Wedding planning tip: cake timing

Towering square tiered cake featuring black and white checks for a racing themed wedding, designed by Rick of cakelava.  Rick was truly ahead of his time, as he was designing ombre hued cakes before ombre even became a wedding trend!  Photo by Chrissy Lambert Photography.

Here's a simple piece of advice related to your wedding cake, particularly if planning your wedding on your own.

Chocolate ribbons stream down the sides of this four-tiered wedding cake designed by the Halekulani.  Photo by Visionari.

Ask your cake baker or designer about the number of hours that the cake can be left out of refrigeration.

Yet another stunning creation by Rick Reichart of cakelava.  This towering cake combines a modern and whimsical look, with varying shapes and heights.  Photo by Sieber Studio.

Make sure then that the time between having your cake delivered and the time of your cake cutting and serving is less than the maximum number of hours that the cake can be unrefrigerated.

Another fabulous cake!  This show-stopping cake was created by Cake Works for a wedding we planned at the Sheraton Waikiki.  Photo by Eclat Photography.

Note that in Hawaii, particularly with outdoor weddings, we have some particularly warm and sunny days, and the length of time for a cake to be left outdoors thus shortens.

Pretty in Pink - cascading fresh flowers in shades of pink adorn this simply elegant cake.  Photo by Dave Miyamoto and Company.

The last thing anyone wants to see is a beautiful wedding cake that starts to slide, collapse, or melt so again, be sure to consult your cake provider to ensure that your cake looks its best throughout its time on display.

cakelava designed this one of a kind cake for our couple, Deb and Keola, who chose shades of purple and yellow for their wedding.  Photo by AmodoPhoto.

Happy Planning!
Mona
neu events
(formerly Weddings by Grace and Mona)

Featured Wedding #16: Tiare and Gary

Photos by Kai-Photo

They say love conquers all… but was it strong enough to bridge the differences between Gary, a die-hard Verizon Android fan, and Tiare, who can’t live without her Apple iPhone? Judging by their fun-filled wedding day at the Halekulani on July 10, 2011, our answer is a resounding yes!

This tech-savvy couple built the entire theme around their informal “rivalry.” First up were humorous shots of the ladies devouring fuzzy Droid dolls, and the groomsmen vigorously biting into green apples!

All was forgiven, however, during their romantic wedding day photo shoot on the Halekulani grounds…

or maybe not...

No matter their tech preference, no one could deny how lovely Tiare was in her form-fitting strapless gown. Crystal detailing on her neckline added subtle sparkle, while her cathedral-length veil was pure glamour. On her father's arm, she smiled all the way down the grassy aisle.

When it came time to exchange vows, the junior bridesmaid presented the couple with their phones on a silver platter so they could read the heartfelt sentiments they had stored.

Every detail of the décor was perfectly planned. Passion Roots created a lush bridal bouquet which included orchids and calla lilies in gorgeous shades of violet, while the bridesmaids’ cool green arrangements kept the look fresh.

Delicate mokara and dendrobrium orchids in impressive white box frames flanked the sand ceremony table and provided a backdrop for the vows.

The guests showed their approval as they entered the reception at the Halekulani Ballroom.

An artfully draped backdrop from REA Events, accented by delicate crystals and plum-colored mood lighting, set a stunning stage for the couple's first dance.

Dramatic, tall white trees placed on the center of the tables added dimension to the space. Strands of crystals adorned the outstretched branches and caught the candlelight. Purple satin linen made a regal statement, while the kiwi green napkins added a playful splash of color.

Extra touches enhanced the technology theme. The table numbers were displayed on Apples and Droids, and the seating assignments were printed to resemble an iPod screen. Copper wire, fashioned to look like a computer USB cord, wound through the centerpieces.

A violet-hued mokara orchid was placed at each setting, a thoughtful gesture that added a fresh spirit to the room and also welcomed guests to their seats.

After an acrobatic lion dance that got everyone’s heart pounding, guests dined on the delicious dinner buffet. For dessert, a custom-designed vegan cake appealed to the health-conscious bride.

The couple filled their program with entertainment. Trivia games kept the competitive spirit alive, Gary hammed it up as he wrapped Tiare’s garter around a Nerf football for the toss, and the hilarious Shoelywed Game had everyone laughing.

