounted for date, or last minute attendees who fail to RSVP can cause a lot of heartache for couples, especially since table assignments, stationery items, favors, meals, even centerpieces, linen, and budgets are set according to the "final" guest list. If invited to attend a wedding, please note whether the invitation states "and guest," and please be sure to respond whether able to attend or not. This step will only help brides and grooms to have a stress-less wedding day.

Brides and grooms: to minimize the likelihood of this happening, start contacting the guests who have not responded from the day that responses are due. The more certain you are of who is expected to attend, the less likely it will be that "surprise" guests appear at your wedding. Happy planning!

Engagement Photos: Lynn and Damien

Photos by Frank Amodo

I love it when engagement photos truly capture a couple at their best, where the images show off their personalities and highlight the qualities that the bride and groom share in their relationship. For Lynn and Damien, their photographer, Frank Amodo, achieved just that.

The photo shoot encompassed a variety of locations, different outfits, and times of day, with the shoot wrapping up at dusk, but in addition to the array of external variations, Frank successfully caught on camera an amazing range of emotions, from playful and fun...

to romantic and in love...

After having helped Lynn and Damien to plan their wedding and after gaining a true appreciation for the sincere and kind-hearted people they are, what I really enjoy seeing in them is the friendship that they share, and these photos depict this better than words ever could...

I dedicate this post to Lynn and Damien, a beautiful couple, inside and out; I thank you for the fond memories and I am reminded again how lucky I am to have this job that allows me to meet wonderful couples like you.

Coming soon: Social Light, the Art of Wedding Design

Here in Hawaii, we celebrate some of the most beautiful weddings, and doing so is easy with the gorgeous natural beauty of our island state. Many ballrooms offer pretty views and of course, we boast amazing outdoor settings for weddings with stunning landscapes ranging from sand and sea to verdant valleys and cliffs as dramatic backdrops.

However, brides and grooms want their wedding to be unique, one-of-a-kind, something that is a reflection of who they are (and a bit of the "wow" factor never hurt, either!) To achieve this, the design of the entire wedding plays a critical role in helping brides and grooms to attain a memorable look and feel for their special event.

Enter "Social Light," Hawaii's first ever educational event dedicated to sharing expert tips on wedding design, brought to you by event designer and wedding planner, Sandra Williams of Finishing Touch. Joining Sandra are some of the State's top wedding professionals, gathered together in a showcase of what promises to be a full-day workshop of insider insights into the latest in wedding trends and styles at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa at KoOlina on Sunday, March 27, 2011.


Attendees get treated to a signature cocktail bar, gourmet truffle bar and fine cigar bar. To add to that, they will receive a luxury swag bag filled with $110 worth of Sandra's favorite things. What's in the bag? You'll have to attend to find out!

To register for the event, visit at www.sociallighthawaii.com. The registration fee of $59/person; $99/for couples includes lunch and a value book with more than $7,000 in savings.

Featured Wedding #11: Kana and Kin Men

Photos by Visionari

One of the many things I love about my job is building relationships with some exceptionally wonderful people. This past weekend, I attended a baby shower for Kana and Kin Men, a couple that is expecting their first child later this month, and a couple whose wedding we planned. I couldn't be happier for them as they start their family.


Planning their wedding with Kana and Kin proved to be yet another enjoyable and rewarding process. Their personalities really showed through in the details of their wedding, which successfully combined elegance with fun, drama with style, and of course, a included bit of romance as well.




The invitations provided guests with the first hint of the not-so-serious wedding that was to be had. Humorous caricatures of Kana and Kin made the invitations (not one, but two versions of it!) a huge hit. One of the caricatures featured a rendition of the couple as in "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" while the other depicted Kana holding a polka-dot boxer-wearing Kin upside-down by his ankle.


Upon arrival at the wedding reception at the Halekulani, guests enjoyed cocktails from the ice luge with the Chinese character for Kin Men's last name in crimson.

Shortly after taking their seats, an acrobatic Chinese lion dance on pole tops stunned the audience with their awe-inspiring, coordinated moves.


Here, chocolate fondant ribbons draping from the top to the bottom of the cake add a bit of whimsy to the otherwise elegant wedding cake with fresh rose blossoms.

Congratulations, Kana and Kin! I look forward to meeting your new daughter soon!