Escort Cards and Plated Meals for Weddings

Nothing says elegance quite like a formal, plated meal for a wedding reception.  Many couples opting for this often wish to offer a choice of entree to best cater to their guests' varied tastes and the best way to go about doing so, is to identify each guest's entree selection in advance.  For most seamless service on-site, many hotels and caterers will require some sort of indicator to cue their servers in to the guests' choices.

Here is an easy and effective way to do so: 

Banquet servers knew whether a guest had requested fish or beef by the color of the border on the escort card.  Escort cards by Emi Ink.  Photo by Visionari.

create color coded escort cards or place cards.  It serves as a quick way to inform the server of the guest's entree choice, and is equally decorative and functional, too.  Incorporate the wedding colors to make these cards coordinate with the rest of the stationery and the look of the wedding.

Here, the flower color identified the guests' choice in entree.  Escort cards by Something Blue.  Photo by Dylan Dawson Photography.

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

Wedding Planning Tip: rehearsing with your shoes

Here's a quick and easy planning tip for preparing for your big day; bring your wedding day shoes to your rehearsal and wear them throughout the rehearsal.  That way, you will feel accustomed to taking those steps down the aisle (and back) in whatever surface is at your ceremony site.  Sometimes, church and chapel floors can be slippery, so a dry run in your shoes will help to identify any potential slips before they happen on the big day.  For outdoor ceremonies, bring clear cello tape to wrap your heel in, thereby preventing it from getting soiled in the grass, dirt, sand, etc..

Photo by Amodo Photo

Now here's a secret that we'll just keep between us.  If worried about slipping or tripping or discomfort from wearing heels that say "ooh-la-la" when your feet are really saying "ooh-my-poor-toes," get a second pair of comfortable shoes of the same height as your main shoes to wear down the aisle.  No one really sees the bride's shoes during the ceremony so you can wear the comfortable pair for the ceremony and then pull a switcheroo on the shoes after.  Note:  you may want to skip this if your ceremony involves kneeling, as your shoes will certainly show, here.

Photo by Visionari

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

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)

I'll Have a Cone, Please! (petal cones for your flower shower)

What could be more romantic than rose petals fluttering over you as you recess down the aisle or exit the church?  It certainly makes for a picture-perfect moment, and enhances the sentiments of joy and celebration.  Without a doubt, the flower shower serves as the perfect ending to a heartfelt and momentous wedding ceremony.

Photo by Visonari at the Halekulani Hau Terrace in Waikiki.

However, what the photos do not reveal is the logistics behind the creation of that picture-perfect moment.  Particularly for outdoor ceremonies, when the flower shower takes places immediately after the kiss and announcement of the newlyweds, how do the guests get the petals for tossing?  Do they hold a handful of petals throughout the entire ceremony until that moment that the couple passes?

Photo by L'amour Photography

We suggest providing guests with a cone or receptacle for the petals.  While purely functional, they can be made to coordinate with the colors and style of the wedding, and we like it best when they tie in with the "day-of" wedding stationery!  Often times, local stationers will string a ribbon through the cone, so that the guests may easily take one, or so that they can be hung from the ceremony chair.  

Photo by Visionari.

Here are a few examples of some custom designed cones.  Perhaps they will provide you with inspiration for cones of your own!

Happy Planning!

Mona

neu events

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

Cones by Emi Emi Ink.  Photo by Visionari.

Cones by Something Blue.  Photo by L'amour Photography.

Cones by Emi Ink.  Photo by Kai Photo.

Petal cones by Emi Ink.  Photo by Eclat Photography.

Toasting at the Tables

Photo by Visionari.

Being located in the middle of the Pacific, we have the opportunity to plan and coordinate weddings for many couples of Chinese descent.  One of the beautiful Chinese wedding traditions we find to be popular is the one of the bride and groom toasting at each table.  During dinner, they visit each table, toasting their guests and expressing their thanks.  The guests at the same time, toast the bride and groom, sharing their good wishes for the couple.

From a wedding planning perspective, it certainly makes for a wonderful opportunity for the newlyweds to spend a little time with each of their guests.  It also means taking into account the logistical implications of this tradition.  If planning to toast your tables, communicate this to the caterer ahead of time, so that a server can be prepared to replenish your glasses as needed.  Also, if not wanting to consume too much alcohol during the process, consider toasting with a sparkling cider or other non-alcoholic beverage.

Even if not Chinese, there is no reason why you couldn't consider adopting this tradition for your own wedding.  What a fantastic, interactive way to engage guests and show your appreciation of them on your wedding day!  Cheers!

Mona
neu events

Weddings by Grace and Mona

Wedding Trend: party dress!

While definitely not a new or novel concept, the plan for the bride to wear a different dress for dancing the night away has definitely increased in popularity as of late.  Especially in Hawaii where warm days and full, heavy gowns do not always mix, the idea of slipping into a more casual dress is appealing to more and more brides.

