Destination wedding tip: don't forget to press or steam your veil!

Photo by L'amour Photography

Here's a quick tip for destination brides to Hawaii.  Naturally, we think about getting the wedding gown professionally steamed or pressed upon bringing it to Hawaii, but remember that the veil should also get professionally treated before the wedding.  As an important part of the bridal ensemble, it should receive the best care so that you look in tip top shape, from head to toe.  Some of our local bridal salons will professionally press or steam gowns AND veils before weddings, so be sure to drop off your veil when also leaving your gown.

Happy Planning!

Fab Bridal Product: Veil Weights!

In the past, I would caution brides against extra long veils if getting married outdoors since veils and wind just do not seem to get along.  We have even had a veil fly off a bride's head as she made her way down her beachfront aisle.  At certain oceanfront locations where the wind consistently blows from the left to the right (when facing the bride and groom as a guest), we have suggested switching the orientation of the bridal party, having the groom and his men instead on the left, and the bride and her maids on the right so that her veil blows away from her face, and not into her groom's.

 

Fortunately, these ways of addressing wind and veils can now be a problem of the past with the recent invention of veil weights!  It comes as no surprise that a wedding planner devised this brilliant solution to the animosity formerly found between wind and veil, and her company Save the Veil, offers a pretty assortment of decorative magnetic weights to save the day.  The weights come in sets of six and can easily be placed and removed from the veil so that you can have them on just when you need them.

 

 Mahalo to Jill Watson of The Pampered Bride in California for creating a wonderful and unique solution for veils on windy days!

 

Alfred Angelo Trunk Show at the Bridal Boutique

 

Here in Hawaii, rarely do we get treated to a trunk show featuring bridal attire, which is why this news is particularly exciting.  For those brides who will be on the island of Oahu next week, the Bridal Boutique (627 South Street, Suite 101, Honolulu, HI) is hosting an Alfred Angelo Trunk Show from Monday, October 15 to Sunday, October 21.  Try own gowns from this season and from the upcoming 2013 collection.  Those who order their gown during the trunk show will even receive as much as $400 off - a phenomenal offer!  Be sure to make an appointment ahead of time by calling 808-597-8893.

 

Happy Planning!

Tailored Weddings: "Surfboards and Muscle Cars"

One of the things I enjoy when it comes to planning weddings with couples, is gaining a better understanding of what makes them unique as a couple.  What do they enjoy doing together?  Is there something that they identify with that really defines who they are as individuals or as a couple?  This background info ofter serves as fantastic fodder for customizing their wedding.

For Anna and Zen, who tied the knot on August 5, they share a love of surfing.  Hence was born a vintage surf-themed wedding, and since Anna had not only built race cars, but raced them, too, it was only fitting to incorporate muscle cars in mint condition into their special day.  There were many more elements which made their wedding truly unique and memorable, too, but we'll capture them in another blog post on the Weddings by Grace and Mona blog.  For now, I leave you with just a few photos that tug at my heartstrings and depict this spirited and fun couple with some of their unique wedding touches.

A bouquet for one hand, and surfboard for the other!

What a classic!  Anna and Zen pose for a sweet kiss in front of the convertible Mustang "muscle car" with the historic Aloha Tower in the background.

A twist on the thumb print guest book - thanks to Emi Ink, Anna and Zen got a custom designed vintage surfboard poster for guests to mark with their thumb print and signature, a wonderful keepsake and memory of their special day.

Mahalo to Stephen Ludwig for providing these amazing photos!

To Do: mani/pedi before the wedding

photo courtesy of Nail Salon Ai

Just about all of the brides we work with plan on a manicure and pedicure for their wedding. For those planning on "natural nails," meaning a traditional manicure with polish, I suggest scheduling the manicure and pedicure for the day prior, so as to have a fresh look for the wedding day, minimizing the possibility of polish chipping. While it is possible to plan on a nail appointment for the morning of the wedding, it tends to make the day feel even busier than it needs to be, and it also allows for the possibility of smudging.

My biggest recommendation when it comes to nails for the bride, is to choose calgel.  It is long wearing, odorless, and much gentler non the nails than is acrylic, and because it easily lasts for three weeks without losing its luster, I suggest scheduling the calgel nail appointment for the week of the wedding, making that precious day prior to and day of the wedding less hectic.  Calgel is also very durable, and there is no worry about smudging, chipping, or very seldom do people experience nail breakage with calgel.  For nail art, it also holds the design and any 3-dimensional add-ons such as crystals, decals, and gems, much longer than with traditional polish.

Calgel design samples from Nail Salon Ai

I admit, I used to get my nails done in the name of "wedding-related research," but somehow along the way, I have become a nail junkie.  I love calgel, and nail art to the Nth degree!  Don't worry, brides; I've got you covered on the nail scene!

 

Pink gradation with crystals on the left and a modern twist on the classic French manicure on the right.  Photo courtesy of Nail Salon Ai.

The most recent manicure and pedicure I received was from Nail Salon Ai. What makes this nail salon unique, is the fact that they can style your nails with actual diamonds!  While diamonds may not be an everyday indulgence, it is certainly fit for a bride on her wedding day.

 

Nail Salon Ai

Happy Planning!

Bouquet Toss Bouquet

In Hawai'i, some brides will add some money into their bouquet before tossing it to give the single ladies extra incentive to jump even higher for that bouquet. We love this unique option which our bride, Nancy, requested as a separate bouquet just for tossing. Nancy asked floral designer, Jae Yoo of My Florist, to create a toss bouquet of paper roses. Without seeing it, this bouquet may sound, well, ordinary, but the kind of paper Nancy wanted was in the form of dollar bills! You can be sure that there was lots of "audience participation" for this particular bouquet toss!

The Value of Video

Often times, videography for a wedding is considered a luxury, a "nice to have, if the budget permits..."  True, professional services such as videography for a wedding can cost a pretty penny, but far too often have I coordinated weddings where I thought to myself, "I wish this couple had chosen to document their wedding with video; that speech (performance, dance, moment, etc.) was so brilliant, it warrants reliving over and over again!"

Emcee, Gregg Hammer, getting "verklempt."

Often, in debriefings with couples following their wedding, I ask if they wish they had done anything differently.  For those who had opted for a professional videographer, I have never heard any regrets.  For those who had not, couples often remark after the wedding that they are glad that they had a friend or family member capture things on video for them, and many times, couples do express a bit of remorse at not having gotten videography.  For those with exceptional videographers, some couples have even said that they watch their wedding video highlights on a daily basis!

The point is, I would hate for any couple to regret not having video documentation of their special day.  It is the quiver in the sound of one's voice when exchanging vows, or the funny anecdotes shared in speeches, or the choreographed first dance, which can only be revisited in memory and in video.  It is also the best way to share these memories with those who could not be there, including future generations.  (I wish I could view video of my parents' or even grandparents' wedding!)  If financially, hiring a professional videographer is not an option, ask friends or family to help document these precious moments with their personal recording devices.  If unhappy with the footage, there is always the "delete" button, but you can never go back after the fact and record what had happened.  Hope this serves as great food for thought if preparing for a wedding or special event.

A family member helps to record all the festivities during the wedding reception.

Happy Planning!

Mahalo to L'Amour Photography for the beautiful photos!