Throughout the evening, guests snapped away with their cell phone cameras and instantaneously uploaded their photos to the couple’s Facebook page, which was displayed on a large screen at the end of the Ballroom.

Not wishing to send their guests home empty-handed, Tiare and Gary provided each attendee with a vegan strawberry guava cupcake, topped with the rival OS logos.

After an evening of dancing and mingling, the bride happily embraced her new husband, sharing a sweet kiss during the last song. And most importantly, members of both the Android and Apple teams had agreed to a truce… or at least temporarily.

Congratulations, Tiare and Gary!

Featured Wedding #13: Stacey and Dan

Photos by Mark Nomura

What happens when a wedding vendor gets married? Why, the result is nothing short of fabulous! We had the distinct honor and pleasure of coordinating the wedding of wedding industry colleague, Stacey, aka "Emi," of the famed, Hawaii-based stationer and graphic designer, Emi Ink. In just a few days, Stacey and her hubby, Dan, will be celebrating their anniversary, and while their wedding took place almost four years ago, the details that Stacey planned for her wedding were so ahead of their time, that they'd be considered trendy today. I wanted to share some of the unique and original ideas that Stacey implemented into her own wedding.

With Stacey being the designer of fine stationery, I affectionately dubbed Stacey and Dan's wedding the "paper wedding." Ever considered incorporating a complete stationery suite for your wedding? Well Stacey and Dan had it all.

Naturally, one of the very first impressions that guests receive of a wedding is the invitation, which sets the tone for the celebration to come. Stacey designed an invitation nothing short of original, incorporating multiple layers of card stock, including a modern printed one, and chose to off-set it, lining the edges of each layer on the right for a chic and contemporary look. The six Swarovski crystals, also right-justified, added the perfect touch of elegance.

Upon arrival at one of my favorite venues, the Hau Terrace at the Halekulani, guests stopped by the reception table to drop off gifts. In lieu of the traditional envelope box to hold monetary gifts, Stacey's dad, an artist himself whose medium of choice is metal, lovingly welded individual pieces of washers and rings into a one-of-a-kind, fashionable and edgy, receptacle for Stacey and Dan's cards. To tie into the paper theme, Stacey added a cameo piece, matching the invitations, complete with another six Swarovski crystals and printed card stock. (Note the pretty paper flowers in the foreground, also created by Stacey.)

In order to ensure that special guests would enjoy VIP seating at the ceremony, Stacey designed pretty "reserved" cards, which we affixed to designated chairs. These, too, shared the same font and paper selections used in the invitations and the gift card receptacle cameo.

During the ceremony, guests followed along with Stacey and Dan's beautiful printed program, delicately adorned with more Swarovski crystals.


Proceeding the outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour on the terrace, guests then moved inside for the reception, where they were treated to more of Stacey's artistry.

Favor boxes, flowers, and printed "ribbon" made of paper...

Centerpiece vases made of paper...

Paper flowers at the base of the cake...



And place cards, too!

Congratulations, Stacey and Dan! Here's to many more years of blissful marriage, and continued success with Emi Ink!

Featured Wedding: Asami and Chris

Date set...Check. Pristine locations...Check. A talented group of coordinators and vendors...Check. Loved ones travelling across an ocean for a special event...Check. Two amazing people in love...Check. Asami and Chris had the ideal ingredients to make their wedding dreams come true.

And their wedding was a dream come true...








Using a decorated white MacBook, guests were registered using iVideo Guestbook.

Emi Hanamizu of Emi's Flowers and Gifts created the floral arrangements for the wedding, including...

the beautiful, composite bouquet made of light pink rose petals with dangling crystals and ribbons.

A delectable Satura Cakes creation was the wedding cake. It was a three-tiered, shortcake sponge with a refreshing mango-passion cream filling, finished with a fresh cream frosting and fresh fruits and sugar flowers.

Before the wedding cake, cupcakes were served at the dessert bar during cocktail hour. The floral designs of the cupcakes were reminiscent of the bride's bouquet and perfectly complemented the pink colors of the wedding.

Mystical Sounds Productions created a custom gobo for the couple.

Of course, everyone was jumping for joy for the newlyweds.

Photos by Eclat Photography

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