Photo by Visionari

Photo by Visionari

They also find a shorter or less formal garment much easier to dance in, and besides, who wouldn't want a reason to shop for another fabulous dress?

The bride donned a flirty and fun dress for her first dance after wearing her formal wedding gown for the ceremony and most of the reception.  Photo by L'amour Photography.

Do you plan to wear a second (or third or fourth) dress for the dancing portion of your wedding?  We'd love to hear more!

Photo by Eugene Kam Photography

Photo by Eugene Kam Photography

Happy dress shopping!


Mona
Weddings by Grace and Mona

Tips and Advice: picking a veil with the right comb

Photo by Chrissy Lambert Photography

I just attended a hair and make-up trial session at the Naturally You studio with our bride who will be getting married this week, and hair and make-up artist extraordinaire, CJ Bae of Naturally You, shared with me a fantastic tip that I thought merited a blog entry of its own. With regard to veils, often times, they come attached to combs to secure to the bride's hair. Not all veils need to be secured with a comb, and some simply require a few bobby pins for keeping the veil in place, but if selecting one with a comb, opt for the metal combs as opposed to the plastic varieties.

Photo by Dave Miyamoto and Company

Often times, brides will don their veil for the wedding ceremony and formal picture taking, then will remove their veil, which may be a bit cumbersome to wear with guests giving the bride many hugs, and with it being less easy to move around with, for the reception. The plastic comb on a veil, however, will leave dents or marks in the bride's beautiful hair style, whereas the metal combs do not. Today's tip: if selecting the type of veil that has a comb attached to it, pick the "dent-free" option and go for one with a metal comb.

Kana with her veil for the formal picture taking, and without it following the ceremony. Photo by Visionari.

Chinese Lion Dances for Weddings

Photos by Visionari

Lion dances at Chinese weddings bring the newlyweds good fortune and ward off evil spirits. For additional excitement, we have suggested that couples consider the "wow factor" of having the lions perform on poles or jongs, where their acrobatics are sure to impress.

Some things to consider: make sure the jongs and bases can fit through service corridors and entryways, if the reception is to take place inside. If outdoors, have a representative from the lion dance team scout the area to make sure that they can safely and feasibly set their equipment at that site. Things like exceptionally windy areas and unlevel surfaces can make it challenging or even unrealistic to perform the lion dance on poles under such circumstances.

Additional note: check with the particular lion dance team if they prefer that the lions be fed with a pole and leafy vegetable, or if they prefer that the bride and groom feed the lions by hand. Best wishes for good fortune, luck, and prosperity for the happy couple!

Tips and Advice: reserving chairs at the ceremony

Photo by Russ Ramos Photography

Have you ever attended a wedding and noticed that everyone tends to sit in the back, or not sit at all? Perhaps it is because as guests, we feel "unworthy"of sitting up front; to be respectful, we place ourselves in the back, thinking that we should allow immediate family...or older guests...or closer friends... to sit up close. What happens, then, is that no one ends up sitting in the front, leaving the bride and groom feeling a bit isolated.

To prevent seats from being underutilized, we often suggest reserving seats with signs at a ceremony, particularly when the number of chairs are limited/less than the anticipated number of attendees. This sends a clear signal to guests that certain seats are designated for key guests, whereas all the rest of the chairs are free for anyone's use. If at a church or chapel, a "reserved" sign hung at the end of the pew serves the same function.

Photo by Visionari

Another advantage to utilizing reserved signs is that they can add a splash of color and enhance a color scheme on an otherwise neutral landscape of chairs. Incorporating ribbon, crystal, and multiple layers of cardstock make these simple signs beautiful accent pieces at the ceremony, rather than simply being functional pieces of paper. Suggestion: if reserving seats for special guests, advise these guests in advance that they have reserved seating, or designate an usher or two to help them find their seats. By filling seats and pews, we create a feeling of intimacy and support for the bride and groom, and that is the goal after all, isn't it?

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!

Tips and Advice: veil length for an outdoor wedding

Photo by Eugene Kam Photography

When it comes to veils, I love the drama and elegance of a cathedral length veil, but for outdoor weddings, I always suggest fingertip length or shorter. The elements can wreak havoc on a long veil, causing it to get dirty while walking down a grassy aisle, and more importantly, the beauty of the long veil gets lost when wind picks it up and tugs ungracefully at a beautiful hair style. At a dear friend's oceanfront wedding, the wind blew so strongly that her veil actually flew off before she had a chance to reach her groom at the "altar" area of the ceremony.

Note to grooms: if heading to windy locales with your bride on your wedding day, help to prevent the flying veil situation from occurring by placing your arm around her back, gently holding the veil in place, particularly while walking around, or even while taking pictures in windy areas. Be careful not to pull on the veil, as it could potentially undo a pretty hair style. A veil in place is a good veil indeed!

elbow-length veil illuminated by light from the window
Photo by Visionari