Featured Wedding #9: Nancy and Lance

Nancy and Lance tied the knot on August 7, 2010, in the Sanctuary of Central Union Church, followed by a stunning reception in two ballrooms of the Sheraton Waikiki. After months of planning, Nancy and Lance had every detail thought of, and their personal touches marked on just about everything possible, making it truly, their once-in-a-lifetime event to remember.

The adorable ring bearer pillow, featured a mocha sash and tie in the same, luxurious shade as the bridesmaids' dresses.

Nancy, Lance, and their bridal party traveled in style, with not one, but two limousines: a Hummer and a Lincoln Navigator.

For their wedding cake, Nancy and Lance chose six-tiers of culinary artistry by Cake Works, and for their cake topper, Nancy chose a crystal-encrusted, monogrammed "O" for their last name.

Silver charger plates and full bloomed roses adorned each place setting, and guests received a four-piece box of delightful Godiva chocolates.

A hedge of flowers lined the edge of the head table, while the rest of the tables were topped with alternating floral arrangements of tall and low designs.

Orange up-lighting strategically placed set the two ballrooms aglow in a pretty shade of tangerine orange, and chocolate brown chiavari chairs to match the autumn colors of the wedding were brought in, replacing the hotel's existing chairs.

One of the most unique elements of Nancy and Lance's wedding was their live entertainment: traditional Okinawan dance performances, a nod to their shared cultures. The dancers' beautiful kimono even matched the color palette of the wedding!

Glass cylinders filled with floating candles in varying heights lined the dance floor, and the flickering light during the dancing portion of the reception made for a romantic evening.

Instead of tossing her bouquet of delicate gardenia blossoms, Nancy had floral designer, My Florist, design a bouquet of money, sure to get any single lady interested in catching these flowers!

The Sheraton even went so far as to display Nancy and Lance's engagement photo on the multi-screen reader board, positioned prominently at the top of the escalators.

Nancy and Lance "had it all" when it came to their wedding, with no expense spared from making it the gala affair Nancy had dreamed of, but what made the wedding a show-stopper is Nancy herself.

The statuesque bride radiated beauty in her stunning dress, and while she would have loved to walk down the aisle with her beloved father, who had passed away, she chose to process in solo, holding her head high with each step she took down the aisle. The serenity and beauty of the moment was enough to take anyone's breath away.

Following the ceremony, Nancy posed with her mother and sister, who had flown in from Okinawa to celebrate the occasion with her.

Congratulations, Nancy and Lance! It was my honor to have had been a part of your wedding. Thank you so much for your kindness and friendship.

photos by Eclat Photo

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

Engagement photos: Loni and Ryan

Photos by Kai Photo

Part of the norm when planning modern day weddings in Hawaii is an on-location engagement photo shoot to capture a couple's love for one another in pictures. Back in July, I posted photos from Nancy and Lance's engagement session. This month, it is my pleasure to share some images from Loni and Ryan's engagement shoot on the beautiful and "laid back" island of Molokai.


Loni and Ryan flew over their photographers, Grace and Kyler (a husband-and-wife-team) of Kai Photo, to Molokai, where Loni is from, to document some of Loni and Ryan's favorite places.

They spent the day together, exploring some unique and off-the-beaten-path spots, showing off the diversity of Molokai's terrain, from blue ocean, to coconut groves, and dessert-like volcanic landscapes.

After many locations, several attire changes, and hours of shooting, Loni and Ryan got an absolutely amazing set of images to keep for a lifetime. Mahalo to Grace and Kyler Kwock for yet another fantastic job of depicting a couple's personalities and their love for one another.

Featured Wedding #8: Mari and Kevin

Our October 10, 2010 (10-10-10) was spent coordinating a wedding for one of the nicest couples, Mari and Kevin, who exchanged their vows at a private ceremony atop the exclusive, Hawai'i Loa Ridge, surrounded by their closest family and friends.

While intermittent showers and cloudy, gray skies seemed to loom in the final moments before the ceremony, the clouds seemed to magically clear just in time, returning the beautiful ocean view to the backdrop of Mari and Kevin's wedding.

Mari's mom, added a reassuring and loving presence, presiding over the ceremony as officiant.

Mari and Kevin made sure to incorporate other significant elements into their wedding. Kevin's sister, Kellie Ann, a professional photographer, not only served as bridesmaid, but also as their professional photographer, and her son/Kevin's nephew, took on the role of ring bearer. Mari and Kevin's dog, as well as Mari's parents' dog, wore a special collar as ring-dogs, making an appearance down the aisle at the ceremony.

The reception which included much more of their family and friends, took place at the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki, which overlooks the yacht harbor and Magic Island.

Inside, a Japanese-inspired table-scape of beautiful pink phalaenopsis orchids and paper lanterns adorned the head table, befitting of the lavish Japanese buffet created exclusively for Mari and Kevin, and for the first-time-ever, by Chef Shimokawa of the hotel's Hakone Japanese restaurant.

Although their wedding reception was void of many wedding traditions such as a garter toss, bouquet toss, or even formal cake-cutting, it was exactly as they wished, filled with meaningful moments, wonderful food, in the company of friends and family.

I leave you with a few more of my favorite photos from Mari and Kevin's 10-10-10 wedding...

Photography by Images by Kellie Ann